Webshots Blog

Throughout the world on a daily basis, we all pass through gates and doors with such varying character.  From the majestic to the mundane, gates and doors can open the world of a wonderful photo opportunity.

Have you ever studied the weathered beauty of a rusty barn door, the brass accents contrasting the paint color or the patterns of an industrial security gate? Imagine what kind of personality the entry ways describe the character of those who live or have lived behind the door? You might find the website www.thedoorbook.com very inspirational and helpful for finding interesting gates and doors in your area.

Once you find a good location, try to photograph it in a number of ways and seek out interesting perspectives and crop creatively. Shoot them from a far or get in close to examine keyholes (or through the keyhole). Show us your favorite gates and doors and how they are unique to anywhere else in the world.

While we cannot accept vertical entries, remember you can also photograph them vertically and create a horizontal collage like the example photo above.  

We hope you’ll enjoy this challenge as much as we’re looking forward to seeing what is submitted. Good Luck!

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-gates-doors. 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 big photo of the day 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 August 31st through 12:00 p.m on September 12th (all times EST).

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

 *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: Paws & Claws – By popular demand, the next challenge is all about your feline friends and canine companions!
 

Amusement Parks, Carnivals and Fairs have always provided an endless supply of interesting subjects to photograph during day and night. There are games of skill, rides, boardwalks, colorful signage, animals, food, gardens and much more! Our members once again rose to the challenge and submitted some supurb entries. It was a tough decision, but the judges felt that based on composition, technique, color, originality, uniqueness of the subject, overall execution and how well the image best fit the theme, these 10 images were deserving of special recognition. To review all of the submitted images, please visit the DISPLAY_PAGE 

Thank you to each and everyone who participated and we hope you will enter the next creative challenge: Gates and Doors on Wednesday. More information will be provided then.

#1. Santa Monica Pier by member USCdyer

#2. Luna Park, Sydney, Australia by member rnewbery

#3. Ferris Wheel, Wonderland, Ocean City, New Jersey by member DANMMYERS

#4. The Big Carousel at the Fair by member jynxx_669

#5. Win Me! By member rthomson88

#6. Felt Like Flying by member mjesli

#7. Flying Over Las Vegas by member swissmike62

#8. Shamu at SeaWorld, Orlando by member sammibay

#9. Brighton Carousel Horse by member peg535

#10. Gentle Giant Wheel, Altamont Fair, New York by member CatskillHiker

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 196 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 195 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

Amusement Parks, Carnivals and Fairs have always provided an endless supply of interesting subjects to photograph during day and night. There are games of skill, rides, boardwalks, colorful signage, animals, food, gardens and much more! Many local fairs across the U.S. are in full swing this month too. Sometimes photos of closed or abandoned parks make fascinating photos as well.

If you are unable to visit a local fair, theme park or amusement park to photograph, try to seek out locations with rides. For example, downtown San Francisco has a carousel that’s accessible in Yerba Buena Plaza.

Here’s a little photo tip, photographing a moving Ferris wheel at night would take a similar exposure as photographing fireworks. Just set your camera on a tripod and open the shutter for a few seconds at approx. f/8 using ISO 100. Feel free to play with adjusting the exposure or the aperture setting to see what results you best.

Good luck! We’re looking forward to seeing all the entries!

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-amusement-parks. 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 big photo of the day 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 August 17th through 12:00 p.m on August 29th (all times EST).

5. 3 pictures per person (regardless of how many member accounts you have) tagged exactly (including hyphens) with: creative-challenge-amusement-parks *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: Gates and Doors 

This Creative Challenge focused on images taken with a fast shutter speed.  There were several excellent entries submitted and it was very difficult to narrow down the top 10. However, the judges felt that based on composition, technique, color, originality, uniqueness of the subject, overall execution and how well the image best fits the creative challenge theme, these 10 images were deserving of special recognition. To revisit them all please visit the DISPLAY PAGE.

Thank you to each and everyone who participated and we hope you will enter the next Creative Challenge!

#1. Get Your Kick by member jynxx_669 - Congratulations! Your photo will be featured on the Webshots homepage tomorrow!

#2. Drip by member _bmlynn_

#3. Top Speed or Sink by member peg353

#4. Playing in the Snow by member bfryxell

#5. Swingin’ by member shutterbug418

#6. X Games, Aspen, Colorado by member 2oceans1

#7. Eindhoven Fair by member akoene100

#8. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by member ykarelic4

#9. Pool by member musicth8tr4hgal

#10. Wow!!! That’s Hot! by member AggieFox95

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

Hey Premium members, we’ve created a new summer collection exclusively for you! Our NEW Animal Antics photo collection features funny animals that range from a very opinionated zebra to some seriously curious kitties.

Want to share the humor? Send any of the 11 all new photos as a Virtual Postcard or share them on the Facebook walls of all your friends.

Not a premium member? Don’t feel left out. You can enjoy all of these silly creatures in high-res or widescreen, in addition to other membership benefits, including premium customer support, when you join our Premium family today!

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

This week’s creative challenge focuses on subjects best captured with a fast shutter speed.

If you own a point and shoot camera, we would recommend using shutter priority mode. You may need to adjust your ISO to a higher setting to achieve a proper exposure from using a faster shutter speed.

If you own a DSLR, the same applies to you, but you might also enjoy syncing your flash for a different result. You may enjoy this how-to article for photographing liquids. http://www.photopoly.net/freezing-fast-motion-learning-high-speed-photography/

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-freeze-frame. 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 big photo of the day 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 August 3rd through 12:00 p.m on August 15st (all times EST).

5. 3 pictures per person (regardless of how many member accounts you have) tagged exactly (including hyphens) with: creative-challenge-freeze-frame *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: Amusement Parks - Ferris wheels, roller coasters, carousels, and more.  Our next challenge is sure to bring out the kid in you!