I have found that for me, if I just refresh the page when this happens, the poll results reappear, and my votes appear to have been counted.
Makes sense.
Well, the three that I voted for came in as the top three 
But I really thought @Jeff_Lichtman deserved the trophy this month. The color, the composition, the exposure - just absolutely perfect. No shade to @Turek , who also captured a great photo, I just really loved those paint cans.
I totally agree. I was happy with my chances with my pink banners against the blue Puerto Rican sky…until I saw those paint cans. I would hang that image on my wall.
And I agree that @Jeff_Lichtman’s entry is also stunning.
mmm
Thank you so much!
I was in first place for about five minutes. That’s good enough for me.
It reminded me of the second panel of this picture by Hieronimus Bosch
What I meant here is that @Turek’s photo is also stunning. I obviously thought that @Jeff_Lichtman’s was.
mmm
Ooh, thankfully I wasn’t visiting there!
Sigh. Every month I put up my photo and think, “Oh, this one, this might be the one this time,” and every month someone else wins with a truly superb picture.
Awww. 
I never expect to win. I’m pleasantly surprised if I receive any votes. We have some truly gifted photographers here who know how to compose a shot with the correct lens, lens speed and all the rest of that stuff about which I know almost nothing. As a point-and-shoot numpty, I can’t hope to compete. But it’s still fun, and if I have any photo that meets the monthly criteria, I cast aside my pride and just post it in the spirit of the thing.
You take some amazing photos – your time will come!
Thank you! I do try not to get my hopes up beyond a grasshopper’s knee. But some day…!
@EddyTeddyFreddy
It got my top vote. Mesmerizing
That’s how I approach it too.
I am also a rank beginner with an entry level camera and one lens. If I can win, anyone can!
Some of it is knowing all of the photographer-knowin’ stuff. But some of it is just being in the right place at the right time, and a big chunk of it is in recognizing that you’re in the right place at the right time, and getting out your camera.
MY suggestion for Decembert is “On the road”.
The best camera is the one you have with you, & every once in a while a PhD (push here, dummy) camera gets it just right on it’s own & it’s a spectacular shot. One of my three greatest, once-in-a-lifetime catches is from my cellphone & it probably came out better than my SLR because the lens I would have had on has a lot of positives to it but lens flare ain’t one of ‘em.
I saw this & immediately know what shot I’m submitting; then thinking for just a couple of seconds, thought of three more that would work.
One of my favorite landscape shots was one from a point-and-shoot taken on a road trip out west (Montana, perhaps) when we pulled over just to stretch our legs. I usually lug my SLR and several lenses on any trip, but this one I decided to go light. It worked out.
Yonder goes the December “On the Road” thread.
mmm
Thank you, Mr. Mustard!