Webshots Blog

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 166 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

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 165 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Webshots shop. Now through February 2, 2011 you can save 20% on your entire order of prints and photo gifts from the Webshots shop!

Just enter coupon code WINTER20 at checkout.

What are your favorite photo gifts to make? Cards? Books? Mugs? Lets us know in the comments!

Looking for this week’s Creative Challenge?
Click here for Creative Challenge: The Wizard of Oz
———————————————————————————————————–The Webshots Creative Challenge started in 2006 as a way for you to have fun with your photos. Since then, it’s grown into an amazing photo contest that connects our members from all over the world and helps them improve their photography skills.

Soon after we started the Creative Challenge, we began featuring the winning photo on the homepage—a huge honor that many members enjoy. We continue this tradition, and we’ve also started featuring other photos from the Challenge in the member sections, from the channel pages to featured albums.

Over the years, the editors have noticed the improvements in the entries, from creativity to quality. We all look forward to Monday afternoons when we look at all the entries and pick our favorites. In fact, it got so difficult to just choose first, second and third place that we expanded the placements to feature more amazing pictures!

We’ve put together a collection of all the winning photos from the Creative Challenges so you can enjoy the wonderful photographs and perhaps make some new friends!

Winner’s from our Creative Challenges:

2006-2007

2008

2009

2010

We hope to see your photos in the next Creative Challenge, and here’s to all our great winning photos for 2011! 

This challenge should be another fun one! With wild weather, lions, tin men, ruby slippers, golden roads, tiny dogs and flying monkeys, The Wizard of Oz certainly abounds with inspiring subjects. Pick your favorite and submit your entries for a chance to win your photo on the Homepage!

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-oz. 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 January 19 to 12:00 p.m. on January 31 (all times EST).

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

*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: View within a View
The next challenge will work your creative muscle. To capture a beautiful photo is one thing, but to frame it in a creative manner or to reflect an alternate vantage point from the one in front of you takes some serious consideration and planning. Classic subjects for this would be the open window or doorway looking out toward a lovely vista or reflected mountain in a window pane on a rustic barn. However you choose to frame your view of the world around you, we look forward to your entries in the next challenge!

Creative Challenge: Good Morning

“An amazing morning, breathtaking beautiful!” by member marionw104102

Creative Challenge: Winter/Spring Transition

“Astun Ski Resort, Huesca, Pyrenees, Spain” by member f2eliminator

Creative Challenge: Facial Expressions

“Smiling Tango Singer – MADRID – Cantante de Tangos Sonriente” by member wesmfmm

Creative Challenge: Animal Antics

“Ugly Dog” by member joegos (2nd place)

Creative Challenge: Luck of the Irish

“Irish Luck Farm” by member peg353

Creative Challenge: Eggs

“rabbit eggs” by member flowerfurly

Creative Challenge: April Showers

“After The Rain” by member antaver59

Creative Challenge: How Does Your Garden Grow?

“A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE” by member DANMMYERS

Creative Challenge: Big & Small

“Alice has been eating mushrooms again!” by member volvob12

Creative Challenge: City Life

“New York, Times Square – Taxi Swisssh” by member rodemicheli

Creative Challenge: Yellow

“Yellow Sunflower Fields of the North Georgia Mountains” by member police370

Creative Challenge: Summer Fun

“Fun in the Sun” by member swissmike62

Creative Challenge: Happiness Is…

“My Golden Retriever Ditte enjoys the sunset” by member ingrid2512

Creative Challenge: Fuzzy

“Fuzzy Flowers” by member RaffaellaII

Creative Challenge: In the Sky

“Business Class” by member leomascarinas

Creative Challenge: Cool Down

“Ice Cube” by member sricephotography

Creative Challenge: Water & Sand

“Last Photographer” by member evanreese

Creative Challenge: Roses

“A Bouquet of Roses” by member chantalc

Creative Challenge: 15

“15 Buddhas at Umin Thounze monastery, Sagaing, Myanmar” by member suresh_krishna

Creative Challenge: Cats

“Nemo” by member kjstephenson

Creative Challenge: Trick or Treat

“Halloween” by member Farradhim

Creative Challenge: Autumn Colors

“Red Beauty” by member sigfusson

Creative Challenge: Low Perspective

“Squirrels” by member peg353

Creative Challenge: Delicate

“Jellies at Monteray Bay Aquarium” by member thom52

Creative Challenge: Winter

“The Calm After the Storm” by member bigsister861

Creative Challenge: Man vs. Nature

“Foggy horizon” by member Isis_Trinity

Creative Challenge: Patterns

“Hen & chicks” by member antaver59

Creative Challenge: Anthropomorphic

“Face” by member galitay

Creative Challenge: Before & After

“Buring out!” by member olditaliantree

Creative Challenge: Love

“veterans day” by member mcnabb22

Creative Challenge: Black History Month

“A New Day” by member dawson30

Creative Challenge: The Future

“”Green” eco-friendly lights” by member akoene100

Creative Challenge: Out of Place

“DareToBeDifferent” by member _bmlynn_

Creative Challenge: Interconnected

“mirrored skyscrapers” by member indigobeej

Creative Challenge: Shot by Candlelight

“candlelight drop” by member lynnie440

Creative Challenge: Tropical

“One of Many Sensational Sunsets” by member lynncb7

Creative Challenge: April Fool’s Fun

“Street of Facades” by member ykarelic4

Creative Challenge: Spring Holidays

“Our Pysanky” by member deanrox

Creative Challenge: Spring Flowers!

“Tulip” by member grosnounours105

Creative Challenge: A Single Tree

“Lost” by member lorrainemx

Creative Challenge: Showers, Storms and Wild Weather

“Rainbow over Santiago” by member pablovieira1980

Creative Challenge: Babies

“Mommy’s Love” by member mistyblu115

Creative Challenge: HDR (High Dynamic Range Imaging)

“Four wheels” by member LosT1986

Creative Challenge: Silly Pets

“Hey Bandit what is this thing?” by member police370

Creative Challenge: Neon Signs

“Tight shot of The Rio Las Vegas” by member Darlaree

Creative Challenge: Something Sweet

“Strawberries in the Rain” by member _bmlynn_

Creative Challenge: The State Where You Live

“Pa’ako” by member clarkth

Creative Challenge: Father’s Day

“A Perfect Father’s Day” by member monicasc

Creative Challenge: Worm’s Eye View

“Praying Mantis” by member buck47

Creative Challenge: High Contrast

“Spotting the problem” by member arsfb

Creative Challenge: Oh Canada!

“Opeongo River, ON” by member andrzejpr

Creative Challenge: Body Language

“Anguish” by member TerBear53

Creative Challenge: In My Backyard

“Joggers” by member whiteant88

Creative Challenge: Vanishing Point

“Goldfinch on locust” by member clarkdavidw

Creative Challenge: Contrasting Colors

“Tomato in a Green Whirl” by member grosnounours105

Creative Challenge: Basic Black

“Khan the Black Panther” by member rodemicheli

Creative Challenge: Autumn Fun

“Fall Colors Near Woodstock, Vermont” by member mojo0716

Creative Challenge: Mirror, Mirror

“Polar Bear” by member bfryxell

Creative Challenge: Feeling Spooky

“Cartoon – The Awakening” by member peg353

Creative Challenge: In My Kitchen

“RWB” by member camera_man

Creative Challenge: Jump!

“Voando” by member anario106

Creative Challenge: Multiples

“Golden Trio” by member ldeiter78

Creative Challenge: Happy Holidays

“Dreamin of a White Christmas” by member ldeiter78

Creative Challenge: Resolutions

“Notice the Little Things” by member dlbweb

Creative Challenge: New Year’s Resolutions

“Morning Walks” by member rjscholten

Creative Challenge: Time

“London – Big Ben” by member a90six

Creative Challenge: Inspirational Places

“Magical Sunset at the Bled Island” by member andreja1

Creative Challenge: Winter

“biggest ice cycles I have ever seen” by member kellimays (2nd place)

Creative Challenge: Sunrise

“Piru Sunset” by member stormrider_uk

Creative Challenge: Symmetry

“King penguins at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands” by member Caviar_Lover

Creative Challenge: Red

“Flaming Red Rose Glowing Red Rose” by member a90six

Creative Challenge: Numbers

“heel of draught of a ship” by member dcrrld

Creative Challenge: Bridges

“London – Tower Bridge Sunrise Silhouette” by member a90six

Creative Challenge: Eyes

“Big Sister is watching YOU…” by member TheSittingBear

Creative Challenge: National Parks

“Signs of Spring” by member bmanis51

Creative Challenge: Street Scenes

“Streets are for everyone!” by member lnayvelt

Creative Challenge: Funny

“I Do Not Prefer Blond” by member montecore827

Creative Challenge: Vacation

“Pharaoh statue at a sunset, Egypt” by member russpsych

Creative Challenge: Creative Framing

“Winter Scene” by member loriarnold101

Creative Challenge: Still Life

“Still life 3″ by member police370

Creative Challenge: Dramatic/Creative Lighting

“Joey The Tiger” by member anica66

Creative Challenge: Mothers

“Mother & Family” by member haneveercoremansshots

Creative Challenge: Spring Flowers

“Many” by member rm_blizzard

Creative Challenge: Song Lyrics

“Ride a white swan” by member lynnie440

Creative Challenge: Birds

“Chickadee Dreams” by member paintlady101

Creative Challenge: Reflections

“Sunrise on Topock Marsh” by member happened2crash

 Creative Challenge: Orange

“Dome of Flagler College” by member tildenrl

Creative Challenge: Water in Motion

“Crashing wave at Kiama” by member evita17m

Creative Challenge: Summer Scenes

“Brain Freeze” by member dsworster (2nd place)

Creative Challenge: Fireworks

“Florida’s Capitol and Fireworks” by member tildenrl

Creative Challenge: Hot

“Hot fire!” by member grosnounours105

Creative Challenge: Depth of Field

“queing” by member xenidlo

Creative Challenge:Sense of Scale

“Little frog” by member flyboy213

Creative Challenge: Pet Portraits

“Molly…My Boxer Puppy” by member alasdesol

Creative Challenge: From The Hip

“Oops the shutter just went click” by member Sandra0510

Creative Challenge: Action Sports

“4-Bike_MG_2274c” by member mainemike

Creative Challenge: Digital Black & White

“Monument Valley” by member bfryxell

Creative Challenge: Ode to Edward Weston

“Kryptonite Cavern” by member shutterbug418

Creative Challenge: Alphabet in Nature

“e” by member TheChrisXavierCollection

Creative Challenge: Golden Hour

“Sunset at Eilean Donan Castle. Scotland” by member grotbags100

Creative Challenge: Creative Family Portraits

“family portrait” by member lemme39

Creative Challenge: Panning

“keeneland raceday 3″ by member tinagene

Creative Challenge: Special Effects

“Changing the weather” by member arsfb

Creative Challenge: Country Life

“A CLOSER SHOT OF THE FARM” by member tfm446

Creative Challenge: Capturing the Sun

“Ecureuil & Sunset” by member peg353

Creative Challenge: Creepy

“Ghost in Pere Lachaise Paris cemetery” by member dcrrld

Creative Challenge: Fall Color

“Fall colors” by member jcal52

Creative Challenge: The Roads We Travel

“The Open Road” by member sigfusson

Creative Challenge: Mystery Macros

“Frost in a window pane no. 2″ by member photoplo

Creative Challenge: Food

“Sliced Kiwi” by member PhotoDucky

Creative Challenge: Landmarks

“The Stones of Callanish” by member lorrainemx

Creative Challenge: Season’s Greetings Around the World

“07 xm disney party 045″ by member dickbendele

Creative Challenge: Jack Frost

“The sound of silence” by member gertsnel

Creative Challenge: Interior

“Grand Hyatt – Santiago, Chile” by member bfryxell

Creative Challenge: Winter White

“Panet street during a snow storm” by member jtanguay2

Creative Challenge: Early Spring

“Canadian Goose & Goslings” by member windy1st

Creative Challenge: Valentine’s Day

“hearts55″ by member tfm446

Creative Challenge: Ansel Adams

“Yosemite Valley” by member reedstar

Creative Challenge: Macro Photography

“Hungry” by member jaybeen1418

Creative Challenge: Think Green!

“Think Green” by member _yoko12

Creative Challenge: Black and White

“Le regard d’un roi” by member maxeclip

Creative Challenge: Round

“Circle of Color” by member erinrex

Creative Challenge: Reflections

“Harbour lights” by member DaveMullany

Creative Challenge: Action

“Brown Pelican” by member RichSwanner

Creative Challenge: Food!

“fresh fish for dinner” by member mjesli

Creative Challenge:  Earth Day

“Florida Museum of Natural History” by member keithandlaura

Creative Challenge: Filters

“Thoughts Come and Go” by member rthomson88

Creative Challenge: Photojournalism

“Close Up of Art at WWII Memorial” by member bigsister861

Creative Challenge: Shadows

“Sand Artist” by member volvob12

Creative Challenge: Animals

“pose2″ by member vladimirpunikki

Creative Challenge: Climate Changes

“Melting Sydney” by member andrei_sky

Creative Challenge: Primary Colors

“1st Place ‘Primary Colors’ Creative Challenge” by member sigfusson

 Creative Challenge: Summer’s Essence

“Summer is… A Ferris Wheel Ride in the Twilight” by member jaynenjoe

Creative Challenge: Silhouettes

“Early Evening at the Bar D Ranch” by member redriverocks

Creative Challenge: Red, White & Blue

“Standing Tall” by member rjscholten

Creative Challenge: Night Shots

“Magical night on the Thames, St. Pauls & Blackfriar Bridge” by member worldtripper3

Creative Challenge: Sunrises and Sunsets

“Golden African sunset” by member elysea100

Creative Challenge: Windows & Doors

“Weathered Old Door” by member evanreese

Creative Challenge:  Hometown Pride

“Dirt Rest at Concordia” by member bjclarke1

Creative Challenge: Sepia

“Dragon Fly” by member gtjeddah

Creative Challenge: Picture from Above

“Western Farmland” by member assistantchief84

Creative Challenge: Colors in Contrast

“Go UTEP!” by member bjclarke1

Creative Challenger: Soft Things

“bonnieinwhite” by member gdg1130

Creative Challenge: Transportation

“Trogir” by member akoene100

Creative Challenge: One Object, Three Shots

“Home for a Gnome” by member volvob12

Creative Challenge: Autumn

“Just hanging around waiting for Halloween” by member exclusivefloralcreations (2nd place)

Creative Challenge: Macro Mystery

“Macro Mystery #3, sunflower centre” by member detlefbecher

Creative Challenge: Woods

“Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?” by member idelsoni

Creative Challenge: Stairs

“The Steps of Civita” by member bjclarke1

Creative Challenge: Signs

“CREATIVE CHALLENGE Signs” by member luvnartusa

Creative Challenge: Creepy

“Haunted Window” by member jacrabit4

Creative Challenge: Black and White in Color

“Twilight’s Last Gleaming” by member trout921

Creative Challenge: Music

“The Power of Love” by member sigfusson

Creative Challenge: Fall Flowers

“Twin Mums” by member trotvalley

Creative Challenge: Thankful

“Sunrise” by member mcnabb22

Creative Challenge: Long Exposure

“Speed” by member wolftinz

Creative Challenge: Statues

“Powerscourt Revisited” by member wesmfmm

Creative Challenge: Holiday Spirit

“HighStreet Trees V2″ by member wolftinz

This week’s challenge winner will be featured this Wednesday during our week of opposites. There were many interesting entries, so be sure to browse through the DISPLAY PAGE to see shots from above, below and others that will keep you guessing. Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to everyone who made the top 10!

#1. Aerial Shot of Edgartown, Massachusetts by member DANMMYERS

#2. High and Mighty by member volvob12

#3. Silos and Falling Snow by member farmerbraun

#4. Crescent Dune, From a Hot Air Balloon, UAE by member clarkdavidw

#5. Crystal Chandelier, West Virginia Capitol by member albertsville

#6. Tulip Capturing the Rays by member peg353

#7. Cheminee d’ aeration, Paris, France by member Misi212

#8. Slide by member gdg1130

#9. Copacabana, View From the Sugar Loaf, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by member csantosn

#10. Above the Clouds by member annedm1