O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us!
Have you noticed that Christmas trees are already popping up around town? Decorated in so many ways, they’re a wonderful subject to photograph.
Keep a sharp eye for picturesque locations such as historical homes, city Christmas displays, theme parks, garden centers, and festivals that have beautiful Christmas trees.
If you would like to photograph a tree at home, in addition to the tree, we recommend to add some creative elements which would contribute to the look of a traditional, inviting and cozy room. For example: If you have a fireplace by the tree, hang a few stockings and lite the fire. If your family pet is sleeping by the fireplace, even better! If you don’t have gifts under the tree, then wrap a few boxes for effect. In this challenge, what you choose to include or not include in the scene is just as important as technique.
Whether you choose to focus on the ornaments or include the entire tree (indoor or outdoor), don’t forget to turn your flash off and use a tripod for best results.
OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES
To officially enter the Creative Challenge, you must tag your three submissions with creative-challenge-christmas-trees. 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 November 23rd, through 12:00 p.m on December 5th (all times EST).
5. 3 pictures per person (regardless of how many member accounts you have) tagged exactly (including hyphens) with: creative-challenge-christmas-trees. *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: Christmas Songs – Take your favorite Christmas song and intrepret it via photography. Be sure to include the title of the song in your caption. For example: “White Christmas” 
