lizs: Name Your Dream Assignment

“Let me be the first to post about it... and hopefully garner YOUR VOTE, since votes will determine which ideas for a dream photo shoot will make the top 20 list and, eventually a winner of $50,000 and, of course, the dream shoot. It's sponsored by Lenova and Microsoft.

The entry site goes live at midnight. No one's been given any info yet, other than the fact that entrants need to promote their ideas, which can be done on such places as Facebook, Twitter, one's own blogs, etc.

I'll be there. Will post more once it goes live and I have links (and have put my idea or ideas down). :-) It's kind of exciting!!

**And thanks in advance for your support. :D ”

“you will share with us won't you?????”

“Did Backpacker.com shut down?”

“... ohhhhh Stovie... You only make me want you more when you're so gruff. :-P

click on this to vote...




Here's the idea:

Exploring America's Great Interior: The Buffalo Commons

I'd like to explore the legend, lore and current de-population occurring in the Great Plains, where some day great buffalo herds again may roam... talking with people... and capturing both stunning and simple landscapes along the way.

In 1987, academics Frank and Deborah Popper predicted a way of life on the Great Plains where towns would depopulate, the landscape would return to its former heritage and - at the bottom of it all - bison would roam the topography, just like in earlier times. They termed this process "the Buffalo Commons."

It certainly seems to be happening today. I like to think of the large, open sector in the middle of America as the Great Interior, likening it to Australia's Outback or those few other places where the strong people, or the outlaws, or those who never left provide a solitary figure if you're lucky(?) enough to find them.

The land itself is often somewhat inhospitable, but also provides glorious glimpses of its secrets as it tries you. And then, over the next hill, there are bison, grazing the wide openness.

I'd like to explore this land where the prairie rattlers may outnumber people… where that's all part of the design, it would seem.

I propose selecting one or two locations per state in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. I'd look for the reasons and relics of why people first came, including native populations… trace the de-population that's occurring… look at today's inhabitants… and of course capture the welcoming yet harsh, starkly beautiful landscape.

Let's see who still occupies the Buffalo Commons before the big herds return to tear across the Great Plains in huge, undulating seas of fur, marking the completion of the Commons concept.
last edited: 3/02/09 11:13:19 PM”

“I'm so disappointed; the thread title sounded like some sort of solicitation...


Anyway, good luck Lizs!”

“My dream...take the photo of Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Biden as they report to SUPER MAX in Colorado....”

“Your assignment is to go undercover and try to get a picture of XL working.”

“Nice topic, but I can't vote for you because your abstract was poorly written. If this is so important to you, why not take the time and effort to write using proper syntax, punctuation, composition, and grammar? That read like a typical Freshman Composition paper deserving of a "C" grade; i.e. it's not exactly putting your best foot forward.”

“Stay out of Kansas!
(jk) (waves to Lizzy)”

“

HARSH!

”

“Kleetn Translation: I just got beat...so demand control of speech. ”

“lizs knows I was pulling her leg. ;-)”

“LOL...Good Luck Liz, make it a good shot....”

“Just tell me when and where to vote. If it keeps another Iowan out of my home state, I'll do it.”

“good luck, lizs.. looks like it requires you to register to vote.”

“All the Buffalo are on the John Zink Ranch in Oklahoma girl....!”

“Lizs, that sounds like an awesome assignment! Whether you win your contest or not, I think you should pursue it. When you gonna come back to Utah?”