"A Warning of Entropy - 8/365", by Jer Kunz

This monthly challenge fits our every-other-month challenge. Yes, we’re facilitating the 2010 Challenge, which has you shooting one really great image each week. That challenge is designed to force you to think, plan, and create really wonderful art. The monthly challenges are more geared to force you to get out and shoot with a bit of discomfort. If you’re not frustrated at least once during a monthly challenge, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough!

"Entropy #23", by Wolfman-K

Honestly, I’ve seen some of the best effort made by most of you when we’re shooting broken down old stuff. Go back and take a look at the old posts; the April Challenge 2008, the recap, and Day #8 of the 2009 Challenge. Those posts should give you even more than what I’m writing here.

Entropy is basically things that are breaking down, devolution. Our world surrounds us with things that break down. Just look around.

"Entropy 19: Bricks", by hpebley3

So, each day of the month, in April 2010, you need to photograph an entropy-themed photograph. Then submit it to our PhotoChallenge.org Flickr Group’s pool. Make sure to tag it with “aprilchallenge2010″.

Anyway, this challenge also reminded me of how many people really enjoy participating in group projects like this. I think there’s something inside of us that yearns to not only belong to a community, but to be involved in that community. We yearn to belong.

As you saw in my mid-month post, there are a whole lot of people who participated in this challenge. Nearly 700 submissions by over 40 people. That’s great!

One of the most active participants, Jeremy Brooks, took it upon himself to produce a sweet video of his work on the April Challenge. It’s embedded below. Then, below that are some of my faves.

Entropy is all over this one! The corrosion is clear.

This one is kinda cool. If you look closely, you’ll see that the crack has its own entropy. (I’ll give you a hint. The crack has a crack.)

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April Challenge #17, originally uploaded by Me (?).

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April Challenge #18, originally uploaded by Me (?).

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April Challenge #19, originally uploaded by Me (?).

Entropy is everywhere and all around us. Speaking for my own experience, I have begun to look for old and broken things everywhere. I see the wrinkles in every old person’s face. I see the rust on every vehicle. I see the peeling paint on every building. It’s amazing how participating in themed challenges brings to your attention the target that you hunt.

What follows are some of my favorite submissions, as found on Flickr. I know there are others, but I’m concerned about empty squares as other photo-sharing sites go through random upgrades. Enjoy.

April Challenge #14, originally uploaded by Me (?).

I hit a local historical location, the Olivas Adobe, in Ventura on the way home. It’s a 160 year old ranch home, that serves as a great location for weddings, special events, and local historical learning.

Entropy is hitting the built up courtyard wall and the main buildings quite a bit. Here you can see the understructure’s traditional bricks poking out.

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April Challenge #15, originally uploaded by Me (?).

This fencepost is a banner of entropy.

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April Challenge #16, alternate, originally uploaded by Me (?).

This entropy sample shows the fenceline around the park.

This B&W version is a bit easier to look at, for me. I appreciate somewheretropical suggesting I try it.

Sorry folks, it really is hard to get out and shoot, during my workweek. I’ll try and shoot the correct amount though. This is a small portion of a eucalyptus grove near my parents’ home. Recently a fire burned a few hundred square feet of the grove. I think a fire’s destruction represents entropy quite well.

#9

This submission I took the time to capture a damaged brick mini-wall on my back patio. Strobist info: My Vivitar 285hv is camera right. I have a foil snoot focusing the light in a small area at the center.

#10

Can you see the blister? It’s really gross. The little toe is damaged, showing us entropy, as it happens to us all.

This photo best represents my view of entropy today. This water tower oversees a large agricultural field. In times past, farmers had to rely on gravity to help them water their fields. Of course, today they utilize high powered water pumps. But this reminder helps the residents of the Oxnard plains know where we’ve come from. We live in an area that has some of the most fertile soil in the world.

Additionally, the vandalism decorated all over the tower, also reminds us of the elements in our society that keep us dancing the line of degradation and entropy.

Today’s submission highlights the cycle of death and life in the agriculture world.

The entropy is seen when we understand the without the outside influence of the farmer, the earth will loose its ability to nourish the crop, over time.

Additionally, this recently harvested field shows acres of damaged and rejected food.

April Challenge #4:

I intended to shoot this one yesterday, so it counts for that day. Entropy is effecting many things, including many industries. For those who don’t adapt, they will die off. Without change, the traditional newsprint business will die.

April Challenge #5:

Whilst driving home from the movies, I saw this great car. You know, some time back, some guy set out with huge hopes and dreams to achieve much on the race track. Taking a look at it now, I think the dream is passing. Entropy, even making a killing on the race track.