Create

Creative Challenge: City Guide Author: Melody Darlene · October 7th, 2012

This next Creative Challenge is a fun one! This month, we want you to snap a picture of your favorite places in your city. Whether it’s the view from your backyard, your favorite restaurant, art gallery, thrift store, hiking trail, or the view from the rooftop of the highest building or peak in your town, it’s up to you! Post your images to Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #CityGuideYMC or email us your submissions to youmeandcharlieCREATE@gmail.com. Be sure to include information about the image… where it was taken, why it’s one of your favorite places, and how tourists can get there (if it’s a public location). Have fun with it and, as always, get creative with your pictures! There are a ton of fun apps out there to help bring your images to life (PicFrame, Pixl-o-rmatic, Camera+, etc).

Each week we’ll give you a new direction for what to shoot in your city. After the challenge is complete, we’ll pick our favorite photos and create a City Guide for locations around the world, based off your submissions! Sure, a tourist can pick up a book or magazine telling them what the “must-see” places are in a given city, but there’s no better guide than an insider’s tip from a local — you! The more pictures of you submit of your city, the better chance you have for one of your images to be featured on the site.

To kick things off, I’ve added a few pix to the gallery above of some of my favorites in Los Angeles and one from Di in Paris:

1. The Observatory: This place is one of my favorites! The view of the city is to die for, but the paintings INSIDE The Observatory are not to be missed. Just walk in and look up. It’s absolutely beautiful.
2. YM&C Headquarters: This is the view from the rooftop of Charlie’s offices. Not too shabby!
3. Dylan’s Candy Bar: I’m not a big candy buff, but this store just makes me happy. How can you not walk in and just smile?! The colors, the decor, oh ya… and the CANDY! You are literally a kid in a candy store.
4. Dianna snapped this pic of her view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
5. Venice Beach Boardwalk: It’s never a dull moment in Venice Beach, Ca. So many interesting people!
6. Mr. Rex Dinosaur Adventure: You might recognize this Dinosaur from the 80′s film classic, Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure. Believe it or not, this place actually exists! It’s just outside of Los Angeles off the 10 Fwy headed towards Palm Springs. The pit stop is definitely worth the photo opp.

Now it’s your turn! Send us your images of your city. Have fun with it… let your images be your art. We’ll be posting more on the Charlie Instagram (@YouMeAndCharlie) so be sure to follow! Can’t wait to see where you all are from and to learn more about your city.

SUBMISSIONS
#CityGuideYMC
youmeandcharlieCREATE@gmail.com

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Comments

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http://twitter.com/maluvschaijk Malu van Schaijk
So fun!
Javiquina
OMG this is gonna be so fun
McKenna
This is my favorite!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kallielarsen Kallie Larsen
ummm I think the YM&C headquarters must be very near to the office I spent my summer in because we have eerily similar views. Wilshire? Yes?
http://twitter.com/Elidisha Elida Medina
is my favorite, because it transports me to Paris, the view is beautiful
tattootanith
I absolutely LOVE this creative challenge, because I love to travel, and I always try to take pictures wherever I go. I’ve been moving around my whole life, I’ve honestly moved more times than years I’ve been alive, and I have some amazing pictures because of it. This challenge really made my day!
mylifeasliztal
Looking at this picture, you can’t tell if they are lollipops or frisbees. I dig that
Lysa03
There is something definitely magic about seeing a city from the eyes of someone who knows it. That is when you find things you wouldn’t have otherwise. Can’t wait to see what everybody comes up with!
Wild__AWild
So, Spot Coffee is one of my all time favorite places in the world. Not only does it have a fantastic atmosphere, but it has damn good coffee there too; If I do say so myself. Spot, to me, represents culture and community and food and good times. I found myself down there quite a bit last summer and my senior year of high school, whether it was to meet up with friends or just to study. Everyone is extremely nice there, and they are always humorous and courteous. I can’t wait to get back home and go to Spot!
http://twitter.com/alittlerlamb τess ♥s Dianna
In the picture “Mr. Rex Dinosaur Adventure” it looks as if the dinosaur’s profile is being reflected in the cloud behind it!
Kimmie
A dinosaur in the middle of the city. Amazing. Definitely one for the books! I once saw one like it (probably an old prop from a theme park) right off the NLEX highway (next to a gas station and a row of restaurants) on the way to Pampanga here in the Philippines. It was 1am and I haven’t slept for a full day. I was speechless.
Jenny
My favourite photo is the fourth one. I like it because is as I always imagened Paris, is my first memory of this beautiful city. Paris has a great meaning for me: the first time I visited it, I went to Montparnasse Cemetery. There, I saw Simone De Beauvoir’s grave. All at once I answered her to give me the right inspiration. I gave a pen in return. When I come back I started to writing and now I can’t give up anymore.
Katherine K
The picture that Dianna took of the Eiffel Tower in Paris is my favourite. Paris is someone I would love to visit one day, and this photo makes it look magical. The scenery and scale of everything is absolutely amazing!!
http://twitter.com/DaytAgron Di’Agron❤Reyel❤Giabi
The photo that Our Littlelamb took of the Eiffel Tower in Paris is my favourite! Paris is the city where we want to visit one day and for me this photo is Magick because an Angel took this pic! This is Amazing!
http://redfiretrees.tumblr.com/ Bea
Loving the newest creative challenge. I also love taking photos with my phone. Excited to submit some. I would have to say that those are way cool photos. What photography app did you use to take and edit these? I love using Hipstamatic and Pixl-romatic as well.
http://twitter.com/LunaAlyeska Cassandra Javier ☾
http://youmeandcharlie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Mel-View-01.jpeg this one’s my favorite because it reminds me of all things sugar, spice, and everything nice. Like huge lollipops in the middle of nowhere. Makes me feel giddy, happy, at ease. I wish I could see it someday.
Audrey KL
This is definitely my favourite creative challenge. The world is full of so many fascinating, diverse and inspiring cities that are all so different and special in their own way. Just compare the bright lights of New York to the unique architecture of San Francisco and the history of London… There are so many amazing cities around the world and what better way to see them than through the eyes of someone who lives there? This is a creative challenge that I can’t wait to take part in!
Ally Cooke
Dylan’s candy bar looks like something I pictured when reading about Charlie in the Chocoalte Factory. It seems to be every child’s dream to be able to live in a place created by candy, a place that sells candy, it is rich and sugary and makes you smile just thinking about it. To me, the picture really does just capture that feeling of being a child, the innocence that adults wish to have back.
Naomi_Ohayon
This is diffidently my favorite challenge so far. I always love doing the Creative Challenges. They are usually the best part of my week. I am so exited to do this particular challenge not only because I love taking pictures, but I also love discovering new things. I have lived in Toronto basically my whole life, and there are areas that I love, but there is still so much for me to discover of Toronto, that this creative challenge will challenge me in discovering new parts of Toronto I never knew about.
I also love traveling, even though I haven’t done much traveling yet. I know places that I want to see and discover, and there are probably many other places that I don’t know of that I have yet to discover. So this challenge will help me travel the world and find new and beautiful places with out leaving my home. I want to add new destinations on to my list of places I want to see.
Putting together pictures of, cities, towns and villages all around the world, from all the different locations that all the Charlies resided in, and see these places through the eyes of someone else is such a beautiful idea. To make those photos into pieces of art is even better.
So to all you Charlies, I can’t wait to travel the world with you and see all the beautiful and wonderful things that I have yet to discover, and I hope that one day I will be able to travel to all the beautiful and wonderful places you will be sharing with all of us!
Happy Traveling & Keep on Smiling
xxx
VeraH
This is my favorite Creative Challenge thus far! I think it’s the perfect way to invent a new and refreshing way of seeing cities around the world. Not to mention, as the photographer, seeing your own city in a brand new way using the camera lens as your vehicle for creation. One of my favorite aspects of city photography is being able to discover new things that you’ve never seen before (even if you’ve lived in a place your entire life). More than that, it’s about taking something mundane and finding the beauty in it – turning it into something truly special and unique.
On a personal note, I recently just made the move from East coast to West coast and have spent the last few weeks exploring a city that’s brand new to me. Because of my busy schedule, it’s hard to set aside all the time I’d like to for art and photography. But, I always have my iPhone on me and it’s turned out to be the perfect way to capture my new city while I’m on the go. I’ve only been here a few weeks, but I’m hoping that, come winter, I have my own personal city guide made up of pictures from my daily travels and discoveries.
xx
http://twitter.com/rAnTiFuSa Flor Espino
So far I’ve liked all creative challenges, but this is definitely the best one so far. One of the things I like the most about YM&C is the fact that it involves lots of people from all over the world, including their own personal worlds and culture. This challenge definitely reflects that. I can’t wait to see the results and even participate on it! I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina and there are a lot of places I’d like to show you guys
Ines G
There’s no such thing like home…and what an amazing way to discover so many “homes” around the world. Everyone has a different story and perspective so every home is unique and because of YMC we get to know and share all of this…
http://twitter.com/amgarza516 A M Garza
this has gotta be my favorite right now because it is a way to experience the world and is a simple fill of my always wanting travel bug while stuck at home because of work. It also a way to get a possible idea for my next travel adventure
Paty Vasquez
As soon as I read this it was already my favorite. There are a lot of places that are not popular but that doesn’t mean that they are not great. What a better way to know those places than from someone who’s usually surrounded by them. This a perfect way to share with the world all those little and particular spots in towns, it doesn’t matter if it’s a building or interior or a landscape or i don’t know, just some place special for someone.
Gigi Choy
Wow! You’re right, Dylan’s Candy Bar does bring happiness and joy. It reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland! The dinosaur in the middle of the city just made my day.
http://twitter.com/skakunchik Valeria Skakun
I love how you come up with your creative challenges!
Have to admit this one is going to be my favourite.
I always loved travelling and In my opinion it’s not only about visiting city sights but also discovering people’s nature, and there’s no better way than to do it than through the eyes of a local (to see the places they love that maybe you could never know existed). And now, thanks to you, YMC, and you, readers we will have the best thing a traveller we can have. Can’t wait to see the pictures!
http://twitter.com/danielle_freed Danielle Freed
I loved this creative challenge because you were able to see other peoples favorite things that they love to see. It made me want to travel to each picture that I was observing. I loved the picture of the Eiffel Tower. I felt like I was there and it made me want to visit it so bad. These pictures make me want to go out an explore the area I live in and find the magical places that other people see.
http://twitter.com/soledat_ Sol.
I love this challenge. I remember my father always said that to travel around the world you just need to get lost in a picture.
http://learninghow2fly.tumblr.com/ Dani Moraes
This can be a great opportunity for us to find new places in our own towns too. It’s so easy to get caught on the things we are used to that we forget to explore. Can’t wait to see the overall result =) I’m sure the YMC world guide will be very useful…..
Heavynne
This is my favorite post from CREATE because your city and your favorite things about it say so much about yourself. And it’s always fun to see how other people see their hometown, because it also makes you look at your own differently. I live in Amsterdam myself, and seeing that Dianna and her friends likes it here made me so proud of my city. I want nothing more than to travel, and learning about other cities can kind of fulfill that dream for now.
Cecilia Martins Xavier
This is by far my favorite, I loved the colors, the vibrancy, gave me happiness through paintings. And if you look good in picture 5, you may note that there is a Brazil flag up there. Really cool!
Cissa Martins
This one is my favorite creative challenge. I like to observe things and know them, and this is a great way to know not only the world trough the photos of others, but also my own city, I mean, from the moment I read about this challenge, made me want to quit taking pictures of everything … And to read about other people’s favorite places … And see the photos … And also because one day I want to travel the world, and who knows I go to one of the places I’ve seen here? :p hahahaa. I’ll send one pic I took yesterday for the email now !! lol.
Zareen
BEST (favorite) creative challenge. I’m such a wishful (sometimes hopeless) dreamer when it comes to the long list of places I want to travel. PARIS, at the top and basically the entire globe at second. It makes me happy to see someone else snap a picture of a place they too have always dreamed of. Just that classic bit about dreams coming true that changes all outlook on life. Anyways, as far as my take on this challenge is concerned …I had a ball. Chicago is a creative challenge cloud nine. Just a simple shot of the controlled chaos down State St. or Michigan Ave is captivating enough for you to take a another of the same. The city is a big part of my life. The energy keeps me going and motivates me everyday to go with the flow but on MY own track. The mornings are fast, but the method to the madness is what it’s all about. And pictures along the way down each street and up each flight of CTA stairs…it’s the little things that make up the big picture.
Jessa
I love the concept of this challenge. I love travelling, and exploring the diverse places of the world. Especially the incredible histories and architecture unique to each city.
Anneliese Villanueva
This is my favorite post in the Create section. I love learning about new cities, so I am excited to see what people post as a response to this challenge. I also love this challenge so much because I live in Queens, which is a borough of New York City. I feel so fortunate to live in one of the most well known cities in the world. I love New York very much, and I like this challenge so much because it allows me to show NYC in a different light. Many people think of NYC as Manhattan, but all of the other boroughs are also part of New York City. I like that this challenge will allow you to see a city from a totally different and new perspective. It gives us Charlies a better understanding of each other.
DancingInChairs
Makes me want to acctept the challenge.
http://twitter.com/Hajabeg Dened Rey
This challenge has been, by far, my favorite. I love to discover new places through amazing pictures, or to simply appreciate what I already knew before even more because someone shares with me another way to see it. I look forward to see what people comes up with. And I’m also excited about sharing my pics
Dreamer2408
There is something profoundly beautiful about seeing a place, or a person, or a moment through a camera lens and seeing it through the eyes of the person who took it makes it even more beautiful and magical. I’ve never been to Paris but this makes me feel like I have. That is the beauty of photography.
Charlotte
This is absolutely my favourite creative post. Anything that sheds light on lesser known but incredible places is instantly on my list of awesome things. Take my home, Niagara Falls for example. People know that it’s home to a booming tourist industry, the falls themselves of course, casino’s and countless hotels and souvenir shops. But what people don’t know is the best Italian restaurant in the city, a local favourite. You don’t hear about my favourite cafe, live music on Thursdays! And of course, not many people could tell you the history of individual buildings that date back a hundred years. These things make a city a home, and every single one of them should be explored and recognized.
https://twitter.com/_an__ Ana
This is my favorite post in the Create sectiom, because I think it will make me feel closer to places that feels so distant and impossible to know. I’ve always wanted to travel but I haven’t had the opportunity yet and this challenge make me feel closer to my dreams, seeing the cities from the perspective of people who live there will make me feel like I’m there, in some way. Also gives me the opportunity to show to other people the beautiful places in my city.
Jennifer
This is my favorite post in the CREATE section. Too often we reserve photography when we’re traveling, but if we photograph our own cities or just any city, we are reminded that there is magic evident in every corner of this universe, all we have to do is open our eyes a little bit wider and try to see through them with a child’s innocence and curiosity.
Elvis K.
Favourite post at create. The reason is – that this post made me channge my mind about travels and pictures from many different places… They are not the best thing you had catched, because you will catch so… so much more than all that you have.
GoldringI
This has got to be my favourite in the Create section – it’s the only one so far I’m actually going to have entered (sort of)!
(Being an arch prorastinator with no creatively-minded friends has its downside.)
I live in Oxfordshire, and suffer from Asperger’s Syndrome. It was suggested to me that I might like to attend Bridewell Organic Gardens, which is a therapeutic/recovery service for mentally ill people. It very quickly became one of my favourite places to be.
The focus there is mainly on gardening, of course, but they also have a woodshop, a forge (personal favourite), a vineyard, and some chickens, so you’re never short of something to do – and the staff never make exceptions (unless obviously necessary) for your disability.
Anyway, enough of me being unintentionally twee, on with the picture:
http://i.imgur.com/YiWYD.jpg
(It’s too big for the upload here, sorry.)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Susan-Davila/706652270 Susan Davila
This is one of my favorite creative challenges because I always like to walk around the city for new things to look at like: taking long walks at the park while listening to music or reading a book, and taking photos of many of the green fields and the sun is actually one of my favorite things to do in my free time. I loved how you took these photos they actually inspired me too. Thank you! – Susan
http://twitter.com/AngelFairyGirl Angeles
I love this challenge and This is absolutely my favorite creative post. Dealing with other cultures can teach us tolerance, learning to live with people different from ourselves, to find a way to approach each other. Each nation has its own culture, beliefs and worldview. The fact that they are so different, makes our life colorful and interesting, although sometimes it is a real challenge. Personally for me, I do not care how different we may be, in our nature we are all equal, we all need to be loved and love, to freedom and human dignity, to be healthy and fulfill our dreams and what better to express it by photography and encouraging others to explore new horizons to help you to open your mind and see life from another perspective.
http://twitter.com/CallMeAggie agathe loison
I have to say that this post id really my favourite one. Because first I live in Paris. And I admit that I rediscover the Eiffel Tower just a few weeks ago. I don’t know why this post really helped me. I think it’s because this project helped us seeing our city in a different way. Like discovering new places everyday, seeing the city with another view. And I think that it’s incredible that just because of Dianna’s picture, I realised that even if you live in a city since you’re born, they’re still wonderful things to look outside your little cosy world. And that’s just amazing.
http://twitter.com/xMarianaCz Mariana
Love this challenge, it’s perfect to know more about another citys, so excited to show everybody some of Mexico <3