The yellow ribbon has been around for centuries, beginning as a show of support for the U.S. Cavalry. In recent times, you may recognize it as bearing the words "Support Our Troops", or being used to support testicular cancer and endometriosis awareness.

However, two of the uses of the yellow ribbon really seem to jive with the current trend in disease awareness being spread around dA, focusing on an area that hasn't been breached yet: mental health.

The yellow ribbon can symbolize awareness of both suicide prevention, and post-traumatic stress disorder brought about by military service.

And, these are both topics that have touched the lives of myself and many of my friends in severe ways. A significant proportion of my friends, both on dA and in life, have been suicidal, with some actually fulfilling their deluded desires; my father suffers from PTSD.

So, I figure, what better way to raise some awareness for mental health than to a) give stuff away, and b) make people think! [Not necessarily in that order D: ]

And thus arises this competition.

I want you to take a photo. Or photos. Maximum three per entrant. The image must depict one of the two above mental health issues, in either a discrete or abstract way. No restrictions on style, no worries about the genre of photography, anything goes! My only restrictions here are as follows:

1. Must be a photograph, and must be taken some time after. . . Right now [8:38pm EST, October 4 2007] !
2. Must somehow incorporate the colour yellow, unless it is monochrome, in which case, perks for using a yellow toning! No need for a discrete yellow ribbon, but you get the idea. . . Yellow. Yes. Yellow.

Entries will be accepted via note to =IBinsanity, and submission will close at 12 am EST November 3 2007.

Judgement will be based on creativity, appeal of the image, composition, and its ties to the theme.

And of course, I need some help with my decision-making, so I've collected a nice team of personal Jesuses from around dA. Welcome to:

=robinism, a general digital photographer and close friend, and MAJOR advocate for mental health.

=Helewidis, a very active member of the community here at dA, who is an active member of many groups and has more experience with the judgement of contests than Simon Cowell.

`princessmorgan, a fashion photographer and self-proclaimed genius, whose personality could fill a 4gb CF memory card.

^opioid, the GD of fetish photography, co-founder of #photographers on dAmn, and founder of *ItDoesNotHaveMe, THE self-help group of dA. [Find us on dAmn @ #ihaveit!]

@whoatherechief, admin on dAmn, generally sexy genius-boy whose conceptual photography is, well, conceptual In the good way, of course!

%fangedfem, the queen of customer service over in the Prints department, and a photographer who covers the whole spectrum, from traditional portraits to boundary-pushing commentary on sociopolitical issues.


And what good is a contest without some PRIZES?!

For first place, we have:
One-year subscription from `ArtisticAunJuli
Three-month subscription from =robinism
Three month sub OR 8x11 print of your choice from her gallery from the loverly $hexentanz
DevWear shirt of your choice from =IBinsanity
One set of DevWear Patches from the witch herself, $Moonbeam13
Print of your choice (up to 8x10) from the gallery of @anjules
Custom stamp from =Insanistock
Journal features from too many people to list here!
AND if you enable your photo as a print, I will totally be buying a copy!


For second, we have:
One-year sub from $Moonbeam13, along with a set of DevWear patches.
Custom Stamp from =Insanistock
DevWear Lanyard from =IBinsanity
Print from your wishlist from =cybergranny
Journal features galore!
AND if you enable your photo as a print, expect a sale!


So, enter! What have you got to lose? I expect to see you all submitting great things here! Have some fun, open your shutters and show me your spin on the issue at hand!

Also, any updates on prizes will be found in my journal at =IBinsanity. Check once in a while, maybe once a week. . . And if you'd like to donate, drop me a line!

Hope to see your photos rolling in soon!

-IB!>