Commons:Photo challenge
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. |
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
- Choose one or all of the current challenges
- Read the challenge description(s), which may vary in their rules (e.g., some place restrictions on when the photos are taken)
- 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)
- Upload your picture(s) during the challenge period
- 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.
- 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:
- Do not sign your submission(s)
- 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.
Table of contents
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
2024 – January – Silos
The new challenge features Silos
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 2024 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 9 days 23 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)
Examples
Entries
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SAMGA Silo in Antwerp harbour, Belgium
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Silo on a farm in La Mancha, Spain
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Grain silo near Jacobsdorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
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Former coal silo of steel plant Voelklinger Huette with artwork, Voeklingen, Germany
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Silo of lime plant Museum Blaese, Gotland, Sweden
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silo humain tour Maine Montparnasse Paris
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Silos next to a barn in Cartago, Costa Rica
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Packaging facility for potatoes in Merrill, Oregon
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Converted grain silo in Buda, Texas, United States
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Landscape with the silos of Zito Polog Tetovo, North Macedonia
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The Grain Silo, Cape Town, South Africa
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Silos of the Hannoversche Portland-Cementfabrik (abondened in 1986)
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Gasometer of the municipal utilities in Bamberg
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Storage silo in Prague, Czech Republic
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World's tallest silo
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Silo of the factory „Profix" Tetovo, North Macedonia
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Silos (abandoned) for wooden shavings "SHIK" Jelak Combine Tetovo, North Macedonia
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May 2010, ex INNSE, partially neglected and reconverted factory (years 2000s)
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Silos for cereals crops, „Zito Polog“ Tetovo, North Macedonia
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Standard Elevator, Buffalo, NY
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Silos in the port of Hamburg
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Silos in the port of Hamburg
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Silos in Berlin
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Silos of the R-Lebrun grain factory, Tournai (Belgique)
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Cimescaut cement works in Antoing (Belgique)
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Lesaffre group factories (silos), in Marcq-en-Barœul.- France
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The Pan African Bank
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Construction site with cement silos
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Silos in Rotterdam Europoort
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2 yellow cement silos in Berlin
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Silos agricoli in una fattoria a Ponte a Rigo (Toscana)
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Smiley
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Sea salt cathedral, Batz-sur-Mer, France
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Old silo in disuse at a farm at Lake Trasimeno, Italy
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Silo S.C.A.La Flandre Maritime in Looberghe.- France.
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Silo agricolo in disuso nell'agro romano
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Hofgut-Milch Tank - Hohenloher Molkerei Schwäbisch Hall
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Titan II missile silo South of Tucson, Arizona
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Grain silos in Kitakyushu City, Japan
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Silo in the Bavarian village Huglfing
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Silo in the Bavarian village Malching
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Chiwan, Shenzhen, China
2024 – January – Masks
The new challenge features Masks
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 2024 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 9 days 23 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)
Examples
Entries
-
Manneken Pis in Brussels, with mask and costume
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Covid mask
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Typical mask at the Swabian Alemannic carnival in South-Germany, called "Biss
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Surgeon with surgical mask and surgical forceps in a hospital in Germany
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So-called "Federahannes" with devils mask at the Swabian Alemannic carnival in South-Germany
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The "Fransenkleid" is a mask at the Swabian Alemannic carnival in South-Germany
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Two masked faces face to face, Bordeaux, France
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South sea mask, MARK museum Hamburg, Germany
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Mask of former US President Jimmy Carter on a flee market in Hamburg, Germany
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Woman with capricorn mask, National Park Center, Zernez, Switzerland
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Carnival in Unteraegeri, Switzerland
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In Schwäbisch Hall findet die " Hallia Venezia " zur Fasnachtszeit statt. Venezianische Masken und Kostüme
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Hallia Venezia In Schwäbisch Hall
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Getting out safely
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Covered with innocence
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Haupt der Gorgo Medusa
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Antique african art, Ikhokho ivory mask of Pende tribe, Africa
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Shelves full of masks
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Okame mask, Japan
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Taken in Dublin, march 2014
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Masks for sale in Venice
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Halloween parade. NYC
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Clay mask (2000-1000 BC, Japan)
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Yama, Tibetan Buddhist dance mask (Ladakh)
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Сувенир из Венеции
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Halloween. West 68th Street NYC.
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Хэллоуин
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Schnorchelausrüstung, inklusive Maske 2H1A9448WI
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Straßenmusikanten in Masken in Chemnitz 2H1A6857WI
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Straßenmusikanten in Masken in Chemnitz 2H1A6890WI
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Straßenmusikanten in Masken in Chemnitz 2H1A6815WI
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Carnival masks on female bronze sculptures before the entrance to the Macedonian National Theater, Skopje, North Macedonia
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Carnival masks on bronze sculptures before the entrance to the Macedonian National Theater in Skopje, North Macedonia
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Carnival masks on bronze sculptures before the entrance to the Macedonian National Theater in Skopje city, North Macedonia
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A mask worn by children during Christmas Eve holidays, orthodox custom in North Macedonia
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Golden mask at carnival in Bonn, Germany
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A Venetian carnival mask
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Imperial gold funerary trousseau from the Chimu culture (Lima)
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Traditional Sri Lankan mask
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Person with corona protective mask in Bamberg
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Clay mask
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Masked deity performing at the sea beach festival
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Find me if you can
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Fully masked person
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Copies Japanese mask Noh theater sold in the Tokyo Imperial Museum store-
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A Venetian carnival mask
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A couple wearing Masks during Carnival in front of the Basilica di San Marco, Venice, Italy
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Dance of Mekhala versus Ream Eyso.-Siem-Reap, Cambodia
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Carnival mask in piazza San Marco
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Masks at Carnival in Bonn
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Very "friendly" grinning clown in Ghent, Belgium
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Stoffmaske
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Stoffhase mit Maske
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Maske aus Firenze von Agostino Dessi 1992
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Homemade liquid latex SFX haunted house actor mask
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Typische Prettauer Hexenmaske aus Holz, Südtiroler Ahrntal, Italien
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Prettauer Holzmaske, Südtiroler Ahrntal, Italien
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.
December 2023
Previous challenges
November 2023
- Bicycle ->
Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|
image | |||
Title | Through the flooded street on a bicycle |
Bicycle helihoisting | Silvia Persico and Esmée Peperkamp in Tourmalet during TDFF 2023 |
Author | Debanutosh | Ibex73 | Shougissime |
Score | 20 | 17 | 14 |
Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|
image | |||
Title | Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial |
Pacific Sardines - Monterey Bay Aquarium (California) |
Eriophorum_scheuchzeri in Vanoise National Park |
Author | Foeniz | Changku88 | Ibex73 |
Score | 19 | 15 | 14 |
October 2023
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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
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 |
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 |