I frequently participate in a Photography Scavenger Hunt. The Scavenger Hunt takes place several times a year and is an online social event as well as a photography challenge. Several hundred photographers of all skill levels take part each round. We are given a list of words to shoot and a deadline, usually 7 to 10 words in about 8 weeks. Each person creates photos representing their own interpretation of each word. The photos are submitted for judging, and revealed publicly all at once. It’s a just-for-fun event, and the creativity among the participants is astonishing.
The Scavenger Hunt led me deep down the path of photo manipulation and silly conceptual photography.
All my Scavenger Hunt photos are displayed here, most recent photos first. Photos tagged with a gold star ⭐ were winners: either a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place or honorable mention from one or more of the judges, or a Dream Team Pick, or a People’s Choice Award. Click the gold star to see the specific awards.
I hope you enjoy my creative passion around the hunt.
Round 41 A hint of steampunk in this word list (May 2024)
I was the overall winner this round!
brass
⭐1st Place by Dave DeBaeremaeker
alternative
⭐Honorable Mention by Dave DeBaeremaeker and Michal Vörös
clock
cyber
⭐2nd Place by Dave DeBaeremaeker and Michal Vörös
fantasy
⭐Honorable Mention by Dave DeBaeremaeker and Michal Vörös
steam
⭐Honorable Mention by Dave DeBaeremaeker and Michal Vörös
goggles
⭐3rd Place by Dave DeBaeremaeker, Honorable Mention by Michal Vörös
industrial
⭐Honorable Mention by Michal Vörös
leather
⭐1st Place by Dave DeBaeremaeker, 2nd Place by Michal Vörös
punk
Round 37 Outside the Box (February 2023)
Getting back to the scavenger hunt after taking a short break. I was Judge Robin Griggs Wood’s overall winner this round!
box
⭐1st Place by Kim Pemberton, Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
tape
icm
lost
hygge
empty
⭐3rd Place by Robin Griggs Wood, 3rd Place by Lance Timmons, Honorable Mention by Kim Pemberton
keyhole
⭐3rd Place by Robin Griggs Wood, Honorable Mention by Kim Pemberton
map
⭐2nd Place by robin Griggs Wood, 3rd Place by Patti Cherry, Honorable Mention by Lance Timmons
roots
⭐3rd Place by Robin Griggs Wood
monochrome
⭐2nd Place by Robin Griggs Wood, 3rd Place by Patti Cherry
Round 35 Craft, community and creativity (May 2022)
The words this round featured the colors of the rainbow. I shot all my photos with my phone.
red
orange
yellow
⭐2nd Place by Matt Payne
green
blue
indigo
violet
⭐Honorable Mentions by Robin Griggs Wood, Dave DeBaermaeker and Chris Goldthorpe
black
white
rainbow
Round 34 What’s on Your List for Santa? (February 2022)
I made it all about lemons on a black background, including the 11th collage image.
bridge
chaotic
crack
⭐Honorable Mention by Marisa S White
glass
juxtaposition
lemon
⭐3rd Place by Rita Zietsma
macro
⭐3rd Place by Marisa S White, Honorable Mentions by Noah Berger and Rita Zietsma
music
⭐Honorable Mention by Rita Zietsma
paint
texture
present
⭐1st Place voted by the community
Round 33 10th Anniversary (November 2021)
Celebrating 10 years of the scavenger hunt. I only entered a few photos this time.
backlight
⭐Honorable Mention by Ron Clifford
collection
⭐Honorable Mention by Yvette van Teeffelen
party
⭐1st Place by Ron Clifford, Yvette van Teeffelen and Elizabeth Hahn
cow
Round 32 Lickety Split (August 2021)
I have to give a hand to the hunt organizers this round!
leaf
⭐2nd Place by Anna Gunn
lamp
broccoli
⭐3rd Place by Anna Gunn
umbrella
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood and Lauri Novak
hairbrush
⭐3rd Place by Anna Gunn, Honorable Mention by Mark Rodriguez
utensil
grid
lollipop
⭐1st Place by Anna Gunn, Honorable Mention by Lauri Novak
spaghetti
⭐1st Place by Lauri Novak, Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
denim
⭐1st Place by Anna Gunn
Round 31 Make Magic (May 2021)
What a creative list of words this round!
window
⭐3rd Place by Scott Wyden Kivowitz and Eric Raeber
fairytale
⭐Honorable Mention by Scott Wyden Kivowitz
float
fluffy
tiny creatures
⭐Honorable Mention by Scott Wyden Kivowitz
ink
⭐Honorable Mention by Scott Wyden Kivowitz and Eric Raeber
self portrait
⭐Honorable Mention by Scott Wyden Kivowitz and Eric Raeber
sparkle
tea
teal
Round 30 The Turn-a-Round (January 2021)
A fun round where I used a music/guitar theme for half the images, and placed third overall!
antique
⭐1st Place by Don Giannatti, 2nd Place by Andrew Barrow, Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood and Sam Breach
clouds
⭐Honorable Mention by Andrew Barrow
positive space
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
count
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood and Andrew Barrow
hope
⭐2nd Place by Robin Griggs Wood
twenty-one
⭐1st Place by Sam Breach, 2nd Place by Andrew Barrow, 3rd Place by Robin Griggs Wood
warming
⭐3rd Place by Sam Breach, Honorable Mention by Don Giannatti
wheel
⭐1st Place by Robin Griggs Wood, 2nd Place by Andrew Barrow, 2nd Place by Sam Breach, Honorable Mention by Don Giannatti
pantone color of the year
upside down
Round 29 Back to Basics (September 2020)
Special rule this round: all photos are completely straight out of camera. No photoshopping, no editing, no cropping!
boats
broken
⭐Honorable Mention by Kim Pemberton
coffee
⭐1st Place by Robin Griggs Wood, 1st Place by Kim Pemberton, Honorable Mention by Bryan Esler
egg
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood and Bryan Esler
metal
motion
⭐3rd Place by Kim Pemberton, Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
needle
path
⭐2nd Place by Andi Phillips
round
⭐2nd Place by Bryan Esler
water
⭐1st Place by Kim Pemberton, Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
Round 28 Alone Together (May 2020)
A list shot entirely at home during lockdown. I didn’t buy any special props for these images.
connected
⭐Honorable Mention by Mike Devo and Rita Zietsma
mirror
⭐1st Place by Robin Griggs Wood, 2nd Place by Mike Devo, 3rd Place by Rita Zietsma
toilet paper
⭐Honorable Mention by Nick Sinnott
shoes
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood and Nick Sinnott and Rita Zietsma
cozy
⭐3rd Place by Nick Sinnott
keys
⭐1st Place by Robin Griggs Wood and Nick Sinnott
paper abstract
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
matches
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
meal
⭐Honorable Mention by Nick Sinnott
white
Round 27 Moving Right Along (February 2020)
car
time
⭐Honorable Mention by Yvette van Teeffelen
row
frozen
light trails
Round 26 Welcome to Oz (September 2019)
home
⭐1st Place by Gilmar Smith and Dream Team, 2nd Place by Dave DeBaeremaeker, Honorable Mention by Levi Sim
monkey
⭐3rd Place by Gilmar Smith, Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood
rainbow
selective color
sepia
wizard
⭐Honorable Mention by Dave DeBaeremaeker
Round 25 Anniversary Hunt (April 2019)
To celebrate the 25th round of the Scavenger Hunt, this round reused the original list of 26 words from the very first round, one for each letter of the alphabet.
acorn
button
chocolate
donut
earring
⭐Honorable Mention by Gilmar Smith
fire
⭐Honorable Mention by Gilmar Smith, Sandra Parlow, Rita Zietsma
green
hamburger
⭐1st Place by Rita Zietsma, 3rd Place by Gilmar Smith, Honorable mention by Sandra Parlow and Robin Griggs Wood
ice
jellybean
knife
⭐2nd Place by Gilmar Smith, 3rd Place by Rita Zietsma
leaf
moon
newspaper
⭐2nd Place by Rita Zietsma
olive
⭐Honorable Mention by Gilmar Smith
pencil
⭐1st Place by Gilmar Smith, 2nd Place by Rita Zietsma, Honorable Mention by Sandra Parlow
quarter
⭐Honorable Mention by Rita Zietsma
remote
sponge
⭐1st Place by Robin Griggs Wood, Honorable Mentions by Gilmar Smith and Rita Zietsma
tire
⭐3rd Place by Rita Zietsma, Honorable Mentions by Gilmar Smith and Sandra Parlow
underwear
vase
whistle
⭐Honorable Mentions by Gilmar Smith, Sandra Parlow, Robin Griggs Wood
xylophone
⭐2nd Place by Sandra Parlow, 3rd Place by Gilmar Smith, 3rd Place by Rita Zietsma
yellow
z
Round 24 Creativity Never Sleeps (November 2018)
All my entries this round were inspired by famous works of art. Do you recognize them all?
balance
olive
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood, 3rd Place People’s Choice Award
diamond
forced perspective
sign
⭐3rd Place Dream Team Pick, 2nd Place People’s Choice Award
trunk
⭐4th Place Dream Team Pick
wonder
⭐1st Place Dream Team Pick, 4th Place People’s Choice Award
Round 23 Capture the Spirit (July 2018)
My photos tell a story, loosely inspired by the story of Frankenstein’s monster.
dream
list
scavenger
⭐Dream Team Pick
community
hunt
photography
judge
Round 22 Live the Light (March 2018)
Only two photos this round. Unmotivated.
fate
⭐Honorable Mention by Ron Clifford
pastel
Round 21 Scavenger Hunt (November 2017)
decisive moment
⭐Dream Team Pick
garbage
jade
⭐Honorable Mention by Robin Griggs Wood, Dream Team Pick
smile
⭐2nd Place by Shari Miller, Dream Team Pick
window light
zen
Round 20 Scavenger Hunt (May 2017)
The evil clown story!
calculating
zigzag
⭐3rd Place voted by Rita Zietsma
up
face
⭐3rd Place voted by Rita Zietsma, Honorable Mention voted by Laurie Rubin
cinematic
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Rita Zietsma
dissolve
bronze
Round 18 Scavenger Hunt (May 2016)
architecture
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Sam Breach and Scott Jarvie
bird
⭐2nd Place voted by Scott Jarvie
crimson
golden hour
instrument
⭐1st Place voted by Scott Jarvie
oval
popcorn
⭐3rd Place voted by Scott Jarvie
Round 17 Scavenger Hunt (January 2016)
Superhero theme, featuring Superman and Batman. Only 5 this time, although I had awesome ideas for several others that I just couldn’t make happen.
amused
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Sam Breach
glue
perception
poison
wind
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Robin Griggs Wood
Sweet 16 Scavenger Hunt (September 2015)
angry
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Mark Rodriguez and Sandra Parlow
bunny
⭐2nd Place voted by Robin Griggs Wood and 3rd Place voted by Sandra Parlow and Honorable Mention voted by Mark Rodriguez
electric
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Robin Griggs Wood
juicy
Round 15 Scavenger Hunt (May 2015)
I tried a few new lighting, composition and post processing techniques this round – always trying to improve! Since starting to play two years ago the scavenger hunt has been one of the most significant influences to my photography.
bite
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Rasa G-V
cobweb
curved
greasy
hang in there
ladybug
bliss
risk
wax
yellow
⭐3rd Place voted by Rasa G-V
14 is Fabulous Scavenger Hunt (December 2014)
The Mad Scientist theme!
abstract
animals are awesome
autumn colors
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Robin Griggs Wood
candy
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Carla McMahon
funny face
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Ron Clifford AND Robin Griggs Wood AND Carla McMahon
ghost
romance
the letter C
when you see it
witch
Summer-Sensational Scavenger Hunt (August 2014)
As always, I learned a few new techniques both for getting the shot right in camera and for making my post processing more efficient.
childhood memory
ice cream cone
peace
perfect summer day
pig
⭐2nd Place voted by Mike Shaw, Honorable Mention voted by Ron Clifford
red fruit
sour
⭐2nd Place voted by Mark Rodriguez
the letter B
⭐1st Place voted by Ron Clifford, Honorable Mention voted by Robin Griggs Wood
your city
your worst habit
Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt (May 2014)
I continue to use the scavenger hunt to push my skills and creativity, as well as to interact with so many awesome photographers in the scavenger hunt community.
colourful
flexibility
jealous
lather
⭐2nd Place voted by Stefan Riss
laughter
photographer
small
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Barry Blanchard
square SOOC
stranger with a heart
wildlife
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Barry Blanchard
New Year New Hunt (February 2014)
That bottle of tequila in three of the photos is a mini-theme.
careless
⭐2nd Place Winner voted by Mike Shaw, Honorable Mention voted by Derek Kind AND Alan Shapiro AND Mark Rodriguez
circle SOOC
embrace
healthy
⭐3rd Place Voted by Mike Shaw, Honorable Mention voted by Alan Shapiro AND Thomas Hawk AND Derek Kind AND Mark Rodriguez
hungover
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Mark Rodriguez AND Mike Shaw
rule of thirds
selfie opposite
⭐2nd Place voted by Derek Kind, Honorable Mention voted by Mark Rodriguez
spicy
steam
fuchsia
Autumn 2013 Scavenger Hunt (November 2013)
I made a mummy mini-theme for several of the photos! After making that silly mummy costume I had to use it as much as possible.
creepy
gold
⭐1st PLACE WINNER voted by Jan Kabili
mummy
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Ron Clifford AND Robin Griggs Wood
thankful
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Robin Griggs Wood
pumpkin
⭐2nd Place voted by Alan Shapiro AND Ron Clifford AND Honorable Mention voted by Jan Kabili
seated portrait
⭐1ST PLACE voted by Chrysta Rae AND Honorable Mention voted by Ron Clifford AND Alan Shapiro
SOOC
stuffed
⭐2nd Place voted by Alan Shapiro AND Honorable Mention voted by Chrysta Rae
trick
treat
Summer 2013 Scavenger Hunt (August 2013)
My very first hunt. I did well for a newbie, and was honored to be Judge Dene Miles’ overall winner!
bad hair day
⭐1st place vote by Dene Miles, 2nd Place voted by Barry Blanchard, Honorable Mention voted by Jacob Lucas AND Chris Chabot
butterfly
campfire
⭐Honorable Mention voted by Chris Chabot and special, “spit my coffee on my computer laughing” award by Alan Shapiro
heart
picnic
popsicle
⭐1st Place voted by Alan Shapiro AND Dene Miles
sprinkler
stars
sunburn
⭐1st PLACE voted by Dene Miles, Honorable Mention voted by Derek Kind AND Barry Blanchard
turquoise
⭐Honorable mention voted by Dene Miles AND Jacob Lucas
watermelon
