Webshots Blog

2010 Halloween Parade at Webshots

Photo walks, a popular activity among photo-sharing communities, let us all be a part of something no matter where we are in the world. By taking a walk this weekend and sharing the pictures with us, you’re contributing to a global mural of life.

So put on your walking shoes, grab your camera and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised at the photographic opportunities that present themselves. We’d love to see all of your photos as you can submit as many as you like!

Please tag your photos with Weekend Photo Walk 153 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

We’ve personalized the new homepage for you with a much-anticipated addition: Your Friends and Bookmarked members module! Now you can easily see their most recent photos and videos.

What’s the difference between a Friend and a Bookmarked Member?
A Friend is someone you’ve invited to be a part of your Webshots network by clicking on the blue friends icon. Depending on your permissions (check your Options & Privacy settings in your Account), your friends can order prints and gifts with your public photos.

A Bookmarked Member is someone who’s work you admire, so you want to get notifications when they upload new photos. Also, some members have opted to not allow friend invites, so you can use the Bookmark Member feature to see their recent pictures. To bookmark a member, click on the bookmark icon. You can see all of your bookmarked members in your My Shots > People > Bookmarked Members

Who are your favorite bookmarked members and friends? Share links to their member homepage with all of us in the comments section!

Fall is in the air with glorious colors all around! This creative challenge we will turn our lenses to the beautiful colors of autumn, from the warm, bright colors of autumn leaves to lush orange pumpkins, squash and gourds, to rich woolen knits of brown and gold. Autumn is the perfect time to button up and enjoy the beauty of nature. So grab a camera, a sweater and get out to find some fall beauty!

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-autumncolors. You can then view them and everyone else’s submissions on the DISPLAY PAGE (it updates about every hour). To find out more about this, read the Using Tags on Creative Challenges post.

Submission Guidelines
1. Our editors look for sharp, clear horizontal images that are at a minimum resolution of 800×600 (submissions can have larger resolutions than this). Currently, vertical images cannot fit in the homepage template. Therefore, we cannot publish vertical or narrow panoramic images.

2. Images with added text or images, including watermarks, logos, copyright symbols, graphic borders, frames and time stamps, will not be considered for first place or being featured on the homepage at a later date. Collages, however, are acceptable. Images submitted should be your own.

3. Please do not submit pictures that have already been featured on the homepage.

4. The Creative Challenge runs from 12:01 a.m. on October 27 to 12:00 p.m. on November 8 (all times EST).

5. 3 pictures per person (regardless of how many member accounts you have) tagged exactly (including hyphens) with: creative-challenge-autumncolors

*Note:Images that don’t meet the exact guidelines can be submitted and viewed for everyone to enjoy, but please understand that we cannot publish images that don’t meet minimum guidelines on the homepage.

NEXT CHALLENGE THEME: Low Perspective
When I was a child, the top of the refrigerator was a mystery – it’s where the cookie jar and extra Trick-or-Treat candy lived, and the hiding place for items that may not be intended for children. It seemed so far away from my lower perspective. For the next challenge get low and you’re bound to see the world from an interesting and nostalgic angle. Challenges that play with different perspectives are interesting to do and always fun to judge – we can’t wait to see your entries!

“Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!”

Halloween challenges are great fun, and the night filled with Tricks and Treats will be here before you know it! For this challenge, we asked you to enter your best Halloween themed shots.  There were many Tricks and a few Treats that were entered and can be viewed on the DISPLAY PAGE.  Thanks to all who entered their wonderful photos and congrats to all the winners!

#1. Halloween3 by member Farradhim – Congratulations!  Your photo will be featured as the Big Photo of the Day tomorrow on the homepage!

#2. Horseman of the Apocalypse by member grotobags100

#3. You have been found tasteful… by member Jumahaa

#4. Sunset Smiles by member Barbiedoll_524

#5. Yet Another Year Without Trick or Treaters by member filmlaw1

#6. light-beyond-the-door by member amberwayne52

#7. A Spooky Scarecrow Scaring Away Boys and Girls Trick or Treating by member chantalc

#8. Old Spooky Mansion by member stanpacz

#9. Horreur Extreme – Halloween 2010 by member huguette296100

#10. Brothers in Time by member robkin27

Photo walks, a popular activity among photo-sharing communities, let us all be a part of something no matter where we are in the world. By taking a walk this weekend and sharing the pictures with us, you’re contributing to a global mural of life.

So put on your walking shoes, grab your camera and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised at the photographic opportunities that present themselves. We’d love to see all of your photos as you can submit as many as you like!

Please tag your photos with Weekend Photo Walk 152 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

We were so excited to hear that Webshots editor and professional photographer Penny Adams had her Clouded Leopard, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Tennessee photo featured on the Bing.com search page.

You can download the photo for free or share it on Facebook!

We always have delicious treats around the office, and when I posted this picture on the Webshots Facebook page, many of you asked for the recipe. Here it is:

Ho Ho Cake

Ingredients:
1 Box Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 Stick softened Margarine
1 Can of Chocolate Frosting (any Chocolate Frosting will do Dark, Fudge, etc.)
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 Cup of Granulated Sugar
1 ¼ Cups of Milk
½ Cup Crisco (white)
3 Tablespoons Cornstarch

Option #1 – Cookie Sheet Format
Bake cake as directed but put on large cookie sheet with sides (greased and floured). Cake will take less time to bake as directed on package. Let cool. While cake is baking, mix milk with cornstarch and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until milk is thickened. Remove milk paste from heat and let thoroughly cool. Next, cream sugar, softened margarine, Crisco and vanilla, add milk paste that is thoroughly cooled and beat on high speed until fluffy (do not under beat). Ice this mixture over cooled cake and chill for 1 hour. Prepare frosting by removing lid and foil cover and heat for ONLY 15 seconds in microwave to thin down consistency of frosting. Stir frosting to make smooth and carefully frost over cake. Enjoy!

Option #2 – Bundt Cake Pan Format
Follow directions above but instead of using a cookie sheet use a greased and floured Bundt pan. Make sure you follow baking directions for a Bundt cake on package. Once cake is thoroughly cooled, cut cake in half with a bread or sharp knife, take off top and rest on plate (cover with dish towel to keep from drying out). Frost bottom with white filling and chill for 1 hour, replace top of cake and frost. This cake might take more frosting than the flat version. I usually use 1 ½ cans of chocolate frosting.

Photo walks, a popular activity among photo-sharing communities, let us all be a part of something no matter where we are in the world. By taking a walk this weekend and sharing the pictures with us, you’re contributing to a global mural of life.

So put on your walking shoes, grab your camera and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised at the photographic opportunities that present themselves. We’d love to see all of your photos as you can submit as many as you like!

Please tag your photos with Weekend Photo Walk 151 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

Halloween challenges are great fun, and night filled with Tricks and Treats will be here before you know it! For this challenge enter your best Halloween themed shots for Trick or Treat. We can’t wait to see your entries

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-trickortreat. You can then view them and everyone else’s submissions on the DISPLAY PAGE (it updates about every hour). To find out more about this, read the Using Tags on Creative Challenges post.

Submission Guidelines
1. Our editors look for sharp, clear horizontal images that are at a minimum resolution of 800×600 (submissions can have larger resolutions than this). Currently, vertical images cannot fit in the homepage template. Therefore, we cannot publish vertical or narrow panoramic images.

2. Images with added text or images, including watermarks, logos, copyright symbols, graphic borders, frames and time stamps, will not be considered for first place or being featured on the homepage at a later date. Collages, however, are acceptable. Images submitted should be your own.

3. Please do not submit pictures that have already been featured on the homepage.

4. The Creative Challenge runs from 12:01 a.m. on October 13 to 12:00 p.m. on October 25 (all times EST).

5. 3 pictures per person (regardless of how many member accounts you have) tagged exactly (including hyphens) with: creative-challenge-trickortreat

*Note:Images that don’t meet the exact guidelines can be submitted and viewed for everyone to enjoy, but please understand that we cannot publish images that don’t meet minimum guidelines on the homepage.

NEXT CHALLENGE THEME: Autumn Colors
Fall is in the air with glorious colors all around! Our next creative challenge will turn our lenses to the beautiful colors of autumn, from the warm, bright colors of autumn leaves to lush orange pumpkins, squash and gourds, to rich woolen knits of brown and gold. Autumn is the perfect time to button up and enjoy the beauty of nature. So grab a camera, a sweater and get out to find some fall beauty!