- I am happy to announce I have the privilege of hosting the Travel Photo Roulette contest for the third time. Having previously won rounds #3 and #43 means I hosted the “festival” theme for round #4 and the “once in a lifetime” theme for round #44. My most recent win was for round #91 with the image above for the “Inspire” theme hosted by Hannah and Adam of GettingStamped.com. If you don’t know what Travel Photo Roulette is, here’s an idea of the contest:
An Overview
The contest migrates from blog to blog based on the idea that the winner of the previous contest hosts the next one. I get to host round ninety-two because I won round ninety-one. As host, I get to choose a theme for the next round and bloggers can submit a single entry based on how they interpret the theme. The time frame for submissions is generally one week. At the end of the week, the host blogger will chose the winner for that round and said winner will then repeat the process on their own blog. Readers can always try and sway the host via comments during the contest, but the host is free to give as little or as much weight to people’s opinions as they wish.
New Theme: Viewpoint
I went back and forth quite a bit on what to go with for this round’s theme and decided to go with something a little more interesting photographically. This week’s theme is going to be “Viewpoint – Up and Down“. The idea is to share an image where you had to alter your viewpoint and think differently to get the shot. I feel one of the concepts that really helps photographers grow is to think outside the box and look at things from a different viewpoint, particularly when it comes to subjects that are heavily photographed. For this theme specifically, I’d love to see shots that were taken straight up or straight down. Check out a few of the examples below for what I’m talking about.
Shooting straight down into a succulent at an aboretum in Monte Carlo.
Shooting straight up into an alternative christmas tree display at a hotel in Sri Lanka.
How to Submit
Entering the contest is super easy. Just leave a comment below with a link to the image with an up or down viewpoint you’d like to submit and a caption or description of the image to help flesh it out. Tell us what you were thinking about when you took the shot. Was this just an experiment that went right or something meticulously planned out? Once you’ve added your comment, I’ll add the image to the submissions. Don’t forget to check back in during the week to see the other submissions and join the conversation by leaving comments for others.
The contest runs for 7 days starting December 15th and ending December 23rd at 12:00 PST. The winner will be announced within a few days of the end of the contest and the selected blogger will then host round #93. Please do your best to keep your images to a nice, medium size and be aware that anything too wide will be reduced in size.
Feel free to share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Trover and StumbleUpon so more people can join the contest – make sure to use the hashtag #PhotoRoulette
The Rules for Travel Photo Roulette
1) One submission per Blog (so sites that have 2+ authors only get one entry).
2) No photoshopping allowed unless specifically called for! Cropping and correction for red-eye or camera flaws are ok, however.
3) Abstract submissions welcomed as long as it fits within the interpretation of the chosen phrase. Remember, the hosting blogger chooses the winner, so if they cannot understand the submission, you might not win!
4) Keep phrases general so that all bloggers can participate. Specific items like “Eiffel Tower” should be avoided but rather made open-ended like “monuments.” For variety, it is ok to say focused things such as “monuments at night” in which most of us have pictures of.
6) Abstract thoughts are appreciated, but keep it within the realm that all readers will understand. No “Kafka-esque”, but “Overlooking Creation” is able to be interpreted by all.
7) No obscene pictures or phrases allowed. Suggestive phrases and photography can be accepted, but please keep it within reason.
8) After a sufficient period of time, phrases can be reused, however new photos must be submitted. Keep the ideas and photos fresh!
9) Pictures from your entire portfolio are fair to submit. You do not have to take the photo within the week of the contest period to submit it.
10) Most importantly, ALL PHOTOS MUST BE YOUR OWN.
The Winner Is:
After a lot of consideration, I’ve decided to go with Greg’s image of the Virgin Mary statue holding the sun. There were many great images submitted for this week’s theme, however, I kept coming back to the way Greg had to shift his perspective to position the two different elements in the image. Congratulations to Greg! I can’t wait to see what he’ll pick for the next theme!
It seems that ever city in South America now has its own version of Brazil’s famous Cristo Redentor statue. In Santiago, Chile, they have erected a 22 meter tall statue of the Virgin Mary. While it’s a beautiful work of art, the statue is very difficult to photograph. I knew it had to be done “straight up;” but, after several different angles came out looking flat, I was ready to give up. Then, as I was walking away from the statue, I noticed the sun shining through Mary’s hand and decided to give her an energy orb to hold. Finally, I had my shot :)
Entries:
From Suzanne of The Travelbunny:
Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque known as The Blue Mosque because of the exquisite blue-tiled domed ceilings. The best way to view them would be to lie on the floor and look straight up – I didn’t quite have the nerve….
From Josh of Peanuts or Pretzels
Here is a unique view of the St. Louis Arch. Many of us have seen the Arch, either in person or in photos, so you are familiar with it’s shape. But have you ever seen it from this view point? It looks totally different up close. You discover the shape is slightly different, and can appreciate the craftsmanship to lay each piece together. It’s kinda crazy to think you can ride an elevator up inside to the top!
From Alexandra Pucherelli of Fluent in Frolicking
Beauty really is everywhere. I was recently at the dump and right there next to the trash loading dock was this banana tree. It was in bloom and the flower was just so bright and colorful. So alive! Such the harsh contrast to the surrounding area that I had to grab my camera and capture it! I stood below the banana flower and was mesmerized by the intricate details of the blooms. How they were protected by the harder pink petals. Their lips curling back too revel the banana nectar.
From Jeremy Jones of Living the Dream RTW
This one is one of my favorites from Amsterdam. Look up at the statue of Anne Frank in-front of the Anne Frank House / Museum. This was my first photo taken at an extreme angle and taught me the importance of looking at things differently with a camera.
From Laura and Lance of Travel Addicts
This was taken on the travertines of Pamukkale in central Turkey. We visited this section of the travertines twice that day. In the afternoon, the sun was too high and we couldn’t capture any of the rich texture of the ridges and folds. Later, on our descent, the sun was setting and casting enough shadows for us to catpure the moment.
From Brent of Brent’s Favorite Photos
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My options were limited for this unique topic. This shot is from Oceanside, California. After a long day playing at the beach, my wife pointed out to me how beautiful the sand was when the sun hit it and it turned gold. The next morning, I ran out to take some photographs before we left.
From Denise of Life As A Bus Stop
The picture I am submitting today was taken in Budapest. Famous for its Art Deco buildings, I managed to get inside one of them. The building was filled with Art Deco furniture and decorations, one of them being this ceiling lamp. I remember looking up and thinking that it would make for a pretty picture from a different perspective.
From Melissa of Linguist on the Move
This one was taken from inside the Pantheon in Rome and, because there were what what seemed like millions of other visitors there and it’s a heavily photographed building, I knew I wanted to get a unique shot and therefore had to change up my viewpoint. For this shot I had to lie down entirely. My friend stood over me so my head wouldn’t get stomped on by any of the other visitors, and I definitely got some looks. As anyone who has visited knows, the ceiling to the Pantheon is open, so I had some nice, natural light streaming in – the aspect I love about it the most.
From Suzanne Fluhr of Boomeresque
This photo is of the mural “Morning Star” which is painted on a domed ceiling over the stairs in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, across the river from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The mural is by artist Alex Janvier. Leaning back on the stairs in order to be able to shoot straight up at the mural was a little scary.
From Greg Goodman of Adventures of Goodman
It seems that ever city in South America now has its own version of Brazil’s famous Cristo Redentor statue. In Santiago, Chile, they have erected a 22 meter tall statue of the Virgin Mary. While it’s a beautiful work of art, the statue is very difficult to photograph. I knew it had to be done “straight up;” but, after several different angles came out looking flat, I was ready to give up. Then, as I was walking away from the statue, I noticed the sun shining through Mary’s hand and decided to give her an energy orb to hold. Finally, I had my shot :)
From Emily and Scott of Twelve Countries
While in Paris I tried to take pictures of well-known places in different ways. This shot ended up being one of my favorites, directly underneath the Arc de Triomphe. I had to lay down to get this shot just right—thankfully there’s not much tourist traffic at 8am. The symmetry in this building is incredible, and hopefully this picture captured it well.
From Yasha and Juergen of Dare 2 Go
Taken in the Tatacoa Desert in Colombia. The stick, a dried bit of cactus, was just laying there = it’s not an arranged photo.
Past Photo Roulette Winners and Hosts
The following is the winners table list from the past four years of photo roulette. As mentioned above, the host of each round won the previous round and continued the game with their chosen theme.
- Nov 2010 Living the Dream Animals
- Nov 2010 Skinny Backpacker Road Signs
- Nov 2010 Dream a Little Dream Street Art
- Dec 2010 Flashpacker HQ Festival
- Dec 2010 Over Yonderlust Landmarks
- Dec 2010 Don’t Ever Look Back Beaches
- Jan 2011 ThePlanetD Portraits
- Jan 2011 Travel with a Mate Motion
- Jan 2011 Johnny Vagabond Water
- Feb 2011 Ken Kaminesky Urban
- Feb 2011 Travels of Adam Friday Night
- Mar 2011 Itchy Feet Chronicles The Journey
- Mar 2011 Brendan’s Adventures Changing Seasons
- Apr 2011 Shutterfeet Storytelling
- Apr 2011 10 Times One Piousness
- Apr 2011 Beached Eskimo Learning
- May 2011 Travel Junkies Architecture
- Jun 2011 Destination World Transportation
- Jun 2011 Living the Dream Paradise
- Jun 2011 Vagabond Quest Clothes
- Jul 2011 The Unframed World Symmetry
- Jul 2011 Beached Eskimo Home
- Jul 2011 BackPackerBanter Inspiration
- Aug 2011 WanderingTrader Darkness
- Aug 2011 Finding the Universe Tranquillity
- Sep 2011 Fearful Adventurer Food
- Sep 2011 Adventures of a GoodMan City
- Oct 2011 Globe-Trekking.com Reflection
- Oct 2011 Scene With A Hart Framing
- Nov 2011 Vagabond Quest Silhouettes
- Nov 2011 Hecktic Travels Music
- Dec 2011 Globetrotter Girls Love
- Dec 2011 Man on the lam Humor
- Jan 2012 My Walkabout Winter
- Jan 2012 The Art of Slow Travel Blue
- Feb 2012 Ten times One Depth of the Field
- Not Hosted Anymore
- Mar 2012 Nomadbiba Sunshine
- Mar 2012 Travel With Kat Local Character
- Apr 2012 The Travel Bunny Street Scene
- Apr 2012 Adventure Crow Spirit of the Country
- May 2012 Food Travel Bliss Evening
- May 2012 Matt Gibson Adventure
- May 2012 Flashpacker HQ Once In A Lifetime
- Jul 2012 Skinny Backpacker Surreal
- Aug 2012 2away Smile
- Aug 2012 Bridges and Balloons Excellent Splendour of the Universe
- Sep 2012 The GypsyNester What the ?!
- Oct 2012 Runaway Juno Sweet
- Nov 2012 GQ Trippin Play
- Nov 2012 Life’s Little Victories Friendship
- Dec 2012 Breakaway Backpacker Face
- Jan 2013 Fly, Icarus, Fly Serendipity
- Feb 2013 Travel Transmissions Lost in Thought
- Feb 2013 Wanderlusters The Natural World
- Mar 2013 Travel Junkies Patterns
- Apr 2013 Living the Dream Your First Time
- May 2013 Getting Stamped The Sun Goes Down
- Jun 2013 The GypsyNester Cheesy Tourist Diversions
- Jun 2013 Boomeresque Revolution
- Jul 2013 Breakaway Backpacker Colorful
- Aug 2013 Around This World Mountains
- Aug 2013 Passports and Pamplemousse Hands at Work
- Sep 2013 TurtlesTravel Dance
- Sep 2013 Keep calm and travel The Sea
- Sep 2013 Travel Photo Discovery The Market
- Oct 2013 Am I Nearly There Yet? Travel Fails
- Oct 2013 The GypsyNester Weird Regional Foods
- Nov 2013 Sophie’s World Trees
- Nov 2013 SHOuTography Party
- Dec 2013 Adventures of a Goodman Ruin
- Dec 2013 Have Blog Will Travel Light
- Jan 2014 This World Rocks Crowds
- Jan 2014 Travel Past 50 Competition
- Feb 2014 The Working Traveller Working
- Mar 2014 Travels with Carole Umbrellas
- Apr 2014 Independent Travel Help Quirky
- Apr 2014 Quit Job Travel World Statues
- May 2014 Nomad is Beautiful People Sleeping
- May 2014 Backpack Me Mouthwatering
- Jun 2014 20 Years Hence The Face of A Nation
- Jul 2014 Two for the Road Into the Wild
- Jul 2014 TurtlesTravel Summer!
- Aug 2014 Adventures Around Asia Candid
- Aug 2014 Travel with Kevin and Ruth Hiking
- Sept 2014 Till The Money Runs Out Transport
- Sept 2014 The Crowded Planet Wild World
- Sept 2014 ZigZag On Earth The 4 Elements
- Oct 2014 Travel Addicts Heritage
- Oct 2014 Living the Dream Your Grand Adventure
- Oct 2014 Getting Stamped Inspire
- Nov 2014 Flashpacker HQ Viewpoint
Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque known as The Blue Mosque because of the exquisite blue-tiled domed ceilings. The best way to view them would be to lie on the floor and look straight up – I didn’t quite have the nerve….
Great shot Suzanne! I love how much of the art of these kinds of religious places can be found just looking up. We were able to do that at the sistine chapel by running through the museum right when they opened. We only got a couple minutes lying on the floor before being yelled at by Vatican guards, but still totally worth it! :)
-T
The picture I am submitting today was taken in Budapest. Famous for its Art Deco buildings, I managed to get inside one of them. The building was filled with Art Deco furniture and decorations, one of them being this ceiling lamp. I remember looking up and thinking that it would make for a pretty picture from a different perspective.
http://lifeasabusstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lamp.jpg
Thanks for the submission Denise! Dig the art deco!
– T
http://brentsfavoritephotos.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html
My options were limited for this unique topic. This shot is from Oceanside, California. After a long day playing at the beach, my wife pointed out to me how beautiful the sand was when the sun hit it and it turned gold. The next morning, I ran out to take some photographs before we left.
Sorry, try this link instead
http://brentsfavoritephotos.blogspot.com/2012/12/oceanside-california-september-3-2012.html
Oh man, love the California beaches! Can’t wait to get back there next summer.
Thanks!
– T
I hope you don’t mind that I enter one from my RedBubble shop – I think I haven’t published the photo elsewhere: http://www.redbubble.com/people/dare2go/works/12979475-all-dried-up?p=canvas-print
Taken in the Tatacoa Desert in Colombia. The stick, a dried bit of cactus, was just laying there = it’s not an arranged photo. I would also like to enter an “up” photo, but the rules…
And thank you very much for the Tweet – I would ave missed the next round otherwise – you took your time… ;)
That is indeed a great image! Can you send over a direct link to the image so I can include it in the selection of entries? Unfortunately, I’m unable to use that link as it goes to a sales site.
Thanks!
– T
Sorry – travel blogger = been on the road without internet! Only just found the reply.
Direct link to image: http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.32153040.9475/flat,800×800,070,f.u2.jpg Merry Christmas (almost over and done with)!
Oh. Some stiff competition for this one already. We’ll add our take on the theme:
http://www.traveladdicts.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Pamukkale-Turkey-travertine-ripples.jpg
This was taken on the travertines of Pamukkale in central Turkey. We visited this section of the travertines twice that day. In the afternoon, the sun was too high and we couldn’t capture any of the rich texture of the ridges and folds. Later, on our descent, the sun was setting and casting enough shadows for us to catpure the moment. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute! Laura and Lance
Is this a beach? a desert? What are the travertines?
-T
The travertines of Pamukkale, Turkey are formed as hot springs carry minerals down the hillside and the minerals are deposited in ornate formations. It’s beautiful!
Here is a unique view of the St. Louis Arch. Many of us have seen the Arch, either in person or in photos, so you are familiar with it’s shape. But have you ever seen it from this view point? It looks totally different up close. You discover the shape is slightly different, and can appreciate the craftsmanship to lay each piece together. It’s kinda crazy to think you can ride an elevator up inside to the top!
Very cool perspective. I’ve never seen it in person, but have seen plenty of pictures. Great to see it from a different angle!
Thanks!
– T
Where is the link to the next one?
This one is one of my favorites from Amsterdam. Look up at the statue of Anne Frank in-front of the Anne Frank House / Museum. This was my first photo taken at an extreme angle and taught me the importance of looking at things differently with a camera. – Jeremy, Living the Dream, http://www.livingthedreamrtw.com
http://www.goinformed.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/annefrank.jpg
Interesting image. What was it about this scene that made you take the image at this angle? Just curious why this was your first image taken this way.
Thanks!
-T
Good question! Honestly I was goofing off. There were too many people trying to get a photo of the statue that I ran up to it real quick and shot a photo while holding my camera at my waist, not looking. This was the result. When I realized this photo was probably better than 99.99% of the other traveler’s photos who were only taking shots at a distance, I knew to start taking photos at angles
Beauty really is everywhere.
I was recently at the dump and right
there next to the trash loading dock was this banana tree. It was in
bloom and the flower was just so bright and colorful. So alive! Such the
harsh contrast to the surrounding area that I had to grab my camera and
capture it!
I stood below the banana flower and was
mesmerized by the intricate details of the blooms. How they were
protected by the harder pink petals. Their lips curling back too revel
the banana nectar.
http://www.missmauiali.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Banana-Flower.jpg
Love the color contrasts! Where was this taken?
-T
Hi Travis, I’m not entering this round, but I want to make a proposition – I love following the Travel Photo Roulette and I sometimes find it hard to keep track of the results and entry posts. I would be more than willing to create a dedicated site for the Travel Photo Roulette that contains the rules, all past entries and winners. People would still create the entry articles on their travel blogs, but with their permission I would add each competition as it finishes to the site. I wouldn’t expect anything in return, I just think it would be a cool idea!
Paul – I don’t see a problem with this but it is really Jeremy’s baby. I would check with him to make sure it’s okay.
Good luck!
– Travis
While in Paris I tried to take pictures of well-known places in different ways. This shot ended up being one of my favorites, directly underneath the Arc de Triomphe. I had to lay down to get this shot just right—thankfully there’s not much tourist traffic at 8am. The symmetry in this building is incredible, and hopefully this picture captured it well.
Good use of symmetry for your composition. I love getting out somewhere early before the hordes descend upon a popular spot. You often also have the benefit of great morning light. Thanks for the submission!
– T
It seems that ever city in South America now has its own version of Brazil’s famous Cristo Redentor statue. In Santiago, Chile, they have erected a 22 meter tall statue of the Virgin Mary. While it’s a beautiful work of art, the statue is very difficult to photograph. I knew it had to be done “straight up;” but, after several different angles came out looking flat, I was ready to give up. Then, as I was walking away from the statue, I noticed the sun shining through Mary’s hand and decided to give her an energy orb to hold. Finally, I had my shot :)
That’s a great play on perspective Greg! Moving around to get an angle that makes the image interesting is what this week was all about. Great shot!
– T
This photo is of the mural “Morning Star†which is painted
on a domed ceiling over the stairs in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in
Gatineau, Quebec, across the river from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The mural is
by artist Alex Janvier. Leaning back on the stairs in order to be able to shoot
straight up at the mural was a little scary.
http://www.boomeresque.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1005882_478534742229774_1048540046_n-e1419303617857.jpg
For some reason, I can’t get my photo to load here as the proper size even though it is sized at 550 pixels on my desktop. Hopefully, it will open to that size for you.
Suzanne Fluhr—–Boomeresque——-http://www.boomeresque.com
This photo is of the mural “Morning Star†which is painted
on a domed ceiling over the stairs in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in
Gatineau, Quebec, across the river from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The mural is
by artist Alex Janvier. Leaning back on the stairs in order to be able to shoot
straight up at the mural was a little scary.
http://www.boomeresque.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1005882_478534742229774_1048540046_n-e1419303617857.jpg
Suzanne Fluhr Boomeresque http://www.boomeresque.com
It may have been a little scary but ti’s a great shot (and a great piece of art). I love the fact that sometimes you have to lie on the floor to get these kinds of images. That’s the point ;)
-T
First off, congrats on your win, and I’m glad to see the contest going again!
This one was taken from inside the Pantheon in Rome and, because there were what what seemed like millions of other visitors there and it’s a heavily photographed building, I knew I wanted to get a unique shot and therefore had to change up my viewpoint.
For this shot I had to lie down entirely. My friend stood over me so my head wouldn’t get stomped on by any of the other visitors, and I definitely got some looks. As anyone who has visited knows, the ceiling to the Pantheon is open, so I had some nice, natural light streaming in – the aspect I love about it the most.
Very fond of the lines and curves in this one. One suggestion for your next roulette entry is to reduce the size of the image you are linking to. This one is massive and drops the load time of the page as a whole. Just a suggestion :)
– T
Will do, thanks!
Great Post and amazing Photos from Different Regions.You remind me when I last visited to turkey(Istanbul) by Sultan Ahmed Mosque.Thanks for sharing.
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You should came to Mexico, to places like Cancun or Yucatan to take some really nice pictures with the beautiful places like Chichen Itza, Xcaret or Xel-ha!
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I’m travelling to London in May for the first time, I am SO excited ….with some friends and I’ll definitely be sharing this with them. Thanks for the great article!