Intent:  
The contest is to capture some sort of humanity. Obviously this means it would be best if some physical human element is in the photo. If you don't have part of a human in there, you should probably explain a bit as to what you were going for.
I don't care what emotion you're trying to show, as long as you get one. Albeit, I don't want to see 500 pictures of smiling faces. That's not what I'm looking for.  

 
Rules:    

• Obviously, if there's no human element of some sort your piece is not acceptable.
  
• Any visualmedium is accepted. I have nothing against poetry, but sorting through the tons of horrible poems that may be entered is not worth the few good ones.  
  
• I VERY MUCH DISLIKE PHOTOSHOP AND IT SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY (As in one or two photoshop entries per person, if that's your medium). If you must use photoshop it has to be explicitly stated that you did so, and you must post the image before and after photoshop.  
  
• There are 4 exceptions to the photoshop rule where photoshop may be used without explicitly stating so: 1) To turn the picture into black and white. 2) To change the OVERALL contrast of a picture. 3) To change the OVERALL saturation of color. 4) You may also crop pictures if necessary.

 
Entrance:  

• There is no entrance fee.  
  
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please alter the emotions. I don't want to see 3 entries of your kissy-faced boyfriend.  
  
• When entering a piece, be sure to add which medium you used.

 
Judging:  

• Each piece will be judged on two qualities; the difficulty of making the piece, and most importantly, the strength of the emotion shown.  
  
• I often like to judge myself, but I will accept 1-3 others who would like to help judge this contest.

 
Prizes:  

• There will be 3 places, and possibly honorable mentions.  
  
• I plan on throwing at least 1,700 points into the pot. I will not contribute all of those to the contest page (in fact I likely will only contribute 200 or so) because I dislike the way it distributes points and it leaves no room for honorable mentions.
  
• As always, others may donate points to the contest page.

THE END OF THIS CONTEST IS YET TO BE SET It will end when I feel it is appropriate, likely within two-three months to allow adequate time for those making difficulte entries. PM me if you are working on something and feel that you cannot make it within that time frame.

Most importantly, THE PIECE MUST BE YOUR OWN WORK.  
The following would constitute as your own work:  
For Photos-  
1) You have taken the photo.  
2) You are the subject of a photo that was your concept.  
For All Other Mediums-  
You are the one who has produced the piece. You may reproduce a famous artwork, or use a photograph taken by somebody else.  

 
If you reproduce a work or use another's photograph, you must cite it using the same format as one of the following:  

• Original (painting) done by (Andrew Wyeth.)  
  
• Original (photo) by (Andy Warhol.)  
  
• Original photo by (my friend.)

iBritt and Orange Joy will be judging with me. No more extra judges will be accepted.

UPDATES:

• There is no longer a rule about uploading pictures of people under 13, so feel free to post all your photos directly to this topic.
  
• The contest will end on the date as dictated on the contest page. I think that is February 1st? However, feel free to continue to add photos past that date until I announce a winner. Anything after February 1st isn't guarenteed to be considered, but it won't hurt.

Post edited at 11:45 am on Jan. 7, 2009 by Porcelina

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your whole life is leading up to this
last.fm

I feel this post shows 'OMG BEWBS'.

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Shit in a bucket or don't shit at all.

Are you literate?

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your whole life is leading up to this
last.fm

I took this picture at the famous Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.

The penitentiary was the first of its type, built by Quakers in the early 1830's. In the beginning, all the prisoners were kept in strict solitary confinement, their only light coming from a small skylight representing the "eye of God." Going for years without any other human contact caused many prisoners to go insane. Eventually, arrangements were changed and the solitary confinement system was abandoned. The prison functioned until the 1970's, when it was abandoned. Now it is in a semi-ruined state which makes it delightfully creepy. It's like one huge real-life haunted house.

While this picture does not include any actual human figures, I feel that what is not there is more important than what is. The sense of isolation that one feels looking down at an empty ruined cell block must be similar to the feeling that the prisoners had as they faced a lifetime of isolation from the outside world. It's the unsettling lack of humanity that speaks most loudly.

I really like ruins for that reason. You can tell so much about man by what he leaves behind.

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"The wise man belongs to all countries,
for the home of a great soul is the whole world."
-Democritus

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I took this picture at the famous Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.  

The penitentiary was the first of its type, built by Quakers in the early 1830's. In the beginning, all the prisoners were kept in strict solitary confinement, their only light coming from a small skylight representing the "eye of God." Going for years without any other human contact caused many prisoners to go insane. Eventually, arrangements were changed and the solitary confinement system was abandoned. The prison functioned until the 1970's, when it was abandoned. Now it is in a semi-ruined state which makes it delightfully creepy. It's like one huge real-life haunted house.

While this picture does not include any actual human figures, I feel that what is not there is more important than what is. The sense of isolation that one feels looking down at an empty ruined cell block must be similar to the feeling that the prisoners had as they faced a lifetime of isolation from the outside world. It's the unsettling lack of humanity that speaks most loudly.  

I really like ruins for that reason. You can tell so much about man by what he leaves behind.

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Yeeeesssss.

All others: Take note.

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your whole life is leading up to this
last.fm

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I took this picture at the famous Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.  

The penitentiary was the first of its type, built by Quakers in the early 1830's. In the beginning, all the prisoners were kept in strict solitary confinement, their only light coming from a small skylight representing the "eye of God." Going for years without any other human contact caused many prisoners to go insane. Eventually, arrangements were changed and the solitary confinement system was abandoned. The prison functioned until the 1970's, when it was abandoned. Now it is in a semi-ruined state which makes it delightfully creepy. It's like one huge real-life haunted house.

While this picture does not include any actual human figures, I feel that what is not there is more important than what is. The sense of isolation that one feels looking down at an empty ruined cell block must be similar to the feeling that the prisoners had as they faced a lifetime of isolation from the outside world. It's the unsettling lack of humanity that speaks most loudly.  

I really like ruins for that reason. You can tell so much about man by what he leaves behind.

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does it have to be a photo?

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No. Any type of visual artwork is accepted.

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your whole life is leading up to this
last.fm