****WINTER 2007 CONTEST WINNERS****

[blueraven95]

A huge thank you to my co-host, regnaD kciN for his immense help!

Now on to the prizes

1st Place

Mz Pip
Deer Creek on a Late Afternoon


“Deer Creek on a Late Afternoon” captures winter at its heart. The stark, almost monochromatic image elicits the chill of the season, offset only by the brief glimpses of color – the brown and green of the pine trees – hidden under the snow. The river creates a wonderful focal point, drawing the eye around it’s bend and beyond, almost as if it is striving to draw the viewer beyond what can be seen – beyond winter itself.

:applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause:

2nd Place

regnaD kciN
Rainier Sunrise


“Rainier Sunrise” is a fairytale dawn. Acknowledging both the insurmountable cold and the life that still flourishes in winter, we are given a view of these two opposites co-existing. Warmth tints the snow from the early sun’s rays, yet beneath those vivid colors, the mountain’s teeth are forbidding and the reflections in the pale lake chilling. Trees frame the mountain, like sentinels to a mythical realm. This sunrise is nothing if not magical.


:applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause:

3rd Place

bvar22
Nice Ice!


Jack Frost would be envious of the stunning, unique image captured in “Nice Ice!” A frozen dewdrop, balancing precariously on the tip of a plant, glistens. And yet, even as this small detail of the world is magnified to reveal crystalline details, premonitions of the dewdrop’s end are evident; it is beginning to melt.

:applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause: :headbang: :applause:


We had an incredibly difficult time picking our Host's Choice awards - each of us had three (different) photographs we loved and several (overlapping) ones that were very close. Nonetheless, we had to narrow them down - so here they are.

Host's Choice

MissHoneychurch
A cold day


Winter’s fortitude and endurance are displayed in “A Cold Day.” A felled tree, splayed limbs casting shadows like a sundial, lies in the foreground. Hazy, snow-covered hills contrast in the background. Between the definite image of the tree and the dream-like blues and grays of the hills, the ground fades away in a white blanket that recalls the seemingly endlessness of winter.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

and one that inexplicably did not make it into the finals

Host's Choice

RagingInMiami
Downed Cabin


Winter has crashed into a cabin. “Downed Cabin” seizes the severity winter can bring, but the desolation of the destruction is counteracted by brilliant colors and captivating lines. The cobalt sky adds an element of levity to the quiet scene, making it difficult to mourn for the cabin. Nature has reclaimed the land.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

And finally, we would like to announce a brand new award, just because we can...

Newcomer's Award

MattSh
St. Andrei's, Kiev


“St. Andrei’s, Kiev” proclaims winter’s majesty. The church’s golden embellishments are resplendent against the frosted trees and the pure whites of the snow and sky. MattSh is a newcomer to the Photography Forum; we’d like to welcome and congratulate him on his photo. We hope to see much more of his work!


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

I am so impressed by all of the entries this time around - I can't believe how strong and varied all of our photographers are!

[Maestro]

1. Congrats to all!

Wonderful pictures!

[Booster]

2. There are a lot of talented people on DU. All of these are just

beautiful. Thanks for running the contest.

[orleans]

3. absolutely beautiful pictures. thanks for cross posting in gd. n/t

[Spazito]

4. I love all of them, it was almost impossible to vote one over

the others! Thanks to those who are running the contest and to all those wonderful photographers, I hope you will continue doing this, I certainly enjoy seeing all the entries during the contest.

[JeffR]

5. tho' the universe seldom seems to unfold as it should

this contest did. Congratulations to the winner, the silver and the bronze, and everyone else. It was a thrill to see how tight the competition was for spots below the top 3, and a real honor to have an entry that played a part in that.

Great contest all 'round, and a big thanks to the hosts.

Now, can we pleaseforgodssake get on with spring? I'm so sick of winter I can't tell ya...

[MissHoneychurch]

6. Thank you for running the contest blueraven

I have to say I am really impressed by the amount of fantastic photographers we have here on DU. KUDOS to all, also those who didn't made it to the final round.

:thumbsup:

[soup]

7. Nicely done, blueraven95 and regnaD kciN!

and a big !Congratulations! to Mz Pip and all the other winning entries. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos.

[Eurobabe]

8. Congrats y'all! Good job BlueRaven & Reg!!

Nice contest...

So when does Spring start? :evilgrin:

[MissHoneychurch]

9. Hasn't it already???

I mean the temps are really making me feel like we have spring already. :eyes:

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Congratulations to all...

Beautiful photographs ... and I'm rather dying for spring myself. :) Will that be in May, I hope, because any sooner than that will still look like winter here.

[regnaD kciN]

13. Yep...

...the Spring Contest will open on May 1st.

[Mz Pip]

11. So

am I supposed to host the next seasonal contest?????????? Yikes! I barely know how to post an image. Had to be walked through the whole photobucket routine a while back. :shrug:

HelP!!! I'll do what I can.

PS (It was cool to win one of these contests) Thanks for all the votes! :loveya: :bounce:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[blueraven95]

12. don't worry

you don't have to do it!!!! We are co-hosting them until we decide otherwise, so your prize is to relax and enter the next one - and the world-wide fame and recognition of course!:D