Introducing Foodography - a new photography challenge.  Add/Read Comments

A theme will be set at the beginning of each month and continue for 6 weeks. Andrew and Sam will select a theme on alternate rounds with an overlap on each to alleviate any 'pressure' to meet a monthly deadline. The first round is to run from January 1st to around the 12th February, the second from the 1st February to around the 12th March. We have plenty of ideas for themes which will hopefully encourage lateral thought and creativity but welcome suggestions too.

You can, of course, post your entry on your own blog but flickr will be the home for each round. You can register at flickr for free and are offered several easy to understand methods to upload images. Pictures on flickr can be assigned to groups, each monthly theme will have a different group. It is very easy to assign a picture to a group but if you need a little guidance we will be happy to help.

Flickr also allows the posting of comments. These we encourage all to use in giving constructive criticisms, suggestions for improvements and the like. We are looking for more than a simple 'nice pic' or 'good work' - although these are welcome too, as we all like a little praise and encouragement occasionally.

If an image is particularly noteworthy either Andrew or Sam or both will pick their favourite and detail why they selected that particular picture. Again you are encouraged to share your thoughts on why one image or another is your favourite. Comments to pictures are easy to add.

The other advantage of utilising flickr to host each round is that it alleviates the often heavy work-load in hosting such events on an individuals blog.

The challenge is open to all regardless of expertise or equipment from a simple compact or camera phone to function-rich digital SLRs. You can enter as many photos as you wish; in fact some themes may specify a series of images or the theme may inspire you to 'tell a story'.

As well as commenting on others submissions you are encouraged to include (in the description field under each of your photos) some technical details - the light source and angle (natural? spotlight? candle?), use of tripod, water spray, reflectors and such-like. The inclusion of these specifics, coupled with comments, will enable us all to learn by example and perhaps pick up tricks and ideas to improve our own techniques.

Entering a picture to this challenge certainly doesn't preclude you entering the same picture in Does My Blog Look Good In This or writing up a normal blog post around it but all we are interested in on Foodography is the photograph or the series of photos, the interpretation of the theme and the technical expertise shown.