Day #27 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Barett Washburne with "Something Discarded". I also agree that New York has the best garbage in the country and I dare anyone to defy that. I believe I will have to revisit this suggestion because I'm not completely sure this was discarded it was in an old empty building void of any residence. The erie lone light shone through the window illuminating this figurine. It was displayed like a work of art in a museum leaving me to believe that this was a very cherished item guarding the door and waiting for it's owner to return. Thanks again to Barett and everyone else. Please keep the ideas flowing.

Joshua-

Day #26 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's wiener is good old Ashley. Ash you have been a great support with so many suggestions. Today is "Gargoyles". This intimidating creature watches over 4th ave and wasn't bothered by the tremendous amounts of rain that were soaking me and washing away the streets of New York. The dark stormy day only added to his appeal. Thanks again to all of you. Keep those ideas coming.

Joshua-

Day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Day # 25 and the winner is Kimberly Hale with "Childhood innocence". A cute child (my 7 year old brother-in-law), a Sonic slushy (watermelon), and an impending brain freeze.............. need I say more. Thanks Kimberly and thanks to all of you for your great Detroit ideas. I am starting to run low on suggestions so please keep em' coming and please tell your friends and family to check out my blog and make their own suggestions. Suggestions can be made on my blog or by e-mail, joshallor@yahoo.com. For all I care you can text them to me just let the ideas flow.

Joshua-

day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Day #24's winner is Jack Allor. That's right big daddio made the skin crawling suggestion of "Spiders". Thanks dad! It is very difficult to capture a clear shot when you are quivering like a girl. It was about one o'clock in the morning when I decided to capture images of the amazingly well fed spiders living around my parents house. Using my macro lens I was less than an inch away from most of my subjects and my father provided the lighting. This was without a doubt the most terrifying challenge yet to date. I faced my fear and earned a new found respect for such beautiful animals. However my skin is still crawling.

day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Day #23 and the winner is Brian DePetris with "A Tigers Game". Not too many people responded with Detroit ideas so I thank everyone who did. I attended a great game at the new home for the Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park. The game was a tight one as the Tigers won by one run. It was beer and peanuts and men screaming " Hot Dogs" with great passion and gusto. The true spirit of competition is addicting. Good game, good friends, and a great night.

day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Tracy Fisher on day #22 with "Detroit Graffiti". Tracy gave me some of the best Detroit ideas. I just wish I could have gotten to all of them. Don't worry though I still have little over 5 month's to get to the rest of them. I found this mural under Hart Plaza. I can't say it enough, if you haven't been to downtown Detroit in a while, go and experience a city that once was the heart of this country.

day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today is day #21 and the winner is Adam DePetris with, and I quote, " Newlyweds Snoochin". Though I had to find out what "snoochin" really was, I am glad to report it is not what I had first thought. I had the great pleasure of capturing the memories that Adam and Tina shared on their most special of days. We fought the rain and a lost puppy but love prevailed, the skies cleared, and the puppy was returned to her home. I thank Tina and Adam for allowing me to share the beautiful day with them.

day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Day #20's winner is Bilal Mirza & Adam DePetris with " The Joe Louis Fist in Detroit MI". I have seen so many interpretations of this landmark monument deep in the heart of Detroit. It is an immediately recognizable piece of home to anyone from The D'. I hoped to capture this one in a new and different way, so as the steam poured from the manhole (as it commonly does) I found my shot. It has been awhile since i have really taken in the beauty of Detroit, and yes there is still beauty to be found in a troubled heart broken city.

Day #19-25 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Well, as I have been out of town with limited access to the Internet, I am posting all of last weeks challenge winners. Starting with day #19 winner Pam Allor's suggestion " Patriotism". I attended a reenactment of WWII on the shores of St. Clair Shores. These men stormed the beach with all the passion of a soldier fighting for his country and his life. Explosions left your ears ringing and the smell of gunpowder filled your senses. It truly made you realize what hell war must be.

Day #18 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner goes to one of the first people to make a suggestion. Anthony Frisina wins with "What is living in my beard." Tony made the first suggestion ever for my 6 Month Challenge. Although this is not the suggestion he made it was a fun idea so I got out my comb and went through this rats nest of a beard and was surprised to find not only a green beetle, but also a small family of birds residing in my facial hair. I guess it just goes to prove that you can find beauty anywhere if you just take the time to look. Thanks again to Tony and I promise to have his first idea posted as soon as I return to NYC. Please keep the ideas flowing and remember, I am in Michigan until Monday the 26th so all you Michiganders at heart send me your ideas. Thanks.

Joshua-

Day #17 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Amanda Veraldi with "Puppies". I had the pure pleasure of spending the day photographing pet portraits at the one year anniversary party for Camp Bow-Wow in LIC, NY. What a fun day. The pure happiness that a puppy brings is amazing. The day couldn't have gone better, the sun shone, dogs and cats got new homes, and lots of money was raised for some amazing rescue groups. Looking forward to working with them again soon. Thanks to Elizabeth and Steven for the opportunity to be a part of a great cause. Keep the ideas coming!! -Joshua

Day #16 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Lisa Sapp Cottle with " Fashion District". These are all rolls of fabric that line the street with color and make the streets of NYC seem, for just a moment, to be a bright and colorful place. Thanks again to Lisa and keep the ideas coming.

Joshua

Day #15 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is really, winners. I have combined two challenge ideas into one. Sky with "cobblestone" and Sarah with "feet". Don't forget to keep those ideas coming. And please remember I will be in Michigan from July 20th -26th so please give me your Michigan ideas. Thanks again to Sarah and Sky.

Joshua

Day #14 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Sarah Zeman with "The Life Cycle Of An Ice Cream Cone". I am sad to say this was a tragic challenge day. This poor rainbow sherbet ice cream cone had such a great career as a model cone. Sherbet was a promising talent who unfortunately melted under the pressure of fame. Sadly Sherbet will be missed. On a happier note, it tasted great. Thanks again to Sarah. Keep the great ideas coming.

Joshua

Day #13 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Kimberly Hale with "childhood innocence". Ok today is a bit of a cheat because I took this photo years ago. I personally have always loved this photo and thought this was a great opportunity to bring it forward. This photo was taken at the Detroit Zoo where a young boy first discovered the delicate beauty of this butterfly. His look of awe was what caught my interest. When is it that we lose that "childhood innocence"? When does a butterfly stop looking so amazing? I believe............never.

Joshua

Day #12 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Sarah Dunivant with "shoes on a wire". This was one of the first suggestions i received. I have thought about this one for many years before I ever thought of "The 6 Month Challenge" so i was excited to tackle this one. Thanks again to Sarah and all of you. Keep those great ideas coming.

Joshua

Day #11 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Sky Soto with "fire". I started this challenge to, well...........challenge myself. So as I sat here tonight trying to think of my choice for an image I thought of all of the suggestions made and most of them, I had preconceived notions already in my head. Then I came across fire and I was stuck on how to make that an interesting cool shot. When I think of a photograph I initially think "how can I show something in a completely different light than what you are used to seeing?" If the "6 Month Challenge" has taught me one thing so far, it's that there is always an image to capture, you just have to look for it in different ways. I hope you never look at your gas stove in the same way. Thanks again for all the ideas. Keep em coming.

Joshua

Day #10 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Well since I missed a day I decided to to one of the most requested and still stay with Ashley as a winner. Today's winner is "Graffiti" Suggested by Ashley Goodwin, Pam Allor, and Nick Rodriguez. If your ever take the seven train you've seen 5pointz in Long Island City. 5Pointz is one of the few places left where art and expression is still allowed. The smell of fresh paint and the vibrant colors are everywhere. It is almost surreal how amazing some of these artists are. If you ever get a chance and you find yourself at Queensburro Plaza I suggest you hop off the train and check it out. Thanks again for all your creative juices. Keep em coming.

Joshua

Day #9 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is of course Ashley Goodwin ,with one of her many suggestions, "Shrimp". My mind was racing on this one. I didn't want to be too cheesy, however I also had no intention of doing a "typical" food shot. I am torn between cheese and class. So I leave it up to the public. Which do you prefer?

The three photos are "Shrimp Headshot "

" Who You Callin' Shrimp Little Man?"

and

"Shrimp on the 'Barbie' "

Thanks again to Ash (and her mom ) for all of her great creative ideas. You will be seeing a lot more of her ideas to come. Thanks to all. Keep those ides coming.

Joshua

Day #8 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

First off I want to say "sorry" to Ash, you will be Day's 9 & 10. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture a boy leaning out his window, poised and ready to unleash terror by water balloon on an unsuspecting passer-by. So the winner of Day 8 goes to Jeff LaGreca with his submission of "misbehaving children". Thanks for the suggestion Jeff!! Keep the ideas coming friends! Thanks -Joshua

Day #7 Winner of the 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is my wife Meaghan, and I believe someone else (if it's you please let me know) with "mass-transit/the MTA hard at work". This man is obviously working very hard at his job as an NYC bus driver. Don't you worry, that bus won't move!! Thanks for all your submissions, keep the ideas coming!! Thanks. -Joshua.

Day #6 Winner of The 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Melissa Adams with " firecracker shells on July 5th". I truly thought this one was going to be a real challenge for me with the strict firework rules in NYC. I remember the days following the Fourth of July when I was a kid we would walk around the neighborhood and find all the duds laying in the curbs and the one thing that i can always remember is the smell, that sulfur burnt smell will always be summertime to me. Thanks again to Melissa and to everyone for your great suggestions. Keep em comin.

Joshua

The Landing

This is just a fun shot I caught today at the Highline in NYC.

Day #5 Winner of The 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Meredith Jacobs with "street fair, candid shots". A beautiful sunny July 4th is the perfect day for a street fair. Mozzerepas, corn on the cobb, watermelon, and deep fried oreos. If you need incense, t-shirts, jewlery or sham-wows then you are in the right place. I love NY street fairs. Thanks again. Keep the great ideas coming.

Joshua

Day #4 Winner of The 6 Month Challenge

Today's winner is Veronica Defrancis with the suggestion of "ants working together on an ant hill". I wasn't sure what to do today for the challenge, when I stumbled upon a colony of ants hard at work outside of my building. I believe this picture is the moment just prior to an ant group hug. Thank you to Veronica. Keep those ideas coming. I will get to them all. Thanks

Joshua

6 Month Challenge: Day 3

Today's winner of the 6 Month Challenge is Radia, with her submission of "nature in black and white". This is a photo of "Zuri" a male Silverback Gorilla at the Bronx Zoo. Among the throngs of field-trips, day-campers and the pouring rain I managed to capture great emotion in the gorilla's eyes as he reached for his celery treat. Thanks for all your suggestions. Keep the ideas coming!!

6 Month Challenge: day #2

Well, thank you for all your suggestions there are some great ideas and I cannot wait to get to all of them. Today's winners are Pam & Ric with the very popular suggestion of capturing the tributes and memorials for Micheal Jackson at the Apollo in Harlem. This one proved to be a challenge. There were some very interesting characters out there. My first thought was how sad it was to see so many trying to cash in on the death of an icon. There were blocks and blocks of people selling buttons, t-shirts, DVDs, posters, to even fried fish sandwiches. However I decided to focus on the joy and celebration that many people were there for. The walls were lined with messages of love and admiration. Fathers and sons were there together. Micheal's music was everywhere and we all sang along. I am cheating this time and posting three photos instead of just one, but it's my challenge so I can do what I want. Thank you all for joining me in this great challenge. Keep those ideas coming, and don't forget to tell your friends about this challenge. They can always e-mail me ideas at joshallor@yahoo.com. Thank you and enjoy!!!