Today's Saturday contest is now closed. Now I can announce the prizes:
First Prize: $1,000 cash
Second Prize: $500 cash
Third Prize: $100 cash
Surprised? Thought you might be.
All prizes provided by a Mystery Donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
The contest was a rousing success. We got entries all day long, about 370–380 altogether. (There are 392 emails in the "peopleworking" mailbox, but there were some resends and double-sends in there that I saw go by. I'll have a final count in a day or two.)
Traffic today was only about 2,500 higher than normal for a Saturday, meaning that our little in-house contest didn't go viral. I'm sure some people did discover us through hearing about the contest, but not very many. (They're welcome, of course.)
Next week after the judges sift through all the entries we'll post a bunch of semifinalists for discussion and comment, and some time after that we'll announce the prizewinners.
Should make for a fun few days around here. I'm looking forward to it, at least. I haven't looked at every entry—far from it at the moment—but I've seen some great shots go by. The pictures were taken all over the world.
Thanks to everyone for participating! TOP will take a break on Sunday as we recover from the behind-the-scenes administrating (and I have family passing through town today). See you Monday.
Mike
(Thanks to Mystery Donor)
Original contents copyright 2013 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
No featured comments yet—please check back soon!
Great! Nothing is as fungible as cash.
I would've not known what to do with the Big Dragoon, if it were the grand prize and I were to win!-)
Thank you, Mike, for the call. I'm one of those who joined from the rest of the world. It's an honor just to participate.
P.S.
I hope TOP will also hold a caption contest. (Mike provides the picture; winners get a "priceless" prize, say, a photo critique by Anonymous).
Posted by: Sarge | Saturday, 10 August 2013 at 11:23 PM
Yeah - THANKS mystery donor!
Posted by: Jim Simmons | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 12:51 AM
My thanks to the donor.
Posted by: Mandeno Moments | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 04:48 AM
Very generous indeed, thanks to the donor of the prize fund. Thought that the prize may be a photography related gadget of some sort, but this was a surprise.
Looking forward to seeing the selected images.
Posted by: Gary Smith | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 09:09 AM
I had a great "work" photo but I was too busy working all day Saturday to submit it. Someone has to grease to wheels of capitalism on the weekends. Why is it always me?
Posted by: David | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 10:38 AM
Not announcing any prices up front was the only reason I didn't enter the contest... Yeah, that's the ticket ;-)
Posted by: ShadZee | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 01:30 PM
Good luck everyone. Sure most shots are worthy.
Looking forward to see the winners.
Almost feels like film waiting to develop ;-)
Posted by: Hgfx | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 01:58 PM
Hiya!
I was in the middle of nowhere when the competition was announced (literally - http://goo.gl/maps/YnAzW), but sounds like it was fun.
Personally, I'm going to try and use this as a learning exercise in reading photographs, by seeing what I can get out of the semifinalists' efforts. Kind of playing amateur art critic. That way, if I apply myself & learn something, I might come out a winner too.
Posted by: Dean Johnston | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 05:21 PM
Wow, the bit about prizes mustn't have registered,I sent a picture just for the sake of sharing!
Posted by: Tim F | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 05:43 PM
Many thanks to the donor!
Posted by: Daryl | Sunday, 11 August 2013 at 08:06 PM
+1 to Tim F. That's the right spirit for an event like this on TOP.
Posted by: Jim Simmons | Monday, 12 August 2013 at 02:25 AM
Many thanks to the mystery donor. It feels good just to know that I've made the effort to enter. I look forward to seeing what other people have come up with.
Posted by: Roger Bradbury | Monday, 12 August 2013 at 09:10 AM
I entered for the fun of it - someone has to make up the numbers of non-winners, and I might even learn a bit in the process. Thanks to Mike and the donor.
Posted by: John Ironside | Monday, 12 August 2013 at 11:16 AM
What John Ironside said. Plus, I liked that the prizes were still in the ether.
Posted by: Doug D | Monday, 12 August 2013 at 01:44 PM
NO! NO! No!
Everyone knows that third prize is, "YOU'RE FIRED!"
Seriously, very cool.
Posted by: Maggie Osterberg | Wednesday, 14 August 2013 at 04:58 PM
Sorry I missed it though I am not sure I would have had a good photo that would fit. Maybe next time you could mention it on Twitter too, Mike.
[Augh! You're right, I should have. Sorry. --Mike]
Posted by: V. Roma | Wednesday, 14 August 2013 at 10:16 PM