300 Worder Image Poll and Discussion Thread #5

Vote for the Best Image for October's 300 Word Writing Challenge

  • Total voters
    28
  • Poll closed .
The Judge

The Judge

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It's been over a year since we had an Image Poll for the 300 Worder, so we thought it was about time we gave you the opportunity to choose the inspiration image again.

As usual, we've picked four images from which you can choose, and we've tried to have a spread of images to fit SF, fantasy, horror and general indeterminate speculative fiction but, of course, you're not bound by our thoughts on what category any image might fall into.

To repeat what I've said before, when we mods choose an image, we look for one which we hope will generate the most entries and the most diversity of stories, so do bear that in mind when voting. Or vote for the one that most appeals to you or which plants an immediate story in your head. The important thing is to vote!

Even if you don't think you'll write a story this quarter, or at this stage none of the images inspire you, do please vote. Then write a story anyway -- we want as many as possible.

This is also a Discussion thread, so do chat here about the images and/or the forthcoming Challenge which will start on 1 October.


The poll will stay open until 11:59pm (GMT) on September 29th. Do remember, the poll is an open one, so everyone will be able to see who voted and how.


The images are:

A -- Philco Inner Workings​
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B -- Scrimshaw​
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C -- The Picnic​
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D -- Tranquillity​
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Poll Image - 1c.png
 
I can see D being used for so many different stories. Why’s the boat there, who is on it, where they’re going, is it real. I thought B looked like popcorn so my story for it might be an oddity!
 
There is so much going on in that scrimshaw, surely there is some detail there to inspire people.
 
I can definitely see D (the sea) winning. So much scope for interpretation. That, after all, is the essence of these challenges I feel.
 
Scrimshaw for me just calls out to be written about, so many options spring out at you upon seeing it from dolls houses to great courts of mighty kings. Saying that Philco to is a strong image with ideas and suggestions of mad scientists and the cold war.
 
For me, both C & D create a mood and seem to be easiest to write to.

A) Philco Inner Workings - Has an old time feel and would probably require a historic setting story.

B) Scrimshaw - Too busy (I had to put on my glasses to realize the foreground was not just wood shavings).

C) The Picnic - An empty boat pulled up to an abandoned campsite. Seems to be calling out for horror genre (perfect for October?)

D) Tranquility - More like isolation. Only sign of life is the light atop the mast and its reflection in the water. Without that the boat would be invisible.
 
I went with the Philco because a story immediately leapt out to me.
Scrimshaw will probably appeal to the fantasy set.
C and D are pretty nebulous.
Voting so far is remarkably close,
 
Wayne Mack said:
For me, both C & D create a mood and seem to be easiest to write to.

A) Philco Inner Workings - Has an old time feel and would probably require a historic setting story.

B) Scrimshaw - Too busy (I had to put on my glasses to realize the foreground was not just wood shavings).

C) The Picnic - An empty boat pulled up to an abandoned campsite. Seems to be calling out for horror genre (perfect for October?)

D) Tranquility - More like isolation. Only sign of life is the light atop the mast and its reflection in the water. Without that the boat would be invisible.
Click to expand...
I agree to a degree but am on the opposite side of the fence from you, C + D are way to obvious for me,
C ... Instant horror feel, usual horror story ... group has sex then die in horrible ways,
D. It is so obviously perfect an image for a story that is why I would never pick it where as
A. Opens up the past and the first thing I though of was Nazi scientists or Tesla working in a lab
B. This one has no obvious story but many many suggestions attached to it as for what the story could be
 
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My vote went to @e________'s Grandmother's radio works.

K2
 
Goodness me. Too close to call. If its a tie, does someone toss a coin (a judge or bear, perhaps)?
 
I can see (yet vaguely) possibilities for all 4 images.
But I go for D, because of all the possibilities you can't see yet lurking below a surface that looks suspiciously tranquil....
 
There will indeed be a metaphorical coin toss if there's a tie, but there's still time for one image to pull clear into the lead!

By the way, if there's anyone hesitating, don't forget that the image on the Challenge thread will be bigger than each one appears here, so eg with the scrimshaw, it might be easier to make out the figures.
 
I selected "C". I see a good deal of possibilities.

But I could work with "A" or "D".

"B" may take some thinking.
 
And we have a winner!

The 300 will be going up some time tomorrow, but since we know the image is going to be Tranquillity, you can start thinking about a story immediately! (As usual, though, the Challenge thread won't be won't be open for entries for 10 days, to allow time for plenty of revision and editing.)
 
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