Winners of SPRING

We had another marvelous collection of entries on our theme of SPRING, and it has put us all in a Spring mood. The voting was extremely close this week, and we admins have decided, instead of a run-off, to allow a 3-way tie for first place to stand. We thank all who participated and extend congratulations to all of this week's winners.

FIRST PLACE: Three-way tie
Spring Sunflower, Nancie M

FIRST PLACE: Three-way tie
Three sheets to the wind, Eagle Finegan

FIRST PLACE: Three-way tie
Blossoms, Donna Palmlund

SECOND PLACE
New Life, Val Juneman.

HONORABLE MENTION: Tie
Spring - The Return of the Photographers
to Anza Borrego, Stephen Prendergast

HONORABLE MENTION: Tie
Arl;ington Cemetary, Pascale Fernandez

BEST OF THEME
Spring Snow, Ron Shook

Last week’s winner, Stephen Prendergast, chose Best of Theme:. He says:

My choice as Best of Theme is Spring Snow by Ron Shook. I especially like the simplicity of the picture - the single magnolia bud with a cap of snow. I think it is the simplicity that makes the statement about the arrival of Spring, in spite of any last hurrahs by Winter. I also like the way the fuzz of the blossom seems to almost merge into the snowflakes. Congratulations, Ron.

Winners of WILD!

It was a wild week, indeed, with interpretations on our "Wild" theme ranging from the king of the jungle to a party animal, and everything in between.  We matched our previous best for number of entries this week, and we thank everyone for sharing their wild experiences. It was great fun.

First Place

Fire in the Purple Sage, David Hailey

Tie for Second Place

My favorite "wild" bush: Harry Lauder Walking Stick, Catherine SweetPotato

Tie for Second Place

Lions in the Grass, Patricia Gould

Third Place

Camels in the Sahara, Pascale Fernandez

Honorable Mention

Wild? He was livid!, Brian Crossland

Best of Theme

Intruding on Two Raccoons, Debra Webb

Our best of theme was selected by last week's winner, Val Juneman. Val says,

It was a tough choice, but after a long deliberation I've gone for Debra's black and white shot of 'intruding racoons'. Lots of photos of wildlife (and a few other 'wild' interpretations...), but I felt this photo helped capture the sense of 'being in the wild'.  The black and white tones and glimpse of faces through the vegetation, and the raccoon central frame looking straight at the camera enabling eye to eye contact. Felt like the picture was spying onto a moment of nature rather than focusing on the wonder of the animal itself.

Winners of TEXT

This weeks contest theme was TEXT,  The interpretation was open, and participants provided interesting views of the written word.  Congratulations to this week's winners and thanks to all who participated.

FIRST PLACE

Herons Cannot Read by Stephen Prendergast

SECOND PLACE

Mystery by Brian Crossland

THIRD PLACE

Car Show by Pascale Fernandez

HONORABLE MENTION

French Connection by Suzanne McLaughlin Stout

BEST OF THEME

Change by Donna Palmlund

This week’s best of theme was selected by last week’s winner, Brian Crossland. Brian says it is "a well composed and well taken photo that is 'of the time' as we say."

WINNERS OF PRIMARY COLORS

PRIMARY COLORS was a very colorful and successful event on Picture Picks in Facebook. A lot of interchange of ideas and techniques happened before the voting even began so if was very much a learning experience for all that participated. And we had several new participants this week making for a lot of varied photos. All participants were winners. But the official places are as follows:

FIRST PLACE

 House Front on Burano by Val Juneman

 

TIED FOR SECOND

 

 Red and Blue by David Hailey

 

Mr. Moorhen by Lorri Armband

AND TIED FOR THIRD PLACE

 

Lorikeet by Ruthie Benjamin

 

Shoes for Sale by Suzanne McLaughlin Stout 

TIED FOR HONORABLE MENTION

 Stairwell by Ron Shook

 

Flowers by Suzanne McLaughlin Stout

BEST OF SHOW

Children's Gallery by Fran Barekis.

HONORABLE MENTION was picked by Donna Palmland who picked this week's theme: "There were so many good entries, but one that stood out for me that depicted the theme very well was Children's Gallery Woodmere Art Museum by Fran Bareikis Puli"

Winners of "Flying and Motion"

Congratulations to all the participants of this event for another great showing. Voting was difficult and a lot closer than our last couple of events. And congratulations to this week’s winners.

First Place - Bubbles In The Breeze by Brian Crossland

Second Place - Ravens On the Wing by Jacqui Binford Bell

Third Place - Slocan Lake by Ieneke Van Houten

Honorable Mention - UFD not UFO by Monica Griffey

Best of Theme: Monica Griffey's UFD not UFO (Honorable Mention, above) was chosen by last week's winner Eagle Finegan for this week's best of theme. Congratulations, Monica!  As Eagle said, "It's a still photo... but yet, you know it's moving!"

Shanghai Shers

 

Seaside Cottage by Shers Gallagher

Winner of first Picture Picks Event Real Estate

We admins have been mulling this idea for awhile to have a surprise winner every now and then, what we are choosing to call "Ms or Mr Congeniality".  This is intended to recognize an individual who has been particularly positive, supportive and helpful to contributors to Picture Picks and enters into the spirit of the group.  It won't be every week, but just now and then when we get the urge.

This week we say good-bye to our dear friend and co-administrator Shers Gallagher, as she heads to China for a teaching assignment until August.  Without her knowledge we decided Shers should be our first Ms Congeniality.  Shers is perpetually positive and lends encouraging words to all participants.  In addition, our Shers is an accomplished photographer as well.  We thank her for her wonderful help as as admin, her positive happy attitude in the Picture Picks comments, and we wish her well in her travels and a safe return.  We take a minute here to recognize her in this way and remember some of her photos that we have loved.

 Zeeland Winterscape by Shers Gallagher

The land she is leaving for five months

Wall of China by Shers

The land without any Facebook

And what photo blog of Shers as an admin for Picture Picks would be complete without one of her STOP signs which she posted as we all slept to tell us no more pictures or no more votes. Shers will continue to take pictures while in China and has promised to post them on her Blogspot so we can share her adventures.

Winners of Into The Night

This weeks theme of INTO THE NIGHT produced some of the most wonderful photographs from our membership and guests making voting very difficult.

FIRST PLACE 

Lake Oakwood Sunset by Donna Palmlund

SECOND PLACE

Weeping Mother by Ron Shook

 

TIED FOR THIRD PLACE

Pacific Beach - by Ruthie Benjamin

Agapanthas by Heather Lossie

TIED FOR HONORABLE MENTION

Weather on the Move by Eagle Finnegan

 

Settling in for the Night by Stephen Prendergast

BEST OF THEME

Stephen Prendergast, who picked this theme,  wrote: This was a very difficult group of photos to choose from. Being a Californian, I was drawn to Ruthie's photo "Dimming of the Day" with the placement of the setting sun behind the lifeguard tower throwing everything into silhouette. I also liked our winning photo, "Lake Oakwood Sunset" by Donna Palmlund, again for the use of sunset and sihouettes.  But I wanted to find a picture that took a different look at the theme, and Brian's photo of the marketplace at closing, with the dark blue sky, the lights in the buildings, and the empty tables, had that something different quality to it.  Congratulations, Brian.

 The Market by Brian Crossland