Coming Home

After a year and a half, and hundreds of awesome photos submitted, it’s time to start wrapping up our little Fresno photo experiment.

That’s right: Picture Fresno is coming to an end. We had a good run—and we can’t thank our judges, partners, sponsors, and you enough—but we’re not done yet. We’ve got two more challenges for you. So, if you’ve been waiting to join in the photo fun, now is definitely the time.

Our penultimate Picture Fresno challenge is about “Coming Home.” Anyone who says “you can’t go home again” must have a terrible sense of direction.

Challenge

You can go home again. But “home” means different things to different people. It can be your apartment, your neighborhood, or your childhood home—or it may not be a place at all. Home is, as they say, where the heart is.

Show us where your heart is. A nice family meal, a steaming cup of coffee on a cold morning, your favorite cozy chair. Where do you most feel like you? Where do you feel like you belong? With the holidays coming up, it’s a great time think about what makes you feel at home. (You’ve got until the Monday after Thanksgiving to submit your photo, so make use of those extra-homey holiday photo ops.) Whatever home means to you, take a picture of it.

And—because a healthy home is a happy home—our winner will get a $50 gift card to Lassens Natural Food & Vitamins. This new Fresno market offers fresh organic produce, free-range poultry, vitamins, natural body care products, and the best of everything good!

Be sure to check back in December for our final challenge, and info on our second and final Holiday Extravaganza!

Remember: one submission per person. The deadline for this challenge is Monday, November 28 at 8 p.m.

Picture Yourself

For more than a year, Picture Fresno has been focusing on different aspects of our fair city, through the lens of talented photographers like you. Fresno is full of interesting places and things, but the most important part is (of course) the people. And that includes you.

Challenge

So, for our next challenge, we want you to turn the camera around, say cheese, and “Picture Yourself.”

Self-portraiture is a tradition as old as art itself. Long before pouty-faced tweens were snapping cellphone pics of themselves to post online, early humans were drawing themselves on cave walls with fire-blackened sticks. In both cases, the idea is the same: create an enduring representation of who you are, as an individual and as part of society as a whole (and also to look as cute as possible for that dreamy knuckle-dragger in homeroom).

Now it’s your time to shine. Get creative and show us who you are. Check out these helpful self-portrait tips for inspiration and guidance. Don’t worry about what a self-portrait is supposed to be; think about what it can be. (There are no strict rules, but keep in mind our judges will be looking for photos that adhere to the challenge’s description, so you should probably be in your self-portrait.) Use a tripod, use a timer, use your brain, and be yourself.

Our judge’s top pick will take home an assortment of all-natural health and beauty products from Arbonne, so you can keep yourself looking and feeling great.

One submission per person. The deadline for this challenge is Monday, October 31 at 8 p.m.

What Lies In The Shadows

In many ways, Picture Fresno is like a tough-as-nails private investigator exploring the city’s seedy underbelly. That’s never been more true than it is for our latest challenge, because we’re looking at “What Lies In The Shadows.” And we need you to seek out Fresno’s darkest corners: the forbidden nooks and crannies where the bright light of day fears to tread!

Challenge

Actually, our “What Lies In The Shadows” challenge isn’t all about scary darkness. Technically, it’s about both light and shadow. It’s about how they interact to turn something familiar into something entirely new (and pretty to look at).

Shadows come in many forms: lines, shapes, and silhouettes. And they’re also elusive. The shadows drawn by the sun at 8:00 a.m. may disappear within half an hour. That’s why this challenge requires a bit of extra thought on your part. Spend some time thinking about how light and shadows “move”. Pay attention to composition (remember: sometimes the most revealing part of a photo is what’s left out of the frame). Experiment with different exposure settings and contrast. And keep your eyes open and your camera nearby, because the perfect photo may wander across your lens when you least expect it.

You never know what photographic treasures you’ll capture when you look in unexpected places. Likewise, you never know what treasures you’ll find when you visit Urban Salvage, the downtown store full of cool, reclaimed trinkets and trunkets, like antiques, books, and furniture. Our winner will get a $50 Urban Salvage gift certificate (when you’re shopping, don’t forget to look in the shadows).

As always, one submission per person. The deadline for this challenge is Monday, September 19 at 2 p.m.

The Rhythm and the Music

Fresno’s diverse music scene continues to grow—more bands, more venues, and more concerts are popping up all over the place. So now’s a great time to get out and experience some live music, and snap some photos while you’re at it.

Challenge

For “The Rhythm and the Music,” we want you to show us your favorite live music. And, since music is usually something that’s enjoyed with your ears, it’s up to you to translate that into something we can see.

It shouldn’t be too hard to find some live music to photograph. It might be a children’s concert choir, the cover band at your favorite farmer’s market, or your neighbor’s garage band rehearsal. If you want to venture out to some bona fide concerts, we’ve got a few suggestions for that, too.

• Tuesday, August 2: Local folksters Brother Luke & The Comrades are playing Audie’s Olympic. (21+)
• Wednesday, August 3: The weekly open mic night at Iron Bird Cafe offers a chance to take pictures and step up to the mic yourself.
• Thursday, August 4: Watch some rock and roll from Fresno’s own Strange Vine at Fulton 55. (21+)
• Friday, August 4: Popular indie group Torreblanca kicks off their US tour with a FREE SHOW at Fulton 55. (21+) THAT'S RIGHT! FREE!

There are plenty of other shows before the deadline. We recommend checking the Fresno Beehive for more ideas. Once you find something that sounds good to you, grab your camera and go. Our winner will get four tickets to any upcoming show at Fresno’s coolest new venue, Fulton 55!

Remember, one submission per person. Your last chance to submit a photo is Monday, August 8 at 2 p.m.

Simple Pleasures

Hi, there. Did you miss us? Either way, we're back with a brand new Picture Fresno challenge. This time, we want you to strip away all that extra junk and get simple.

Challenge

"Simple Pleasures" is about finding joy in the little things. Around Fresno, summer is a time of friends, family, and outdoor activities (despite the heat). So, snap some photos of your favorite summertime joys, like a home cooked meal or poolside shenanigans. Or pull out your flash to capture the simple pleasure of a perfect summer evening. The deadline is July 5, so—if you're quick—you may be able to sneak in some Fourth of July fireworks pictures.

Our winner will take home a $50 gift card to Fresno Ag Hardware, along with a few tote bags to hold all that loot. Since 1876, Fresno Ag has been the best place for Fresnans to stock up for home improvement or gardening projects. In other words, it supplies the tools for you to build your own simple pleasures.

As always, photos will be judged on things like creativity, thematic relevance, Fresno-centrism, and awesomeness.

Remember: one submission per person. Deadline is Tuesday, July 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Mom

Let's take a moment and consider the impact of those humble characters we call "Mom." She fed you, she picked up after you, she wiped the snot from your snotty nose (and wiped other things from other places). With all she's done for you, what can you do for her?

Challenge

Take her picture, of course.

Sunday, May 8 is Mother's Day, and it's the inspiration for our latest challenge. First, pick your favorite mom. She might be your mom, your friend's mom, your husband's wife, your cousin's grandma, or your accountant's daughter. One thing is clear: a mom’s a mom, no matter what genetics are involved. Then, snap a photo of her being herself (i.e., motherly). Or, if you're feeling more abstract, use your camera to tell a story about motherhood and what it means to be a mom. Lastly, submit your photo right here.

There’s no way to objectively rate one mom compared to another (and why would you want to?), so our winner will be chosen randomly from among the entries. And, appropriately enough, we’ve got a mother of a prize. The winner will choose between two necklaces (pictured here) from Stella & Dot. We’re not gonna say you have to give it to your mom, but… we know you’ll do the right thing.

If you're still confused about what this "mother" business is, watch this. Then go take some photos.

One submission per person. Deadline is Thursday, May 5 at 5 p.m.

In Bloom

Spring is sprung, the sun is shining, life is beautiful, yadda yadda yadda… Let's take some pictures.

Challenge

In case you haven't noticed, Fresno is "In Bloom," and so are we. It's time to unleash your inner (Fresnan) florist. It should be easy to find something suitably bloomy to point your camera at. We hear there are orchards full of fruit blossoms somewhere around here. If your own garden is looking a little lackluster, this is the perfect excuse to spruce things up. While you're at it, why not treat that special person to a bouquet of something sweet-smelling? Just make sure you get a shot of it.

And, since nothing goes better with flowers than freshly-brewed coffee, the judges' favorite photo earns lunch for two (including drinks and a delicious dessert), courtesy of Iron Bird Cafe.

Follow these links for some flower power:

• Happy (Blossom) Trails
• Other things are in bloom, too
• Watch this melodramatic video of a rose blooming

As always, points will be awarded for creativity, Fresnivity, and awesomeness. One submission per person. Deadline is Monday, April 11 at 2 p.m.

Phoning It In

For this challenge, we want you to phone it in. Literally! By using the camera on your phone! Get it?

Challenge

Use your iPhone, Android, or other smartphone camera to capture something authentically Fresno. Then go ahead and use one of those apps like Hipstamatic or picplz to make it look all vintage and fancy. Normally we discourage heavy editing or filters on your photos, but this week we're all for it. (Think it's impossible to take cool photos with a cellphone? Think harder.)

Since you'll be making your photos look vintage, we figured the prize should be suitably vintage as well. So we're glad our friends at Spinners Records in the Tower District are offering our winner a sweet gift for all you vinyl LP lovers out there.

You be the judge

For this challenge, we're giving our tireless judges a break. That means we need you and your pals to pick the winner. Just click "like" to vote for your favorite photo below and/or "like" the photo on our Picture Fresno Facebook page. The total likes for each photo (from both places) will determine the winner.

Yes, you read that right: you (and all your friends) can vote two times for your favorite photo. And no, we don't anticipate any funny business like that other Facebook liking fiasco.

Remember, we're looking for something Fresno. One submission per person. Deadline is Monday, March 7 at 2 p.m.

White Out

Brrr. Fresno's winter is in full effect. The fog's on the Valley floor, snow is capping the Sierras. We're covered in white.

Challenge

Show us your foggy photos (or snowy) in our latest challenge, "White Out." Fog is perhaps the most (figuratively) atmospheric of (literal) atmospheric conditions. So it isn't surprising that our sweet (and scary) tule fog makes for some fantastic photos. Get crazy with the white open spaces. Fog, snow, polar bears, Beatles albums. Create a mood, tell a story. Wow us.

Our winner will take home a custom gift basket from Twee Boutique. If you haven't checked out this eclectic shop on Wishow Row in the Tower District, you're missing out. It's even one of Mike Oz's favorite things.

Remember: only one submission per person. (Bonus tip: some of our judges give extra points for photos showing something unique to Fresno or the Central Valley.)

You've got until Monday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m.

White On

White: it's not as simple as you think.
White: corrects your mistakes.
White: the color of fog.

That’s all, folks! (until next year)

Wow. Here we are at the end of 2010. We launched 6 months ago, but it feels like it's only been 14 weeks. Time flies when you're having fun (and also when you skip some weeks). And we've had some fun, haven't we? Who knew pictures and Fresno would go together so beautifully?

We'd be remiss if we didn't point out some of the folks who have made it so great. Our judges are the coolest around. Our sponsors are the perfect mix of generous and awesome. And, most of all, our participants are pretty darn handy with a camera (seriously, check out the archives). Thanks to all of you for being part of something cool.

If you haven't already, sign up for The Greatest Email in the World by filling in the form over on the right… OK, maybe the Picture Fresno newsletter isn't the greatest in the whole world (that title surely belongs to that one email we always get from our aunt—the one that says if we forward it to 10 friends our wish will come true!), but it's a pretty good way to know what's going on. For instance, you'll be the first to know when we've got a new challenge for you.

Until then, Happy Holidays to everyone. Be sure to rest up, because next year we'll be back with a vengeance.

See you in '11.

Week 13: Fall Colors

Fans of black and white photography may want to skip this challenge—or, y’know, just shoot in color for once—because this week it’s all about color. “Fall Colors,” specifically. Some people call it “fall,” others call it “autumn,” and still others call it “pumpkin time.” Whatever you call it, we’re talking about the fun, warm colors that start showing up everywhere when the weather starts getting cold.

Challenge

There are certainly lots of fall colors in the trees and the leaves on the ground, but don’t stop there. This town is full of oranges, browns, ambers, aubergines (is that a color?), golds, and olive greens. You might find them in food or decorations. They might be in the sky or stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Who knows? Just get out there and find your favorite fall colors, wherever they are. Then, start snappin’. Upload, judging, et cetera, you know the drill.

The winner will receive their very own pie kit, courtesy of Whole Foods Market. It includes everything you need to bake a delicious and nutritious pie, plus it comes with an inspirational pumpkin candle and delicious hot cocoa to sip on while your delicious pie is baking. Delicious!

Don’t be a turkey. Go find some color! Your deadline is Monday, November 22 at 2:00 p.m.

Inspirazione

• Look at these fall colors in Italian.
• Check out some Whole Foods pie recipes (because pies have color too)

Week 11: Rusty Old Things

We know what you're thinking: "Halloween's next week, so Picture Fresno should do a costumed-related theme!" Don't worry, it's coming. But the Halloween parties don't start for a few more days, and most won't take place until next weekend.

Besides, if you're like us, you don't have a costume...yet. You know who's got you covered? The folks over at Yoshi NOW! And they're giving a $50 gift card to the store to this week's challenge winner¹.

If you haven't been to Yoshi before, the store is full of vintage clothes, furniture and memorabilia. In fact, the "new" couch at Picture Fresno HQ (also known as Paprika Studios) is a recent Yoshi find.

The Challenge

Inspired by the history and story of the items at Yoshi, this week's challenge is to photograph something weathered and old—specifically, something rusty. A car, a chair, an old piece of equipment, even a piece of art—if it's old, and rusty, share it!

You have until Monday, November 1 to submit.

Get Inspired

• » Telling story: Sal Hernandez
• » Find Yoshi on Facebook
• » Learn more about rust (and see examples of "rusty" photos)
• » Visit George's Museum of Rust (this is just random)

Photo credit: Danielle McEntee (of Dani Mac Photography). She's one of our awesome judges.

¹ You don't have to shop for a Halloween costume; gift card is not valid toward the purchase of consignment items.

Week 9: Fulton Mall

Welcome back, friends! Let's skip the part where we talk about where we've been the last couple of weeks (mostly here, if you're curious). On to the good stuff.

Rethinking the Urban Core

On Saturday, the City of Fresno concluded a series of design charettes focused on downtown—the Fulton corridor took center stage, as consultants gave presentations and community members gave input on eight design alternatives. While it's fun (and quite easy) to get caught up in drawings and ideas, the Fulton Mall is already an interesting place. That's what we think, anyway.

So that's your challenge this week: Fulton Mall.
The people, the buildings, the art—anything in, on or around the Fulton Mall is fair game. Think that this part of our community should be preserved? Show us why! Think it's time for change (say, maybe a road)? A picture's worth 1,000...well, you know the saying.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. As usual, the photos need to be yours
2. While photo descriptions aren't normally required, we're asking that you share the date the photo was taken, along with where you were on the Mall (in case it's not obvious)
3. You have a week to take and post your photos—we'll close the challenge on Sunday, October 10 at 10:00 p.m.

The Bounty: Come and Get It!

Chicken + waffles = yum. But don't take our word—if you're this week's pick from the judges, you can decided for yourself, with a family meal from Come and Get It Chicken and Waffles (on the north end of the mall). Bring your friends, though. It's a lot of food!

Link Love

If you've been keeping up with the local internets, you know we're not the only ones focused on the Fulton Mall lately. For a little inspiration, check these out:

• Faces of Fulton
• archop
• Save the Fulton Mall!!!
• The Fulton Corridor Specific Plan

Click. Read. Comment. Go out and take a photo!

Week 8: Lines

National Parks, Farm Fresh, Staycation—those are pretty specific themes. So this week, we're opening things up for broader interpretation.

The theme?

Lines. Lines of people. Lines of color. Lines of buildings. Lines of farm land. Lines of fabric. Lines.
(Sidenote: When you write out "lines" seven times in a row, the word starts to look funny.)

Oh, and we're giving this an extra week, so you have until Sunday, September 5 at 10:00 p.m. to submit—that's a holiday weekend, so try to relax a little, too. We're encouraging you to get out and look for new inspiration—if you need ideas, start with a walk downtown.

Ready? Upload away!

Link Love

• Let's talk "lines:" Daniell McEntee
• The goods: two Yosemite Fitness Learn to Climb packages

Week 6: Sounds of the City

Last week, Kara Lee came to us (the elves behind Picture Fresno), wanting to know how she could gain access to the inner circle of Creative Fresno. "Wouldn't it be great if I could attend one of their events—to see what it's like? I hear Pecha Kucha is cool," she urged.¹

We told Kara Lee that she'd have to submit a photo for Chit Chat, and find favor with the judges. And she did.

Congrats, Kara Lee! (Here's her photo, in slow-motion action replay.)

Enough chit chat

Okay, it's time to make some noise. Actually, it's time to take pictures, and instead of noise, let's focus on sound. As in, Sounds of the City.

Not sure what that looks like? You're in luck: judge and photographer Ryan Jones offers some ideas and helpful tips. Music, crowds, traffic—think both inside and outside the box!

Cool stuff that's related:

• What's in it for you (like Mayer Hawthorne tickets, or access to the August 28 No Town bout)
• Exploring sound with Ryan C. Jones

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¹ We're making this part up.

Week 4: National Parks

Ask five Fresnans to list our community's greatest assets, and at least six will mention access to nearby national parks.

In case you only travel west of Highway 99, there are three parks within immediate reach: Kings Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite (which is so popular that we named our airport after it!). Each is magnificent and stunning in its own ways, so your challenge this week is to show that in photo-form. Consider it an excuse to escape the heat, and take a day trip to Yosemite's valley floor, or to General Sherman—better yet, get off the beaten path and explore someplace new.

We know, all that driving and hiking can be exhausting, so the judges' favorite this week gets to relax on the next visit to Yosemite, courtesy of Tour Yosemite and Beyond (details below). And since you have already set your weekend plans, we're giving you an extra week to submit your photo. We've also outlined a few tips for shooting the parks from local photographer and judge Paul Mullins (one look at Paul's portfolio will show he knows what he's talking about).

Of course, you can always use photos taken on previous trips, and shots of people and animals (in a national park) are welcome. We'll even take photos from other parks... Just remember to submit by 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 1!

Photo tips from Paul Mullins

Paul's award-winning work in landscape photography has been featured in several publications and showcased worldwide. For examples, visit his landscape gallery.

The three C's of creative images are Communication, Composition and Craftsmanship:

Communication: When you are making images, what are they saying? Does it relate to the theme? Is there a focus within the picture? How is it meaningful to you? What is expressed in the photo that you are passionate about? Why did you make that image?

Composition: Composition is what makes a photo look good. Find contrasting colors within the image; it conjures up emotion. There should always be a dark, light, and middletone value - one should be dominant. The one that's shown the least should be the subject of the image. Think old and new, rough and smooth, or in terms of complementary colors like orange and blue. With contrast, there's always a hero and a villain. Those are the types of things that create emotion.

Craftsmanship: Play around with your camera. Experiment with the tools you have. Always ask, "What would happen if I tried this?" Don't always shoot on automatic. Craftsmanship is about technical focus like exposure and lighting. When you are shooting landscape photography, don't always put the sun behind you—it can look flat. Try lighting the subject with the sun from the side or 3/4 back.

The image shown here highlights the subject of the fallen tree. Notice the orange and blue contrasts. See how the image utilizes the rule of thirds. Place your subject in one of the intersecting quadrants.

Prize Details

Week 2: Celebration

It's summer. Sure, it's hot, but that's only from 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. The evenings are still fairly mild, and the air is surprisingly clear, and that's reason to celebrate. (Did you pick up on that hint last week?)

So light a candle for someone's birthday. Turn on the sprinklers (on your City-approved watering day) and let the kids run wild. Celebrate something, and take a picture. Then upload it here, and tell us what you're celebrating. Better yet—share one of those photos you were taking of fireworks on Sunday. (We don't care when you take/took the photo, as long as you took it, and it tells the story of a celebration.)

Since this is our first challenge, it may be helpful to read how it works, but we've tried to keep things simple. We can't promise that your photo will make you famous, but it will make you eligible for two awesome prizes: a four-pack of tickets to the Grizzlies game of your choice, and $50 to Yosemite Ranch. We can feel your excitement, but settle down...you have until Sunday at 10:00 p.m. to post a photo, and then the decision rests in the hands of our judges.

Speaking of the Grizzlies, did you know they're ranked #1? Now that's something to celebrate!