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After a continuous run of almost a decade, contest participation has gotten extremely low. See Contest is definitely dead. Now what? for more, and for possible next steps to revitalize it.

Also, you may instead want to check out the new Photo Competition on the main site! See also the Meta post, New Photo Contest.

This is the place to submit and vote on photos to be featured on the the main site. This contest should showcase your best quality work, demonstrating at least moderate skill with a camera and a general understanding of the artistic aspects of photography. Remember, the selected photo will be displayed on our main site header for a week. Submit something that you and the members of our site will want to look at and admire for seven days! This contest is for the community to choose what they LIKE (not what they dislike), so downvotes aren't allowed — see below for more.

Contest Format

Starting in December 2012, this contest follows a new perpetual format with continuously-rolling voting. Submit and vote on photos whenever you like. Every Monday (give or take; it's done by hand when site moderators have a spare moment), the top-voted image will be selected as the winner, and:

Then, the contest will continue with the remaining photos in the thread.

(Note that the themed photo contest will work on a different scheme.)

Voting Rules

  • Vote up as many images as you like.

  • Make sure to look at the "active" tab for this question to see new submissions.

  • Up votes only! Do NOT vote down your competitors! If you don't like an image, don't vote. (If you notice a downvote on an entry, make a note in a comment, and that will be taken into account when the weekly winner is selected.)

  • When you vote, consider the small size primarily, even if a larger image is linked. This contest's primary function is to select a header image, and we need the winners to be successful at that size.

Submitter Rules

  • Showcase your best work in any genre of photography by providing your image inline in an answer.

  • You may enter one photo per week. This is on the honor system, but abuse will eventually earn a strong talking-to.

  • Don't re-enter the same photo. Since the contest is continual, there's no need. You may withdraw an image from the contest at any time by deleting the answer.

  • You may edit your entry to fix problems or to add missing information, but don't switch the photo itself for a different one, or make gratuitous edits simply to "bump" the entry.

  • Images must be 210 px high and up to 375 px wide. This is the requirement for the header. Please feel free to provide a link to a larger version, but as explained above, the primary focus is on the header image.

  • For the same reason, images must be in landscape orientation.

  • Images must not contain any artificially added borders, watermarks, or decorations of any kind.

  • Do not use this as a forum for photo critique. Use chat instead, or ask a specific question about your image on the main site.

  • The submitted image must conform to this site's content license, cc-wiki with attribution required. If you're not comfortable with that, this isn't the contest for you.

Submitter notes

Be patient! This contest is relatively obscure, and it takes a while for images to accumulate votes. It's normal for really excellent images to have only one or two upvotes even after a time. The format of the contest should let them rise to the top eventually.

Feel free to include a concise description that explains the image, the emotions behind it, and so on, and perhaps some explanation of gear and exposure settings. This site is a collaboration for teaching and learning, so it's great to know those things — but it's not required for the contest.

When we get up and running with featuring these photos on the blog, this will provide the opportunity to go into more depth and to engage in conversation about your work.

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    \$\begingroup\$ As with all past contests, I'd like to stress the up-vote only policy. Let's keep our contest cordial. This is not a place for critique or a forum within which to express dislike, choose what you like, have fun, and let the contest roll! \$\endgroup\$
    – jrista Mod
    Commented Dec 4, 2012 at 22:22
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ See also: Regarding ties. Regarding image size/shape/orientation. \$\endgroup\$
    – jrista Mod
    Commented Jan 8, 2013 at 1:53
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Please use this thread for discussion of what we should do about the PotW contest threads going forward. I agree that there are issues involved with a single everlasting thread, and we should be open to suggestions. \$\endgroup\$
    – jrista Mod
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 0:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ I suspect very few people are digging down to the bottom - based on dates and my past upvotes on other pictures and where they are in the heap now. A link to the entry page may help (or may exist and I've missed it). Something like ENTRIES START AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE - HAVE A LOOK \$\endgroup\$
    – Russell McMahon
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 13:27
  • 5
    \$\begingroup\$ @RussellMcMahon It does say Make sure to look at the "active" tab for this question to see new submissions. which is like that but better. :) \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Commented Oct 9, 2014 at 13:33

468 Answers 468

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Perfect reflection

Perfect reflection

📷 Nikon D3500, Nikkor 18-55mm at 26mm, aperture f/16, shutter 1/50s, ISO 100.

⛰️ Lake Matheson in New Zealand.

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23
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‘Ferns' Orb, occluding the sun - Wellington Civic Square

‘Ferns' Orb, occluding the sun - Wellington Civic Square. Shot on RPX25 35mm film

Full Size

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Nice pic! What's a Ferns orb? \$\endgroup\$
    – Deschele Schilder
    Commented Apr 9, 2019 at 10:26
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ @deschelescilder It s a sculpture in the Wellington Civic Square. More info and views from different angles: sculpture.org.nz/the-sculptures/ferns \$\endgroup\$
    – DarcyThomas
    Commented Apr 9, 2019 at 23:52
  • \$\begingroup\$ Great work of art! \$\endgroup\$
    – Deschele Schilder
    Commented Apr 10, 2019 at 3:24
22
votes
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Monochrome sparrow

Tree sparrow on log

Full size on Flickr

The subject is a tree sparrow (Passer montanus). Taken in the Delta del Ebro national park in Spain. The thing which I love about this is how a one-colour palette1 can still allow so much beauty.

1 If I convert to HSL, change the hue for every pixel to be the average of the whole image, and convert back, only someone who knows their sparrows would spot that something was wrong without doing a side-by-side comparison. If I ask the GIMP to reduce to an optimal palette of 9 colours (the minimum to allow the cap to be a different hue to the background), it really does take a side-by-side comparison.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Excellent photo, excellent write-up. Bravo! \$\endgroup\$
    – scottbb Mod
    Commented Nov 17, 2017 at 20:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ That is an excellent photo, and kudos for using GIMP, it really is a very capable piece of software. \$\endgroup\$
    – Alex
    Commented Dec 22, 2017 at 13:54
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votes
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Dusk at the beach

Larger image - Dusk at beach

CameraNIKON D5100

Focal Length18mm

Shutter Speed1/3 s

Aperturef/6.3

ISO/Film100

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Hi, please see the rules of the contest with respect to the size of your image. \$\endgroup\$
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 8:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ @SaaruLindestøkke It was taken with film. How can you resize that? \$\endgroup\$
    – 10 Rep
    Commented Jul 27, 2020 at 16:21
  • \$\begingroup\$ @10Rep Don't know, but somehow they did it (all the way back in 2014). If you've a question on how to scale photos taken on film, feel free to ask a new question after you've done some research \$\endgroup\$
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Commented Jul 27, 2020 at 16:32
19
votes
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Sunset through a peekhole

This picture was taken via my mobile camera (ASUS Zenfone 2 ZE551ML) at Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan. I kept the EV at -2 and ISO at 400. The image hasn't been photoshopped or edited via any software.

enter image description here

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Please resize to comply with the requested format. \$\endgroup\$
    – Matthieu Moy
    Commented Mar 6, 2016 at 19:27
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MatthieuMoy: Is the image format okay now? I resized it via an online picture editor without cropping it. Please do let me know. Thanks! :) \$\endgroup\$
    – Janus Boffin
    Commented Mar 10, 2016 at 18:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ You should crop it. Instructions say "210 px high and up to 375 px wide", so just drop the white borders around the picture. \$\endgroup\$
    – Matthieu Moy
    Commented Mar 11, 2016 at 7:45
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MatthieuMoy: Done! :) \$\endgroup\$
    – Janus Boffin
    Commented Mar 11, 2016 at 11:30
  • \$\begingroup\$ Nice photo! Imagine what you could do with a DSLR... \$\endgroup\$
    – 10 Rep
    Commented Jul 27, 2020 at 21:54
19
votes
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enter image description here

Nikon D3200

Focal length: 260mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/640s
ISO: 400

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19
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Two Lion brothers sharing an affectionate moment.

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19
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A colorful bench mosaïc somewhere in colorful Amsterdam

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Accidentally downvoted this, sorry \$\endgroup\$
    – the_limey
    Commented Oct 23, 2020 at 10:54
  • \$\begingroup\$ I'll edit. No problem. \$\endgroup\$
    – Deschele Schilder
    Commented Oct 23, 2020 at 13:01
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ @the_limey You can vote back up again. \$\endgroup\$
    – Deschele Schilder
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 0:46
18
votes
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Hamburger Bahnhof - Berlin

enter image description here

An Enfuse composite of three photos. Bigger version

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Why is there a 'Hamburg station' in Berlin though? \$\endgroup\$
    – Abhranil Das
    Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 11:20
  • 3
    \$\begingroup\$ It's a former train station of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line. Hence the "Hamburg station" I guess. Now it's a contemporary art museum. \$\endgroup\$
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 16:05
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Note that this entry has an illegal downvote, which should not be counted for contest purposes, because downvoting is against the rules. \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Commented Sep 8, 2018 at 15:32
18
votes
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Portrait of a Barred Owl

Portrait of a Barred Owl

See the rest of the set here

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2
  • \$\begingroup\$ Note that this entry has an illegal downvote, which should not be counted for contest purposes, because downvoting is against the rules. \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Commented Sep 8, 2018 at 15:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ I accidentally downvoted this, sorry \$\endgroup\$
    – the_limey
    Commented Oct 23, 2020 at 10:53
18
votes
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Taxi Noir

An urban abstract shot with a modified square-aperture lens.

Higher-res view and more info on Deviantart: http://fav.me/dan283o

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18
votes
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Icicle melting of a flower bud

Captured this moment on a cold April morning as the frost was starting to melt.

Nikon D5200 f/18 1/200 ISO-620 taken with reverse ring method (hence focal length not known)

enter image description here

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18
votes
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enter image description here

I was sitting near a wooden hut and saw this little kid playing and had to take a photo of this kid with such a background in the alps.

Full-sized picture can be found here

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  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ lol. I couldn't tell that the kid was swinging just by looking at the small picture. I thought maybe he was climbing a 5.15 or 6.0 pitch like a world class rock star. Nice picture! \$\endgroup\$
    – scottbb Mod
    Commented Jun 11, 2018 at 19:51
  • \$\begingroup\$ @scottbb haha thanks! \$\endgroup\$
    – watchme
    Commented Jun 12, 2018 at 8:12
18
votes
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"Hey, what's up?!"

enter image description here

This photo was taken in June 2018, in the Gobi desert.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix G DMC-G81
Focal Length: 140mm (full frame equiv.: 280mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/1000
ISO: 320
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votes
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Willow in a foggy autumn morning...

Taken handheld with Canon 700D and 70-300mm lens.

Settings: 70mm, 1/8 sec, f/16, ISO 200

enter image description here

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    \$\begingroup\$ See item 4 in the "Submitter Rules above - It says: "Images must be 210 pix high and up to 375 pix wide. This is the requirement for the header. Please feel free to provide a link to a larger version, but as explained above, the primary focus is on the header image." - you'll need to downsize this tomeet this requirement. \$\endgroup\$
    – Russell McMahon
    Commented Dec 7, 2015 at 5:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ @RussellMcMahon done, thank you for the notice \$\endgroup\$
    – Zlatomir
    Commented Dec 7, 2015 at 15:25
17
votes
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enter image description here

Shot with Sony A7R and adapted Carl Zeiss 25mm Distagon (for C/Y mount), ISO 100, f/8, bracketed around 1/500s (3 exposures combined in Photomatix with final adjustments in Lightroom)

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17
votes
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Borderline

Full image version: https://unsplash.com/photos/_5JtKjB3mto

I loved how the ocean waves merged the water with the shore, and the two "smiles" in the water were like some kind of audience.

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votes
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enter image description here

Camera        Canon EOS 5D
Exposure      0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture      f/2.8
Focal Length  50 mm
ISO Speed     1600

Original in portrait, available at flickr

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16
votes
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enter image description here

Taken with my first DSLR, a Nikon D3200.

Shot at Lake George, NY.

ISO 100 @ 1/400
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  • \$\begingroup\$ Hi pobourgeois, please read the rules in regards to size. Your image must be 210px in height (As a requirement for the site header on the main site. \$\endgroup\$
    – damned truths
    Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 2:08
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ I did my checkout dives for my scuba diving on Lake George. Always forget that it is actually someplace people visit. \$\endgroup\$
    – AJ Henderson Mod
    Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 15:34
  • \$\begingroup\$ Yes ! We are from Quebec, Canada and I went there with my family. Awesome landscapes and great city with all the outlets and little shops/store around the lake. We really enjoyed our trip ! \$\endgroup\$
    – Pierre-Olivier
    Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 22:29
  • \$\begingroup\$ Note that this entry has an illegal downvote, which should not be counted for contest purposes, because downvoting is against the rules. \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Commented Sep 8, 2018 at 15:32
16
votes
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Rialto at night

Rialto Bridge at night

Taken on a lovely stroll through the nighttime Venice, Italy. It is remarkably quiet and peaceful there at night.

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16
votes
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This is a picture of a RF toy helicopter flying in front of a painting of Ladakh, painted by my mother.

enter image description here

Full size image available at 500px

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  • 3
    \$\begingroup\$ Wow - almost real! \$\endgroup\$
    – Cullub
    Commented Feb 28, 2015 at 14:30
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Great, it looks super real if you don't know it wasn't a real helicopter :) \$\endgroup\$
    – 10 Rep
    Commented Jul 27, 2020 at 16:07
16
votes
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Capture

Higher-res view and more info on Deviantart: http://fav.me/diowsg

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16
votes
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Sun-rays

Taken while hiking through Bymarka in Trondheim, Norway.

enter image description here

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  • \$\begingroup\$ The link had died... \$\endgroup\$
    – user56599
    Commented Apr 17, 2017 at 23:51
  • \$\begingroup\$ @FighterJet Thanks for the heads-up. Unfortunately I do not have a Flickr account anymore, so I a afraid the link will stay dead for a while. \$\endgroup\$
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Commented Apr 20, 2017 at 19:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ That's fine; I was thinking it would make a great desktop background, which is why I wanted the big version. \$\endgroup\$
    – user56599
    Commented Apr 20, 2017 at 22:59
  • \$\begingroup\$ @FighterJet I've posted the link on Imgur and updated the link my original post. Hope you enjoy it as a desktop background! \$\endgroup\$
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Commented Apr 21, 2017 at 1:08
16
votes
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Green light for love

enter image description here

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16
votes
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Tree in Vedauwoo, WY.

tree

Larger version here.

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2
  • \$\begingroup\$ I really like this. Very nice image! \$\endgroup\$
    – scottbb Mod
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 3:36
  • \$\begingroup\$ @scottbb Thanks! \$\endgroup\$
    – Lars Kotthoff
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 1:33
16
votes
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Just a few well love pencils

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15
votes
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enter image description here

Larger Version

I have taken pictures that are much more technically demanding, but I like this one because it makes the most of a drab setting: a small Phoenix, AZ backyard in winter.

  • Canon 6D with 24-105mm L
  • Edited with Lightroom and Exposure 5
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  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ I love it!! very cute!! \$\endgroup\$
    – Bala
    Commented Mar 6, 2014 at 6:15
15
votes
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The roof at Utrecht Central Station

enter image description here

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14
votes
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Let the day begin! / 500px

123123213.jpg

I wish good luck to all!

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0
14
votes
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Hermit crab

Camera: Nikon D90 + 18-200
Focal distance: 200mm (like 300mm on 35mm-film)
ISO: 200
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/160s
Mode: full auto :-b

I still had not learnt the manual/priority modes, but I'm proud of this photo. Extracted from raw with manual adjustment of chromatic aberration, curves, saturation... Maybe I boosted the contrast too much...

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4
  • \$\begingroup\$ not that I'm a very good photographer but I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on the main subject. \$\endgroup\$
    – Sandeep Singh Rawat
    Commented Jun 19, 2013 at 6:43
  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks for the advice, @SandeepSinghRawat. Maybe I will try a different crop. \$\endgroup\$
    – comocomocomocomo
    Commented Jun 20, 2013 at 5:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ I think the cropping and subject content is OK. Depending on the original I MIGHT have moved the frame right slightly - but maybe not. A link to a larger version and what is outside the cropping would be useful. | One problem with the small image size PLUS the 1.78:1 crop demanded by the format here (if you want a max allowed size image), is that it significantly affects the content and cropping choice. Crop for best appearance and the image often loses "punch" as a header. Crop for max punch and you lose content. \$\endgroup\$
    – Russell McMahon
    Commented Nov 26, 2013 at 7:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ ... In this case, if you crop to increase subject content you either decrease width or start losing legs at bottom and or shell at top. I think what you've done is a reasonable choice. [This is all my opinion only - others may have quite different ideas. But, I've anguished over best-mix on a number of occasions and so far have had several that made their way to the top, so I guess that at least some agree with me.] \$\endgroup\$
    – Russell McMahon
    Commented Nov 26, 2013 at 7:34
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