Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Questions About the Summertime Photo Scavenger Hunt

I know that we're still in Winter, but the first day of Spring is just three weeks away!  And lately, I've been thinking about the Third Annual Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt which I will host this year. And I'm getting excited!
But I had a couple of questions.  First, about timing. I have traditionally run the Hunt beginning on the first official day of summer (June 21 this year) and ending on the last day of summer (September 21).  But I've had some feedback that people actually tend to start their summertime activities earlier than that, and I was thinking about whether to change the time frame from June 1- September 1. Any thoughts?
Second, I was wondering about whether to set up some specific forum where people can post their photos (i.e. a facebook group, a flicker site or a yahoo group), rather than relying on people posting on their blogs. I kindof like seeing all the photos pop up on folks' blogs, but it can be a little difficult to keep track of everyone who is playing along. Thoughts?
Those of you who have played along before, let me know your thoughts please.
For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, check out this link.
Looking forward to your feedback.

41 comments:

Mary B said...

good morning Rinda
getting excited about the scavenger hunt already I really enjoyed both of them thank you so much for hosting and sorting this for us each year.
I am quite happy with starting earlier but a lot of us who are retired/older like to avoid the school holidays so take our holiday in September so would be nice not to loose that month. Can it be extended to include September please?
I have a flickr account and I think that would be a great place to put all the photos though I usually manage to get round all the blogs, but then I am retired and have the time.

once again a great big thank you

Kirsty.A said...

I don't mind about the time frame - mine will mostly be taken in August anyway, but I like to put them on my blog. An additional Facebook group would be interesting to follow, but an extra hassle to post to as I don't have internet on holiday. But that's very personal - happy to hear you're planning a Hunt this year

helena said...

Hurrah - a sign of summer - and my favourite photo activity

I don't mind on the timing

I like seeing hunt items pop up on blogs but agree it would be nice to see them all in one place too. I'd prefer fliker for that. I'd still post them on my blog as well

scrappyjacky said...

Personally I prefer the later time scale.....perhaps because we start our summer break later in the UK....and I,like Jane, tend to vacation in September and wouldn't like to lose that month.
I like posting the hunt on my blog....but can see that it must be harder for you to keep track of...I wouldn't mind posting on Flickr as well as my blog.
Am really looking forward to the hunt.

Amy said...

Hi Rinda, I don't mind what your timing is as it is the middle of winter here and nothing to do with summer and holidays for me! Having said that, we do have a two week term break that is usually the end of June and start of July and the time when I would take my photos.

I don't mind at all if you start up another site for the hunt photos - I'd probably stick with blog posting however as I'm finding it hard to keep up with all the forums and classes and sites and blogs etc as it is. What about a linky thing once a month on your blog? Of course, I am sure there are people who don't have blogs - can they link to their flickr or something similar?

Really, whatever works best for you and how you feel comfortable getting around to the participants is fine by me .... I'm looking forward to your list already!

Abi said...

I am so excited for the hunt again Rinda. I am not fussed about the timing. I try and do mine in one week- just to make it hard! I like the idea of a forum to post the photos as I go along but like the others I think I would still do a round up blog post of all the photos. Thanks for organising it again Rinda.

Kokopelli said...

I'd love to participate in this, but I'm not the best photographer and don't have a hq camera. Are there any special rules on that? Or can I read last year's rules somewhere? Thanks for helping, Rinda!

Jane said...

I really enjoyed the hunt last year and I'm happy with whatever dates you decide. I will continue to post on my blog but the forum sounds a good idea too. Thanks for organising this event again.

Ladkyis said...

I don't mind about the timeline - I do think we get the best of everything going from mid June to mid September. One central place to link to or to put the pictures would be good - perhaps just one post on your blog at the end so that people can link their entries to it..... that needs thinking through. I will go along with what you decide because I enjoyed it so much last year - and so did my family.

Scrappi Sandi said...

I'm looking forward to taking part again this year & did like the 21st-21st timeframe, but will be happy to go with the flow!! As for a group, I find flickr very easy to use...but then again a facebook group would allow for discussion as well! Whatever you decide will be fine by me!! Thanks again for hosting! :D

Cheri said...

I'm good with whatever time frame you choose. I'd love to see a Flickr group as an easy way to see all the photos in one place, but would still also post to my blog. I won't post my photos on facebook - they play way too fast and loose with their rules.

laurie said...

I think June 1 through August 31 would capture the most "summer." I'm not much into groups so I would probably still just put my photos on my blog. I'm looking forward to it!

I finally got around to making a pledge for the race you and Clara are running. I am encouraged by your initiative and positivity!

cjsrq said...

Sounds like fun. Any time frame is fine. I don't have a blog so Flickr would work for me. I'd rather not post to Facebook.

Mary B said...

I agree with not using Face Book, I do not like that at all and only spend moments in there mainly to get photos of my grandson that my Daughter in law posts.

Anonymous said...

I so enjoyed participating last year and am looking forward to it this year. The 21st-21st worked well for me as we like doing things when school is on so I'd had to lose September but I'll go with whatever you decide. Flicker is good for me but I'll probably still post them on my blog as well. Facebook though I'm not keen on.

Dawn said...

I liked the 21st-21st time frame but wouldn't mind if it ran another time! Don't mind how you post photos as last year I just did one post at the end on my blog!

Alison said...

Whatever timeframe works for you is good...I would still post on my blog, but if Flickr-or similar - works for you I would happily post there too!
Alison xx

Linda said...

Hi Rinda! Lovely to hear that you are running this for year no 3! I don't mind at all about the time scale. Love the idea of a flickr group, or a linky. Thanks!

Sian said...

I'm delighted to hear that it's on again this year :)

The later time frame is fine here too. We don't really think of June as summer here - too busy finishing up school in time for a getaway in early July. I'd probably continue to be a blog poster too, because I don't really enjoy Facebook

debs14 said...

I'm happy to join in whenever you choose, I'm just happy to know you are running it again. I think the idea of a flickr group is good, but I'll probably post on my blog as well anyway.
Over here, school holidays are last week of July to beginning of September so I guess most people with children - or people like me who work in a school - will be going out and about more for those 6 weeks.

Anonymous said...

yea!! start June 1!!!! and since i cant really post random pix on my blog (that i rarely use anymore) yea facebook group!! i dont have flicker, and you know its all about me! haha :D

love your summer pix!

Mariana

Elizabeth said...

Either time period is OK with me. We tend to take vacations in October anyway so I couldn't use vacation to spot the items. I like posting to my blog but a flickr group would be OK. I'll just post on both!

sky-blu-pink said...

Looking forward to it already! I enjoyed my first one last year! Either timeframe works for me. Good idea to have a Flickr or similar group, but I'll blog anyway.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Hi Rinda ~ First, I like the idea of the new timeframe. And second, I think it would be great to have a flickr group or some other source to share our photos - though I will still post them on my blog. And third, it is YOUR scavenger hunt and I think whatever makes it easier for YOU is what all of us will be happy with. I really appreciate you organizing it, and I can't wait to see what's on the list this year. I'll participate no matter what you decide. {{hug}}

Karen said...

I'm happy with the old schedule--beginning of summer til end of summer, but obviously will participate no matter when you schedule it! A Flickr group would be fine, but since I'll probably post on my blog as well, it actually ends up being double posting. Again, I'll go along with whatever, cause I LOVE this project. Sadly, all my travel will be over before June 1 this year.

Miriam said...

Hi Rinda any dates are fine with me. Flickr not Facebook though I like the idea of a Linky.I find it so hard to keep up with blog visiting but I will always visit people taking part in a challenge like this. Thanks from me for organising this brilliant activity x

Cheryl said...

This opportunity will be new for me but I'd like to play. Just be clear about linking, etc., as there are still plenty of folks who struggle with instructions. Thanks.

Carola Bartz said...

I would love to play along with the scavenger hunt this summer. Starting on June 1 would be a great idea. I also like the idea of a Facebook or flickr group - I do think that tracking on all the blogs might get a little bit overwhelming. To have one place where everyone posts their images sounds a lot easier.

The Mann Fam said...

The time period doesn't really matter to me. I like seeing the pictures pop on everyone's blog or their flicker or wherever they feel most comfortable posting. Is there a way that we can do a link up from your blog where we can do a summer monthly link that where we can connect to see each others pictures?

Jak said...

I dont mind, im just happy and excited to actually taking part this year...sadly didnt manage it in 2012 x

Unknown said...

Glad you Are running this again, hoping this summer will be more settled and I can play along again. Either timescale suits me, having somewhere like Flickr or Facebook in addition to blogs might work. Whatever suits you really.

Amanda said...

I'd prefer the later start date of 21/6 as it fits our school holidays better, but I'd participate whenever you run it.

I'm not keen on posting family photos on Facebook, but a closed group might work. I'm not familiar with Flickr but willing to learn. I'd probably blog the photos anyway, as I first found the hunt from someone else's blog.

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Any time frame works for me. I generally blog my photos & upload the ones that are part of my P365 to flickr already so having a Flickr group is find with me.

Jo Murray said...

Your summer is my winter Rinda, so the time matters little to me. I do see that it would be hard to keep the participants together, so perhaps a central location such as a Flickr group would be good. I've participated in Flickr groups before, and they work well. I look forward to it.

Flora said...

I'm looking forward to participating again and will do so regardless of the dates you choose, and I think a Flickr group would be nice.

Becky said...

I haven't taken part before but intend to join I this year and will go with whatever timing is best for you! I will probably post on my blog but do also have a Flickr account but my problems is finding the time to post on two places, work, scrap and take photos! I do like seeing the photos on other people's blogs so perhaps a linky?

Missus Wookie said...

Rinda - I'm delighted you are thinking of hosting/organising the scavanger hunt but think you need to decide what would work well for you. I like the 21st - 21st for the chronological pedant who thinks of June 21st as summer even if schools are still in for another month :)

I don't post photos on FB so would stick to my blog but would be happy to join a flickr group as I'm already storing my photos there!

Thanks for being willing to do the work and for asking us!

Melissa said...

I'm so excited you'll be hosting a hunt again this year! Any time frame works for me - I really think having a time frame encourages us to find the items on the list wherever we are during that time. I personally enjoy just posting to my blog & seeing other's photos on their blogs - it's easier to keep up with where my photos are posted if I don't have so many place to post.

Jimjams said...

Great news that there will be another Scavenger Hunt - I prefer the 21st time-frame as it spans our summer holidays (leaving a little post school holiday time for mopping up the stragglers) and makes more "sense" to me, but do feel that you need o do what suits *you* best! Same with the Flickr,Linky,Facebook thing! I won't be sharing on FB as I really don't like it. Blogging works for me - perhaps if everyone is really good and tags their Hunt posts they'd be easy to find?!

Julia said...

Hi Rinda Looking forward to joining in again :) Either date works for me. Had you thought about a Pinterest board for the hut? That way you could pin the blogs to it?

alexa said...

Sorry to be getting here a little late, and most people ave probably contributed what I am thinking. I'd like to have September still in the frame and I probably wouldn't post on Flickr or Facebook, but just on a blog ... So kind of you to be already planning!