***The Winners in the June Photography contest are...DRUMROLL PLEASE...***

[Mira]

1 st place

Itchinjim

for

"A Stranger's Touch"

holding on to a steady lead throughout the final polling

2nd place

Elfin Yeti

for

"She is now a stranger to all who knew her."

3rd place

regnaD kciN

for

"Father and Son on Ruby Beach"

Line up of the Finalists
this was a very tight race throughout, except for the front runner status of number one.
Many times I was anticipating more ties than just the one in fifth place:

1st Place "A Stranger's Touch" Itchinjim
2nd Place "She is now a stranger to all who knew her." Elfin Yeti
3rd Place "Father and Son on Ruby Beach" regnaD kciN
4th Place "Campesino's Child = South Central Farm - Los Angeles Richard D
5th Place shared "The Birdman of Venice" Blue_In_AK
"Nat and Sadie" Tekisui
6th Place "A Boy and his Dog" alfredo
7th Place "Security Guard, Trinity Church NYC Stevenmarc
8th Place "Love's in Need of Love tonday" Mth44sc
9th Place "Did not catch his name" WannaJumpMyScooter

Congratulations to all the Winners and Finalists and Participants

This was a wonderful contest with great portraits.

==================================================================================================

Host's special mentions

Blues in the Night by Mz Pip

Can you hear her belt it out and not even notice the camera?
Beauty - Sound - Movement

Rapt by JeffR

Portraits of Strangers, nailing the subject and leaving me wondering what warranted that kind of rapt attention.

And I must close with one last look at

Campesino's Child = South Central Farm Los Angeles by Richard D.

EFerrari mentioned she looked like a future Senator from California, and I started looking at her as Barbara Boxer in little girl drag. We won't forget this child!

[Celebration]

1. Very deserving winners!!

I think a lot of us picked "A Stranger's Touch" from the beginning, for content and photographic interest....same with "Father and Son." "She is now a Stranger" was great for interpretation of theme and emotion!! So, good job, GD, on these picks. Love the host's special mentions as well.

[monmouth]

2. Absolutely wonderful, all of them. Tough decisions made there...n/t

[tekisui]

3. Congrats, winners!

That was a great contest.

[jhain]

4. Nice job!!!

Congrats to all- what a great subject.

[lamp_shade]

5. Congratulations to all.

[alsame]

6. Beautiful work from all - congrats to

winners and all participants.

[sandnsea]

7. Best contest yet

Outstanding photos. And Itchinjim - just WOW!

:applause:

[snappyturtle]

8. Always and once again....wonderful! nt

[Spazito]

9. Congrats to the winner and thanks to all the photographers!

All the choices were wonderful! I love these contests, they are such a treat for the eyes!

Thanks again to all of you!

[JeffR]

10. Congrats to all!

I can't really choose a favorite from among the top three. They're all very special photos and I love each of them.

And thanks for the special mention for Rapt. That's probably the best photo I'll ever take, and I really appreciate the recognition.

[NV Whino]

11. Congratulations

Great photos.

[me b zola]

12. My top two favorite made the top two!

They were all wonderful pics, congrats to all of you wonderful photogs who participated. :thumbsup:

[Lugnut]

13. Beautiful!

Thank you to all the photographers who share their art with us.

:applause:

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. I am very happy with the results. Everyone had such great entries.

[AwakeAtLast]

15. One of the best contests you've held!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Jackeens]

16. Stunning photos - blissful talent!

:toast:

[liberal N proud]

17. The wall will take the judges hearts every time

I have seen more pictures from the Vietnam Memorial win photo contest. Most of those photos are excellent at portraying the feeling of being there.

We all know what that does to you. I still get choked up when I visit and I have been there dozen times or more.

[Celebration]

18. AGREED!!

I haven't been there but a couple of times. I'm mostly unemotional but that place is GENIUS!!

[Blue_In_AK]

21. I went there to see the name of my cousin

who was killed in action two months after arriving in the war zone, shortly after his 19th birthday in 1968. I've had a lot of death in my family from the time I was a little girl, so I thought I would be okay with this, but even before I found my cousin's name I was sobbing. It's just so overwhelming, and maybe especially to those of us who came of age in that time. The Vietnam War touched all of us in such a personal way.

[Mz Pip]

19. Amazing contest.

And quite a challenge for those of us who don't do portraits and had to push ourselves to take that risk.

"A Stranger's Touch" is an amazing photo, in compostion, content, emotion and history.

And :applause: to Mira for a job well done hosting this contest.

Mz Pip

[Mira]

20. Thanks. I needed that. It aged me by a year. No Kidding...

in one minute it will be my birthday.
I'm glad you now know how much I loved your work.

[Celebration]

23. Happy Birthday Mira!

Have a great day.

[Mira]

24. Thanks so much. I'm working on it! Attitude is Everything.

[MissHoneychurch]

22. Congrats to all the winners

Itchinjim and Elfin - both your pictures touched me quite a lot. They are heartbreaking.

[semillama]

25. Fantastic work, everyone! n/t

[Cassandra]

26. Cangratulations!!!

[Tindalos]

27. Congratulations winners

This was a tough contest, for me at least (never done portraits before). Well done, everyone.

[Eurobabe]

28. Congrats to everyone!

I must admit that Itchinjim's picture stole my heart the first time I saw it! :fistbump:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

29. Great Photographs.......... Congrats to Deserving Winners!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

30. Congrats to the winners. Good job everyone!

[Mz Pip]

31. So

What's for July???

I'm always "itchin' for the next contest!