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 – December – Fossil fuel

The new challenge features Fossil fuel.

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 December 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. December 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 6 days 1 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  Gas flare and coke plant of Thyssen-Krupp-Stahl, view from Alsumer Berg slagheap, Duisburg, Germany
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  Fireman feeding coal into the boiler of the steam engine on museum icebreaker "Stettin", Elbe River, Germany
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  Advertisement for gas station, Canon Road House, Namibia
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  Coke plant Prosper, view from Tetraeder slagheap, Bottrop, Germany
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  Diesel oil on a transparent container
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  Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail engines
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  BNSF 7147 (ES44C4) Diesel-Electric freight train engine
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  Beijing CBD Skyline Blanked by Smog From Fossil Fuels
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  Gewinnung und Verbrennung
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  Hier wird die fossile Energie sichtbar
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  Aral tanker truck
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  A gas pump at a Thorntons
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  filling station in Morocco
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  Chevron Richmond Refinery as viewed from the East
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  filling station in Aydin, Turkey
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  Incineration plant Malešice in Prague, Czech Republic
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  detail of Chevron Richmond Refinery in Richmond, California, with San Pablo Bay in backdrop.
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  The floating storage unit "Armada LNG Mediterrana", a carrier for liquefied natural gas in the Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta
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  Shaft boring machine and winding tower at Zollern coal mine, Dortmund
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  Lusatian lignite briquette of the Rekord brand from the former GDR
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  Niederaußern and Neurath lignite-fired power plants behind Hambach open cast lignite mine, Germany
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  Oil refinery and power plant Holthausen near Lingen, Germany
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  Gas station. Is this the end?
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  Gas station. Is this the end?
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  Schachtkomplex 371 im Ergebirgskreis 2H1A8452WI
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  When the smog meets the clouds, Berlin, 2014
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  La centrale a carbone di Torrevaldaliga Nord (Civitavecchia). Vista dai Monti della Tolfa
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  Melkoya LNG Terminal seen from SE
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  Feuerraum einer Dampflokomotive. Топка паровоза IMG 5655WI
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  Steinkohle zum Heizen einer Dampflokomotive, Sachsen IMG 5707WI
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  Melkoya LNG terminal
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  View from a boat on the Abobo Doume lagoon in Abidjan on the Ivory Coast
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  Nodding donkey crude oil pump in Bahrain
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  Bohrplattform im Nordsee IMG 8848BEWI
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  Liquefied petroleum gas
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  AdBlue tank of truck
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  A 21 and a half gallon (9.465 liter) metal gasoline container
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  Fuel and AdBlue inlet
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  Petrol station in Japan
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  Air polluters
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  Air polluters
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  Fossils on the move - Los Angeles CA
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  Shell Rei da Estrada station in Mato Grosso - Brazil
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  Very early oil production: at one of the world's first oil discovery sites in Wietze (northern Germany), a young woman scoops oil into a barrel in 1916.
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  Oil container
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  Cart full of bituminous coal used for powering steam locos
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  Sunset on industrial port
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  Bouteille de gaz façon studio
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  Fuel tank trucks
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  Oil terminal in desert
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  Oil terminal
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  Knight-Swift at Flying J Travel Plaza Station (California. USA).
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  Newberry Springs Bagdad Cafe provided services to the Orange Blossom Mine and the War Eagle Mine California.
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  BHP Jetty Number 1, Kwinana Beach, with the former BP Kwinana oil refinery in the background, Western Australia
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  Small bottle containing Saudi Light crude oil
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  Lewarde - Delloye pit from the Aniche mines
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  Diesel fuel drums
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  Closed petrol station in Paris.
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  Some fossils and fuel derived from them found in Neyveli, Tamilnadu, India
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  gasoline sold in Coca Cola bottles, Indonesia
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  Shell petrol stations in Teresina - Brazil
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  To submit pictures please follow this link

2023 – December – In a box

The new challenge features things In a box.

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 December 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. December 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 6 days 1 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  I bought this commemorative Indian coin (INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS) packed in MDF BOX
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  I bought this small gift set for my friend and found attractive
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  I bought these decorative marriage pots at my church on the harvest day festival at Tamilnadu India.
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  Each statue is housed in a box.
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  Tafelsilber
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  Seifenkistenrennen
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  Scribble wherever
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  Shiny spheres
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  Dreaming inside box
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  In the box ? Nothing but the H of w:fr:Hellfest...
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  Wheelchair-accessible telephone booth in Japan
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  Textiles collection boxes in Prague, Czech Republic
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  Pastel box
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  Old pastel box
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  Letter box in Pralognan-la-Vanoise
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  Christmas pastries in food packs
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  Christmas pastries in food packs
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  Columbarium in Prague-Vokovice cemetery, Czech Republic
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  AlzaBox in Prague, Czech Republic
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  Parcel delivery boxes in Prague, Czech Republic
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  Fish in a box at fishing harbour in Malpe, Karnatakka, India
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  Assortment of French macarons in a patissier box
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  Working booths in the university library Belval, Luxembourg
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  Beer cans in a garbage box, Nantes, France
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  Birdhouse in Wisconsin
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  Scatola di fiammiferi per camino
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  A small dog in a box on a bike under parasol
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  Orange snake in a transparent box on scales.jpg
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  Islamic Rosaries in the Box
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  Sagrada Familia in a box
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  Holy Grail of Valencia Cathedral
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  Dessert and fruit during a dinner in Abidjan on the Ivory Coast
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  Dessert and fruit during a dinner in Abidjan on the Ivory Coast
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  DIY Winter Bird Feeder
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  Aspirin boxes
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  Sweet collection in a box
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  Saffron in a gift box
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  Historical cameras in a box
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  Cardboard box with chocolate marshmallows
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  Minerals in a box in the “Kakteenland Steinfeld”
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  Bits and pieces in a ROLYKIT organizer box S-11
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  Child's toy shop with boxes at a Christmas market
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  "Falconer on Horseback" sculpture (15th-century) on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
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  Objects (hundred year old figurines, clocks, and jars) inside a Pigeon-hole cabinet
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  At peace
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  Some morning rituals at vegetable market
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  Jumbled up!
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  On the way to market
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  Two black rabbits in a box
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  Honeys in a box
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  Sweet food of Austria
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  Sweet food of Austria
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  Sweet food of Austria
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  Sweet food of Austria
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  old candles for christmas trees
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  A grey cat inside a wooden box
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  Cable TV box in the cellar of a house
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  Paints
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  Weinflaschen in Kisten auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt in Chemnitz. 2H1A5317WI
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  Boxed meal
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  Сувениры от компании ТРАНСГИДРОСТРОЙ
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  Укладка принадлежностей для пылесоса
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  Шурупы
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  Домино
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  Fruit boxes at the Jean-Talon Market, Montreal, Quebec
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  Bella Ciao! in a box
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  Blown out quail eggs in a cardboard box
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  Boxes in Siwei Friendship Gift Store (Beijing)
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  Ideal mixture using to make an arranged rum
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  Drawing instruments
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  A cat laying upside down in a box, partially covered by a blanket
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  The original color box from Wilhelm Streckfuß
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  Farbkasten von Wilhelm Streckfuß (innen)
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  Favorite place
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  Dog in cardboard box
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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 2023

• Bicycle
• Too many to count

Previous challenges

October 2023

• Silhouette ->

Silhouettes: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Silhouette of a black-winged stilt	Silhouette Bird on Window	La festa alla sera su di una scogliera
Author	Stephan Sprinz	Sneha G Gupta	66colpi
Score	17	14	9

• Pollution ->

Pollution: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Industrial chimney of a pulp mill near Dalchau, Germany	Northern gannet sitting on a nest made of plastic threads from scouring protection of fishing nets (dolly ropes)	Smog
Author	Mozzihh	Lusi Lindwurm	BogTar201213
Score	20	14	11

September 2023

beach: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Cabourg beach, France	Cabourg beach, France	Taken in Hovs Hallar which is a nature reserve on the Bjäre Peninsula in the county of Skåne, Sweden
Author	Ibex73	Ibex73	Pasi Mammela
Score	13	12	10

composting: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Close up view of compost	Компост та кури	Biogas tank, in the foreground green cuttings
Author	Niwrat	Любмир	Foeniz
Score	30	24	12

August 2023

millet: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Proso millet in Zurich	Drying millet on the Bolaven Plateau (Laos)	Eat it up
Author	Ephramac	Pierre André Leclercq	Sneha G Gupta
Score	22	15	10

on stage: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	3(+3) dancers performing on stage	Nenda & Gilewicz live in Vienna	Dancer on stage
Author	Virtual-Pano	Tsui	Virtual-Pano
Score	15	9	8

July 2023

climate change: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Storm Mathis - Lake Zug	oceans are rising	Contaminación atmosférica en la ciudad de Madrid
Author	Roy Egloff	Spielvogel	Saldeplata
Score	13	9	9

half: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Farm track near Micheldever, Hampshire	My birthday cake! Oops there's only half left!	Ein in der Längsachse vertikal zerstückeltes Automobil.
Author	Simon Burchell	Anna.Massini	Levin Holtkamp
Score	15	15	11

June 2023

rainbow colors: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Tunnel at London King's Cross illuminated in rainbow colours	Rainbow yarn for knitting, display in front of a needlework shop in Graz, Austria	This shows the view directly above the basket of a hot air balloon.
Author	The wub	Lusi Lindwurm	Hu Nhu
Score	19	11	8

tents: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Kasachische Jurten in der Kyzylkum/ Usbekistan	Chegem-001	Chegem-002
Author	Carsten Siegel	Саня Новиков	Саня Новиков
Score	17	17	13

May 2023

Macro photography: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Close up photograph of wing of Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Lime Swallowtail	weibliche Schwarze Habichtsfliege (Dioctria atricapilla) mit Morgentau	Caterpillar of the small frost moth on a rose leaf
Author	ManaskaMukhopadhyay	Carsten Siegel	Ermell
Score	12	11	10

feathers: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Victoria crowned pigeon	Western Crowned Pigeon in Geneva, Switzerland.	Peacock feather close-up
Author	Roy Egloff	RomanDeckert	Mister rf
Score	10	9	7

April 2023

Looking up: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Pylon of high-voltage line crossing Elbe River at Hetlinger Schanze near Hamburg, Germany	Street corner in Nice's old town	Ballonwettbewerb
Author	Mozzihh	Virtual-Pano	Mensch01
Score	13	12	12

Baby farm animals: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Sheep with lamb, lying on a dyke, which they graze as dyke sheep for erosion control, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	Poitou donkey foal (Equus asinus) in the Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park	Baby alpacas of a Quechua Family (Huaman Quispe farm) - Alpacas bebes - Paqucha uña Nuñoa llaqtamanta
Author	Lusi Lindwurm	F. Riedelio	Elwinlhq
Score	16	13	13

March 2023

Laundering: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Facade of a house at 277, Fondamenta Cavanella in Burano (Italy)	Washing clothes in a open area	Laundry lines in a residential neighbourhood in Venice, Italy
Author	Ermell	Pauloleong2002	Marc-Lautenbacher
Score	15	12	11

Hotels and Motels: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Ice-Hotel in Quebec Canada, the only one in North America	Spa at Tschuggen Grand Hotel	The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Switzerland
Author	Marc-Lautenbacher	Roy Egloff	Roy Egloff
Score	15	14	12

February 2023

Handles: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Handle of leather trunk from the early 1900s	Handle Of A Pots Lid	Glättkelle mit rotem Holzgriff
Author	Mariojan photo	OJjnr	VSchagow
Score	14	8	8

Cruise ship: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	2
image
Title	Royal Clipper sailing the Med	cruise vessel 'Expedition' in Antarctica	Cruise ships in Geiranger Fjord, Norway
Author	Cbuske46	Virtual-Pano	Hgrobe
Score	26	10	10

January 2023

Ice: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	A growler became a sculpture	wind-blown rime ice found on a summit cross	jogger crossing the icy right barrier gate of the Jahnwehr weir in Bamberg, Germany
Author	Virtual-Pano	Roy Egloff	Ermell
Score	19	18	15

Hospitals: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Hospital corridor in the “Marienhaus Klinikum Hetzelstift“	Hospital corridor covered with Namib sand in ghost town Kolmanskop, Namibia	Ny del av Haukeland Universitetssykehus fra Møllendal gravplass i Bergen
Author	F. Riedelio	Mozzihh	Odd Roar Aalborg
Score	16	14	11

Previous years

• Photo challenge in 2022
• 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