[OzzRod]

Welcome everyone to the first Single Challenge for 2015 - January

Aim of the Game:To use the same lens each day for a month, posting one picture captured each day with that lens. The picture must be captured with a Pentax lens coupled to a camera body of your choice (including Pentax/Ricoh), or a non-Pentax lens provided it is coupled only to a Pentax or Ricoh body. (Taking other pictures with other cameras/lenses is fine, but these won’t be eligible for this Challenge).

Commenting: Posting your pictures allows other participants to comment on them. Conversely, it’s hoped that you will comment on those of other members. Please don’t be shy if you don’t have much photographic experience or are a Forum newbie - your personal reactions to photographs are as valid as anyone else’s. It’s a very friendly group and with regular commenting, you’ll soon be enjoying the camaraderie.

The rewards: It’s great fun. You’ll learn heaps about how your chosen lens can perform and you’ll see what other members achieve with their selected lenses - sometimes the same one you’ve chosen. In the comment banter you’ll pick up many tips on photographic technique generally, including post processing. As the month progresses it often becomes quite demanding (it’s a challenge, remember) but you’ll always be encouraged by other participants. Worried about LBA? - this game doesn’t help you fight it!

How to participate:

1. First you need to join the Group to be able to post pictures; you only have to do this once. The group’s name is “Monthly Photo Challenges”. You’ll find a clickable link on that forum page to join.

2. You’ll need to have your pictures stored in an on-line album. This could be the Pentax Forum, or others such as Flickr, Picassa etc. You actually post a link to the picture in your album into the daily picture thread.

** If you are linking to a Pentax Forum album, you’ll find advice on how to post elsewhere in the Forum and in the FAQs below. One of the Challenge’s stalwarts, patjp, has also prepared a short video on how to do this - it’s on YouTube (Singlein.m4v)

** If you are posting a link to Flickr, just click on the sharing icon below your selected picture and a window will open displaying the BB code. Copy it and paste into the Single in (month) Challenge thread in the Pentax Forum.

Each day, you’ll see a new thread of pictures grow and by clicking on each you should be redirected to the photographer’s parent album where you will be able to add a comment and read those of others. When you post each day’s picture to the Pentax Forum, please specify the camera/lens combination underneath your picture eg K5 & DA15 Ltd - this makes it easy for others to note what combo you’re using.

The thread you’re painstakingly reading now is the Discussion Thread for Game > Single in (month).
This is separate to the picture posting thread referred to above and you’ll probably want to subscribe to the Discussion one to keep up with activities and develop a rapport with Challenge members. It’s the place where you can ask questions, offer advice, share concerns, suggest improvements, and often just participate in general banter related to this month’s challenge.

So there it is. It is easier than it might seem at first. If you miss a day, don’t worry. If you have any problems, please ask. We’re a very friendly, forgiving, international bunch. Come and try!

FAQs: Finally, Zorglub has kindly posted a FAQ collection here …. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/groups/102-monthly-photo-challenges/711-faq.html

---------- Post added 26-12-14 at 01:35 PM ----------

THEME DAYS FOR JANUARY 2015

The theme days seem to have been fairly popular and there’s been a suggestion that colour might be a welcome addition. As there are four Sundays in January, how about we have three colour Sundays (R G B) followed by a no-colour Sunday ie B&W?

If the group is amenable to that suggestion the arrangement for January would be ……..

January 04: RED
January 11: GREEN
January 15: ABSTRACT
January 18: BLUE
January 21: SELFIE
January 25: B&W

I have one “fear” …… where is this all going to lead ????


Of course, adopting the theme days is not obligatory - the themes are simply a subset of suggestions that may make pursuing the primary goal of using the same lens each day more interesting/challenging/sustaining.

[bigted]

Well I'm in for January, my participation will likely be spotty but I am planning to post more than not. I have a couple of lens choices my new 55-300 WR that really hasn't had a workout or my new to me 40mm pancake 9 (Not the Limited version).

[severalsnakes]

I'm down for some theme days! Sometimes it can really help to stimulate creative thinking.

Haven't decided what lens I want to use. I want a change of perspective for January, since I've been using normal lenses and short teles since July... Rokinon 8/3.5 fish eye? M200/4? A70-210/4?

[mtux]

I'm in for January, but lens?
my DFA100 macro hasn't had any single ins, so that might be the lens, or maybe a more normal lens, like DA35 or Kiron 28. This was the only month which I haven't find the eye for UWA view of DA15, every time I brought the camera up to my eye, the view in VF surprised me.
Still one week to think about it though.

On a related LBA thing, I'm still debating about buying FA77, since I'm not much of a portrait shooter, and not much opportunity for using it for that matter, and for normal life it will compete with my DFA100macro.
And I'm thinking about getting the DA20-40ltd, since that's the most used FL range for me. and my Tamron performance wide open and f/4 had let me down on the K-3. :/
And when things got so complicated, I prefer not doing anything. LOL

---------- Post added 12-26-14 at 11:28 AM ----------

January 04: RED January 11: GREEN January 15: ABSTRACT January 18: BLUE January 21: SELFIE January 25: B&W

I just noticed the theme days, that's so many days, but cool, we'll have fun, I'm sure.

[noelpolar]

I might play with my sigma 70-200 2.8........

[noelcmn]

I'm joining again-probably for another 6 month stint, this time with the K30. Lens? Not sure yet, but probably the kit lens 50-200. Hope ya all had a wonderful Christmas.

[wolfiegirl]

I'm in. Most likely the k-50 with 18-55 WR lens. Put it through its paces

[Tsuken]

Quelle surprise, I'm in.

Since yesterday I have two lenses to choose between. And since half of January will be spent at the beach, I think I'll go with the weather-resistant DA 50-200.

The theme days sound good.

---------- Post added 26th Dec 2014 at 10:14 PM ----------

I'm in. Most likely the k-50 with 18-55 WR lens. Put it through its paces

Good stuff. That would be the thing to do.

Related: I realised today that I'm starting to get properly comfortable with my Sigma - as we near the end of the third full month I've Singled it.

[Sandy Hancock]

I'm feeling a month with the Q7 coming on, with my recently acquired 08 Wide Zoom....

[jackassp]

I'm going to miss all of this so very much!

I don't think I can finish January. I will shoot with as many MF lenses as I can, maybe some film shots if applicable?

All of my Pentax gear will eventually be for sale, Susan and my kids will look after this.

God bless you all, and best wishes for the future.

John.

Sandy, I will send you a pvt message soon.

[wolfiegirl]

Quelle surprise, I'm in.

Since yesterday I have two lenses to choose between. And since half of January will be spent at the beach, I think I'll go with the weather-resistant DA 50-200.

The theme days sound good.

---------- Post added 26th Dec 2014 at 10:14 PM ----------




Good stuff. That would be the thing to do.

Related: I realised today that I'm starting to get properly comfortable with my Sigma - as we near the end of the third full month I've Singled it.

That reminds me, I also have a 50-200 WR that came with my stormtrooper. Maybe I'll follow you in Feb (!!!) and see what inspiration I can pick up from you in Jan, while I break in my 18-55 WR...

[edgedemon]

I'm in now that I have my FA 28mm, posting might be in batches for the first two weeks as internet connectivity isn't guaranteed

[photolady95]

I'm going to sit January, February, and March out. I'll be back in the spring.

[mattt]

I'm really debating a month with the 6x7.... It will be cold weather though. I still have a few days to decide. I'll share what lens when the time comes (maybe the 90mm f2.8 - yes that is a normal FoV "fast fifty" on 6x7). I should have lots of light, and great skies for some Ilford Pan F @ 25 ISO, and Red filter... I'm just not sure I want to go through all that work haha.

[Duh_Vinci]

I'm out for January... I will make every attempt to take a photo per day but not with Pentax.

I really need to thin out my lenses, so I will likely run through my Nikon mostly in Jan... One lens per week (180mm f2.8, 85mm f1.8, 50mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8)... Tokina 12-24 has not seen a light of day in 2 years! And that would most likely be a deciding factor to bite the bullet and get in to FF or not (wanted it for a long time)...

I do look forward seeing all of your Pentax work, have fun and much creativity to all!

Regards,
D