Round!

Say it slowly ... “round”... What a wonderful word, what a wonderful shape!

“Round” is the topic of this challenge.

Images showing spheres, disks, rings and circles are what we are looking for. Ideally the complete circle or sphere should be in the image, but if the entire sphere or circle isn’t shown it must be clear that what we are looking at is completely round. Ovals, arcs or curves are not included in this challenge.

This is not a high concept challenge, no exceptionally technical photography or complicated post processing required (but you can if you want!). We are simply looking for images of one of the most beautiful shapes in nature and technology.

Here are a few definitions in case you are unsure:

Round: Curved or shaped like a circle or sphere; without angularity; any circular or rotating mechanism

Circle: A set of all points in a plane that are the same distance (radius) from a fixed point (center). In Euclidean geometry, a circle is the set of all points in a plane at a fixed distance, called the radius, from a fixed point, called the centre. Circles are simple closed curves, dividing the plane into an interior and exterior. Sometimes the word circle is used to mean the interior, with the circle itself called the circumference. Usually however, the circumference means the length of the circle, and the interior of the circle is called a disk or disc.
And, going off the philosophical deep end: “In the description of cosmological symbols, the first figure is a circle: ever-eternal, universal nature, the abstract space of a cosmic hierarchy. The circle itself may be taken as the symbol of this first manifestation, the clean sheet of paper representing abstract space, the Boundless. This circle is in reality boundless, its circumference being ideal, representing the limits of our perceptions of physical or inner space, or the ideal boundary which must be postulated in our conceptions of infinitude.
Considering the circle as a line, it is without beginning or end; progress from any point in it brings us eventually to the same point again without turning back. Thus it is a symbol of cyclic evolution. Eternal motion is essentially circular and vibratory. A circular motion becomes spiral, and this is the cosmic serpent, emblem of cosmic forces, and hence of life on all planes. ... The circle may be conceived as either one unbroken line, having no parts, or as an infinitude of points -- which shows that zero and infinity are extremes which meet. In the symbol of the circle, spirit and matter are not yet separated; it is spirit-substance.” (from Encyclopedic Theosophical Glossary)

Sphere: A round body whose surface is at all points the same distance from the center. A ball-shaped object. In non-mathematical usage, the term sphere is often used for something "solid" (which mathematicians call ball). But in mathematics, sphere refers to the boundary of a ball, which is "hollow".

I am looking forward to seeing all of your well-rounded images! ~Sharon

Challenge Rules: The challenge rules should be at the Rules and Guidelines

CSLR Challenges FAQ: Everything you wanted to know should be at the CSLR challenge FAQ.

Password: To obtain the PBase password for these galleries please email the pass holders.

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Challenge Thread: Discuss this challenge or ask questions in the Official Challenge Thread: Part 1, Part 2

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Challenge Starts: Friday, March 24th 2006 0:00 UTC


Challenge Ends: Tuesday, April 4th 2006 23:59 UTC


Voting Begins: Wednesday April 5th 2006 0:00 UTC


Voting Ends: Thursday April 6th 2006 23:59 UTC

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Voting: At the end of the challenge, be sure to vote and leave comments for your favorite images in the vote booth.

Voting Thread: When you've voted, please confirm your vote in the Voting Thread: "Voting Thread"