Commons:Photo challenge

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Photo Challenge The Photo Challenge inspires photographers to take great pictures and upload them to Commons. Monthly thematic competitions encourage participants to try new subjects, new photographic or processing techniques, and to develop skills while improving the Commons repository of free images. Photographs entered into a competition must be new to Commons and taken by a Commons user.

Skip to: Contents Challenges open for submission Challenges open for voting Previous challenges Themes suggested for future challenges

Formal things

Challenges

Challenges are based on a theme and run for a month. The theme may be a concrete subject, an abstract concept, a photographic technique or artistic style.

Participation

Everybody can participate in challenges open for submission. You simply

1. Choose one or all of the current challenges
2. Read the challenge description(s), which may vary in their rules (e.g., some place restrictions on when the photos are taken)
3. Take picture(s) for the challenge(s) during the challenge period (or, if allowed, select from your own existing pictures that are not yet on Commons)
4. Upload your picture(s) during the challenge period
5. Submit your candidates at the top of the current challenge gallery during the challenge period. To do that you click the [Edit] button of the Entries section of your chosen challenge and insert the File name above the last entry (or above File:-Insert image here-.svg for the first entry).

   Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

   Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

   For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

6. Do not sign your submission(s)
7. If you want, you can have a look at previous challenges and Vote

Challenges are open to any Commons user. Submissions must be your own work, not previously uploaded to Commons prior to the challenge date and should illustrate the challenge theme in the opinion of the photographer. Please read the challenge descriptions, as there may be additional rules or explanations for specific challenges. There is no limit on the number of submissions per user (unless specially so restricted in the challenge), but please choose from among your best and most varied images.

To submit pictures, you edit the gallery of the contest and add your candidate(s) to the top of the list.

New themes can be proposed and discussed here.

Assessment

After the challenge has closed to new submissions, the pictures will be assessed by popularity voting in the subsequent month. You are allowed to vote for images submitted by others if your Commons account is at least ten days old and has more than 50 edits or if you participated in one of the challenges. Challenges open for voting can be found here.

Winning

The best three pictures will be awarded first, second and third place. They will be displayed on the Photo challenge page and may use the template {{Photo challenge winner}} on the file description page.

New media viewing experience

Please note users can disable the media viewing experience for all images on Commons when logged in (uncheck "Enable Media Viewer" under Files and click Save in Preferences, Appearance).

Challenges open for submission

2024 – August – Dust

The new challenge features Dust.

Ideally, each submission should contain a summary description of the subject in the file information, including the location of the subject, and relevant categories should be added to the files to enable other Commons users to find them and use them. Please take care not to violate copyright in respect of non-free creative works, and observe our educational project scope and the personality rights of identifiable people, or your files may be subject to deletion.

The challenge will remain open for submissions throughout August UTC.

Checklist for this theme:

• Photographs must be the work of the nominator.
• Photographs must be newly uploaded to Commons during the challenge submission period i.e. August 2024 UTC (but may have been taken earlier).
• Submissions must be added to the top of the "Entries" section below.
• Please do not nominate lots of similar photos; instead choose just your best and most varied images.

Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

• Restriction: A maximum of four entries can be submitted per photographer.

There are 2 days 1 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  Different size grains of clay dust on the floor of a ceramics studio
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  External vent of a building caked in dust and mold
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  Vetrina piena di giocattoli impolverati
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  Vetrina piena di teste di ceramica impolverate
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  Haboob (dust storm) moving into Chandler Arizona in 2016
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  Fendt Favorit 924 with harrow
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  A discarded sandal in the dust beside a road
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  Labour dust on banisters
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  A dusty floor during reconstruction
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  Dust and rust on an old door
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  Salt as dust around the salt wells near Palmarin/Senegal
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  Dust is formed while marching on in Tamilnadu India on Independence Day
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  In-stream inoculation addition while molten cast iron is poured to a green sand mold in a foundry in Bangladesh
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  Sahara dust in Munich, Germany
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  Sahara dust on an Austrian glacier
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  A little white pepper powder was adhering on the top of spice sifter jar
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  The Structure of House Dust
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  Strada sterrata, parte della strada circumlacuale del Lago di Bolsena
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  Polvere sull'ingresso di una locanda chiusa ad Anguillara Sabazia
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  Colloidal Particles
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  Staub weht durch Bendell
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  Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) taking a dust bath at Heidelberg Zoo
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  Tractor working in the fields.- Esquelbecq, France
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  Dusty arrowslit in city walls of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
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  Structure of household dust_3
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  Structure of household dust_2
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  Structure of household dust_1
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  Blütenstaub an den Staubblättern einer Lilienblüte (Lilium)
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  Dust bunny in the heat sink of a graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GTS 240 OEM)
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  Particulates in a HEPA filter
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  European Starling Shakes itself 'dry' after Dust Bathing
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  Small dust micro macro photography on cooling fan of laptop cooler
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  Cellars of the Domaine des Vermots (Côte de Beaune)
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  Getreideernte in Hohndorf, Sachsen. 2H1A9777OB
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  Combine harvester harvesting grain
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  Inside of an electric coffee grinder
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  Staub während der Getreideernte in Sachsen 2H1A7782WI
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  The Milky Way with cosmic dust
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  Dancing in the dust
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  A lonely dusty road to Ladakh
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  Sawdust spreaded all around
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  Leaves dust
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  Dusty gravel road, Chanab river valley, India, 1989
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  Mustangs in Colorado, USA, ǃ971
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  Dust rabbit closeup
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  Before that be fully cleaning out yet. The PM10 dust of outdoor air pollution was covered on the smooth chiller room floor
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  Dusty Billiard Table, former Pozzuolo del Friuli barracks, Ferrara, Italy
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  Dusty chairs, Ferrara, Italy
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  Dust on coins and candle, Ferrara, Italy
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  Pferderennen In der Wüste, Egypten IMG 6142WI
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  Im Urlaub am Roten Meer in Ägypten IMG 6209WI
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  Harvest
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  Sun temple, Kasol
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  Bhangarh Fort of Rajasthan
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  To submit pictures please follow this link

2024 – August – Spices

The new challenge features Spices.

Ideally, each submission should contain a summary description of the subject in the file information, including the location of the subject, and relevant categories should be added to the files to enable other Commons users to find them and use them. Please take care not to violate copyright in respect of non-free creative works, and observe our educational project scope and the personality rights of identifiable people, or your files may be subject to deletion.

The challenge will remain open for submissions throughout August UTC.

Checklist for this theme:

• Photographs must be the work of the nominator.
• Photographs must be newly uploaded to Commons during the challenge submission period i.e. August 2024 UTC (but may have been taken earlier).
• Submissions must be added to the top of the "Entries" section below.
• Please do not nominate lots of similar photos; instead choose just your best and most varied images.

Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

• Restriction: A maximum of four entries can be submitted per photographer.

There are 2 days 1 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)

Examples

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Entries

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  Whole, dried white peppercorns from Kerala, India in a bowl.
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  Whole, dried annatto seeds in a bowl.
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  Whole, dried black peppercorns from Kerala, India in a bowl.
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  Dried nutmeg in the shell and halved from Tamil Nadu, India in a bowl.
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  Whole, dried green cardamom pods from Tamil Nadu, India in a bowl.
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  Whole, dried coriander/cilantro seeds from Gujurat, India in a bowl.
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  Whole, dried cumin seeds in a bowl.
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  Scraped bark of a cinnamon tree in Zanzibar
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  A stall full of spices at the weekly market in Arles
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  A bowl of finely ground turmeric
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  Chopped spring onion and a little minced chili on sliced ​​beef dried noodles
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  Nutmeg with mace freshly picked in Zanzibar
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  Two red veined sorrel leaves at the pasta
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  Allspice – Fruits of the Pimento Tree – Pimenta dioica
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  Allspice – Fruits of the Pimento Tree – Pimenta dioica
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  Cloves and lemon – preparing juice for a tincture
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  White mustard - seeds
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  Ripening cloves (syzygium aromaticum) on a bush in Zanzibar
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  Cloves – dried flower buds, fragrant caps
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  Lipstick tree (bixa orellana) on the ile of Zanzibar
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  Whole seeds of Carum carvi
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  Shredded seeds of Carum carvi
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  Dried leaves of Laurus nobilis
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  Ground black pepper
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  Ginger root - slightly dried
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  Cinnamon stick and nutmegs
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  Two nutmegs in the home kitchen
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  Chili peppers at the market in Santanyí
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  Sea salt with spices in a store in Santanyí
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  Point of sale display with spices in a supermarket
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  The Christmas spices star anise, cinnamon and cloves
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  Box of flavours
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  Chilis glass jars and picklings glass jars on the display cabinet of doorway right side of Hunan restaurant
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  Physical spice decorative wall at upscale spice store indoor in Taiwan
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  Knoblauch aus eigener Ernte 2H1A9878WI
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  Auf dem Zwiebelmarkt in Weimar IMG 2066WI
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  Paprika auf dem Zwiebelmarkt in Weimar IMG 1970WI
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  Gewürzstrauß auf dem Zwiebelmarkt in Weimar IMG 1883WI
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  Fiori essiccati del finocchio selvatico (Foeniculum vulgare) utilizzati come spezia
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  White plate full of dried peperoncino
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  Spices of CIC Farm Hingurakgoda.- Sri Lanka
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  Brittany (France), "maison du corsaire"
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  Tea plantation at Wayanad
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  Spicy Indian full meals
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  Coffee beans raw and fresh
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  Chilly and pepper loaded Pizza
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  Baskets with evaporated salt, Læsø, DK
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  Matale.- Weehena Farm (Pvt) Ltd. Aloes vera cream Sri Lanka
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  CIC Farm Hingurakgoda, theobroma cacao (fruit).- Sri Lanka
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  Matale herbal & Spice Garden Sri Lanka
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  A Basket of Red Challis at Private Vegetables Shop at Yuen Long
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  Some of Ginger and Vegetables at market places at Tuen Mun Town Centre
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  A Basket of Ginger at Tai Tok Tsui
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  To submit pictures please follow this link

Challenges open for voting

Voting is open to all registered contributors who have held accounts for at least 10 days and made 50 edits, and also to new Commons contributors who have entered the challenge with a picture. Users cannot vote for their own picture. Voters may select up to three photographs in each theme to award points and can give praise to other photos without awarding points. Voting will be open for one month. The votes not complying with those requirements will be removed or converted to praises. In some cases users might be asked to correct their votes after voting ends.

July 2024

• Manhole
• Bread

Previous challenges

June 2024

• Construction sites ->

Construction sites: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Carpenter working on a concrete formwork	Workers attaching a chain to the Main bridge in Ebing	Demolition site of the so-called Kaufhof store "Tortenschachtel" (cake box) on Berliner Platz
Author	Ermell	Ermell	F. Riedelio
Score	17	14	11

• Fungus ->

Mushrooms: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Poisonous mushrooms against a forest in autumn, Wrzosów, Poland		Mycena interrupta NZ
Author	Ivonna Nowicka	Famberhorst	Haydenrjones
Score	15	13	9

May 2024

Waves: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	This was shot in Kakinada Beach, shows struggle of fishermen in middle of sea	A wave painted with a white neon lamp in a flashlight, city beach in Płock, Poland.	Port Saint-Michel in Batz-sur-Mer
Author	Zahed.zk	Lightpainterplock	Ibex73
Score	28	19	11

Pets: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Australian Shepherd Dog	Hachi and Boy	Cat enjoying the sun between daisies
Author	Ermell	HachiBoy	Lusi Lindwurm
Score	27	15	13

April 2024

Vertical lines: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Колонны здания администрации и думы Новгородской области 2H1A4397WI	Columns on the façade of the Philharmonie in Luxembourg	Fassade Mark- Twain- Grundschule 02
Author	Kora27	Ermell	ThoBel-0043
Score	25	14	11

Flames: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Visitors at the 2024 Easter fire in Rottorf	Campfire at lake Yngen, Filipstad Municipality, Värmland, Sweden	Osterfeuer im oberen Murtal
Author	F. Riedelio	Mozzihh	Bitisajn
Score	21	14	10

March 2024

Grays: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Sieben graue Köpfe	Reflections - Shyok River	Nina-Replica
Author	Mensch01	Prof Ranga Sai	Wingerham52
Score	20	18	11

Courthouses: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Palazzo di Guistizia with Courte di Cassazione at river Tiber, Rome, Italy	North facade of Palais de justice de Paris.	Supreme Court of Finland at night
Author	Mozzihh	FreCha	GPSLeo
Score	19	15	12

February 2024

Lunar New Year: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Dragon Dance, Oklahoma City, OK, Lunar New Year, 2024 (Year of the Dragon)	Sec. 1, Wuchang St., Taipei City, with LED lights decorations above on 2024 Chinese New Year	Eu Tong Sen Street in Chinatown, Singapore, with CNY decorations above
Author	OKJaguar	Junyu-K	S5A-0043
Score	11	9	9

Knots: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Boat knot	Figure-eight loop in mountaineering	Root knot of a beech tree
Author	Teseo	Wagner Cxxx	Foeniz
Score	11	9	8

January 2024

Silos: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Garfield Grain Elevator and Silos Garfield Washington USA	Feed silos in Hirschbrunn near Burgebrach	Silos of the Hannoversche Portland -Cementfabrik (abandoned in 1986)
Author	DaveGinOly	Ermell	Hgrobe
Score	19	13	8

Masks: Entries • Votes • Scores

Rank	1	2	3
image
Title	Narrentag 2024 - Elzacher Schuttig	Kirchseoner Perchtenlauf - old winter parade tradition in Bavaria. Mask of type "Klaubauf"	Taken in Dublin, march 2014
Author	Rainer Halama	Würmchen-vom-Mölchlein	Oncewerecolours
Score	13	13	10

Previous years

• Photo challenge in 2023
• Photo challenge in 2022
• Photo challenge in 2021
• Photo challenge in 2020
• Photo challenge in 2019
• Photo challenge in 2018
• Photo challenge in 2017
• Photo challenge in 2016
• Photo challenge in 2015
• Photo challenge in 2014
• Photo challenge in 2013