Photography, Travel

Travel Photography Roulette Round 5: Landmarks

Congratulations to Kieron from Don’t Ever Look Back!

While I have mixed feelings on Hollywood (oh how I loathe and love thee!), this picture really caught my attention. The use of flash is used in a classy, non-cheesy way that really highlights the theatre and makes me really regret not visiting it during our most recent road trip.

Kieron will be hosting the next Travel Photography Roulette at http://www.donteverlookback.com/. Make sure to check in to see what theme he has chosen. Thank you so much to all the participants in this week’s challange! It was so hard to pick! ♥

Kieron from Don’t Ever Look Back sent in a nighttime shot of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre overlooking the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

photography roulette

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I won Round 4 of Travel Photography Roulette at Flashpacker HQ which means that this week I get to host this week’s round. Jeremy at Living the Dream decided to start this awesome game that has allowed people to share their amazing travel photos and experiences.

Theme

I really picked my brain (and Shaun’s) to come up with this round’s Travel Photography Roulette theme and I am happy to announce that this week we will be looking for landmarks. Yes, those awesome things that can be anything from a giant ball of yarn on the side of  the road to the 7 Wonders of the World. Why? Because I love things like this!

Rules

The rules of the game are simple.  The hosting blogger is the chosen winner of the previous week’s (7 days) game.  The new host chooses a generic keyword or phrase that other bloggers submit photos to during the course of the week.  Phrases can be as generic as ‘signs’ all the way to abstract thoughts like ‘religion’ and everything in between.

At the end of the week, the hosting blogger chooses their favorite photo that fits the chosen phrase and moves it to the top of the post as the winning entry with direction to the new host’s site for the next round. Readers can attempt to sway the author into picking a certain photo via comments but the author can ignore comments as they see fit. The game is repeated with the winner hosting the following week’s game and choosing a phrase for new photo submissions.

The following is a list of the previously played rounds of the game and the hosting blogger for each.  This list also doubles as a winner’s table as each topic host won the preceding round!  Click the host’s link to go directly to that entry to see some stunning photographs from the chosen term/phrase!

Round Date Host Term/Phrase

1                              Nov 4-10, 2010                  Living the Dream Animals
2                              Nov 17-24, 2010               Skinny Backpacker Road Signs
3                              Nov 29-Dec 6, 2010         Dream a Little Dream Street Art
4                              Dec 8-Dec 15, 2010          Flashpacker HQ Festival
5                              Dec 17-December 24       Over Yonderlust Landmarks

For Round 5, I have chosen the term: Landmarks, and my photo submission is below.  Those interested in playing please provide a hyperlink to a photo you’d like to submit and it will get hosted on this page.  When submitting an image, please provide a brief description and location of where it was taken for captioning.   On December 24 I will pick a winner and that blogger can start the next round.

Himeiji Castle in Shin-Osaka, Japan – The largest and most visited castle in Japan and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site

So, who is ready to show off their photography skills?  The best landmark wins the week and bragging rights.

Extra Criteria to Keep in Mind When Submitting a Photo:

1) One submission per Blog (so sites that have 2+ authors only get one entry).
2) No photoshopping allowed unless specifically called for!  Cropping and correction for red-eye or camera flaws are ok, however.
3) Abstract submissions welcomed as long as it fits within the interpretation of the chosen phrase.  Remember, the hosting blogger chooses the winner, so if they cannot understand the submission, you might not win!
4) Keep phrases general so that all bloggers can participate.  Specific items like “Eiffel Tower” should be avoided but rather made open-ended like “monuments.” For variety, it is ok to say focused things such as “monuments at night” in which most of us have pictures of.
6) Abstract thoughts are appreciated, but keep it within the realm that all readers will understand.  No “Kafka-esque”, but “Overlooking Creation” is able to be interpreted by all.
7) No obscene pictures or phrases allowed.  Suggestive phrases and photography can be accepted, but please keep it within reason.
8 ) After a sufficient period of time, phrases can be reused, however new photos must be submitted.  Keep the ideas and photos fresh!
9) Pictures from your entire portfolio are fair to submit.  You do not have to take the photo within the week of the contest period to submit it.
10) Most importantly, ALL PHOTOS MUST BE YOUR OWN.

Entries for the 5th round are the following:

  • Jeremy from Living the Dream says, “The Treasury of Petra, Jordan appears after a long walk down through the Siq canyon. First only between a crack, then the entire facade appears in its entire glory. This wonder of the world lives up to the hype!”

  • Scott from Dream a Little Dream sent in a photo of St Basil’s Cathedral Moscow, built in 1560 and says, “Growing up at the end of the cold war, all I ever heard about Russia via the media was military power and bombs. Defiantly surreal standing in the Red Square only 20 years after our potential M.A.D. campaign. Russia was a highlight of my European adventure.”

  • Kieron from Don’t Ever Look Back sent in a nighttime shot of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre overlooking the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

  • Cam from Traveling Canucks sent in a different view of the Taj Mahal. “This photo is not the typical postcard picture taken from in front of the reflection pond. Rather, it’s taken from a rooftop restaurant outside the South Gate (which is almost as impressive as the Taj!). I particularly like the monkey hanging out on the ledge in front and the variety of contrasting colours.”

  • Amanda from A Dangerous Business sent in a night shot of the Roman Colosseum. “I went to Rome with my college marching band in 2005. Even though we spent a few days in Rome, my friends and I always seemed to get to the Colosseum too late to actually tour it. But, on this night, I didn’t mind so much. We went to the Colosseum and Forum after dark, and everything was all lit up and even more awe-inspiring than usual.” The airfare out to Rome has been looking quite delicious lately!

  • Lindsay at The Traveller World Travel Guide chose Angkor Wat, Cambodia. “…I asked my mom and this is the one she chose. Thus, here is Angkor Wat, Cambodia brought to you by Momma Hogga. Mom if you’re reading this, make me a sandwich! Love Lindsay.”

  • Jaime at Breakaway Backpacker went with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. “This one of my favorite pictures ever. I know its not perfect or centered but I love the web like wires the Brooklyn Bridge has all over. Normally you see it shot from the side but never really from in the wires in the middle.”

  • Evan from Evan And Rachel’s View From the Gu says, “This is Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Royal Barge by dusk. It is in Brunei, a tiny country perched in the middle of Malaysian Borneo. We were listening to the magical call to evening prayer coming from the minarets as this photo was taken.”

  • Rebecca from Travels at 88mph says, “Space Needle, Seattle, WA. We all know what it looks like, I thought I would mix it up a bit.”

  • Magda at Destination World says, “One of the most recognizable buildings on the planet, and also the most famous Indian tourist attraction. The one and only Taj Mahal. It’s perfectly proportioned, amazingly white and it’s got this romantic story attached to it. It can be a very touristy place but it’s so beautiful that it’s hard to be surprised that it is so popular.”

  • Laura from Travel For Love says, “This image is a “twist” on the typical pic of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Look through the brightly painted suspension cables across the bay to Sausalito.”

  • Staci at The Creative Block’s Travels decided her landmark was going to be Pompeii. “I was on a tour of Pompeii with my classmates of my high school in April 2008, and I saw an isolated area of Pompeii that had no tourists in the way. I made the group stop while I took this picture.”

  • Norbert at GloboTreks picked Machu Picchu! “And since I’m crazy about llamas, I had to take a picture of this historic landmark with a llama in the foreground! They are so cool and friendly, and of course, Machu Picchu is an incredible sight.”

  • My Traveling Lens says, “Celebrating the holiday spirit at New York City’s Christmas tree-illuminated Rockefeller Center.”

  • Beth at Beers & Beans states, “It was after a full day of walking around Paris that we finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. We were exhausted but still totally blown away when we first saw it. There is something about Paris and about the tower that doesn’t disappoint. I didn’t get to climb it but that just means I have to go back one day soon!”

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125 thoughts on “Travel Photography Roulette Round 5: Landmarks”

  1. Oh boy, thats a doozy. At least no one will have an excuse this week that they don’t have a photo to enter! Hah! I’d like to think that it was a hard choice to find my favorite landmark photo, but it really wasnt.

    http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs189.snc1/6360_572979936670_21902759_34856776_5840648_n.jpg

    “The Treasury of Petra, Jordan appears after a long walk down through the Siq canyon. First only between a crack, then the entire facade appears in its entire glory. This wonder of the world lives up to the hype!”

  2. Doh! I was gonna submit Petra. So, I guess I’ll just have to submit another one of my fav landmarks – the lovely Taj Mahal.

    This photo is not the typical postcard picture taken from in front of the reflection pond. Rather, it’s taken from a rooftop restaurant outside the South Gate (which is almost as impressive as the Taj!). I particularily like the monkey hanging outon the ledge in front and the variety of contrasting colours.

    http://travelingcanucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Taj-Mahal.jpg

    Cheers! 🙂

  3. Wow, already I feel like I can’t compete! Fantastic photos, even early on!

    Here’s my entry: The Roman Colosseum

    I went to Rome with my college marching band in 2005. Even though we spent a few days in Rome, my friends and I always seemed to get to the Colosseum too late to actually tour it. But, on this night, I didn’t mind so much. We went to the Colosseum and Forum after dark, and everything was all lit up and even more awe-inspiring than usual.

    http://www.dangerous-business.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/coloseum.jpg

  4. @Cam: Petra – apparently a place that is on everyone’s to-do list or have been to list. <3 Love the Taj pic. Thank you for posting!

  5. Very nice pictures indeed. I am sorry to say that I will be unable to participate as I am totally in-and-out of office this week with very little time. Thanks for asking and I hope to participate in the next one.

    David

  6. Oh man, I can’t compete with you guys! Have never done anything with our photos though, so here it goes!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/evannrachel/5278042469/

    This is Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Royal Barge by dusk. It is in Brunei, a tiny country perched in the middle of Malaysian Borneo. We were listening to the magical call to evening prayer coming from the minarets as this photo was taken.

    I cropped the original to make up for a crooked shot and corrected for a terrible white balance, hope that doesn’t break the rules!

  7. Here is my entry 🙂
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/magdabis/4626743326/in/set-72157624092329660/

    One of the most recognizable buildings on the planet, and also the most famous Indian tourist attraction. The one and only Taj Mahal. It’s perfectly proportioned, amazingly white and it’s got this romantic story attached to it. It can be a very touristy place but it’s so beautiful that it’s hard to be surprised that it is so popular.
    I took this photo from the mosque, which is part of the Taj Mahal complex.

  8. Does Pompeii count as a landmark? I decided to try this contest out, since I love photography as a hobby.

    http://flic.kr/p/93xr5Q

    I was on a tour of Pompeii with my classmates of my high school in April 2008, and I saw an isolated area of Pompeii that had no tourists in the way. I made the group stop while I took this picture.

  9. Yep, I do have twitter, altho it’s private, feel free to request me. thecreativebloc. I know, the limits of how long my twitter name sucks.

    And thank you for posting my pretty picture of Pompeii up! Just had to give it a shot.

  10. I happened to stumble upon the #PhotoRoulette hashtag, and wow, this is super cool! What a neat idea! I have many photos of landmarks, but those were all taken with my film camera and none of them are scanned as of yet. The most recent one I have is of Rockefeller Center in NYC that was taken just a couple of weeks back. I hope this counts as a landmark. Here’s my photo link and description:

    Celebrating the holiday spirit at New York City’s Christmas tree-illuminated Rockefeller Center.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelleyam/5281538875/

  11. oh – I don’t envy you! There are a lot of great photos up there! Here is my submission:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/bethanysalvon/PhotoRouletteSubmissions#5553379532824742850

    It was after a full day of walking around Paris that we finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. We were exhausted but still totally blown away when we first saw it. There is something about Paris and about the tower that doesn’t disappoint. I didn’t get to climb it but that just means I have to go back one day soon!

  12. Some great photos this week. Im not putting one up, there are too many, too good shots already.
    My vote goes to the Eiffel tower, and the Taj Mahal from thr back….not that it is my call!

  13. Bruce: Awww! I think you should! All good though. I have no clue what I’m going to do when it comes down to pickin’ time. :X

  14. Cant have too many good photos bruce! I’d like to think that the point of the game isn’t to show off who is a better photographer or not, but just to show off some awesome pictures in a specific category. That being said, the most photogenically sound photo does not have to win. All the photo has to do is reach the author for any specific reason. There is no listed metric that comes into play when choosing a winner. They could pick the Eiffel Tower purely on a bias that they love the Eiffel Tower (making things up now), or pick a blurry shot for the effect, etc.

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