June Monthly Challenge - The Result

[Donald]

Well! The voting illustrated the dilemma many of you face in trying to choose one image out of a portfolio of quality work. We have one winner, 3 people sharing 2nd place just one vote behind, another 2 just one more vote behind and yet another 2 just one vote behind that. So it was getting very crowded up on the leader board.

Those who just missed out on a podium finish were entry numbers 35, 38, 24 & 25.

But those with the spotlight on them are ...............

In 2nd equal place:

Sangyu

with



and

Dave Ellis (dje)

with



and

Christina

with

But in 1st place is ...................

Mike Buckley

with

Well done everyone.

You can see all the entries at Photo Competition for June 2014.

Why not enter the July competition? You never know!

[deetheturk]

Congrats to Mike and all the other winners, all wonderful images!

David

[Jeff S]

Congratulations to the winners and near-winners. All of them are excellent images. Donald is right. It's awfully crowded at the top, which is a good thing.

[gretarsk]

Congratulations to all the winners. Great stuff!

[FlyingSquirrel]

It has been increasingly more challenging each month. Congrats and well done.

[Bobobird]

Congrats Mike, Sangu, Dave and Christina. All great images in their own way.

@Mike - your next assignment is Hands (and feet) and not bottles or glass.

[Shadowman]

Congrats to all.

[kaneohebud]

Beautiful pieces all! Competition is getting tougher each month. Christina, your work has shown immense progress - especially well done.

[Wendy Stanford]

Congratulations to all the winners, I know that it is especially difficult to pick just one entry, well done to all

[Brownbear]

Congratulations to all, including the almost's which are also especially beautiful! I'm still dreaming of capturing an image like Andre's running through the bluebells, and Sangyu's dreamy birds, and all the landscapes, still lifes, etc, etc.. Obviously I find choosing just one image to vote for immensely challenging.

And an extra special congratulations to Mike... Well, deserved! A beautiful and compelling image with a story, so beautifully photographed!

Bud... Thank you. Truly appreciated.

[liushunti]

congratulations to all winners

[dje]

Thank you folks for the votes and the kind words. It was certainly a crowded field at the finish ! Congrats to my fellow winners.

Dave

[Brownbear]

Congratulations Dave! Your image looks like a scene from a fairy tale. Beautiful scene, gorgeous light, beautiful colours - simply magical!

[dje]

Congratulations Dave! Your image looks like a scene from a fairy tale. Beautiful scene, gorgeous light, beautiful colours - simply magical!

Hi Christina

I wasn't "holding out" for individual mention but thank you very much. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to shoot this scene in Bruges (which is a wonderful place for photographers). I dare say it has been shot many many times before in the day and at night but I was pleased to get my take on it. Unfortunately Tinypic seems to have taken away some of the sharpness to the image but I'm not complaining !

Could I also just echo what others have said about the tremendous progress you have made with your work in the last couple of years. It is a pleasure to view the high standard shots that you post, including your latest prize winner !

Dave

[Brownbear]

Hi Dave,

I know! I just realized that I commented on landscapes in general, and yours is one of the landscape images I'm still dreaming of capturing!

I visited Bruges about twenty years ago and I recall it as a very beautiful place, and a land of chocolate and enormous crepes. (quite young back then and the only photos I took were likely of cats hanging out the steps of the church) If ever I have the chance to visit again, or another magical place filled with ancient architecture in such a setting, I will have my camera with me and your image the back of my mind.

Thank you.

Hi Christina

I wasn't "hanging out" for individual mention but thank you very much. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to shoot this scene in Bruges (which is a wonderful place for photographers). I dare say it has been shot many many times before in the day and at night but I was pleased to get my take on it. Unfortunately Tinypic seems to have taken away some of the sharpness to the image but I'm not complaining !

Could I also just echo what others have said about the tremendous progress you have made with your work in the last couple of years. It is a pleasure to view the high standard shots that you post, including your latest prize winner !

Dave

[Dusty]

These competitions are definitely getting more professional in the quality of the images and it is pushing everybody (in my opinion) to such better levels in the art of taking images. Long may it continue as we all step up the game to another level and we all get better in composition and our subjects and we put more effort in getting our images to a good level.

[dje]

I visited Bruges about twenty years ago and I recall it as a very beautiful place, and a land of chocolate and enormous crepes.

And Moules and fritz too !! And waffles, and beer .....

[Mike Buckley]

So sorry that I'm so late at checking in but I've been traveling in an area with no Internet connection.

Thanks to all for your votes and especially to everyone who helped me refine the image. Several people made great suggestions including toning down some bright areas and making crops that improved the image considerably, and that interactive aspect of CiC is what I value by far the most.

Congratulations also to all of the other deserving participants whose entries understandably drew such strong recognition!

[leslie1283]

Congrats to Mike & other winners.