Hello to all, I just saw there are 18 entries for the monthly challenge and only 14 persons voted for the challenge. Is the monthly challenge not popular anymore? Are the people too busy with other affairs or subjects? For me it is very disappointing to notice this; and not because I placed an image for the monthly challenge, but for the very low interest from so many fractal-related software users. I appreciate the votes from all of you; but it could be more (the votes from you of course). Maybe high time to think about another idea, intention. Many times I have the idea people are so focussed on their selves and their contributions on the Renderosity gallery, that they just forget to take a look in the Fractal Forum. Or am I wrong with my thoughts? Let us know about it. And a hint for the Fractal Moderator: just place each 2 or 3 day's a very defiant image in the fractal gallery with a positive message and encouragement, which leads us to the next monthly challenge page and voting page. Sorry for my bad and not so correct English.

Well...don't know why the Challenge has dwindled. Was it the theme? Should it be more 'challenging'? Are there any suggestions or rule changes, that you would like to see? Speaking to everyone here... Let me know your thoughts... Nick

Partly the theme, and partly just a busy time of year. The last two themes didn't do much for me. It was almost as if only flowery images were the theme. The themes were too restrictive. If I would change anything, there would be no holiday themes. Post all that in the regular gallery. It's like looking at the calendar and knowing what the next theme is going to be. Too predictable. It's also spring time, bordering on very nice weather. It's only natural to be in front of your computer more when the weather outside stinks. Now that the first taste of summer is hitting, everybody wants to venture more.

What aeires said made a lot of sense. I didn't post anything in the challenge, but I voted anyway :)

Honestly,the themes are boring and I dont see anything chalenging in them. I was submitting an entry just because nobody was joining long time. I really enjoy the monthly themes in Photography or 2D, they are interesting and chalenge the creativity and the personal opinion. And the guys really have fun with this, just take a look.

What kind of themes does everyone want that are challenging? How about some suggestions? It is up to me to come up with this next theme and I am at a loss!

It's really difficult to come up with themes for challenges where people are using different software. They have to be generic enough for everyone to participate...which is why they tend to end up focussing on holidays and seasons. Some thoughts: floral fractals, rainy day, underwater, landscape. I don't know if those are helpful, but they are broad, yet they do have an underlying theme. Just my $.02 :)

Yes, I agree that the different software used creates a problem with coming up with a challenge theme. I would like to hear some ideas from other members of the fractal community also.

how about something to do with emotions? It could be a narrow challenge "Happy" or "Sad"... or people could post a fractal, and in the "notes" put the emotion they are trying to portray? That could be broad enough for all programs.

Maybe try some emotions? Or theme which allow abstract interpretaion? Could find hundreds themes, beginning from mad things like circus, Don Quichote, howl at the moon (its just rising behind the mountain and its sooo big), Egypt, jewels, bad hair day or even The Beatles. Wish you creative brain work!:)

Good idea, Zemela. Thanks for your input.

And thanks Panny also. Good ideas from both you and Zemela. Now I'll have to come up with some idea for the next theme. I appreciate the input very much.

I agree with Tres, it is REALLY hard to come up with themes that are going to be 'compatible' with fractal software and arent going to cause too many headaches or leave people struggling.
I really like the idea of conveying emotion, thats one i didnt even think of. Silly really considering i had not long ago added a piece to my gallery using that very same topic.

Yes, I think the emotions have to be the challenge themes. Thanks for your input.

I'm not sure, but maybe one reason why not too many voted on the challenge is that everyone's votes are publicly displayed. Maybe some folks are afraid to hurt a friend's feelings and so don't vote? Just a guess. I didn't vote mainly because I wanted to wait till all the images were submitted and then got tied up at night with a couple of MAJOR shrimp runs down at the bridge and before I knew it, April was history! "Emotions" sounds like a cool idea for themes. Major holidays work well, too, IMO. Or, how about "Colors" as themes. Like have the theme be "purple" or "red" or one of those colors like "fuschia" that guys like me would have to google to find out just exactly what that color was - lol. You could use other colors than the theme as long as the dominant color was the one selected for the theme? Or themes like kaleidoscoped images or ones that are mostly geometric shapes? Just some ideas...

Here are some random ideas: "morning in the sun", "rainy afternoon", "scary night", "storm", "time", "secret place", "a walk in the forest", "space adventure"... I don't know, things that tell a story and enable the imagination to go wild!!! It could also be books or songs titles (and it doesn't even matter if people don't know the song or book); colors would work well too I think. It could also be more abstract or philosophic concepts, like "freedom", "reality", "the theory of relativity", or whatever. OK, I'll stop here, now everyone's going to think I'm totally crazy!!!

Wonderful ideas from Rykk and Agnesdodart. Thanks a ton for your input. I picked for the challenge theme "The Joys of Summer". So whoever is selected winner next time, I hope that all these great new ideas will be taken into consideration when selecting a theme. I also agree with Rykk about seeing who is voting for which image. I don't care for that either. It needs to be private, I believe.