Best of 2015 Photo Challenge

“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” – Ansel Adams

Just like Ansel Adams, we realize twelve good images a year is a tremendous accomplishment that should be celebrated. So last year we challenged our readers to come up with their own 12 best images, turn them into small photo books and exchange them with us. Everyone who participated was thrilled with the experience, especially Me2 and myself, and requested this to be an annual activity.

Now that we are well into November, it’s time to start thinking about this past year and begin creating a “best of” photography book that showcases your work from 2015. Everyone here at Stuckinplastic (Me2, Balakov, Kalexanderson and myself) are excited to create our own photo books and exchanging them with you.

My question for you is this: Do you accept our challenge to look through your own images from the past year, curate them into a book and then share them with us? (This a big commitment so before you jump in and say “yes”, take a moment to look through your images, think about the process and then make your decision.)

Here are a few reasons why I think you should participate:

  • Reflection is good. We are so intent on taking new pictures, we rarely look at the ones we have already taken.
  • Editing a group of photos into a cohesive group is a great excise and a skill that should be practiced
  • You will have a beautiful record of your years work that you can share with family and friends
  • If you repeat this exercise over several years you will be able to see how you have changed and grown as a photographer
  • The books you will receive in turn are priceless, trust me.
  • This is a great way to bring your internet friends one step closer to real life friends.

The day to day world of social media is fast paced and we have very little time to reflect on what we have created or how far we have progressed in a single year. This process, if you accept our challenge of curating your work into a book, will give you a real and tangible sense of accomplishment.

I hope you will accept our best of 2015 challenge and share your photography with us, because we are looking forward to sharing ours with you!

~ xxsjc

If you are interested in participating please leave your comments below. We are limiting the number of participants this year, so keep an eye out for the official signup later this month which is now available closed.

The Stuckinplastic crew will be having a hangout this weekend. If you are interested in having a photo considered for a gentle critique (as well as being featured) please tag it #stuckinplastic_pcm.

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Image courtesy of @herrsm
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Image courtesy of @_me2_
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James Garcia
7 years ago

I am definitely interested in participating in this! I’ve long wanted to publish my work in photo books just to have for myself, and this will be a great first step to finally accomplishing that.

Now, to choose my 12 photos…

Mike H
7 years ago

Wow, what a great opportunity! This is something that I felt I missed out on last year and definitely something that I’d love to join in with…

But, I haven’t exactly been active again this year. And it is a big commitment. Hmm..

Maybe I should have a long think about this.

Mike H
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

Thank you Shelly ☺

It’s positive replies like this that really make me want to join in!

Lizzi
7 years ago

I love this idea, and wanted to take part last year but was too scared to jump in! I’d like to do it, but before fully signing up would be interested into how much it would likely cost/how many books we would need to produce?

Lizzi
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

Thanks Shelly! I’m definitely in for the ‘lite’ version. Just need to look at the costs for if I could do the whole thing! Would love to say yes, but the costs could stack up quite quickly!

David
7 years ago

I’m in!

Stefan
7 years ago

Yes! -(At this point I have to admit that for the last four weeks I got more and more nervous as I thought about last year´s book exchange but didn´t want to ask because I knew how busy everyone was either with preparing for the second course of the Seattle exhibition, with Darth Inc. or life itself. The happier I am now to having just read the very latest blogpost!) I absolutely agree with Shelly about the importance of reviewing ones own pictures after some time. And that it´s an enormous joy to receive others´books! I am totally in for… Read more »

Stefan
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

Thank you again Now let’s shoot some last pics to choose from!

Maëlick
7 years ago

I think that’s an excellent idea. I am definitely looking forward participating but I have a few questions. How many albums are we suppose to print? I tried to find a post from last year’s contest mentioning it but couldn’t find one. Do we send a book to each participant? If we indeed send the book to each participant I also have the following question. I found a post from last year where you discussed about the different options for printing the books. However I haven’t found any information about shipping. What would be the most cost effective method for… Read more »

Maëlick
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

I have a few possible ideas on how to save on shipping like centralizing books of everybody before dispatching them. I think it could really be interesting financially if there were lots of participants (like +10) but on the other hand shipping will be far much slower and will require lots of organization. So I don’t know whether it’s really a good idea or not.

Anyway I’m very enthusiast about it and can’t wait!

Ballou34
7 years ago

Please count me in,
It is such a great idea. It will be so nice to share our little books with everyone.

Sylviane
Sylviane
7 years ago

All in of course. It was so much fun last year

Captain Kaos
7 years ago

I’m in!

Stefan
7 years ago
Reply to  Captain Kaos

Yeah, great! Looking forward to it!!

Doug Gary
7 years ago

If newcomers are welcome, I’m for sure all in. I love this idea and it would be such a joy to share and receive the photos/books. Such a fantastic idea!! Many thanks, Doug

Doug Gary
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

Awesomeness Shelly! Thank you. Seems like I can just wait for more exciting details here on this page before figuring out where and what I’ll print, right? Meantime, I’ll sort through my pics from this year. I love this challenge. Thanks again all. Looking forward to your books!

Andrea
Andrea
7 years ago

I believe I would like to do this this year. How many books would I need to make?

Andrea
Andrea
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

Ok great. I’ll start shopping around sites. I think I have some old groupons for photo books that I never used, but I’ll think about it as it could get expensive.

Pinar
7 years ago

A chance to get the wonderful prints of 20 people? I’m definitely in! Better start saving and choosing my 12 :)

Kirk LaGiglia (BrikWerx)
Kirk LaGiglia (BrikWerx)
7 years ago

I’m also very interested but will have to check my travel schedule to see if it’s feasible. I’d hate to commit to everyone and then be delayed getting books out. When is the shipping deadline?

Lizzi
7 years ago

Just thinking about making this cost do-able, would there be a possibility of having a 10 book per person limit, and then swapping with 10 random people (so make two lists and then group one swaps with each other, and the other ten swap with their group? Or draw it randomly?) I’d be happy to help with some of the admin in doing this. I think 20 books will be too expensive for me, but 10 I could manage!

Just a thought. I’ll be quiet now.

Sunny Ang
7 years ago

HI Shelly,
I would be very keen to share.
I hope I am not too late to join in.
Please count me in!

Stefan
7 years ago

For the fast ones on here:
There´s a promo code for all photo books ordered via blurb.com that is only valid until Nov 17. By using the code “GEM50” you´ll get 50% (!!) off all books.
Saved me 160$…

Andrea
Andrea
7 years ago
Reply to  Stefan

That is a great deal, but I don’t know how many books to print or even if I could afford to print them for everyone.

I wonder how much it would cost for everyone to put their images in one book and we all order that one book?

Just a thought.

Doug Gary
7 years ago

Hi Shelly and all,

I’m so excited about this project. In preparation, does anyone who did it last year have any coaching around whether to use text, if you include location/date, if you did a bio, etc.?

Many thanks,
Doug

Stefan
7 years ago
Reply to  Doug Gary

Hi Doug,
I wouldn´t want to call it coaching but what I can do:
If you let me know your email I´ll send you a pdf of the book I did last year. There are MANYMANY ways to do it and I wouldn´t recommend my book as a template but it may give you an idea of one book that was done last year.
Greetings,
Stefan

Doug Gary
7 years ago
Reply to  Stefan

That’s super generous of you Stefan. Many thanks!! Best, Doug

Doug Gary
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly Corbett

Super helpful. Thanks Shelly! PS: Can you please delete my email address from public view above? Stefan got and shared his very cool book from last year. Many thanks!

Julia
7 years ago

Hi,
I just read this post and I think it’s an excelent idea but I hope I am not too late to join in.

Julia
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly

Thanks a lot Shelly. Now I start looking for my 12 photos :)

It’s possible that anyone could send me the book that did it last year in PDF? It’s only for to have an idea, about the text, locations, exif, format of book… you know
It’s my first book and I would like to do well.

Julia
7 years ago
Reply to  Shelly

thanks Shelly,
:)

cheers

Boris
Admin
7 years ago

And the official registration page is now available as well … http://goo.gl/forms/l642x2zXwz

Doug Gary
7 years ago

Hello Friends! I just got an email indicating that Blurb is offering 40% off on books with a total purchase of USD $25 or more through December 1st. It’s a “Cyber Weekend Sale.” The code is CREATIVE40. Woohoo!

For those of you who have done this before, do you recommend ordering a sample book first and then ordering the 20 or just taking the full dive? Thanks. Here’s to the fun ahead!

Stefan
7 years ago
Reply to  Doug Gary

Hey Doug,
when ordering a yes book you might want to consider ordering a sample of their sheet papers as well ;-)
Stefan

Doug Gary
7 years ago

Hi Everyone. Any suggestions on the best packaging for a 7×7 book? I want to be sure they arrive solid and happy, especially since our books will be traveling far and wide. Many thanks for any ideas. Happy Holidays!
Doug

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