COMMENT THREAD for the Seasonal Photo Ccontest. Theme: SCENES OF SUMMER

[regnaD kciN]

Comment on the photos being submitted here.

[Mira]

1. We are off! I can't help but to start the comments...

The first two are so spectacularly summery, and hot!!!
I would not be surprised if we are already looking at high finalists.

The little girl's face is full of satisfaction and relief. And her bracelets!
A magnificent depiction of summer,

off to the anticipated photo by
California Peggy

It is awe inspiring. You should have heard me suck in air.
It looks as if in spite of the refreshment the water offers heat is rising from it.
It is also very aptly named because it is like a dream scape, a place all of us want to go and be at when life is tough.

I'm so glad you had that one to share.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Thank you, my dear Mira!

I love this picture too. Every now and then I get lucky, and this was one of those times. It has not been photoshopped at all. I had no idea it would look like this, and I was thrilled when I did the full-screen slide show.

I want to comment on JeffR's! I was thrilled to see that sky. I'm so glad he entered this and that he hasn't left us yet. It will be a sad day if/when he does.

[Mira]

3. You should hear me laugh,

because I'm thinking why enter?

These are spectacular as they come in, right on cue for the theme of summer, they could not be more diverse.

Hi, JeffR, I'm very glad to see you and you brought a wonderful gift.

And Cassandra: I love it. It is the first sepia photo entered (to my knowledge) since I've been around and it is startlingly beautiful in color and composition.

[Cassandra]

6. Thanks, although...

it's not actually sepia. That's the afternoon sun coloring almost everything beigey. So I guess we're still awaiting the first sepia entry. ;-)

[Mira]

9. Are you series? Now I blush (sort of sepia) and will study it again.

I had my entry all ready to go in sepia, and changed it to b/w after I saw yours.

Off I go to the submissions...

I'm back to add this edit:

I see it now, of course. It only makes it stronger. The more I look at it the more intrigued I am not only by the color and the perfect neg/pos balance, but also the vantage point.

Johnathon Livingston, I presume?

[Cassandra]

11. Now you did a sepia!

And a very fine one. On mine, you can see a hint of pink in the little girl's bathing suit.
No, I was not bareback on a seagull, I was on the pier.

[Mira]

12. Here's what I did.

I took it from Sepia back to black and white. Then I missed the sepia.
But yours was so startling in it's color I did not want to compete or have yours upstage the color of mine. Now that I perfectly clearly see how yours is the natural color of he photograph, I think it's even more rich, but I'm repeating myself.
:)

So in Picasa there is a button that says: add warmth or the equivalent of that verbiage.
And it gives a tiny blush of sepia to black and white. And I ended up with an image I liked.

I'm glad to know you were on the pier. I studied it but just couldn't figure it out.
Dangling from a drop line on a helicopter was my other guess.

[Cassandra]

25. I have enough trouble with camera shake or sway...

without dangling from a helicopter. :-)

[JeffR]

32. Thank you

but as soon as I saw your entry, it was lights-out for my sunset.

[Mira]

37. One could not beat those lights out. They are shining way too bright.

I would be game for a side wager that overall you will have more votes.

I do remember that when I showed that picture before you liked it. Thanks.

[JeffR]

54. I love it.

And I'm up for that wager. How about the loser has to post a self-portrait?

[Saphire]

4. It looks like this is going to be a GREAT contest....can't wait to see

all of the entries. This isn't one of mine...it's by my daughter-in-law but screams summer..

[Sheepshank]

5. oh my

what an incredible range of sensations.

[alfredo]

7. Mira, your entry is wonderful.

Unless there is a Dorthea Lange out there, it is game set and match.

[Mira]

8. Thank you Alfredo.

It was my favorite shot from last summer.

About the submissions: this contest is drawing stunningly diverse masterpieces. And we have only 8 so far.
It has the potential to rival some of my favorite contests.
(Green - and WabuSabi come to mind)

It will be a fight to watch!

[alfredo]

10. B&W is perfect for that image. Color wouldn't add anything

for it.

That's a very good photo.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. JeffR...you captured HOT perfectly.

Some of us are smack dab in the middle of record setting heat, and your pic. says it all. Rich rich colors.

[JeffR]

33. Thank you! I was telling someone the other day how much like

a Savannah summer this has been up here. Some days it's as if the sky is melting.

[Cassandra]

35. JeffR...

if Hell looks that good, it might be worth a trip. ;-)

[Mira]

36. Or on the other hand

if it's anywhere near that hot, I'm turning myself into a perfect and good girl starting right this second.

[JeffR]

53. I responded before I read your response.

:rofl:

Good plan!

[JeffR]

52. I'm hoping Hell will be a little cooler!

:scared:

[Saphire]

14. Mira, that is a spectacular photo.

[Sheepshank]

15. that has got to be

one of the most beautiful hammocks I've ever seen.

I remember that photo from one of the early days of my arrival to the Photography Group. I loved it then...I appreciate it even more now..the shadows, the mist, the delicate weaves...just lovely.

[Mira]

19. Thanks for remembering it.

It was last year, in Marathon, in the Keys. Where I'm going again tomorrow.
(I meet my mother there; we have a free place to stay)

The hammock is just hanging there in a place where they created a wildlife and nature path. On the grounds of a dead couple's very modest home, they were instrumental and are being honored about developing the wealth of Marathon's flora and fauna.

The woman is my almost sister in law. My brother was about to marry her and then he died.
She was in it when she saw it, in a flash, and never knew I took the picture til I showed it to her that evening.

[alfredo]

16. Put a thread over at GD touting the contest.

Keep it kicked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8864086

[Canuckistanian]

29. Thanks for that

Your post is what reminded me to submit. I always seem to learn about the contests too late.

[alfredo]

31. I try to put in a plug for our forum every now and then.

[MattSh]

46. Thanks for that!

I was thinking of this contest three times a day last week and as soon as Sunday arrived...I forgot it. For three days!

[alfredo]

47. Lost weekend?

[MattSh]

56. Well....

First the heat fried my brains a bit. Mix that with a bit of slow internet.

Then there was a little matter about what to do with a hornets nest.

Anywho...

Haven't seen all the entries yet, but looks like a strong field. (That slow internet thing again)...

[alfredo]

57. I will fry my brain with a good Aussie Merlot.

[handmade34]

17. all spectacular....

can't wait to see the rest... (Mira, you make us want to either be in that hammock or just to sit and be in the presence of the person in it...
:thumbsup: to all so far

[Mira]

18. Thanks Photographers for the Kudos, in GD that's an altogether

different ballgame. And the field is soooooo strooooong.

[trusty elf]

20. So many marvelous entries!

I'm trying to decide whether to submit one or not....

[trusty elf]

21. Sorry about the title for mine...

:D

It was either that or "Leaping to Contusions?" :rofl:

[Call Me Wesley]

22. Great contribution!

At least it's not the Bielersee. ;) I mean boat accidents and such. :rofl: :hi:

[Cassandra]

24. Call Me Wesley...

GORGEOUS dragonfly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Call Me Wesley]

27. Thank you.

It's a blue featherleg. Really small ones, but very cute. :hi:

[trusty elf]

26. Thanks!

Terrible accident that! Yikes!

[Mira]

23. You did this one right!!!

I think it's funny, wonderful, summery and a mental pick-me-up.
Glad you entered this one.
Title is very fine, the alternative could be true, and all are better than being caught "between the dog and the fire hydrant".

I can't get over the quality of all of them and look forward to the battle ahead.

[trusty elf]

28. Glad you approve, Mira!

I was somewhat reluctant to submit it in light of all of the fine competition.

Yours is a splendid contender, very evocative and provocative! A classic!

:hi:

[Mira]

30. Thank you very much. I will send her a link later on

and surprise her, if her legs warrant some votes.
If not, I don't want to hurt her feelings. She is in Potsdam/Berlin.

[alfredo]

34. NV Whino, your flower is surreal. Love it.

We don't need drugs, we have flowers.

[Mira]

38. I agree, and told her, too. Don't be surprised it you see it a little bigger soon. nt

[NV Whino]

39. Thanks

Working on the size issue.

[alfredo]

40. Yeah, it could be a bit bigger, but lovely as is.

Any decision on new cameras?

[NV Whino]

41. My therapist just bought a D90

Very sweet. Huge view screen. I like it a lot. We spent 1/2 of a therapy session playing with it.

[alfredo]

45. I'm lusting over the Lumix GF1. DSLR's are just too heavy.

Getting old is a bitch.

[NV Whino]

42. Thanks, Mira

I guess the trick is to size in Photobucket rather than PhotoShop. Try as I might, I've never come up with the right size in Photoshop.

[Mira]

44. It was like taking candy from a baby. And fun, too. n/t

[Mira]

43. HarveyDarkey, you should have heard me

I laughed out loud.
Now that is funny!

Another phenomenal depiction of "Summer".
WOW - what fun.

[alfredo]

48. Check out the composition of MattSH's entry.

Nice

[Ichingcarpenter]

49. Yosemite taken with a Panasonic Lumix camera

It came from this picture on a bridge on the way to the center
I discovered the waterfall, blew up the photo and tried to go all Ansel Adams on it removing the color
and making it black and white.

Balancing the contrast and brightness right took some time.





This is the original photo you never know what you got until you look closely.

[Tindalos]

50. Looking good

I'll come back later when I have more time for a closer look. They're all amazing.

[Celebration]

51. Strongest.Field.Ever!! by a long shot

I would say that almost any one of these is capable of winning. I may not be able to make up my mind to vote. I can't possibly comment on one of them without commenting on all. And good grief, I just got back from a long weekend and barely got my entry in.

Congrats everyone on the amazing entries. You outdid yourselves.

[alfredo]

55. Ezlivin, love the composition and the colors. Very nice.

The boats lead your eye right to the lovely homes.

[alfredo]

58. Handmade34 put a wonderful finishing touch with entry #30. Well done!

[Tindalos]

59. It's refreshing isn't it?

Just looking at it cools me down. Ahh...

[regnaD kciN]

60. Depending on how hot it is when people cast their votes...

...that one might be a runaway winner.

[alfredo]

62. It was nearly 100 here today. It has my vote.

[handmade34]

61. thanks...

not the picture I wanted to submit, but time was against me... the lemonade was great after the photo shoot, just needed a little rum!

[alfredo]

63. You know, a Gin and tonic might be good right now.