I looked at your cards (your photography is amazing!) and I'm thinking maybe because the main category is 'academic achievement' the cards may need to say something about 'winning'? or using the word 'fair' on the front...(though I see cards in that category that don't)
 
If that's not it, perhaps it's because your images might be confusing to the average teen, because although they are technically science related, they aren't something that would be related to a science fair project/experiment?
 
Don't know if that is helpful at all...had to brainstorm for a bit...
 

I ask my fellow community artists for advice and thoughts on how to get these cards approved. It is clear from at least one response that they didn't know either. I did receive an additional response from the review team but it appears to be only justification for their ruling. The team's response didn't really help. It didn't provide any action steps, or advice. I did read the link provided to the wiki.  
 
Am I to understand that no matter what I do these cards they will never be accepted?
 
I've already had 2 flat out rejected since I posted for assistance. No reason given. If there is a case where photomicrography (photos taken through a microscope) is not accepted at all - the wiki needs to state this flat out. If there was ever a category where photomicrography matches the intent of the category it is in the Congratulations > Academic Achievement > Science Fair.
 
How can an image of mushroom gills with the inner text "You put the fun in fungus. Good work on the science fair. Congratulations." be unexpected in a science fair category. There are plenty of science fair projects where fungus is grown and even an elementary school age child knows that a mushroom is fungus. Science fairs are all about science projects and they span over the different fields of science. It's not all about lab coats, chemistry and robots. It covers space, zoology, geology, botany, earth sciences and life sciences.
 
I just don't know how to make these cards better. That's really what I am asking from the artist community. If only images of stereotypical Hollywood concepts were accepted then it would be a real injustice to this category.  
 
My intent was to delete my year-at-a-glance calendar cards that are already approved and transition them the science fair category. I thought that this would be an improvement to where they are currently placed in and a much fitting category. Obviously since I am having unresolved issues I am not submitting anymore until I can get a clear understanding of what is wanted.

Quote from Penny_134243 on Jun 5^th, 2012, 3:36pm:

 
I think you are correct. The fact that the reviewer pointed out that my other images were borderline validates your line of thinking. Stereotype images only. Next time I'm in Hawaii I'll get shots of the active volcano and submit them!  

Quote from Tracie_152843 on Jun 5^th, 2012, 10:47am:

 
Thank you for your kind words. It's nice to get feedback from a fellow photographer.

Quote from Mindy on Jun 6^th, 2012, 12:04pm:

 
Thank you Mindy for a direct but soft approach. I just had a discussion with fellow photographer and they said basically the same thing just not so eloquently. I believe the exact phrase was "dumb down your framing" and "the photography is too intelligent".  I was told it's like "The Simpson's mixed with Bill Maher with a splash of Big Bang Theory".    Isn't that just hilarious!  (I think it's funny because I'm used to textbooks). Sometimes it takes photography language to drive the point home and reinforce the concept; which is why I reached out to the artist community.  
 
Thank you for the encouragement.

Hi Sun,
 
Don't give up! You may not be "dead in the water" so much as rowing in the wrong direction. I'd like to offer a thought about this issue, but first I'll make the assumption that all the basics are there: focus, lighting, framing, composition, etc.
 
For the Science Fair Academic Acheivement congratulations, how about resubmitting with a verse that both congratulates for a job well done and refers very directly to the image. Something like:
 
Just as these grass seeds combine to make a whole,
Your Science Fair project brought so many individual parts together
To make an outstanding project that you should be very proud of.
Congratulations on an excellent job!
 
Or
 
The many ribs beneath this mushroom cap
Support and give it the familiar shape everyone can recognize.
But your Science Fair project took the familiar
And looked at it in a totally new way.
Congratulations on an outstanding Science Fair project!
 
I can think of other avenues for these images as well. For example, the dandelion seed closeup.  
It could be a sympathy card, a card expressing hope, or an encouragement card, with a verse like:
 
As the delicate parachute of the dandelion seed  
Carries it to far away, new places,
So do my prayers go out to support you
As you start out on this new path in your life.
You will succeed.
Just believe in your parachute!
 
Or the sparkling sand, for example:
 
God has a close-up view of our lives
And a plan that perhaps we cannot easily see or understand.
Like the grains of sand that make up the beach,
Every whole contains many tiny parts, all of them important.
You are important in God's sight, and an important part of our lives.
Please accept our sympathy during this difficult time.
 
Just a few random thoughts, Sun. Your images are unique and perhaps just need a new expression in your verses.   Don't give up, just keep "rowing"!
 
P.S.  
If you'd like to use any, or parts, of these verse ideas, feel free.
 
Pat
 
 
 
 

WOW!  Incredible that such high emotions was linked to the scientific shots. I really did take the shots with science in mind quite awhile ago, it's not like I can retake the shots. I guess I may need to open up to other intents and not just the intent for science. I'll let these ideas germinate in my head.
 
I've been saturating myself with science ideas and immersing myself in the Science channel. I can't help but read the verses that was supplied by Pat and linking them to the television show "Wonders of the Universe". The way the verse connects with the image is very similar to what the show does with their imagery. I really love how Wonders of the Universe makes the viewer to connect to the beauty of physics. I have never seen the topic of entropy in such a beautiful perspective.
 
I've only met 3 other photographers that do what I do and we all went to the same school but at different times and in different parts of the nation. So yeah I guess it is rather unique. I've always viewed it as different but not that different. I realize that it's different than National Geographic but as common as Wilson Bentley's snowflakes in 1898 . . .which is very inspirational by the way!
 
So I guess I'm getting there I just need to charge up the batteries for the trolling motor instead of using a paddles to get across the lake.  

Quote from SunAtNight_145914 on Jun 12^th, 2012, 3:08pm:

 
That is really lovely. It's amazing what loveliness can happen when two artists collaborate!