Winners of My Summer Vacation

Picture Picks took a summer vacation and then opened with an extended event: MY SUMMER VACATION chosen by the admins of Picture Picks.

FIRST PLACE

Currituck Sound, NC by Catherine SweetPotato

SECOND PLACE

Shadows on the Beach by Scott Michael Anna

THIRD PLACE TIE

Colorado Overlook by Jacqui Binford-Bell

Beautiful . . . Castle by Anthony Greco

HONORABLE MENTION

Japanese Maiko by Nancie M

BEST OF THEME

Old School House by Melissa Painter Lincoln

Best of Theme is chosen by the photographer that picked the theme. In the case of My Summer Vacation the administrators of Picture Picks chose Best of Theme because we chose the theme. In the estimation of Catherine SweetPotato and Brian Crossland and myself Old School House best represents our concept of summer vacation.

J. Binford-Bell

Summer Vacation, Photography and Dreams of New Cameras

Summer Over?

After a day of enjoying the great outdoors outside my door I attended a neighborhood barbecue. It is a unique neighborhood and ergo lots of unique neighbors; almost all are in the arts or other areas of creativity so it was no surprise when the discussion changed to photography at some point. My sister, Debbie, has a new 21.5 mega pixel camera - the Cannon EOS 5D with an ultra wide angle 17-40mm lens. I have shifted my dreams of a new camera from the Nikon D90 to the Nikon D700.

But the talk was not all about equipment. Once bragging and blue skying were over it switched to why. Not why a new camera or more mega-pixels but why bother. There is one in every assembly that looks askance at those that see the world through view finders. But as my sister so wisely pointed out it is "seeing the world." Holding a camera in your hand, or just having it in its cushy bag in the car makes you see the world a bit different. It makes you pause and see the light in a strange formation of clouds and fog on a summer morning, or if not stop and smell the roses at least photograph the hell out of a particular flower.

Or just capture that fleeting moment when you have paused to take the air with the dogs on an off-road trip.

And you get to share those special moments with others, and re-view them for your own enjoyment with all the attached memories of the moment coming along for the ride with the digital image regardless of your mega-pixels or lack thereof.

The admins of Picture Picks took a summer vacation so we could have the space and time to get out with our cameras and take some photos of our own. We hope during our down time that you all also had the opportunity to capture some summer memories (if if you live downunder winter images). We are kicking off our first event of on Picture picks the 6th of August. It will have an extended photo posting period to give you all adequate time to realize we are back.

Post those MY SUMMER VACATION PHOTOS from August 6th to 19th. While we were focusing on other vistas Facebook changed the format a bit. Let's hope it still works as well.

WINNERS OF PORTRAITS

 FIRST PLACE

 Deep in Thought by Monica Griffey

SECOND PLACE

One Hundred and Two by David S. Issel

THIRD PLACE

NYC Street Photographer by Wanda Acosta

HONORABLE MENTION

Sarah on Her Wedding Day by Ron Shook

BEST OF THEME

Chosen by Donna Palmund

NYC Street photographer by Wanda Acosta

 

Donna Palmund: I just love this, I think it captures his personality, which is what I feel a portrait is all about! 

The Facebook group Picture Picks now has 128 members. When we first began this group Becky and I had no idea it would grow like this. I guess we have been doing something right. Us admins have decided we need a vacation. So after announcing the winners of Portraits we will be taking the month of July off.


But we would be remiss to not set an assignment for ourselves and our members. The next event to be open in August will be MY SUMMER VACATION. Remember those essays on the first day back to school? One picture is worth a 1000 words so take your camera on your vacation and come back with the definitive photograph. See you in August.

WINNERS OF MOVING WATER

Picture Picks on Facebook has grown to 123 members. We had 39 very stunning photos entered in MOVING WATER . A total of 166 votes were cast.

FIRST PLACE

 The Base of Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite by Anastasia Beaverhausen

SECOND PLACE TIE

 Hatteras Island, North Carolina by Terry Atkin Rowe

Andy in Waterland by Andy Laighleis

THIRD PLACE TIE

 Skogafoss, south Iceland by Jennifer Chappell

Tropical Storm Something by Eagle Finegan

In addition to the photos above, which were voted on by the members of Picture Picks, the photographer picking the theme selects a Best of Theme. Eagle Finegan's Tropical Storm Something was picked by Andy Laighleis for best of theme as well as being tied for third place.

Laighleis wrote, "Although the photo shows what some would consider the worst effect of water which is destruction, it does show the impact of moving water. What we tend to forget is that the land in the central part of the US would not be as fertile if it weren’t for the occasional flooding in the along the major rivers in that part of the country."

Winners of OLD ABANDONED THINGS

Congratulations to this week's winners. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful scenes of old abandoned things. The quality of the photos was superb. Thank you all who participated. Here are the winning photos:

1ST PLACE
Esmond House by Donna Palmund

2ND PLACE
Old Boat by Ron Shook

3RD PLACE TIE
Whitby Abbey by Brian Crossland

3RD PLACE TIE
An Old Abandoned Train by Maureen Campbell

HONORABLE MENTION
Tree Truck by Suzan Minor Bartels

BEST OF THEME
An Old Abandoned Train by Maureen Campbell

Our third place winner was also selected as Best of Theme by Andy Laighleis. Andy says:

All the photos demonstrated the theme in their own way; my pick is Maureen Campbell’s photo of the abandon train is the best fit for this week’s theme, since railcars were deliberately placed there. Whereas, some of the building appear to be abandoned but could still be lived in and the owners just don’t have the means to repair the buildings, I have seen this often enough in my travels through rural and not so rural America.

Winners of Reflections

Andy Laighleis chose this theme and had the following to say about Reflections "..., preferably not the standard water reflections (although these are acceptable) but more along the line of reflections in glass, building facades, sun glasses, mirrors or other shinny objects. Or it could be reflections on life, social conditions, emotions etc".

 

FIRST PLACE

 Antietam Reflections by Andy Laighleis

SECOND PLACE

 Egret Reflection By Nancie M

THIRD PLACE

 Reflections at the end of the day by Ruthie Benjamin

 

HONORABLE MENTION

 Clean Machine by Eagle Finegan

BEST OF THEME 

Best of Theme is picked by the photographer who chose that particular theme. It is seldom easy. Andy Laighleis had this to say about his two choices:

"It wasn’t easy to pick the “Best of Theme” there were several photos that reflected the theme. My pick for “Best of Theme” is the photo “Reflection in Many Ways” by Heidi M Breuer of her late husband. The photo shows several different aspects of theme “Reflections” You can see flowers reflecting in the glass, Heidi’s husband is sitting relaxing and appears to be reflecting on life and then there are Heidi’s reflections and memories of their life together."

 

Reflections in many ways by Heidi M. Breuer

". . .I would also like to award honorable mention for best of theme for Jacqui Binford-Bell photo “Upon Reflections J. Alan Baker 1958-2010” which is a very good example of the “could be reflections on life, social conditions, emotions etc” Jacqui nail it on the head when she said “What is more reflective than a photographer viewing what it is they are intending to capture.” This is one of the differences between someone who makes photographs versus one who takes photographs.?

 

 Upon Reflection J. Alan Baker 1958-2010 by J. Binford-Bell

 

Personal Note: I took the above photograph of of J. Alan Baker, husband to my sister Debbie, on National Forest road 76 riding the ridge to Cleveland, NM. Alan died suddenly this May at the age of 52. I had shared many a photographic exhibition with him and my sister.

Alan was a member of Picture Picks since our group was founded, a former admin, and a First Place Winner with photography, and the way he lived his life.

J. Binford-Bell, Admin. 

WINNERS OF ALL ABOUT TREES

This week's theme, picked by Heather Lossie, was another record breaker with 65 photos of trees submitted.

FIRST PLACE

Large Tree Against the Dark Sky by Andy Laighleis

SECOND PLACE

Tree Cenang Beach Langkawi by Nancie M

THIRD PLACE TIE

In the Springtime by Scott M. Anna

Angkor Wat Gate with Ancient Tree Roots by Nancie M

HONORABLE MENTION

Winter Sunset Bay St. Louis by Eagle Finegan

BEST OF THEME

While all the other places are picked by our members votes the best of theme is chosen by the photographer who picked the theme. Heather Lossie picked Bare Naked Ladies by Mike Zeiderman. "I'd be happy to hang this on my wall."

Bare Naked Ladies by Mike Zeiderman