January thread for “Fire or Ice” is alive and kicking.
mmm
Agreed. Again, very lucky of me that that group of tourists were all wearing bright red 
Hm, something that’s missing in this best-of-the-year: Part of how I judge photos in the monthly competitions is how well they fit the theme. Without that context, it changes which ones are best.
I prefer it without the themes: judging purely on the picture alone. Each already won in regards to a theme, so let’s see how they stand on their own!
Sure, but the absolute best picture of the year, on its own, might not have even made it to this poll, because despite being great on its own, it didn’t fit the theme as well as some other.
But if we had to choose among all the pictures this year irrespective of the theme and whether they fitted it it would be a very long list. I probably would not bother to review them all again, and voting 50 people (if at all) voting 743 pictures would probably give 35 pictures with one vote, 25 with two, 12 with three… and none with more than 5 or 6 (no, I did not check the math, but I trust the general direction is right). I do not think this is a better option.
You (Chronos) are overthinking the whatever is missing part. I feel comfortable with the task and find it good that no picture of mine is included and that from the three I have chosen, two are in the top and one is in the very bottom of the poll so far.
Well, yeah. Overthinking is what I do.
Didn’t stop me from voting in the poll.
The purpose of the best-of-the-year poll is to determine, by vote, the best photo submitted in the 12 Doper photo contests of 2025.
The themes they were entered under have no relevance in this special contest.
mmm
Getting back to the January monthly contest, I don’t know if it’s because of time of year, but it’s interesting how many people are choosing Ice photos over Fire photos. I still don’t know what I’m going to post, but in my ruminations so far, all my ideas have also been Ice. I can’t think of any Fire photos I’ve taken off the top of my head (aside from, perhaps, a “fiery” sunset).
I was thinking that too, we’ve all got a lot more ice in our lives! I know I had a fire photo but I can’t find it.