# 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:** 15
**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:** [April 1, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/284 "2023-04-01T20:51:20Z")
I’ve been wanting to go out and photograph the (mostly\*) abandoned railroad track that runs through town for quite a while now. This gives me an excuse to actually go do it. Although the bridge would make a good picture, too… \*I say “mostly” because there is a group that’s been using the tracks for scenic train rides now, but the tracks haven’t been used for any sort of “real” commercial trains since the late 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/285 "2023-04-01T23:13:31Z")
Excellent! One of my main reasons for setting this up was to encourage people (including me) to go out and take more photos. Glad to hear it’s doing that. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/286 "2023-04-02T11:21:04Z")
Hi all, the [competition thread for this month](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-5-april-2023-transportation/982019) is up. As always, the submission and voting deadlines are listed in the first post. Good luck and let’s see what the Dope comes up with this time! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/287 "2023-04-04T20:13:14Z")
@beowulff wow, a fata morgana! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/288 "2023-04-10T17:25:43Z")
It is too early in both this week and so far in all the photo threads but maybe we should start thinking about giving Turek The Grant Imahara BattleBot Emeritus Award for Holy Shit Dude, What A Great Shot! ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/289 "2023-04-10T18:19:21Z")
I miss Grant. So sad. And thanks, I love that shot. I was giddy when I was taking it. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/290 "2023-04-12T19:05:48Z")
I went with a photo of three Cubans in the front of a van lit by the sun as there’s the swinging cross, the mystery of the occupants lives, and trying to hunt down what the van is; but the more interesting bit of transport (but not the better photo IMO) is a hand made wooden bike that can carry up to a metric ton in weight and found only in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo called a [Chukudu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukudu): [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4611/40387042691_1801f5f9fe_b.jpg "How to Operate on Two Wheels") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/cttm/40387042691/) Also nearly picked this Alpha going sideways from a rally: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4114/4755409289_797091453f_b.jpg "Alpha Racing") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/cttm/4755409289/) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/291 "2023-04-12T20:29:31Z")
I almost went with this one, a family commute in Bangalore, India. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaXg4R0rBsWBr99NvYiiI7RNIgWD5uas-sn4O20KDdi67zZvyPnq0Eg6OX0CxuWrQA4lFofXo9tBQKAAPu1piV_A2dhmcSqeOk1AlIL98-e3sKR-3Vjz=w600-h315-p-k "New item by David Metsky") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/vJX2hQMwTubApEkf7) ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/292 "2023-04-17T11:40:51Z")
I was at a local lake on Saturday. They have a miniature railway running around the edge of the lake for a few hundred metres of so, complete with a little engine car. It was occupied by two big burly guys squeezed into the cabin in - one being (heh) trained by the other. Would’ve been a great shot if I’d had the presence of mind to grab it. 🙃 ---
**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:** [April 17, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/293 "2023-04-17T12:25:31Z")
I freely admit my entry doesn’t quite fit the category, but I guess “transportation” just doesn’t inspire me. And a donkey _could_ be transportation…although if this particular donkey ever transported anything heavier than a dead leaf, I don’t know about it. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/294 "2023-04-17T12:31:53Z")
A donkey is one of the earliest forms of transport. I reckon it fits. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/295 "2023-04-17T13:25:59Z")
@Dung_Beetle I’ve always encouraged a wide interpretation of the themes - broadly speaking, if you think it fits, then it fits. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/296 "2023-04-17T20:19:59Z")
I stuck to my guns this month - the photo I posted yesterday was taken on 8 April. It really is the view from my favourite cafe - if the weather had been warmer we would have been sitting at an outside table. On those tables they won’t serve you a sandwich in French bread, just in case you accidentally hit a plane with the far end when you take a bite. Okay, Okay, I’m joking - but only just. Here’s a photo (from an outside table) of a plane taxiing past my lunch - taken last year. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nHWKsXuS0o68ggEjaxQm8UFCMIy4PAojP-GSdI5JXIwW5stAjLNeBwzuHzVocf_id6EDPXIMRkIA3xYtqKmE4twKSpA3Y42cY3yTIpiArIvqdxFlDCC6EOIg7qoq_auMpLx8f0-gjA=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/CTGeUirFgS9aaCPv7) j ---
**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:** [April 17, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/297 "2023-04-17T20:53:38Z")
There are, as ever, many fabulous photos in the current competition. But I love this one! > [@Monthly Photo Competition #5 - April 2023 - “Transportation”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-5-april-2023-transportation/982019/18): > > [[Imgur] ](https://imgur.com/uaLpsjS) ---
**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:** [April 17, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/298 "2023-04-17T21:05:04Z")
Seems like the spitfires and the hurricanes are missing. Where are they? ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/299 "2023-04-17T21:10:42Z")
The spitfires are at Biggin Hill in Kent: > **[Fly a Spitfire Biggin Hill - Two Seat Spitfire Flights](https://flyaspitfire.com/)** > > Spitfire passenger flights in a two seat Spitfire from the historic RAF Biggin Hill airfield. The adventure of a lifetime. We haven’t seen one at Shoreham (where the pic above was taken) - yet. Not sure about the hurricanes… j ETA - this is turning into a decent post content-avatar combo! ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/300 "2023-04-19T22:22:36Z")
I’m curious how many of us successfully go out and photograph specifically for a topic. I’ve never had much luck with that - my best photos feel more like found treasures. I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and had a camera. (Which of course has gotten easier, with a camera in my pocket 24/7 these days …) ---
**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:** [April 19, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/301 "2023-04-19T22:33:21Z")
I didn’t actually go take photos of the railroad track like I said I would, and most likely won’t get a chance to before the deadline, but I did but I did go out and take some pictures of a local bridge just before sunset a few weeks ago. I’ll probably use one of those as my entry. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/302 "2023-04-20T00:29:28Z")
I don’t go out specifically looking for a topic, but a lot of times I find myself thinking that I am in awe of the _expansiveness_ of the ocean, or the _eons of time_ geology took to create the Badlands or some other feeling the view is giving me, and then spending time and effort trying to capture that “essence” in a photograph. Sometimes I am successful. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/303 "2023-04-23T17:14:02Z")
Hi all, a quick reminder that this month’s competition closes tomorrow at 9pm UK time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642.md?page=16)