Lenzr’s Electronic Engineering photo contest is looking for inside information–the electronic components of your favourite video gaming system, stereo, laptop or guitar. If you’ve never been the type to open up your handheld device and take it apart–then put it back together–perhaps you can get access to a studio control room.

It’s hard to imagine where we’d be without the tiny and intricate electronic components that make up so many of the instruments used in our daily lives. The way we share information would be completely different, as would be the way we’d write, play, perform or listen to music. Sometimes, to the majority of people who are not electrical engineers, the achievements of electronic engineering seem nothing short of magical. In this photo contest, try to dispel some of the myth–how do our mysterious technologies actually work? What little wires and circuits physically display the science behind our favourite devices?

Electronic components can be an interesting–complicating yet beautiful–addition to artwork, as seen here in the work of Toronto artist TorontoArtsGirl Ruth Wilgress. If you look closer at this piece entitled So Close Yet So Far you’ll see the tiny electronic components that make up the skyscrapers of Toronto’s skyline, a neat metaphor for ‘inner workings’.

Standex Electronics is a leading manufacturer of custom electronic components

For over 40 years, Standex Electronics has been a leading manufacturer of  reed switches and reed relays, transformers and inductors, proximity sensors and fluid-level sensors, antennas and coils, connectors, lighting products, as well as current sense and planar transformers.

The prize for this contest is, fittingly, an Apple iPad, courtesy of Standex Electronics. This contest started on November 1, 2001. Voting starts December 15, after which the top ten user-ranked photos advance to the Lenzr judges. The winning photograph will be announced January 1, 2012.

Lunchables aren’t going to win this contest. Those shrink wrapped plastic coated instant meals made of processed bread, soda biscuits, preserved meats and cheeses are hardly the proper sustenance for growing children.

Most ready-made lunches claim good nutrition, but carefully scrutiny often reveals penny pinching practices that reduce antioxidant or overall health impact.  Cranberry cocktail is mostly red apple juice for example.  In the U.S., the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign (a movement to combat child obesity at a national level) has sparked controversy. Sarah Palin was quoted saying that Let’s Move is “…the government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician’s wife priorities. Just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions and then our country gets back on the right track.” She went on to say “[W]hat she is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat.”

Lenzr’s Lunch for Kids photo contest is looking for submissions depicting wholesome and well-rounded lunches suitable for growing minds and bodies. Never mind politics–what kind of lunch do you think is healthy enough to nourish children, while at the same time being enjoyable enough for them to eat? What lunchtime traditions are included? Is there a favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lunchbox? Does Mom or Dad include an embarrassing (but secretly appreciated) note on a napkin with a line of ‘XOXOXO’s? Is there a lunchtime staple, like an apple?

Onyx makes non-plastic lunch containers

Located in Vancouver British Columbia, Onyx specializes in non-plastic food storage containers, including plenty of unique stainless steel kitchenware items, especially their ice cube trays and lunch containers. Their stainless steel catalogue is really quite impressive; if have a stainless steel kitchen then you’ve probably already been to their website.

The winner of this contest will receive $250 worth of stainless steel products from Onyx’s catalog –it’s your choice– with free shipping anywhere in Canada.

This is high-quality, long-lasting kitchenware that’s easier to clean, more hygienic, and won’t leak pollutants into your food – also this stuff holds its value while almost all other kitchenware loses value over time. Onyx even has stainless steel popsicle makers; they are a Canadian company who were inspired through their own children to create food and drink containers that were safe, resilient and healthy.

This contest began November 1, 2011. Voting starts December 15, after which the top ten user-ranked photos advance to judging on December 25. The winning photograph will be announced January 1, 2012.  Contest valid in both the United States and Canada.

Another well-timed challenge, Lenzr’s new House for Renovation photo contest is looking for submissions of worn out homes. With Halloween swiftly approaching, run-down manors are in great demand for hay ride and haunted house season–so seek out the shrieking shacks in your neighbourhoods and you could win a pad of your own, an iPad, that is. Show us broken windows, sagging eaves troughs, sliding shingles and peeling paint, caved in porches, outdated siding, and awnings held in place by lopsided supports. The house you photograph doesn’t necessarily need to be an abandoned home, but your photograph should definitely illustrate a need for fix-ups or improvements, if not a bulldozer.

This is a fun contest with a lot of great imagery potential. In Frank Capra’s classic 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, romantic leads George and Mary fall in love outside an old abandoned home where George talks about lassoing the moon for Mary, then throws a rock through the old house, making a wish as he does. Mary protests at first, saying “Don’t, I love that old house,” before throwing her rock and making a silent wish.  And, although George responds with “I wouldn’t live in it as a ghost,” that’s precisely what happens; on their wedding night Mary reveals that “This is what I wished for,” as rain pours through the roof into their new living room. Old houses often have a romantic, or creepy or just plain fascinating appeal to them. Try to capture the energy of the house in your photograph–what do you know about the house? Who used to live there? What do you imagine went on inside?

The Calum Ross Team Takes Your Financial Goals Seriously

The Calum Ross Team is a Toronto mortgage broker with a simple but powerful goal: to be the best in the business. They cover the market so customers don’t have to, providing immediate access to over 30 lenders including Scotia Bank, Bank of Montreal and President’s Choice Financial. The Calum Ross team works their hardest to accommodate the desires and needs of their clients; this, combined with expert knowledge of the Canadian financial markets, results in superior education (Calum Ross puts extra emphasis on explaining to clients all their different financial options) and of course, advice.

The prize is an Apple iPad 2, courtesy of our generous sponsor. This contest started October 1, 2011. Voting begins on November 15, after which the top ten user-ranked photos advance to the Lenzr judges. The winning photograph will be announced on December 1, 2011.

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of bread in our daily lives. Evidence of prehistoric bread from 30,000 years ago has been found in Europe.  Bread remains among the top ten foodstuffs consumed all over the world today. From Calabrese bread in Italy to Challah bread at Hanukkah to baguettes from a boulangerie in Paris to the rotis of India, nearly every culture on the planet celebrates bread, in their diet, and in their daily lives.

In ancient times it was sometimes difficult to get the bread to rise. The  most common method of leavening was to retain a piece of dough from the previous day to use as a form of sourdough starter.  Other procedures included leaving the bread dough uncovered on the table all week and hoping airborne yeasts would settle on the uncooked flour dough exposed to air for some time before cooking. Pliny the Elder reported that the Gauls and Iberians used the foam skimmed from beer to produce “a lighter kind of bread than other peoples.” That was how they introduced yeast. Parts of the ancient world that drank wine instead of beer used a paste composed of grape juice and flour that was allowed to begin fermenting, or wheat bran steeped in wine, as a source for yeast.

Lenzr’s Our Daily Bread photo contest celebrates the bread maker’s art. Submit wide shots or close-ups, interior or exterior pictures containing bread. Bread is one of the oldest prepared foods, and predates agriculture; that kind of longevity is no accident, perhaps there is a bit of the divine in bread, that most ancient player in the history of human sustenance. Try to capture the historical and cultural importance of bread in your photograph–it’s not just bread, it’s life, energy, health, hope for the future and a link to the past.

ShaSha Organic combines ancient techniques with innovative methods to produce nutritious and wholesome breads.

ShaSha Bread Co.’s organic sourdough breads are made with the finest organic ingredients. ShaSha is a trailblazer in the Canadian bread industry, and the only bakery in Canada awarded the National Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program grant. The breads, many of which contain grains sprouted in ShaSha’s eco-friendly facility, are 100% organic, easily digestible and delicious. Wheat-free options are included. ShaSha Bread Co. was also featured in a three part video series for The Globe and Mail.

The Prize is a breadmaking machine that comes courtesy of Shasha Bread Co. organic ingredients estore. Virtually every ingredient included in ShaSha’s products is also sold separately in this handy online destination, full of the best breadmaking foodstuffs to help people practice their own breadmaking arts at home.

RULES / TIMELINE The contest works like any other Lenzr match – it’s a sixty day challenge. Upload your pictures to the index now, and right up until November 25th, 2011. It’s recommended that you promote your pictures when voting begins Nov 15, 2011 to get into the Top Ten grouping. Judges pick from the Top Ten images that are locked down on the 25th of November at 12:01 am when voting ends–the winner is announced Dec 1, 2011. Must be 13 yrs of age or older to enter. Contest is valid anywhere in North America.

We’re hoping to see pillowcases full of submissions in Lenzr’s latest photo contest, Homemade Halloween Costume, set to run through the October-November session. Halloween is a great North American tradition for many reasons. It’s unpretentious, and pulls people out of their own shoes and into the shoes of…whoever you want to be for a day–suddenly, cities are full of Supermans milling around downtown with briefcases. It’s a chance to bond with people from work, get together with friends for a party or interact with the community through contributing a Jack-O-Lantern and candy for the kids in your neighbourhood. Halloween is also a chance to connect with the darker, more mysterious side of human nature–it’s literally the only day on the calendar on which witches, goblins, vampires and devils are free to roam in their ‘natural states’–and it’s important to acknowledge that darker side exists, if only for twenty four hours.

How many years have you, at the beginning of October, told yourself you’d put a lot of effort into your Halloween costume and then fallen short, Googling “creative Halloween costume ideas” at the last minute and lamenting throwing away that faux-fur jumpsuit you could have used for your Chewbacca costume? How many years have you ended up as just a guy in a mask or a girl in bunny ears or, worst of all, yourself? That’s facetious; no one has to participate in Halloween if they don’t want to, but if you do, and if you want to impress your friends and win ‘Best Costume’ at the shindig you’re going to, Lenzr’s Homemade Halloween Costume photo contest is here to help. Not only do we provide the incentive for making your own costume, we’re rewarding the best photograph with some serious party favours.

Jib.ca Connects Brands with Big Ideas that Sell

Jib.ca is a boutique marketing agency that develops Big Ideas for clients which are manifested through web sites, viral videos, online games, print advertising, direct mail, billboards, digital marketing and social media contests.

“Is your idea big enough?” Jib.ca asks clients. Jib is a team of artists, writers and designers who also happen to be marketing professionals. This formidable mashup of creativity and marketing prowess, along with an approach that combines traditional marketing with cutting-edge digital design makes Jib.ca an ideal choice when looking for help in directing your brand.

The prize for this contest is (trick) $250 in candy or (treat) $250 in cash–your choice. This contest started October 1, 2011. Voting begins on November 15, after which the top ten user-ranked photos advance to the Lenzr judges. The winning photograph will be announced November 1, 2011.

One month after winning the Haircuts and Hair Styles photo contest on Lenzr, the celebrated user Danielle-elise, who is Danielle Thompson in real life showed up at Donna Dolphy Yorkville hair salon to collect her prize(s) and agreed to a free haircut in exchange for letting me blog about it here.

Danielle Thompson is an attractive twenty three year old criminology graduate from the University of Western Ontario currently living and working in Burlington, paying back her student loans by working in a real estate property development firm as an administrative assistant.

She has three younger brothers and used to take pictures of them, and for them, chronicling their achievements in sports and outdoor adventures. At one point she had free use of the family camera, a professional grade Canon Rebel with assorted lenses, but an unfortunate incident with one of the younger brothers has eliminated this resource, permanently.

Now she meddles around with small digital cameras, I didn’t catch the name of her most recent tool, but I did get the sense that’s she’s looking for a high quality digital camera to continue her photography art and hobby. She dabbles with fashion and beauty images and puts them on her blogs, in support of her ideas and product research.

Danielle’s blogs include, My Heart on My Sleeve, and one even more fashion and beauty focused On Sugar blog, called Liner and Glitter and Glass oh my, and I’ll admit that name sounds a bit off center but thats actually the trend for blog names On Sugar, and when she told me the handle I smiled, because I know many other similar such destinations. However I cautioned her, just as I will remind all readers here, that blogs are best when you own the domain outright and use open source software such as WordPress which is downloaded free at wordpress dot org

On Oct 1st 2011 Danielle Thompson and her mom spent some quality time at Donna Dolphy hair salon in Yorkville, have a Lenzr prize winning experience.

Danielle Thompson at Donna Dolphy, Toronto hair salon

Here’s a photo montage showing the event with minor commentary where necessary,
Here’s where the day started.

I was reading my book and taking pictures of Donna’s shop which was super busy when Danielle and her mother, Marie Jo arrived in the salon. Donna greeted them both from her chair at the front window with a wide smile and big hello over the din of the already busy salon.

We waited upstairs until Donna could meet us. We talked and I took pictures

Then Donna came up, and she took us outside to her little rooftop oasis in the heart of the city.

We took some lovely pictures in the sunshine.

The sun was really shining and it was a beautiful afternoon.

After a few minutes outside we all went downstairs to the shampoo section where Donna Dolphy gave Danielle Thompson the full head washing experience, cold and hot water alongside some L’Oreal hair care products, I’m sure.


Marie Jo got a picture of Danielle getting her hair washed for her Facebook page.
Marie Jo got a coffee
Then came the actual hair cutting.

Donna took Danielle to her chair at the front of the salon.

At this point I asked Donna what she would do if she had hair like Danielle,

And she answered without hesitation, “I’d flaunt it. I’d do just what she’s doing, work it into long curls and show it off. It’s an eye catcher.”

Donna made Danielle look like the modern day Farrah Fawcett…

Danielle probably doesn’t know who Farrah Fawcett is. Everything that’s old is new again.

We’ve opened this contest up to accept submissions from people living in the USA and Quebec. And a few other matches on site in October will also be open to folks living south of the border in the United States of America. Don’t panic if you loved Lenzr because it was Canadians only, that’s not changing…. much. Its just that in this next contest cycle, and perhaps others we will have some different contests, clearly marked Open to USA that allow submissions from people living in the United States of America to enter and if they have the best pictures according to Judges, Lenzr will award the prize. The contest will probably not be extensively promoted in the USA because we dont really know how to do that very well, and in fact that’s another reason we are trying this. And because we are backlogged on fixes and changes and further web development, this seems to be something we can easily try. So bear with us, and please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Warehouse Stockpiles is the second in a series of three photo contests sponsored by a software company that seeks images for their new website.

Similar to A Manufacturing Process this competition follows a new style reward structure whereby the winning image is licensed alongside three other images selected by the sponsor, from anywhere in the index.

In this match the sponsor is seeks images of stock being managed to accompany text on the website in which they show thought leadership in Production Planning and also Inventory Management

These two pages need some visual references that compliment the text, but are not so spectacular they are distracting.   The prize is $250 CAN in exchange for the rights to use your photo*  Non exclusive license for 3 yrs. Solarsoft is under no obligation to display photos. Three other photographer’s works will be offered non exclusive license agreements for their works at a rate of $75 each.

RULES / TIMELINE The contest works like any other Lenzr match–it’s a sixty day challenge. Upload your pictures to the index now, and right up until November 25th, 2011. It’s recommended that you promote your pictures when voting begins Nov 15, 2011 to get into the Top Ten grouping. Judges pick from the Top Ten images that are locked down on the 25th of November at 12:01 am when voting ends – the winner is announced Dec 1, 2011.  Must be 13 yrs of age or older to enter. Contest is valid everywhere. Lenzr will ship prizes anywhere in the United States and Canada, and yes that includes Quebec.

Sound off here in the comments or visit the discussion forum, Warehouse Stockpiles Open to Americans.

This just in: we have new winners for the August-September contest session. But first…

Special thanks to Darren from Spectacle in the Distillery, who graciously lent his aesthetic sense to Lenzr in the judging of our two August-September contests, A Manufacturing Process and Classy Summer Drinks. Spectacle is a funky shop that specializes in designer glasses and sunglasses so stylish they’d tempt someone with 20/20 vision to fake farsightedness.

The A Manufacturing Process photo contest was groundbreaking but not spectacular in terms of participation. It’s the prize structure that rewards three photographs in addition to the grand prize winner that breaks all previous boundaries. Though there were only 16 photos uploaded (due to the extremely specific and highly challenging theme) there was a lively conversation in the comments section. And at the end of the day, it opened some eyes on what it means to boost lean initiatives in manufacturing processes.

Winner: Plasma Torch by crazyhbx

Runner-Up: Parts by miguelesquirol

Here’s what some of the judges had to say about the winning shot:

“Nice catch! Capturing this image is not an easy feat. The blue-purple hue adds to the image.”

“This picture is captivating, not only for the colours and the clarity but also for the action.”

“I love the purple colours, lens flare and the comet tail–it really shows the machinery in action.”

Congratulations, crazyhbx, you’ve won the $250 prize and photo licensing agreement with the contest’s lean manufacturing sponsor!

Three other photos, selected by the sponsor, win $75 and photo licensing agreements, and they will be announced as soon as possible.

Thanks to all the Lenzr users who participated and especially to those who flagged users who may be foreigners (which is contrary to contest rules). One chap named InTheSpot1 turned out to be a nice guy from Pennsylvania, and he replied to my polite inquiry with the following email:

Mr. Campbell,
First off, I love the website! I love the photos that I get to take for work and was so excited to see two contests that catered to my type of photos that I did not read the terms of use as closely as I should have, only the rules. I am sorry for any trouble this may have caused. I understand you will have to remove the images from the website. I would love to be featured on your blog. We have a long and interesting story, detailing an ongoing journey of small town manufacturing. I will get you some new photos and an approved write up. Once again, even though I won’t be able to enter I look forward to watching the site and voting! Have a great day!

Do you happen to know of any websites like yours in the states?
Jason Sakal

Sadly I had to delete Jason’s pics and I didn’t even save them before I deleted them because I reckoned he was going to send more. He hasn’t yet, but if he does I will post them here.

Bill Watson, the legendary ve3bnw on Lenzr and veteran Judge, who runs a wicked cool aerial photography service emailed me and submitted photos privately, which are excellent, and which I will display here:

One of these will be licensed to Solarsoft as well to pay homage to Bill Watson who has always been such an avid supporter of Lenzr.

Next,

Onyx Containers:

The Classy Summer Drinks challenge was perfect for food and beverage  photographers to shoot a delicious looking alcoholic drink (or a non alcoholic drink) in summertime conditions, and serve up their picture with a dash of story.

Winner: Berry Fizz by seattledredge
Runner-Up: Caesar to Please by kevyn2992
Here’s what some of our judges had to say about the winning photograph:

“Seattledredge’s picture is simple, clear. My eyes were returning to it constantly and as tammyschmidt wrote, ‘I really want to drink it.’ Alluring.”

“Great job with its simplicity. It gives all attention to the drink, which is what is needed in this. The colours pop out at you, and who doesn’t love a great blueberry drink in the summer? It’s nice and bright, colourful, and makes me want to grab one and drink it myself.”

“Cool, fruity and effervescent, this drink is sure to refresh on a hot summer day.”

Congratulations to seattledredge, you’ve won $400 in stainless steel kitchenware and ice cube trays courtesy of our sponsor. And congratulations to everyone else who participated in this contest; in terms of photo quality, this may have been Lenzr’s most successful photo contest ever!

Community Contests are something we’re working on at Lenzr, and we’re testing them so that some day the membership can make and host their own challenges, because that would be cool.

There is a winner in the Best Bicycle Picture photo contest on Lenzr!

The sponsor has selected LindaJ‘s photo Biking the Countryside! as the winner in this community contest.

Staff members commented, “She has the most votes, 33.5 and there is something peacefully calm about this image, and yet adventurous. Its a perfect blend.”

There were 32 entries and 96 votes. Some of the pictures were really spellbinding. To ChelseaSolomon I would say that her photo makes a really interesting thumbnail and is second runner-up.

In the comments underneath Biking the Countryside!,

mikeinbc1 August 27th, 2011 8:55pm
you’ve entered a really good photo! I’m voting for it because you deserve to be in the top 10, not knocked out because someone has more facebook friends than you.”
Mike

LindaJ August 28th, 2011 10:31pm
Thanks for the vote and the kind words, Mike! Most appreciated. Linda

We love comments.

At Andy Camper , they love getting outdoors and active! Riding their bicycles is one of their favourite activities, and they wanted to see some of your bike adventures! If you’re interested in learning some very important bicycle safety tips, check out the Andy Camper Blog.

LindaJ was deemed to have the best bicycle picture and she will be sent an official Andy Camper t-shirt.

Congratulations Linda.

There was one day a while back when we gave the July 2011 Contest Winners their prizes. Four contests yielded three Sony laptops and a Sony camera to three winners. Lemmings gets his prize as a gift certificate at a nearby Future Shop – he lives in Courtney, British Columbia, Canada.

But much to our delight we were able to have Mr Slava and Silversurfer71 over to the office here in The Distillery District of Toronto, and they both came on the same day; one arrived in the morning, and one in the afternoon.

Mr Slava gets his laptop! Do you remember the Best Office Staff Party photo contest on Lenzr? It was sponsored by Stafflink Solutions and made a lot of traction on Stafflink Facebook fanpage. Mr Slava submitted a funny picture of people throwing co workers into a pool and he won by a landslide.

In the photo above, Mr Slava listens patiently as I, Rob Campbell explain or make excuses about something trivial. I’m talking hard detailing something intricate and probably trying not to look dumb in front of this brilliant guy; he’s a business web developer from Thornhill Ontario.  As I suspected, Mr Slava is Slavic.  His real name is Slava.  He gave me some ideas for the site which I thanked him for, and I will thank him for again here on the blog, if and when I ever figure out how to implement his suggestions.

With Silversurfer71, AKA Andrew Blyskosz we tested some video editing software and got the systems running and everything connected. Andrew is employed as a video editor for Chorus Entertainment, and works in the cartoon production department of this media machine. He also drives a vintage Ford Mustang convertible.

Andrew Blyskosz hopes to start shooting professionally in the near future. He recognizes in Lenzr a good way to promote his own work and exceptional abilities.

Andrew Blyskosz won two laptops for two different contest attractions – he’s a good photographer that is well skilled at promoting his submissions and getting his images ranked among the Top Ten grouping from which the Judges select winners.  Andrew won for A Counting Exercise and Construction Sights; you can read about his prize winning photos in June July 2011 Lenzr Contest Winners.