**We have a theme for February, the subject is "Shadows" - and here is the schedule**

[Mira]

The winner of the poll is "Shadows", the submissions will start on the morning of the 16th of February - and run through the evening of the 19th, which gives us a shooting time of 13 days, during which the winter contest will run its course.

I waited until after groundhog day :)
because I wanted to see if anything would come of Celebration's query about making some changes in the way we chose the subjects/themes.

I think overall this is not something that struck enough of a collective chord to make changes now. A discussion about it would be worthwhile in the future if there is enough interest.

The Preliminaries will start mid-day on the 20th and run through the 22nd.
The Finals will start on the 24th and run through the 26th.

The only place where we have a small time problem is in the amount of time to gather the 30 entries. Only 4 days - so we need to get them in pretty quick - but we have shown we can do that and don't usually need a full week.

We will have then fit everything into the short month of February without having sacrificed and hurried.

That way the winner can start polling for a new theme at the cusp of the new month and we can have the desired shooting schedule of 2 weeks after it is declared.

[Celebration]

1. Good job!

If we can have a schedule like this most months, I will be a happy camper. Doesn't mean I won't use my archives, but I won't have a legitimate complaint, unless we have 13 straight days of cloudy weather here. :silly:

[Mz Pip]

2. It's sunny here

so I'd better get off my butt and start shooting.

[Celebration]

4. LOL, I just looked at our extended weather forecast

This has to do less with sun and more with early am and late pm temperatures (best shadow times). I have my limits (think freezing), and unless I figure out how to take shadowy photos from my car it is back to my archives! And, my archives are a bit sparse for that theme.

But, you never know. Ten days from now it could warm up.

Kudos for Mira's efforts!

Yep, you better get off your butt.

[Mira]

8. A present for you:

I had completely ignored the shadows on this photo, and had never looked at it twice. I have a suspicion you are going to find them everywhere looking in your files, I do, and I can't enter. :(

But of course I understand about wanting sunshine to shoot something new.

[Celebration]

11. almost looks like a zebra n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. I had to look twice to make sure it was not a reverse zebra.

amazing pic.

[bluedigger]

3. Well done, Mira.

Just holding the pace as you are is what's needed. Two weeks to shoot the month's theme is enough for everybody. We just need to keep the decision and entry times as brief as possible so we can have fun with the photography part. :thumbsup:

[Mira]

6. Thanks - Bluedigger. I think it will be an interesting contest, and it will all work out.

I expect it will be unexpectedly varied for a subject that's pretty tight!

[Callalily]

5. Thanks Mira! Excellent job!

Even if the sun doesn't come out here within the next two weeks, :rofl: I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something.

I truly appreciate this extended lead-time.

[CC]

7. Good one.

I wasn't sure about people putting up their favorite photo only to have others not vote for it. A tad masochistic.:) For all those worried about sunlight, unless Mira deems it not allowed there is always artificial light. A shadow is still a shadow no matter the light source.

[Earth_First]

10. Yea, I'm going to have to agree here too...

I don't see the type of light (natural v. artificial) being a huge deal...

[Solly Mack]

9. Goody! More time to work on my idea.

Thanks!!!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

13. Mira, just to clarify;

shadows whether made by the sun, artificial light or even the moon are all ok?

[Mira]

14. Any and all shadows. Even the ones you might paint on the sidewalk and then

then take a photo of.
Creativity is always a plus.

This one's for you
(it's my own shadow)

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

15. You mean like this?

:)

[Mira]

16. Almost to a T what I had in mind. I took the liberty to take it to the limit.

One of us is prescient. Or both.

[alfredo]

17. A kick to the top