NEWS FLASH!  We have just gotten an "okay" to make this an OFFICIAL ActiveRain contest with PRIZES! 

500 points to the winner and 250 points to the runner-up.  Deadline will be November 30 at 9 p.m., ActiveRain official time.  Let's put a limit of 3 entries per person, each in a separate comment.  If you follow through with a blog post to go with your prize-winning topic/title (including a link in the comment below and putting it in the new Group), it will be featured.

UPDATE:  A Contest So Easy a Consumer or ActiveRain Newbie Could Win

Here's my original post, when this was "just for fun" and not OFFICIAL:

Much has been written on ActiveRain about how to come up with topics for your posts, and many months ago I wrote one about some of mine that were inspired by photos.  Many have been the FREE IMAGE OF THE WEEK from Istockphoto.com, my favorite source of photos and images.  In fact, my accountant was dumbfounded by my frequent istockphoto subscription purchases throughout 2007, and she suggested I would save money by getting a larger subscription for a reduced per-image cost. 

Unfortunately, that post was so long ago that I can't even find it to provide you a link.  Too bad, since it was quite an impressive list of varied posts!  (Note to self for another blog topic:  The importance of effective tags for your posts.)

Anyway, I'd like to propose an informal contest - NOT an official one... no points or prizes, just the fun of reading all the creative topic ideas inspired by this week's istockphoto FREE IMAGE OF THE WEEK.  Are you game?

If you decide to follow through and actually write a post inspired by this photo, be sure to include a link in your comment.  

Sound like fun?  Actually, it will be YOUR blog topic ideas in the comments that will make this interesting and enjoyable.

EDIT:  Okay, I decided to start a Group for posts that are Inspired by a Photo.  It will never be a mega-group, but it might be fun to see what creative posts are inspired by a photo.  At this moment, I am the one and only member, and this is the one and only post.  Click on the photo to the right to join this new group.  (I know, I know...  don't we have enough groups?)