Commons:Photo challenge

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Photo Challenge The Photo Challenge inspires photographers to take great pictures and upload them to Commons. Monthly thematic competitions encourage participants to try new subjects, new photographic or processing techniques, and to develop skills while improving the Commons repository of free images. Photographs entered into a competition must be new to Commons and taken by a Commons user.

Skip to: Contents Challenges open for submission Challenges open for voting Previous challenges Themes suggested for future challenges

Formal things

Challenges

Challenges are based on a theme and run for a month. The theme may be a concrete subject, an abstract concept, a photographic technique or artistic style.

Participation

Everybody can participate in challenges open for submission. You simply

1. Choose one or all of the current challenges
2. Read the challenge description(s), which may vary in their rules (e.g., some place restrictions on when the photos are taken)
3. Take picture(s) for the challenge(s) during the challenge period (or, if allowed, select from your own existing pictures that are not yet on Commons)
4. Upload your picture(s) during the challenge period
5. Submit your candidates at the top of the current challenge gallery during the challenge period. To do that you click the [Edit] button of the Entries section of your chosen challenge and insert the File name above the last entry (or above File:-Insert image here-.svg for the first entry).

   Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

   Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

   For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

6. Do not sign your submission(s)
7. If you want, you can have a look at previous challenges and Vote

Challenges are open to any Commons user. Submissions must be your own work, not previously uploaded to Commons prior to the challenge date and should illustrate the challenge theme in the opinion of the photographer. Please read the challenge descriptions, as there may be additional rules or explanations for specific challenges. There is no limit on the number of submissions per user (unless specially so restricted in the challenge), but please choose from among your best and most varied images.

To submit pictures, you edit the gallery of the contest and add your candidate(s) to the top of the list.

New themes can be proposed and discussed here.

Assessment

After the challenge has closed to new submissions, the pictures will be assessed by popularity voting in the subsequent month. You are allowed to vote for images submitted by others if your Commons account is at least ten days old and has more than 50 edits or if you participated in one of the challenges. Challenges open for voting can be found here.

Winning

The best three pictures will be awarded first, second and third place. They will be displayed on the Photo challenge page and may use the template {{Photo challenge winner}} on the file description page.

New media viewing experience

Please note users can disable the media viewing experience for all images on Commons when logged in (uncheck "Enable Media Viewer" under Files and click Save in Preferences, Appearance).

Challenges open for submission

2024 – February – Lunar/Lunisolar New Year

The new challenge features Lunar New Year

Ideally, each submission should contain a summary description of the subject in the file information, including the location of the subject, and relevant categories should be added to the files to enable other Commons users to find them and use them. Please take care not to violate copyright in respect of non-free creative works, and observe our educational project scope and the personality rights of identifiable people, or your files may be subject to deletion.

The challenge will remain open for submissions throughout February UTC.

Checklist for this theme:

• Photographs must be the work of the nominator.
• Photographs must be newly uploaded to Commons during the challenge submission period i.e. February 2024 UTC (but may have been taken earlier).
• Submissions must be added to the top of the "Entries" section below.
• Please do not nominate lots of similar photos; instead choose just your best and most varied images.

Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

• Restriction: A maximum of four entries can be submitted per photographer.

There are 7 days 2 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  Tengwang pavilion sunset
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  Nanchang fireworks 2024
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  Nuo dance
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  Tết decorations at Dư Hàng Pagoda in Haiphong
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  Tết decorations at Dư Hàng Pagoda in Haiphong
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  Lunar New Year 2024, Oklahoma City - Young Lion Dancer
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  Lunar New Year 2024, Oklahoma City - Lion Dance
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  An 18-metre tall God of Fortune statue at River Hongbao 2024
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  Sec. 1, Wuchang St., Taipei City, with LED lights decorations above on 2024 Chinese New Year
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  Chinese New Year LED lights at the light pole in Sec.1, Zhonghua Rd.,Taipei City
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  Lion dance
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  Red Lanterns at Largo do Senado
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  Writing Fai Chun in golden wording
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  Decoration at Largo do Senado
• Moon at it's fullest from the southern cost of India
  Moon at it's fullest from the southern cost of India
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  Dragon Dance, Oklahoma City, OK, Lunar New Year, 2024 (Year of the Dragon)
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  Dragon Dance in the Year of the Dragon, Oklahoma City, OK
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  Троицкий мост в Санкт-Петербурге в китайский Новый год 2H1A3648WI
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  Троицкий мост в Санкт-Петербурге в китайский Новый год 2H1A3623WI
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  Global Celebration Of New Years
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  Capodanno Cinese 2023 a Roma
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  Prosperous and Happy Chinese New Year, on 31-01-2014 (cheval (馬), (Cambodia)
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  A bus in Singapore with the LED display reading "Gong Xi Fa Cai" and with CNY decorations in the background in Chinatown, Singapore
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  Eu Tong Sen Street in Chinatown, Singapore, with CNY decorations above
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  To submit pictures please follow this link

2024 – February – Knots

The new challenge features Knots

Ideally, each submission should contain a summary description of the subject in the file information, including the location of the subject, and relevant categories should be added to the files to enable other Commons users to find them and use them. Please take care not to violate copyright in respect of non-free creative works, and observe our educational project scope and the personality rights of identifiable people, or your files may be subject to deletion.

The challenge will remain open for submissions throughout February UTC.

Checklist for this theme:

• Photographs must be the work of the nominator.
• Photographs must be newly uploaded to Commons during the challenge submission period i.e. February 2024 UTC (but may have been taken earlier).
• Submissions must be added to the top of the "Entries" section below.
• Please do not nominate lots of similar photos; instead choose just your best and most varied images.

Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

• Restriction: A maximum of four entries can be submitted per photographer.

There are 7 days 2 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  The Golden Hinde (reconstructed), London
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  Shoelace with reef knot
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  Dynamic rope with fisherman's knot
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  Necktie with Windsor knot
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  Ribbon with decorative knot on a wine bottle
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  Confirmation of the ship ashore.
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  В праздник Белых ночей в Санкт-Петербурге IMG 7773WI
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  Knot
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  Ship is tied to the jetty.
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  Gifhorn-Mühlenmuseum. Griechische Mühle 2H1A6161WI
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  В праздник Белых ночей в Санкт-Петербурге IMG 7772WI
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  Im Hafen von Kronstadt, Russland 2H1A4904WI
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  Voeux sur des papiers noués au Japon
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  Noeud avec du fil rouge
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  Noeud a l'extrémité d'une ligne blanche brodée sur un pull
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  Knot in Prešov
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  Ropes moored on a barge in front of the lock in Bamberg
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  Fish trap in the Wadden Sea.
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  Japanese armour, 15th century
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  Fragrant Rose with a Knot
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  Etoile du Roy St Malo
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  Nœuds Bateau de pêche
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  Gabare St Cyr Lapopie
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  Gabare St Cyr Lapopie
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  Genter Bürger mit Henkerstrick um den Hals (Stroppendrager-Denkmal), Belgien
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  Figure-eight loop in mountaineering
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  SIMPLE KNOT
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  Nós nas fitas de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
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  A dog and a Rope
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  Montessori frame for learning to tie bows.
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  Montessori frame for learning to tie bows.
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  Sensory integration room equipment.
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  Sensory integration room equipment.
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  Pentagon Overhand knot made with strip of paper
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  Stroppendragers, Ghent, Belgium
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  Plastic Flower knots
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  thumb
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  Confirmation of the ship ashore.
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  Faceted glass ball suspended on a nylon thread
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  Tree climber with safety equipment in action, Heidelberg, Germany
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  Splicing, connecting two rope ends with a knot, Ryfylke, Norway
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  Root knot of a beech tree
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  Bowline Scott's Lock - This knot was originally presented by Scott Safier on the International Guild of Knot Tyers in September 2011.
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  Detail of Expedition ship Willem Barentsz. Knotted rope around ship pulleys.
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  Knot board in a port
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  Knot board in a port
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  Knot board in a port
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  Knot board in a port
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  Knot on suction cup
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  Red rope and blue rope wrapped around
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  A colorful knot on a boat
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  Kabuki costume, 19th century, Japan
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  Nodo Pan Chang in una decorazione di buona fortuna. Il nodo Pan Chang, noto anche come nodo mistico, è considerato uno degli otto simboli buddisti.
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  Nodo finale sul filo da ricamo
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  Rope net on a boat
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  Knotted netting under the bowsprit(Star Flyer)
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  Knotted sheets (Star Flyer)
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  Standing on Knotted bowsprit netting (Star Flyer)
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  Guitar wire knots
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  Knotted jute strings
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  The holy thread knotted at the shrine
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  Knot tied successfully
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  Diamond shaped
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  Many nodes are a network
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  Knot on a tree.jpg
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  Knot looking like a turtle
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  Knots at the railing on a sailing ship
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  This knot is about to tighten
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  Coil knot
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  A winch, 2 speed (ratio 42). on a yatch.
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  A knot on a winter boot
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  A Knot of Hand during Holi
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  Boat knot
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  To submit pictures please follow this link

Challenges open for voting

Voting is open to all registered contributors who have held accounts for at least 10 days and made 50 edits, and also to new Commons contributors who have entered the challenge with a picture. Users cannot vote for their own picture. Voters may select up to three photographs in each theme to award points and can give praise to other photos without awarding points. Voting will be open for one month. The votes not complying with those requirements will be removed or converted to praises. In some cases users might be asked to correct their votes after voting ends.

January 2024

• Silo
• Mask

Previous challenges

December 2023

Fossil fuel: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Gewinnung und Verbrennung	Lusatian lignite briquette of the Rekord brand from the former GDR	Feuerraum einer Dampflokomotive. Топка паровоза IMG 5655WI
Author	Mensch01	Lusi Lindwurm	Kora27
Score	22	16	13

In a box: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Sweet collection in a box	Escape artist	Blown out quail eggs in a cardboard box
Author	Hgrobe	Горбунова М.С.	Ermell
Score	12	9	8

November 2023

Bicycles: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Through the flooded street on a bicycle	Bicycle helihoisting	Silvia Persico and Esmée Peperkamp in Tourmalet during TDFF 2023
Author	Debanutosh	Ibex73	Shougissime
Score	20	17	14

Too many to count: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial	Pacific Sardines - Monterey Bay Aquarium (California)	Eriophorum_scheuchzeri in Vanoise National Park
Author	Foeniz	Changku88	Ibex73
Score	19	15	14

October 2023

Silhouettes: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Silhouette of a black-winged stilt	Silhouette Bird on Window	La festa alla sera su di una scogliera
Author	Stephan Sprinz	Sneha G Gupta	66colpi
Score	17	14	9

Pollution: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Industrial chimney of a pulp mill near Dalchau, Germany	Northern gannet sitting on a nest made of plastic threads from scouring protection of fishing nets (dolly ropes)	Smog
Author	Mozzihh	Lusi Lindwurm	BogTar201213
Score	20	14	11

September 2023

beach: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Cabourg beach, France	Cabourg beach, France	Taken in Hovs Hallar which is a nature reserve on the Bjäre Peninsula in the county of Skåne, Sweden
Author	Ibex73	Ibex73	Pasi Mammela
Score	13	12	10

composting: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Close up view of compost	Компост та кури	Biogas tank, in the foreground green cuttings
Author	Niwrat	Любмир	Foeniz
Score	30	24	12

August 2023

millet: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Proso millet in Zurich	Drying millet on the Bolaven Plateau (Laos)	Eat it up
Author	Ephramac	Pierre André Leclercq	Sneha G Gupta
Score	22	15	10

on stage: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	3(+3) dancers performing on stage	Nenda & Gilewicz live in Vienna	Dancer on stage
Author	Virtual-Pano	Tsui	Virtual-Pano
Score	15	9	8

July 2023

climate change: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Storm Mathis - Lake Zug	oceans are rising	Contaminación atmosférica en la ciudad de Madrid
Author	Roy Egloff	Spielvogel	Saldeplata
Score	13	9	9

half: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Farm track near Micheldever, Hampshire	My birthday cake! Oops there's only half left!	Ein in der Längsachse vertikal zerstückeltes Automobil.
Author	Simon Burchell	Anna.Massini	Levin Holtkamp
Score	15	15	11

June 2023

rainbow colors: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Tunnel at London King's Cross illuminated in rainbow colours	Rainbow yarn for knitting, display in front of a needlework shop in Graz, Austria	This shows the view directly above the basket of a hot air balloon.
Author	The wub	Lusi Lindwurm	Hu Nhu
Score	19	11	8

tents: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Kasachische Jurten in der Kyzylkum/ Usbekistan	Chegem-001	Chegem-002
Author	Carsten Siegel	Саня Новиков	Саня Новиков
Score	17	17	13

May 2023

Macro photography: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Close up photograph of wing of Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Lime Swallowtail	weibliche Schwarze Habichtsfliege (Dioctria atricapilla) mit Morgentau	Caterpillar of the small frost moth on a rose leaf
Author	ManaskaMukhopadhyay	Carsten Siegel	Ermell
Score	12	11	10

feathers: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Victoria crowned pigeon	Western Crowned Pigeon in Geneva, Switzerland.	Peacock feather close-up
Author	Roy Egloff	RomanDeckert	Mister rf
Score	10	9	7

April 2023

Looking up: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Pylon of high-voltage line crossing Elbe River at Hetlinger Schanze near Hamburg, Germany	Street corner in Nice's old town	Ballonwettbewerb
Author	Mozzihh	Virtual-Pano	Mensch01
Score	13	12	12

Baby farm animals: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Sheep with lamb, lying on a dyke, which they graze as dyke sheep for erosion control, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	Poitou donkey foal (Equus asinus) in the Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park	Baby alpacas of a Quechua Family (Huaman Quispe farm) - Alpacas bebes - Paqucha uña Nuñoa llaqtamanta
Author	Lusi Lindwurm	F. Riedelio	Elwinlhq
Score	16	13	13

March 2023

Laundering: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Facade of a house at 277, Fondamenta Cavanella in Burano (Italy)	Washing clothes in a open area	Laundry lines in a residential neighbourhood in Venice, Italy
Author	Ermell	Pauloleong2002	Marc-Lautenbacher
Score	15	12	11

Hotels and Motels: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Ice-Hotel in Quebec Canada, the only one in North America	Spa at Tschuggen Grand Hotel	The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Switzerland
Author	Marc-Lautenbacher	Roy Egloff	Roy Egloff
Score	15	14	12

February 2023

Handles: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Handle of leather trunk from the early 1900s	Handle Of A Pots Lid	Glättkelle mit rotem Holzgriff
Author	Mariojan photo	OJjnr	VSchagow
Score	14	8	8

Cruise ship: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Royal Clipper sailing the Med	cruise vessel 'Expedition' in Antarctica	Cruise ships in Geiranger Fjord, Norway
Author	Cbuske46	Virtual-Pano	Hgrobe
Score	26	10	10

January 2023

Ice: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	A growler became a sculpture	wind-blown rime ice found on a summit cross	jogger crossing the icy right barrier gate of the Jahnwehr weir in Bamberg, Germany
Author	Virtual-Pano	Roy Egloff	Ermell
Score	19	18	15

Hospitals: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Hospital corridor in the “Marienhaus Klinikum Hetzelstift“	Hospital corridor covered with Namib sand in ghost town Kolmanskop, Namibia	Ny del av Haukeland Universitetssykehus fra Møllendal gravplass i Bergen
Author	F. Riedelio	Mozzihh	Odd Roar Aalborg
Score	16	14	11

Previous years

• Photo challenge in 2022
• Photo challenge in 2021
• Photo challenge in 2020
• Photo challenge in 2019
• Photo challenge in 2018
• Photo challenge in 2017
• Photo challenge in 2016
• Photo challenge in 2015
• Photo challenge in 2014
• Photo challenge in 2013