Photo Contests
Submit your work, vote for your favorites, and celebrate the community.
Test Photo Content - Reclaim
This is a test photo contest
Resurgence
This can mean renewed growth, pushing forward again after experiencing a set back, new life after a period of dormancy, or so many more things. What does it make you think of? How can you communicate that idea artistically? We very much look forward to seeing it.
Love Can be Complicated
Here's some awesome stuff to showcase. love of a person, love of rope, love of form, it's all a tangled skein This is a theme that invites chaos rope or any of a dozen other interpretations. Perhaps many layers, perhaps multiple people tangled together. Perhaps just a lot of rope. ... or perhaps a repudiation of all of that. i.e. "...but sometimes it is simple"
Lovely Packages
Many of us are approaching holiday seasons, a time for gift giving and gift wrapping. Even if you are not participating in the upcoming holidays, who doesn't like getting and/or creating a lovely package? So, dust off your ropes, your gift wrapping creativity and show us your lovely packages!
Scare Me
We are looking for images that feature a fearful reaction to the subject's situation or one in which the viewer can imagine themselves and would find frightening!
Go Touch Some Grass
I can think of several fun ways to interpret this line -- some out of doors, some not -- and am eager to see what creativity it inspire!
Building Connections
The theme this round is "Building Connections" or … a’hem … “Coming Together”. Building connections and community is one of the best things we can do to resist the current regressive trends. Show us how you form connections with others or bind a community more tightly together. Even if a connection is just between you and one other person, it is important. The below quote reminds us that small simple things can have big impact: Galadriel: “Mithrandir, why the halfling?” Gandalf: “I don't know. Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.”
Rope Bunnies
It will be spring in the northern hemisphere, time for the bunnies to come out and do what they are famous for doing! This theme encompasses sooo many things! It could be a bunny tie, you or someone else in a bunny costume, a tie applied to a stuffed bunny, or ... surprise us! We have loved seeing the creativity in recent contests. <3
Kinky and Geeky
The Venn diagram for Kinky people and people with some degree of Geek in them on at least one topic is pretty much a circle. So, let's play with that! This contest's theme is "Kinky and Geeky" ... inspired by the amazing geekyandkinky.com (not an affiliate). Pick your favorite geekdom and favorite rope and create something inspiring!
Festivities
This time of year has festivals in so many regions and cultures. Share something that speaks to you. Let the thing that lifts you up and enriches your life help lift up and enrich us, too!
Fall
Want to try a suspension for the contest? Gonna get spooky? Do you have a great Fall themed color pallet or scenery to use?
Some Like It Hot
In the northern hemisphere summer is in full swing, but even if you are not suffering the oppressive heat, this is your chance to interpret broadly and wildly … even punily. Perhaps your partner looks hot as or when they are sweating, the picture features candles, or the sun or desert sands or wasabi or chili peppers or chili-colored rope or …? Surprise us! We’d love to see what your creativity will devise!
PRIDE
Let's celebrate coming together and showing support for the LGBT+ communities! Get creative with it, weave a pride flag into your tie, use a rainbow of colors in your rope or rings, or come up with better ideas than me. BUT don't forget to incorporate a tie from the rope 101 basics https://www.theduchy.com/course/rope-101/
Out of the Box
Shibari doesn't always have to involve nudity and sexuality, it can be part of an out fit, or just an accessory to a whole outfit.
Back To The Basics
Why Foundations and Rope 101? New year, fresh start and new contest structures which are inclusive of and accessible to all skill levels! Just look at the Single and Double Columns (Chapters 6 & 7). • First time tying? We got you! We are literally taking a page(s) out of the Foundations of Rope Bondage book to allow your creativity to flourish using beginning ties as building blocks to create your scene. • Decades of experience? We got you! Challenge yourself to push the creative envelope by limiting your ties to only the basics in Rope 101 and Foundations of Rope Bondage. Complexity is not necessary to create a compelling scene. • Concerned that you don’t have a studio or “proper” space for photographing your scene? We got you! These contests are for featuring and celebrating your creativity and ability with rope. The background/setup is a side-piece that is nice to have, but not necessary. Art happens everywhere and it doesn’t wait for the “perfect” set-up.
Delicious
This does not have to involve food. It certainly can, but it could also be a scene where someone looks good enough to eat!
Spooky Season
Be it Halloween, All-hallows, All Saints' Day, Feast of the Dead, Samhain, Day of the Dead, or any other holiday or tradition related to all things spooky!
My Tai, My Tie
How about a tropical theme? Remember: These are photo contests, not contests of skill with rope. We are looking for fun and interesting pictures no matter what the skill of the rope itself. Sure we like seeing cool rope, but amazing pictures of simple rope can be just as cool. So don't be intimidated if you have just begun your rope journey, if you have a cool vision, we'd love to see it! Almost all my time has been focused on getting the Suspiria tutorial done, so this contest will be extended to September.
Animal Style
Perhaps futomomos on all four limbs to turn your partner into a quadruped (puppy, kitty, pony, etc) ... or a bunnie tie ... or mermaid tie or ... In support of this theme, I plan to release a tutorial on the Bulldag Harness sometime around the middle of the month, after the Fisherman's Hobbleskirt. Remember: These are photo contests, not contests of skill with rope. We are looking for fun and interesting pictures no matter what the skill of the rope itself. Sure we like seeing cool rope, but amazing pictures of simple rope can be just as cool. So don't be intimidated if you have just begun your rope journey, if you have a cool vision, we'd love to see it!
Catch of the Day!
Perhaps incorporating a mermaid tie or a Fisherman's Harness or a Hishi Karada so it looks like your partner is caught in an net. Let your imagination run! In support of this theme, I plan to release a tutorial for the fisherman's harness next week. Remember: These are photo contests, not contests of skill with rope. We are looking for fun and interesting pictures no matter what the skill of the rope itself. Sure we like seeing cool rope, but amazing pictures of simple rope can be just as cool. So don't be intimidated if you have just begun your rope journey, if you have a cool vision, we'd love to see it!
Branching Out
Perhaps a tie incorporating an actual tree or a tree motif in the tie, let your imagination run! Remember: These are photo contests, not contests of skill with rope. We are looking for fun and interesting pictures no matter what the skill of the rope itself. Sure we like seeing cool rope, but amazing pictures of simple rope can be just as cool. So don't be intimidated if you have just begun your rope journey, if you have a cool vision, we'd love to see it!
Freak On A Leash
For those of you that may be new to the scene, please understand that the term "freak" when used by one kinkster to describe another is a term of affection and/or admiration. That is, the phrase, "You, my friend, are a freak" is a high complement!
Put A Ring On It
Could be a finger ring, sure, some sort of metal ring used in the tie, a suspension ring, or some other pun or interpretation you come up with, it’s all good!
Be My Valentine
This month's contest, chosen by the winner of last month's contest, is: "Be my valentine" (There is something to be said for the classics!) All submissions need to fit in to that theme in some way! See themed-photo-contests for more details. If you need inspiration, there are a host of heart-themed ties on TheDuchy: - https://www.theduchy.com/love-bug/ - https://www.theduchy.com/tutorials/heart-ladder/ - https://www.theduchy.com/sweetheart-hip-harness/ - https://www.theduchy.com/heartbreak-karada/ If you don't want to do a tie like that, perhaps you play with the color scheme or feature a particularly heart-shaped ass ... let your imagination free!
Pull Up A Chair
This month's contest, chosen by the winner of last month's contest, is: "Pull up a chair!"
Chest/Nuts Roasting On An Open Fire
...make of that what you will...