# SDMB Monthly Photo Competition - rolling discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** photo\ **Created:** [November 27, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642 "2022-11-27T20:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 115
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2284 "2026-06-24T20:44:32Z")
I’ve tried to come up with something for this month, but no go. I was hoping I might have a good/funny photo of my cats racing around, but no luck - I’ll have to sit this one out. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2285 "2026-06-24T20:56:14Z")
There are other races that also happen. Yukon Quest is one of them. It’s a 1,000 mile race between Fairbanks, AK and Whitehorse, YT, switching directions every year. The Kuskokwim 300 that follows the Kuskokwim River from Bethel to Aniak and back. It’s one of the most competitive and lucrative races in the world. Also the [Copper Basin 300](https://www.google.com/search?q=dog+races+in+alaska&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1148US1148&oq=dog+races+in+alaska+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABixAxiABDIKCAIQLhixAxiABDIQCAMQLhivARjHARiABBiOBTIKCAQQABixAxiABDINCAUQLhiDARixAxiABDIKCAYQABixAxiABDIKCAcQABixAxiABDIKCAgQABixAxiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCDk4NzlqMGo0qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:84556317,vid:AmKrKDpmmE0,st:0) that begins and ends in Glennallen, billed as “the toughest 300 miles in Alaska”. Forward the video to about the 25 minute mark to see some really enthusiastic doggies. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2286 "2026-06-24T23:34:43Z")
Yeah, I’ve been trying to catch the equines racing to their dinner, but no dice. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2287 "2026-06-25T00:18:28Z")
Nothing resembling a race has occurred near me. Not even at the racetrack across the road from my workplace. Though I probably wouldn’t have gotten a good shot of that either as I’d need a fancy telephoto lens I expect. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2288 "2026-06-25T00:31:14Z")
I had a few photos from the 2014 Amgen Tour of California cycling race in my archives, but I didn’t think any of them were really good enough to enter. So I stretched the definition of “racing” a bit and went with my “predator chasing prey” photo. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2026, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2289 "2026-06-26T11:02:07Z")
[June poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-43-june-2026-racing/1030583/11) is up. Vote early, vote often! ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2290 "2026-07-01T10:47:43Z")
Congratulations to @romansperson, our June winner! This is romansperson’s 5th win; their first win was September, 2024 and their most recent win was March, 2026 romansperson, please let us know our July theme. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2291 "2026-07-01T13:58:38Z")
My picture was taken shortly after that guy (Pete Kaiser) won the 2019 Iditarod. It was taken around 0330 in the morning in Nome AK (where the race finishes). To get his face I yelled out to him, “Hey Pete, congratulations!” When he turned to look, I snapped his photo. > [@Monthly Photo Competition #43 – June, 2026 – “Racing” {poll added}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-43-june-2026-racing-poll-added/1030583/10): > > 3am in Nome Alaska: 2019 Iditarod race winner Pete Kaiser of Bethel AK [[image] ](https://i.ibb.co/3YRfd31F/IMG-2404.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2292 "2026-07-01T15:03:00Z")
Thanks, MM (and also thank you for keeping this going)! How about “Beautiful” for the next theme? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2293 "2026-07-01T15:08:50Z")
“Beautiful” would be beautiful. Beautiful thread is [here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-44-july-2026-beautiful/1031332) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2294 "2026-07-01T20:17:47Z")
Is Pete the one in the hat, or the one in the collar? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2295 "2026-07-01T20:41:47Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > How about “Beautiful” for the next theme? If it was “Handsome” I’d win with a selfie (I’m humble, too!) but beautiful? Thanks for giving us a narrow category to choose from! 😠 ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2296 "2026-07-01T20:41:57Z")
It’s interesting that we’ve gone from a topic that felt quite specific last month to one that is extremely broad and so subjective (i.e. eye of the beholder and all that). Now I’m asking myself, do I have any “beautiful” photos in my archive?? I hope so! ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2297 "2026-07-01T20:58:52Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Now I’m asking myself, do I have any “beautiful” photos in my archive?? I hope so! Yeah, me too. A quick look-see, though, didn’t present any obvious candidates despite the broad topic. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2298 "2026-07-01T21:00:44Z")
I’m hoping someone comes up with a good pic of spacious skies, amber waves of grain, and purple mountains majesty. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2299 "2026-07-01T21:09:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is Pete the one in the hat, or the one in the collar? All the dogs just ignore me. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2300 "2026-07-01T21:35:52Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > It’s interesting that we’ve gone from a topic that felt quite specific last month And on that, I wonder if it might be a good idea to remind people of the guidelines for choosing themes from the OP: > [@TwoCarrotSnowman](#): > > Themes should: > > - Be broad enough that they can be interpreted in different ways. A lot of the fun is in seeing how people interpret the brief. > - Avoid repetition of previous themes, or at least spin them in a different way. > - Comply with the considerations listed below - this means candid or street photography is probably not going to fly. > > Themes should not: > > - Require specialist equipment or skills. It should be possible to take a photo that meets the brief with a smartphone camera. > - Require access to particular places, items etc. Given the fairly low participation in last month’s contest, I wonder if last month’s theme was either too specific, or people were reluctant to interpret the theme as anything other than a literal race. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2301 "2026-07-02T01:54:50Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > people were reluctant to interpret the theme as anything other than a literal race. I definitely didn’t have anything remotely like a literal race, so I was trying to think of something clever (or at least cute like my cats “racing”), but I couldn’t come up with anything. Oh well, no biggie. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2302 "2026-07-02T18:39:07Z")
So easy, and yet so hard 😉 … ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2303 "2026-07-02T23:48:40Z")
Are the photos you submit for the photo contest more often: _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/2303))_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642.md?page=114) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642.md?page=116)