December 2010 Photo Hunt ~ Sign Up
Posted by Kristi
I have a confession to make.
I am totally burned out by these Photo Hunts. I honestly haven’t had the time, energy, or motivation to do much here for the past 6 months and I don’t feel guilty about it at all. I have some decisions to make about whether I want to keep hosting the Challenges, pass it on to another willing person, keep delegating the tasks every month, or just hang it up altogether. While I decide what I want to do, I am re-posting the Photo Hunt Challenge from last December. I know I said this month was going to be only 10 items but since I have no time to create a new list, this is what you get. Feel free to do whichever ones you want……
1. Holiday Lights
2. Holiday Spirit
3. A Holiday Treat
4. An Ornament
5. A Gift-Wrapped Package
6. A Window Display
7. A Winter/Holiday Icon
8. A Tree
9. A Tradition
10.Something that says Noel
11. Something Precious
12. Something Peaceful
13. Something Hot
14. Something Cold
15. Something Red
16. Something Green
17. Motion blur
18. Black & White Photo (with selective coloring)
19. Any photo using an Infrared Photography Technique (in-camera OR post-process)
20. A Macro Shot
It can get overwhelming, can’t it?
I’ve only been doing the Photo Hunt Challenge for a few months, and I’ve loved each one! I do hope, that in some form or fashion, the Photo Hunt Challenge continues… but I totally understand if you have to stop for your own sanity!
This is a new list for me, so I’m ready to get on it! Take care, and enjoy the season!
To tell you the truth I’m a little tired of hunting. I think you should do 4 hunts a year and invite someone to host each one. And I would cut out the judging. That’s the time consuming part. Just post the linky list and people can browse the pictures as they have time. Maybe the person who hosts for the month could post their pictures on the blog. It’s grown so much, people are really interested in the concept you’ve come up with. But there has got to be a way to simplify. It is way too much work for you. Have a happy and I hope stress free Christmas.
This is my 3rd month participating, and I’m loving it!! I totally understand being overwhelmed and bored with it though. I’m with Kay – I would get rid of the voting. Going through the entries and posting them has got to be such a huge job. I would be totally fine with just posting the list and linky and then we can browse through as we have time for it. Sounds like a great idea. I’d be willing to help out with whatever you need help with too.
I’ll admit that hunting for 20 photos can get overwhelming, especially towards the end of the month. I liked the every other month stint, and I like 10 photos. As Kaye said, any way to simplify the process, while still challenging us.
I loved being able to help out last months, so please let me know in the future if you need more hosts/judges/themes/etc.
I’ve got mixed feelings because I love the hunt, but you know I also host Scavenger Hunt Sunday and I always build this list in to gain participation for both activities. I’ve had really great luck getting people to find 5 items a week and so it seems relatively easy to add that up to 20 a month…but the voting part is difficult and without any real prize, it seems insignificant. You might have gotten a note from Sarah Halstead – she seemed to be interested in taking over for you. Anyways, just email me if you want to brainstorm. You know I support this!
Oh please don’t stop the hunts! I love them so much. They inspire me in many ways. If you want, I can host it
(Really doubt that, but it’s a suggestion! Email me if you look into it)
I understand how it could be stressful, but I love these.
~Iona
I was reading through some other comments, and I saw, they didn’t want voting, I personally love voting, because it tells me if I need to practice more, it gives me faith when I win. If it’s too stressful, YOU can judge and just post the winners….:/
~Iona
I am new to the hunt but I love it! They have inspired me and are fun! I think it might be easier for all to do 10 items instead of 20. Maybe you or the new host could just pick their favorites…no voting involved? I am always willing to help too!
I’ve also grown tired of them, but I do love the idea of them!
I’ve thought for awhile now that you should get rid of the voting, because it is too much for you to do yourself or have to find people to help.
Maybe with the suggestions you have here, by cutting out voting and cutting back the number of items on the list or the number of times per year they come up, you can free up some of your time and still keep the hunts alive.
Whatever you decide, Kristi, you know you have my support!
I am also new to the hunt and must say I absolutely love it and would be most sad if it went away. I understand the time and stress involved and agree that maybe 10 items is more workable instead of 20. Not sure what to think about voting but I would love for the hunt to continue.
I’m fairly new to the hunts as well. I’m loving them but felt overwhelmed by the back to back months. I had to skip Nov due to our moving. It was a stressful month. I LOVED someones idea of making it only a few times a year and NO voting. I really just enjoy going around seeing everyones submissions and felt myself getting competitive where there was no need.
Anywho, do what you need to do for yourself. It will work out in the end. This months list is new to me as well and I’m excited to get started.
I really enjoy the hunts, but after helping judge just 5 categories in October, I don’t know how you do it each month! It was VERY time consuming to look at everyone’s entries, then choose the favorites, create the post and the poll, etc. I’m with everyone else on the voting. I don’t think it would be missed.
I also like the idea of having different people hosting it each time (however often it is). I would definitely be willing to help out in any way to keep it going, including hosting every so often!
After reading the comments and knowing you’ve been approaching this moment for some time, it sounds like it’s decision time. I hope you do whatever you decide is best for you! I loved the suggestion to cut the judging/favorites out entirely and to host/get guest hosts. Also, did anyone mention doing it as a list of ten all the time? I’d be happy to host if that’s something you decide. But you have to do what works for you. Thank you for all your time and effort to make this happen. I know I don’t do it every month, but I’ve done six so far and really enjoyed it to date. Keep us posted. You’re the best, Kristi!!
I am a big fan of the hunts… but I do agree about taking the voting out, although the chosen judges for the certain hunt can post his/her (let’s say) top 10 pictures per category and maybe just give the photographer of those top 10 pictures a badge they can put up in their blog, as sort of a prize.
Every other month is okay… it gives participants a “breathing time” in hunting items, while giving the host and judges some time to post up the favorites and other updates.
Whatever choice you make, I support you Kristi.
Twitter: iamdarkanjel
(5 comments) Dec 5th 2010
I started joining the hunt just last May and I have to say that the list inspired me a lot.
I know that it’s so time consuming for you to come up with a list, look for judges and post a poll. With that said, I’m with everyone’s suggestions:
*Cut list to 10 items
*Take out the voting
*Have guest hosts or even posters on this wonderful blog
*Do it per quarter.
I will support you in whatever decision you make.
Thank you, Kristi for taking time to host this wonderful challenge.
Oh no! Well…I do understand the time it takes to keep the hunts going. I barely complete the list each time I play. But, I love that your lists challenges me to come up with ways to interpret the item, thus helpling me improve my photography.
So, I’m with you whatever you decide. Thanks Kristi!
Hi newbie here!! Is this open for all of December? Sounds like fun!
I’m going to second Tara’s comment!
I was just wondering if you ever picked winners for the October Photo Hunt challenge?