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

2023 – January – Ice

The new challenge features Ice.

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 January 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. January 2023 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 29 days 10 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  Очистка кровли жилого дома от снега и льда

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  To submit pictures please follow this link

2023 – January – Hospital

The new challenge features Hospitals.

Please follow your country rules and Commons guidance in case of photographs of identifiable people, for both patients and medical staff, see also Commons:Patient images essay. Images not following those guidelines will be deleted.

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 January 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. January 2023 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 29 days 10 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  Старый автомобиль скорой помощи

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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.

November 2022

• Unfinished things
• Hair

Previous challenges

October 2022

Skyscrapers: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Miami skyline from the ocean	Hudson Yards, Midtown Manhattan at dusk	Flatiron building, Manhattan, 1969
Author	Matthew T Rader	King of Hearts	Foeniz
Score	17	16	12

Greens: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Plitvička jezera	Bamboo forest in Arashiyama （Sagano）, Kyoto, Japan.	Белый утёнок в зелёной тине
Author	66colpi	Naokijp	Vitaliy VK
Score	21	7	7

September 2022

Abstract photography: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Light colors	Sand at a beach in the surf zone, Northern Algarve, Portugal	Emtpy rooms and hallway in the Jewish Museum Berlin, Germany
Author	Celeda	Lusi Lindwurm	Mozzihh
Score	11	10	9

Gifts: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	День рождения. Праздничный торт	Shoes Filled With Gifts for Saint Nicholas Day	Shiny Christmas balls
Author	Tiraspolsky	Changku88	Sneha G Gupta
Score	15	14	11

August 2022

Lake islands: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Isola di San Giulio dopo un temporale - Lago d'Orta	Stellisee, Switzerland	Lago d'Orta Isola di San Giulio
Author	66colpi	Ka23 13	66colpi
Score	19	13	12

Insects: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Schwalbenschwanz-Duell (Papilio machanon)	Nut weevil (Curculio nucum) on a hazelnut	Windenschwärmer (Agrius convolvuli)
Author	Hgut1842	Ermell	Hgut1842
Score	20	18	11

July 2022

Big and small: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Hand of Grandpa and Grandson	Big (E27s) and small (E10s) incandescent lamps	Baby's fist in daddy's hand.jpg
Author	Nikhilmore nimo	F. Riedelio	Palauenc05
Score	22	15	10

Gaze: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Detail of a crocodile at Cologne Zoo	Girl with sharp eyes	I Want to Have My Peace
Author	Ermell	Saral Shots	Barbara-Ingeborg
Score	12	11	11

June 2022

Air transport: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Antalya Airport, Turkey	Split-flap display and airport check-in in Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Main Airport	Operzioni di pulizia pista sotto l'Antonov 225 Myra a MXP
Author	Roy Egloff	F. Riedelio	66colpi
Score	11	9	9

Dance: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Dance classically with strobo flesh	Dance and joy	Dance disco with strobo flesh
Author	Mölchlein	Annatsach	Mölchlein
Score	14	13	11

May 2022

Kitchenware: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Alexanderwerk kitchen weight scale circa 1910-1920	Preserving jar opener - wood, metal, plastic - patented by Havolit, manufactured in 1950s	Asando cuy a la brasa a la puerta de una tienda en Baños (Ecuador)
Author	Mariojan photo	Franz van Duns	Saldeplata
Score	7	5	5

Asian gardens: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Water reflection of Kinkaku-ji Temple with a tree on a rock in the pond, Kyoto, Japan	Arakurayama Sengen Park, Asama, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan	Rhododendron garden, Japan
Author	Basile Morin	Otto Domes	Ka23 13
Score	17	9	8

April 2022

Stairs: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Stairs to the station platform before 2013 (Mons Belgium)	Vineyard stairway in the Enz valley near Vaihingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany	Stairs at the lower entrance to the Bamberg lock
Author	Anne Debaisieux	Foeniz	Ermell
Score	11	10	8

Eggs: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Ostrich egg versus chicken egg.	Box of eggs	Uova di lepidottero su foglie di Lonicera (caprifoglio selvatico)
Author	Annatsach	Balise42	Albarubescens
Score	16	15	7

March 2022

Parliaments: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Eastern facade of the Capitol in La Habana, Cuba	The House of Parliament	Parliament. View from the Danube
Author	Virtual-Pano	Ermell	Vi Ko
Score	16	14	8

Refraction: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Stift in Wasserglas	Krokuswiese in Glaskugel IMG 0193WI	Rainbow and drops on a CD
Author	ThoBel-0043	Kora27	Balise42
Score	13	13	9

February 2022

Villages: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Hohndorf im Frühling. Erzgebirgskreis, Sachsen 2H1A0954WI	It rained constantly on Peyreleau, 74 inhabitants	Seitengasse in Gordes, Bergdorf im Departement Vaucluse, Provence.
Author	Kora27	Celeda	Michael.F.H.Barth
Score	12	11	9

Pipe organs: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Detail view of the pipe organ in the northern aisle of Speyer Cathedral	Organ in the Memorial Church in Speyer	Orgel. Kirche in Wildbach, Sachsen 2H1A3852WI
Author	F. Riedelio	Kmtextor	Kora27
Score	9	8	6

January 2022

Multiculturalism: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image			[[File:|x240px]]
Title	Woman, Men, Muslims, Christians	Canadian First Nations girl in traditional costume with integrated earrings of worldwide Japanese brand "Hello Kitty"	Fiori di glicine
Author	Celeda	Marc-Lautenbacher	Repuli
Score	22	11	10

Big equipment: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Liebherr LRB 355 pile driving and drilling rig	Discarded bucket-wheel excavator from open-cast lignite mining	Schaufelrad eines Baggers im Braunkohletagebau Welzow
Author	Ermell	Lusi Lindwurm	Staubi59
Score	30	21	15

Previous years

• 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