Last Sunday I woke up to glorious sunshine, made a cup of coffee and, as is my habit I’m afraid, checked my emails. I was delighted to see a post by Nomadbiba saying that I’d won the last round of Travel Photo Roulette (Sunshine) with this image taken just after sunrise in the backwaters of Kerala, Southern India.
It was a lovely surprise and I immediately started thinking about a subject for the next round, which I was really looking forward to hosting.
Local Character
I decided on the theme ‘Local Character’ remembering some of the wonderful people I had met on my travels such as the philosopher and poet, Guido, who everyone in the Italian town of Polignano knows (he can often be seen writing on the walls of the buildings of the towns) or this young boy in The Gambia who joined the crowd watching a singing workshop I helped run in a village school. He looked so cool with his hat perched at a jaunty angle. I think he’ll be quite a ladies’ man when he grows up!
Of course the theme can be interpreted in any way that inspires you!
Contest Overview
The contest rotates through travel and/or photography blogs as such, the winner of the previous round of Travel Photo Roulette hosts the subsequent round on their own blog. The new host then chooses the next theme, a generic keyword or phrase and players submit their interpretations of the theme over course of the week of the contest. At the end of the week, the hosting blogger chooses their favorite photo from the submissions and displays it as the week’s winning entry. They then include direction to the new host for the next round. Readers can attempt to lobby the author toward a certain photo via comments – the author can accept or ignore any lobby as they see fit. The game is repeated with the winner hosting the following week’s game and choosing a phrase for new photo submissions.
Guide Lines
- After 1 year, phrases can be reused, however new photos must be submitted.
- No obscene pictures or phrases allowed. Suggestive phrases and photography can be accepted, but please keep it within reason.
- Keep the ideas and photos fresh!
- Pictures from your entire portfolio are fair to submit. You do not have to take the photo within the week of the contest period to submit it.
- Most importantly, ALL PHOTOS MUST BE YOUR OWN.
- One last rule, since this is a competition for bloggers, we need you to be a blogger to be declared a winner. Sorry!
How to submit your entries
To enter in the Photo Roulette competition simply leave a comment below with a link to the image (whether Flickr, Picasa or your own site) and I will upload it to this post. Don’t forget to provide a brief description or caption for the photo so the viewers can get a little background as to what’s happening. Check back here throughout the week to see all the entries as they come in and feel free to comment on them. The contest runs for 7 days from today, with the submission date being March 24th , 2012 – 11:59 PM March 31st, 2012 GMT (Saturday to Saturday). The winner will be announced in the days after the deadline, and they will host round 40.
**Note** Please enter medium-size web-friendly photos (around 600px). Large pictures slow down servers and increase page load times for everybody.
Past Photo Roulette Winners and Hosts
The following is a list of the previously played rounds of the game and the hosting blogger for each. This list also doubles as a winner’s table as each topic host won the preceding round! Click the host’s link to go directly to that entry to see some stunning photographs from the chosen term/phrase!
1. Nov 4–10, 2010 – Living the Dream – “Animals”
2. Nov 17–24, 2010 – Skinny Backpacker - “Road Signs”
3. Nov 29–Dec 6, 2010 – Dream a Little Dream - “Street Art”
4. Dec 8–15, 2010 – Flashpacker HQ – “Festival”
5. Dec 17–24, 2010 – Over Yonderlust – “Landmarks”
6. Dec 26–Jan 2, 2011 – Don’t Ever Look Back – “Beaches”
7. Jan 5–12, 2011 – ThePlanetD – “Portraits”
8. Jan 15–22, 2011 – Travel with a Mate – “Motion”
9. Jan 26–Feb 3, 2011 – Johnny Vagabond – “Water”
10. Feb 8–15, 2011 – Ken Kaminesky – “Urban”
11. Feb 21–27, 2011 – Travels of Adam - “Friday Night”
12. Mar 7–13, 2011 – Itchy Feet Chronicles – “The Journey”
13. Mar 19– 25, 2011 – Brendan’s Adventures – “Changing Seasons”
14. Apr 4–10, 2011 - Shutterfeet – “Storytelling”
15. Apr 13–21, 2011 - 10 Times One - “Piousness”
16. Apr 26–May 4, 2011 – Beached Eskimo – “Learning”
17. May 21–27, 2011 – Travel Junkies – “Architecture”
18. Jun 1–7, 2011 – Destination World – “Transportation”
19. Jun 8–15, 2011 – Living the Dream – “Paradise”
20. Jun 21-28, 2011 - Vagabond Quest - “Clothes”
21. Jul 4-11, 2011 – The Unframed World – “Symmetry”
22. Jul 16-25, 2011 – Beached Eskimo – “Home”
23. Jul 31 – Aug 7, 2011 – BackPackerBanter – “Inspiration”
24. Aug 14 – 21, 2011 – WanderingTrader - “Darkness”
25. Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2011 – Finding the Universe – “Tranquillity”
26. Sep 12 – 19, 2011 – Fearful Adventurer – “Food”
27. Sep 23 – 30, 2011 – Adventures of a GoodMan – “City”
28. Oct 06 – 13, 2011 – Globe-Trekking.com - “Reflections”
29. Oct 17 – 24, 2011 – Scene With A Hart - ”Framing”
30. Nov 9 – 16, 2011 – Vagabond Quest - “Silhouettes”
31. Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2011 – Hecktic Travels – “Music”
32. Dec 11 – Dec 18, 2011 – Globetrotter Girls – “Love”
33. Dec 25 – Jan 1st, 2012– Man on the lam – “Humor”
34. January 8 – Jan 15 – My Walkabout – “Winter”
35. Jan 15 – Jan 22 – The Art of Slow Travel – “Blue”
36. Feb 6 – Feb 13 – Ten Times One – “Depth of Field”
37. Feb 22 – Feb 29 – Runaway Juno – “My Glorious Digital Nomad Moment”
38. March 7 – March 14 – Nomadbiba – “Sunshine”
The more the merrier: Please share this article on Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and G+ and elsewhere to get more people involved. We love your entries!
Submit your entry by 11:59pm Saturday March 31, 2012 – let me know which of the entries below are your favorites in the comments.
I’m really looking forward to seeing your photos and will post them here as they come in (sorry if there is sometimes a bit of
GOOD LUCK!
1. The first submission comes from Denise, The Art of Slow Travel
“This is a local Balinese farmer who, in his spare time, climbs coconut trees with the agility of a monkey to amuse travellers and provide them with refreshments. Donations go towards his love of tobacco chewing, which he says strenghtens teeth. He also found it totally amusing that I’d want to take his picture. ”
2. Veronica, GypsyNester.com
“I had jumped out of our car to snap some shots of this house and was terrified when I looked up from my camera and this man was standing right next to me! Turns out he was quite nice to us, despite the UNBELIEVABLE amount of spray painted messages (some of them quite vile) on his house – well, actually every inch of his property.”
3. Jeremy, Living the Dream
“I caught this old man smoking Sheesha while we were on our felluca ride outside of Aswan, Egypt. A great glimpse into Egyptian life.”
4. Heather, Travellers Playground
“A gentleman from Madrid relaxing in the morning sun with his cigar and paper on a park bench.”
5. Travis, FlashPackerHQ
“Here’s a woman I met on the streets of Ginza, the Beverly Hills of Tokyo, Japan. She was walking down the street with this dog in a stroller and I just had to go talk to her. Quite the character.”
6. Bob, Piran Cafe
“Here’s one of a gentleman entertaining people hanging out on the Sacre Couer steps on Montmartre. It was mid-July, it was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the throngs sitting around were in an exceptionally good mood. He was terrific, performing atop a 3ft X 3ft (1meter square) stone pedestal at the base of the steps.”
7. Matt, Passport+Toothbrush (@Matt_and_Caro)
“Taken in Rome, in front of the coliseum, this pictures is of Angelo, one of the many men dressed up as a gladiator, posing with tourists. Even while working, he still kept smoking and though he had a great badass, Italian vibe about him. Clearly, this was just a job!”
8. Tash, Jouljet
“A family riding on a motorbike in the middle of crazy traffic in Galle, Sri Lanka. I love the daughter’s cheeky smile as they zip past us in our tuk tuk! This photo, to me, shows that friendliness of people, amid all that bustle!”
“A local woman strolling down the street in Riobamba, Ecuador holding a cell phone in one hand and a living rooster in the other. She was coming from the local market and was passing by really quickly, being very concentrated on texting. That’s what I call multitasking!”
“One morning I was walking in Beijing when I came across these two. The cobbler has obviously been around for a while, filling his role in the local economy. I especially love the Winnie the Pooh slipper he provides for his customers.”
What a splendid photograph of Kerala’s backwaters, Kat! We were just there in March and had a glorious afternoon unwinding on those quiet waters. When were you there?
Thank you so much. It was quite a few years ago now. Would be lovely to return one day. Drifting along on a rice boat is the perfect way to unwind!
Congratulations – that palm tree picture is gorgeous. I wish I could take pictures like that!
But your photos are stunning! Very different style to mine. I love the way you see things!
I’ll let you into a secret: my good ones are complete accidents!
You must be very accident prone then! ;-D
Congratulations. That was one unforgettable sunrise. The entries are all beautiful, each one unique from one another. People and their character are always fascinating. Makes this world more exciting.
Thank you and I couldn’t agree more!
Kathryn,
Excellent photos! I love #9 of the woman texting with one hand and holding the chicken in the other.
Then of course, who can resist photo #5 of the dog in a stroller and dressed up wearing sunglasses. So much fun.
#6 is wonderfully artistic. Love the way the building are blurred in the background and how the ball is captured hanging over his head. It is perfect in black and white.
Kathy
All the photos you mention are great and I changed my mind about which to pick as a winner a few times! Thanks for popping by. Kathryn
These photos are all great, but I must say the one with the lady texting, with that live rooster in hand, gets first prize. Evidently, there is no escape from technology.
Hi Marcy, Thanks for popping by. It is a great photo! I remember years ago, in a empty temple in India, coming across a holy man in just a loin cloth looking much the same no doubt as his fore-runners had for hundreds of years – except for the mobile phone tucked into to it.
Beautiful shot Kathryn! Stunning!
Thanks Ryan
Hi Kat, love the submissions so far. I came up with this one after a trawl through the archives (I so need to start taking more people shots!):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucydodsworth/6225608275/in/set-72157627749854870
It was taken at the Fete des Vendages harvest festival in Montmartre in Paris. There was a street parade with groups from different confréries – brotherhoods or societies representing different food producers or groups. I spotted this guy proudly towing his plastic cow through the streets, beret and all making him look unmistakeably French!
He’s wonderful Lucy! A real character I’m sure. Thanks for sending it in.
Congratulations again and you’ve got a great theme for this round. Here is my entry:
http://boggedbefore.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-entry-for-photo-roulette-round-39.html
It was taken at the Longshan Temple in Taipei. Every time I see this photo I can hear the chants that were being played at the temple. I was waiting to get a photo or two with no one in the background when this girl and her mother placed incense in the urn. The girl lingered a while to watch the incense burn.
Thanks Ross and thanks for a really interesting photo. How am I ever going to decide?!
Hi Kathryn, great theme choice! And some really nice submissions too! I love the one from Rob@PiranCafe
Here’s mine:
http://www.nomadbiba.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_3731.jpg
I took it a few days ago at Montreal’s Saint Patrick’s Parade, one of the oldest running in North America. On that day all the city comes together to celebrate their Irishness and it’s a great chance to people watch!
Brilliant!
Here is my submission for ‘local character’.
One morning I was walking in Beijing when I came across these two. The cobbler has obviously been around for a while, filling his role in the local economy. I especially love the Winnie the Pooh slipper he provides for his customers.
http://www.mattlautenbach.me/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DSC_1175-1.jpg
This did make me smile! Thanks for sending it in.
Here is a shot from the Egypt Bazaar where we were resting out weary legs. This women was selling paper tissue boxes and the shop keeper came out and offered her a mint tea and a seat to rest as well. Caught her picking her nose!
http://www.fourjandals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Four-Jandals-Egypt-Woman.jpg
Oh dear, I do hate to post this but hopefully neither she or anyone she knows, will ever see it! I’m sure it will make people smile though (It did me!).
Beautiful shot Kat, congratulations. I love your two ‘local characters’ too. I really like the shot of the girl on the motorbike and the way she’s looking right into the camera.
Here’s my contribution. This old woman was having a smoke as she sold souvvenirs by the Japanese Bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam. She was only too happy to have her photo taken and actually posed up a bit for the camera! http://bit.ly/GRAkv1
She gorgeous. Fantastic shot! Thanks for entering it. How am I going to choose?
Congratulations on your win! I love taking photos during either sunrise or sunset! Here is my submission for the ‘local character’.
A local woman strolling down the street in Riobamba, Ecuador holding a cell phone in one hand and a living rooster in the other. She was coming from the local market and was passing by really quickly, being very concentrated on texting. That’s what I call multitasking!
http://acrossthesouth.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/img_0873-e1326670244404.jpg?w=682
The modern world and the traditional in one photo. Really lovely shot.
Well done with the Sunshine photo – that scene is just gorgeous!
Here the image that I have found to match Local Character – a shot of a family riding on a motorbike in the middle of crazy traffic in Galle, Sri Lanka. I love the daughter’s cheeky smile as they zip past us in our tuk tuk! This photo, to me, shows that friendliness of people, amid all that bustle!
http://jouljetgallery.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/travel-photo-roulette-39-local.html
(It’s also alarming to me that Mum and Dad get helmets and the 2 girls don’t, especially the one at the front!!)
Thank you and thanks for your submission. It really is a lovely smile! Well done for catching it.
Wow! There are some great shots here! Here is my submission. Taken in Rome, in front of the coliseum, this pictures is of Angelo, one of the many men dressed up as a gladiator, posing with tourists. Even while working, he still kept smoking and though he had a great badass, Italian vibe about him. Clearly, this was just a job! – Caro
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lealcaro/7016108657/
Yes, he doesn’t look that impressed with his job! Great shot though. Thanks for sending it in. And yes there are some brilliant shots – it going to be hard to pick just one winner!
Congrats again, that really is a great photo.
You’re right, ‘local character’ can have about as many interpretations as there are people interpreting. What’s considered ‘local’ is changing and evolving rapidly.
Here’s one of a gentleman entertaining people hanging out on the Sacre Couer steps on Montmartre. It was mid-July, it was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the throngs sitting around were in an exceptionally good mood. He was terrific, performing atop a 3ft X 3ft (1meter square) stone pedestal at the base of the steps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brightblightcafe/3733638108/
Thanks for submitting this Bob. Love the way the ball hangs in mid air and the background is nicely out of focus!
Here’s a woman I met on the streets of Ginza, the Beverly Hills of Tokyo, Japan. She was walking down the street with this dog in a stroller and I just had to go talk to her. Quite the character.
http://flashpackerhq.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Tokyo-616.jpg
Is the character the lady or her dog? Both I’d say. Thanks for submitting this great image (although I do feel little sorry for the dog!).
What a great subject! Congrats on your win, it’s a great image. http://blog.travellersplayground.com/2012/03/24/travel-photo-roulette-39-local-character-my-entry-for-3252012/
Another great candid capture! Thanks for submitting this Heather.
Congrats on the win. Loved the entry and great topic for round 39!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/6800_572736729060_21902759_34844858_4368031_n.jpg
Caption: “I caught this old man smoking Sheesha while we were on our felluca ride outside of Aswan, Egypt. A great glimpse into Egyptian life.”
A great candid shot Jeremy. I think he’s totally unaware that you were taking his picture.
Congrats on your win Kat! Here’s our submission:
I had jumped out of our car to snap some shots of this house and was terrified when I looked up from my camera and this man was standing right next to me! Turns out he was quite nice to us, despite the UNBELIEVABLE amount of spray painted messages (some of them quite vile) on his house – well, actually every inch of his property.
http://www.gypsynester.com/god-guy.htm
Thanks guys. Another great entry and I really enjoyed reading the post about you meeting this ‘local character’. http://www.gypsynester.com/godguy.htm
I love this topic! Here is my submission:
http://www.theartofslowtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_3830-614×461.jpg
This is a local Balinese farmer who, in his spare time, climbs coconut trees with the agility of a monkey to amuse travellers and provide them with refreshments. Donations go towards his love of tobacco chewing, which he says strenghtens teeth. He also found it totally amusing that I’d want to take his picture.
http://www.theartofslowtravel.com
What a lovely ‘local character’. He looks delighted that you wanted to take his picture. Great shot! Thanks for entering.