Well we're all furs, so let's do something we're naturally drawn to - animals!

Thanks Yarrik.

One idea for a theme could be "What we see outside the door"

Yay, Hidalgo! Definitely glad to know the page is always in reliable hands...hooves? xP

Thank you

Thanx for stepping up, Hidalgo!

It's my pleasure

How about taking a picture of a antique, or family heirloom.

Always a good one I think

I wasn't around for the previous incarnation of the monthly challenge, so forgive me for asking, but are entries supposed to be brand-new photos or are existing gallery posts acceptable?

Hidalgo: Your "outside the door" theme sounds interesting. But before you post that as a formal challenge, would you clarify that a little more? Does the door actually have to be part of the shot? Would anything in my back yard be acceptable?

Here are some other challenge ideas. Use or reject any of them. It won't hurt my feelings if you don't like them. I won't apologize for suggesting some of these that I already do in my photos. I just want to start some brainstorming.

REFLECTIONS: in puddles, mirrors, other shiny surfaces
SCHNOZZES: shots emphasizing noses of any and all species
PAWS: similar to Schnozzes, but instead with paws, claws, hooves, and pincers
FRAMED: shots framed by doors, windows, other structures
MOTION BLUR: use of slow shutter speeds to emphasize speed
DEPTH: shots emphasizing depth-of-field
STEREO: 3-D photos utilizing stereo pairs
COLORIZATION: post processing with Photoshop or similar tool to exaggerate colors
LIGHT: light sources (natural or artificial) used in a creative way
MECH: photos of things with gears, levers, knobs, etc.
TECH: photos of hi-tech toys with LEDs, circuit boards and the like
PORTRAIT: human or animal
WILDLIFE: traditional wildlife photos (no zoo shots please)
LANDSCAPE: 'nuff said
MACRO: an extreme close-up for a fresh look at something ordinary
ARCHITECTURE: unique perspectives on buildings, shiny and modern or old and decaying

There you go. With the themes already suggested, we now have over a year's worth of challenge ideas.

Yarrick said previously that the challenges wouldn't be judged and if that's the will of the group, it's OK with me. I'd like to suggest a judging scheme that doesn't put any one person on the spot. How about if, once all of the entries have been posted for a month, the members who submitted entries vote for their favorite, other than their own? Leave the voting open for a week or 10 days, then post the result only if a minimum number of votes are cast. Reveal only first place, second place with no actual counts. As before, this is just a suggestion and it won't hurt my feelings if the group chooses not to use it.

For now they won't be Judged. But I am going to encourage that people comment on the submissions. Creative criticism is ok too so long as you maybe offer up an idea of what you would have done differently. At some point... we may do something more "competitive" again. Right now I just want to get some fresh content in our gallery.

Well...you actually might have put an interesting twist on it with your door question. I might include the door....ANY door. Anywhere. But it's not an official thing just get

It's nice to know the group isn't dead.

Challenges can be fun,but you could also drop the theme and do a best pic challenge.
Also in other forums, i've seen the winner of a challenge pick the next one and judge it.

For right now, I plan on getting the Theme challenge going to give a "Topic" just to get content in our gallery. The other photography groups generally say "Just give us any content you want and we will post the best shots!" which works... but I like the idea of doing something different.

We may do something a little more "competitive" later. Right now I just want to get some new content for the group and provide a creative way to do it.