I can see the shock on your faces even as I sit here typing this. “You mean he is finally going to do the closing posts for the R.I.P. II Challenge that ended October 31st?!?!? It can’t be!!!”.
Yes folks, its true. Let me start by saying I so appreciate everyone who gave this a shot, pun intended. Next year I plan to tighten up the specifications a bit and be a bit more descriptive in the hopes that those of you who entered this year will do so again and that some of you who didn’t will give it a try!
Without any further ado, let’s look at the entries, shall we? In no particular order:
(Photo by Deslily)
Is it just me, or is this how we all imagine cats actually feeling inside? 😉
(Both photos by Deslily)
I still maintain that this is one dang creepy door. I can just imagine something scratching on it from the other side in the wee hours of the night. It gives me cold shivers!
(Photo by Janet)
Why do the embalming at the funeral home when you can save time and just take care of business right there in the graveyard?
(Photo by Janet)
This one came titled, Books Can Be Dangerous. I love that!
(Photo by Elaine)
The make-up effects of this shot were done by the photographer at the US Body Painting Festival. She is quite talented!
(Photo by Christina)
I still maintain that the cat looks like a live image of Dave McKean’s cover for Varjak Paw. Very cool.
(Photo by Christina, click on for a larger image in which the crows really do look sinister!)
(Photo by Meredith)
Those poppets and the disembodied hand are definitely sinister!
(Photo by Deslily)
Love the blurred look of this one, very creepy.
(Photo by Jessica)
That is what I think of every time I think of a garbage disposal. Gives me the cold sweats looking at that one!
(Photo by Dewey)
I still think it looks like this cat has a pair of those fake vampire teeth, kitty style, going on.
(Photo by Janet)
Yep, that is the embodiment of Cujo reborn!
(Photo by Debi)
There is something sinister about trees in the fall. Their curving branches look like hands reaching out to grab you and not let go!
(Photo by Janet)
Though it won’t sound sinister at all, I have to admit that I think this one is playful and fun and I love the soft focus look of it.
(Photo by Debi)
All I can say is, I’m scared for her husband! 🙂
(Photo by Deslily)
More than anything I like this one for the great wall behind it. It is such an eerie wall…I want one for my house!
(Photo by Deslily)
My vision is getting hazy…were those mushrooms in that soup? I like how the effect around the edges of the picture make it look like you are seeing things through a foggy mirror. It is a great effect.
(Photo by Janet)
Those gravediggers don’t do the best work, do they?
(Photo by Janet, click on image for a larger view)
Just as I suspected, its Night of the Living Dead all over again! I like the zombified look in the eyes.
_____
Our contest was judged by Suzanne of Thus Says Suzanne, who came up with the idea in the first place, and her sister Mosker, who lent me the image of the ghosts dancing for our R.I.P. II Challenge banner.
Two of their sinister images were:
(Photo by Suzanne)
and
(Photo by Mosker)
Before I announce the winner, let me once again say ‘thank you’ to all of you who participated. The judges took their time really examing the images and in the end they awarded first prize to:
Debi, for her entry:
(You can click on it for a much larger image with better detail)
The judges felt this image was very nicely composed and really told a story.
Your prizes, in case you forgot, can be seen in the Something Sinister post here. Congrats Debi, this really is a fantastic and fun image. Reminds me of the old mad scientist stories in films that I like so much.
I am awarding a second prize to:
Not only is it disgustingly sinister, it was composed by 8 year old Jessica D.! She is a kid after my own heart, judging by this image! I’ll be putting together something for you Jessica.
And an Honorable Mention from the judges goes to Deslily for her Sinister Door images:
I would certainly consider using that door again next year, Deslily and creating some kind of story context around it as it is really, really eerie!
You all deserve to win in my book as these were such fun entries. But, there can be only one! Or two, as it were.
That’s one of the R.I.P. II closeout posts down, folks. Grave Times, with more contest winners, is soon to come!
Congratulations to the winners. All the pictures were very spooky. My favorite was Deslily’s cat.
I hope Janet will tell us where that cemetery is with the big book headstone. Maybe I can work it into my vacation one of these years.
Carl, thanks again for hosting the RIP Challenge. Such a fun one.
Congratulations to the winners! Those were all fantastic pictures. My personal favourites are both of Debi’s, Deslily’s door and Christina’s crows.
congratulations!
i still love that door. super spooky!!
Wow…I’m stunned. And elated–oh, that fabulous pink poppet–wahoo! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This was just such a fun contest! So many incredibly clever photos.
Jessica, your photo actually made me shiver. My garbage disposal died a few months back, and for the first time since, I’m truly grateful about it!
I loved the Christina’s crows…so haunting and yet so beautiful! And I really loved Deslily’s candles as well!
And Carl, I still think your photo is about as sinister as they come! Thanks again!
Congratulations Debi! (I am extreeeeemly envious of your new pink poppet! lol)
..and yes, the hand coming out of the disposal made my stomach churn, as did yours Carl..sheesh.
so glad you like the cellar door and wall, they are both right downstairs! I have to see them every time I do laundry!
I have to admit my favorite picture is suzanne’s hand and shovel…that would make a good cover for a book!
Congrats to the winners! All great shots..and fun to do!
Congrats Debi! My internet is sloooooow right now so I’ll have to come back later to see all the pics.
Great contest Carl! Thanks for having it.
Those were some fantastically creepy images. Great work everyone!
And thanks for all the great contests Carl. You really know how to put on a challenge!
Congrats to Debi, Jessica, and Deslily! Well done!
Congrats to everyone! I didn’t want the pictures to ever end! They were all wonderful! It’s nice to have a little throw back to RIP. I think Carl is going for a Nightmare Before Christmas thing here bringing Halloween into Christmas time 😉
Exactly Chris. There will be more on the way! We have Colleen’s Venator Prize Pack, the R.I.P.ing Yarns Tiny Story contest, and a Grand Prize to give away!
Thanks Heather, I am a challenge all right…er….wait, did that come out right?
I loved the images submitted and spent quite bit of time with each of them before making a selection. I congratulate all the entrants for their creativity and willingness to put themselves out there for a project like this. Thanks for letting me see what you’ve got…and keep shooting!
My spine is crawling from the garbage-disposal photo too… but I LOVE Debi’s witch’s kitchen.
Wow, those are all great – very spooky indeed. Congrats to the winners!
SO creepy! Congrats to the winners!
Congrats to the winners! Great images, all!
Wow! Those photos are amazing! Congrats to Debi, Jessica, and all the other participants! I don’t envy the judges. There were a lot of excellent entries.
I have to say that door by Deslilly creeps me out the most. I know it’s just a handle but when I first looked at the photo I thought the door had a small hole in it and two eyes where looking out at me. It gave me goosebumps!
I think that same thing about garbage disposals!
And I agree, that one photo does look like Varjak Paw.
Carl and Jeff ..you two are trying to creep me out from doing my laundry!
Sorry, Deslily, but I’d be creeped out every time I went in that basement…and I’d love every deliciously eerie moment of it. I’m weird that way.
Way to go, Debi. So tell us, why do you have all those creepy animal parts just sitting around the house.
Hurray for Jessica! I like your picture, kiddo!
Jessica’s come a long way. For several years we had to avoid Wal-Mart until after Halloween! She’d freeze in terror at the first scary mask or display and I’d have to get her out of there quickly before she had a full-blown panic attack! Silly girl. She’s not scared of anything anymore and actually thinks scary things are fun! She had a lot of fun with the picture. James played along very well — taking the disposal apart and all.
I showed her this post this morning. She was very smiley and giggly about it.
No niece, yet? It won’t be long! They don’t let mom’s go much over their due date anymore.
It has to be on Friday, because that is the date I picked. Of course I don’t know what the prize is for being right. If it is diaper changing privileges then I hope I lose.
Call her and tell her to sit at the edge of her chair and lean forward off and on all day. It hurts but it worked for me. I was determined to get Anjelia out and by 3:30 the next morning she was born! Great memories!
Oh no! Child-birthing advice on the blog. Nooooo!!!!! 🙂
Carl, Thanks for posting the results! Debi did a marvelous job on her entry, and it is well deserving of first place! And Jessica’s garbage disposal is definitely a wonderful creepy set up. Bravo for all the entries!