# Monthly Photo Competition #38– January, 2026 – “Fire or Ice" \[Poll added\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** photo\ **Created:** [January 1, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256 "2026-01-01T21:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/1 "2026-01-01T21:19:06Z")
**Monthly Photo Competition #38– January, 2026 – “Fire or Ice”** This is the monthly thread for **January, 2026**. The topic this month is “ **Fire or Ice** ” chosen by @romansperson. **IMPORTANT:** It is recommended that you not use Imgur to host your photos, as some members may not be able to see your submission. A hosting site that seems to work better is ImgBB. See instructions below. **Please post only your photo and, if you want, a title in this thread. Any other text belongs in the** [rolling discussion thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642). Exception: discussion can commence in this thread after the poll has closed. The general rules for the competition are [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642). **One entry per person per month** **.** To make the photos easier to review please only post just **once** to this thread, with your entry. Once the submission deadline has passed, I’ll put a voting poll **in this thread** **.** **Submission deadline: Monday, January 26, 11:45 pm US EDT.** Good luck! **Instructions for using ImgBB on a PC:** Open ImgBB site in new tab Click on START UPLOADING Select desired image from my files, click OPEN Back to ImgBB site, click UPLOAD Copy the URL Open new tab and past URL in address bar Right-click on image and click on COPY IMAGE LINK Back to the Dope, paste image image link **Link to posting images from an iPhone** courtesy of Bullitt: [ImgBB on an iPhone, steps to display images for the SDMB - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imgbb-on-an-iphone-steps-to-display-images-for-the-sdmb/1024594) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/2 "2026-01-01T21:34:56Z")
Doesn’t want to load. Will try again in a new post. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/3 "2026-01-01T21:38:22Z")
Fire box on a stationary steam engine at Sturgeon’s Mill, Sebastopol, CA. [![](https://i.ibb.co/0Vn8F4WF/fire-box-1.png) ](https://i.ibb.co/0Vn8F4WF/fire-box-1.png) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/4 "2026-01-01T23:11:44Z")
[![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPZ5dO2D-pUbqa0gir77haLHVy5vlJNGkb24tKRKTko05uWKBdoO1gf71S1YosYv6Nmr2M6KkpZsVF_knYeaaz_BkAgv1PzGlMoN_yeKgrd-_MIxUI=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN4CeZaXCw7x8xk6TSXUnFk_mxFiIq3WElGTLBUSSbd6COql0mBuyTiQfvFy9qmEg?key=Q0xSS3dDSy1QOXZnM3IzRW43cVlMYjRTamJpbEZB) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/5 "2026-01-01T23:31:20Z")
Icelandic icebergs [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55018233016_6079d48547_b.jpg "IMG\_8046") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/66423490@N08/55018233016/) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/6 "2026-01-02T00:03:40Z")
[![](https://i.ibb.co/zVFf1ZVG/PB150267-Dx-O.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/zVFf1ZVG/PB150267-Dx-O.jpg) Campfire at a Boy Scout campout in November. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/7 "2026-01-03T18:56:50Z")
[![](https://i.ibb.co/v6Q5hhnd/DSC-0147.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/v6Q5hhnd/DSC-0147.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/8 "2026-01-03T19:06:07Z")
Nice to have plenty of firewood when it snows, so Fire _and_ Ice for me: [![](https://i.imgur.com/QEYRLOL.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/QEYRLOL.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/9 "2026-01-05T23:38:25Z")
Submitted once before but since it didn’t win I submit it again. Click through for full resolution (depending on your browser you may need to click a second time to zoom)🙂 [![](https://www.genderkitten.com/WS4/Upload_Download/Rotting%20Pier%20Ice%20Floes.JPG) ](https://www.genderkitten.com/WS4/Upload_Download/Rotting%20Pier%20Ice%20Floes.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/10 "2026-01-06T19:17:59Z")
[![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPoWV1_l2QNXaqZHCJhY6Tlu-0CdCcvR7hUVfTgJZlLC-QTE_S8de412KiPjZVuhQODzHFR1x16mjvzvog2dTIFxxGB0s1vJ8XA3rZK5fKSXpfdhblsdpkNbtR3WBCFjB1ipO2ivLyl3yAPli8T96641A=w1198-h1598-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPoWV1_l2QNXaqZHCJhY6Tlu-0CdCcvR7hUVfTgJZlLC-QTE_S8de412KiPjZVuhQODzHFR1x16mjvzvog2dTIFxxGB0s1vJ8XA3rZK5fKSXpfdhblsdpkNbtR3WBCFjB1ipO2ivLyl3yAPli8T96641A=w1198-h1598-s-no?authuser=0) ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/11 "2026-01-06T19:52:47Z")
Ice storm, 2014. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53248571717_98f78a7129_b.jpg "DSCN1515 ND") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/194984876@N07/53248571717/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/12 "2026-01-08T21:12:45Z")
[![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55029798778_99b81efb87.jpg "FB\_IMG\_1767817666519") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31573076@N00/55029798778/) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/13 "2026-01-09T00:10:55Z")
Alaskan glacier from a prop plane. [![](https://i.ibb.co/DPTThpLc/Alaskan-mountain-and-airplane-wing.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/DPTThpLc/Alaskan-mountain-and-airplane-wing.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/14 "2026-01-11T00:27:08Z")
_“Fire” and Ice_, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland [![](https://i.ibb.co/nqndWq0W/P1070199.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/nqndWq0W/P1070199.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/15 "2026-01-11T00:57:31Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/Vi4fOaA_d.jpeg?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high) ](https://i.imgur.com/Vi4fOaA_d.jpeg?maxwidth=520&shape=thumb&fidelity=high) Matanuska Glacier, Alaska ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/16 "2026-01-11T01:21:25Z")
Just after a fresh snowfall. [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:gme3wshdrukjfhbnrj4ittzf/bafkreihnlp223zb6ss3txitl3fltvl2osvhs5j3ap6tgaoxsft3nd4kxsu@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:gme3wshdrukjfhbnrj4ittzf/bafkreihnlp223zb6ss3txitl3fltvl2osvhs5j3ap6tgaoxsft3nd4kxsu@jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/17 "2026-01-11T02:08:06Z")
Marshmallows on a Cool Evening [![](https://i.ibb.co/3ysdSgLc/IMG-1215-DXO.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/3ysdSgLc/IMG-1215-DXO.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/18 "2026-01-11T07:28:52Z")
d’ Buergbrennen [https://i.postimg.cc/](https://i.postimg.cc/) FRBD8cP6/20240218-185920.jpg (Link broken by Puzzlegal at request of poster, as it wasn’t working reliably.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/19 "2026-01-11T10:37:33Z")
Trying again with a different image host. [![](https://8upload.com/image/4bcedc8553d8e616/20240218_185920.jpg) ](https://8upload.com/image/4bcedc8553d8e616/20240218_185920.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256/20 "2026-01-15T15:04:06Z")
**The Silent Traveler** [![](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Zr4NCvF/0/Mr3fSpNZtRNtsN7bGHqWxP6Dh9fNsnkXw9sDRt9tv/X5/i-Zr4NCvF-X5.jpg) ](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Zr4NCvF/0/Mr3fSpNZtRNtsN7bGHqWxP6Dh9fNsnkXw9sDRt9tv/X5/i-Zr4NCvF-X5.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-38-january-2026-fire-or-ice-poll-added/1026256.md?page=2)