May I remind you of the phrase "The Judges decision shall be final, and no correspondence shall be entered into". I know that here in Australia this phrase applies to all competitions whether big or small, and whether stated or merely implied in the rules. I suggest you might include this phrase in all competitions from now on - guaranteed drug free stress relief.

Being the type of person who usually encourages people in their endeavours (what this contest is about I think) but totally ignores the arrogant and hopeless, I have just read all the parts of this "controversy". Of course Michelle A. (who I have never met, and have just received my first message from yesterday) is fully correct in everything she says, especially that these contests and forums are for people to learn and discuss, but as a former teacher I know only too well that many refuse to learn, because they already know everything! I agree that many of the entries posted are not monochromatic in the strict technical sense, but they are close enough for the entrants to enter in a competition designed for learning purposes. Any graphic designer or artist -amateur or professional- (I am both a graphic designer and a fiine artist) can tell you, monochromatic means of one hue: in other words one colour with the addition of differing percentages of black and white...therefore black and white can be included in a monochrome based on any colour, because black especially as a colour turns "black" long before 100% black is added. And just for the record, my lipstick picture is based on red, but simply the "white" ends and the "black" ends of the red spectrum appearing, excluding the mid range reds...again experimentation and learning (that word again)and throwing it in to a forum to see the reaction. however I am afraid that anyone who "sees" my brown (a percentage of red and black) lipstick as pure black should really consider their place in an artistic forum. Photog49