Here we go friends! This is where it gets crazy!  We had two Photo Contests run simultaneously.  Both Photo Contests had a theme of COMFORT.  One Photo Contest challenged you to focus on using BLUR/Low Fstops = buttery, blurry backgrounds.  The other Photo Contest challenged you to use the theme of COMFORT combined with a BACKGROUND that has PURPOSE.  So today we are going to start the voting for the first challenge: COMFORT and BLUR.  Then next Thursday we’ll post the Five Finalists and start the voting for the COMFORT and BACKGROUND Photo Contest!   Sound good!  YEAH!  Here we go! 

 

Win a CAMERA for voting??!! 

 

Yes, you heard me right!  It’s the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220/P 12.1 MP Digital Camera!!!  And it’s PINK!  Can you get another color?  I guess, but why would you!   

 

We are taking our voting to the NEXT level this week! If we get 750 plus votes, yes 750 by this Monday (at midnight PST), we get to give one of the Random Voters a hip, new, Sony Cyber-shot!  Not to bad for taking the time to cast a vote, huh! 

 

Can you believe that?!  I’m so pumped!  But that means you’ve got to tell ALL your friends, family, even wake up Granny, and get them to post their vote in TODAY’s comments! I know this contest is going to get crazy real fast with the voting, so we are going to close the voting this Monday night, February 8th, at midnight PST.  That means you have from now until midnight on Monday to vote!

Q:  How do you vote?  What do you win?  See the FAQ below! (It’s super easy.)

 

Q:  What does the winning Finalist get?  Ooooh, that’s good and juicy!  See below for those details!

 

Q:  What are we voting for?  Check it out…

 

Without further delay, I’d like to introduce you to the TOP FIVE FINALISTS for the COMFORT and BLUR Photo Contest!  Notice how they used these themes to tell their stories!  (and be Inspired!)  The challenge was to focus on close, tighter frames with buttery, blurry backgrounds using lower f-stops. You were asked to put our Depth of Field conversation into practice with an overall feeling of COMFORT in your theme.  Well, some of you got out of the box and instead of buttery, blurry backgrounds—you submitted buttery, blurry foregrounds.  And wow!  Your images are amazing! 

 

1. Nuzzeled and Kissed by Mom! by Chelsea Hudson in Phoenix, AZ. 

Chelsea did an amazing job with this photo.  I love the use of blur with mom’s long curls.  This alone adds such a deep softness.  And even more so, the hair frames the emotion that I almost feel like I’m looking through a window into their moment.  But the window is mom’s golden hair.  Does that make sense?  The color processing is also beautiful in this image.  Wonderful job Chelsea!  Thank you so much for submitting!  Do see Chelsea’s blog, CLICK HERE!

 

2.  Tenderness by Jane Wiggins in Waterloo, Iowa .

 

Jane also captured the tenderness between mom and baby but used the low fstop/aperture in a different way.  Instead of having a buttery, blurry background, she made mom’s profile in the foreground buttery and blurry.  The effect is breath taking!  The soft, blur to mom makes me feel her love and comfort surrounding this little one.  I also love the choice of black and white b/c it captures the timelessness of mom’s love for baby that much more.  Wonderful job Jane!

 

  3. First Halloween! by Christine Barker in Baltimore, MD.

 

This image is fantastic!  It’s a great example of creativity that got“out of the box”.  Christine, you knocked this out of the ball park!  Not only is the background buttery and blurred, but Christine has dad in motion and blurred.  I would love it if you told us how you captured this!    This image makes me wonder what the story is.  Did dad have leaves all over him?  Did the wind kick up leaves?  Is he going so fast that leaves flew up?  Any time you can draw someone in to create story behind your image, you have a powerful image.  It almost looks like the cold, October leaves are flying around dad as his comforting presence ushers his little one from house to house.   But that is only a guess.  Christine, great job on this!  Thank you for sharing! 

  4. My Raggedy Ann! by Gina Oh in CA .

 

Gina submitted a photo for our Photo Contest a couple years ago.  When she submitted this one, I couldn’t believe it was the same Gina.  I’ve asked her to do an interview for the Amazing Mom feature because you will be inspired by how far her photography has come in such a short time.  I love the use of buttery, blur in this image.  The soft, golden brush in the background.  And then the contrast of a crisp white sundress with the red haired Raggedy Ann…it’s powerful.  The mix of colors brings a sense of comfort.  Gina, this photo is amazing!  So proud of you!

 

5. Little Cowgirls! by Maureen Roy in Missoula, Montana.

 

 

This image jumped off the screen at me.  It is a wonderful example of how the focus–the story–doesn’t have to always be “in focus” or sharp.  The creativity on this image is out of the box.  I almost feel like the blurred cowgirl boots lens room to more creativity on the viewer’s end.  It’s as if I can hear the girls giggling and feel the hot summer air.  All these feelings come from this single image.  This is a wonderful story telling image.  Wonderful, beautiful job Maureen!  Thank you for sharing!  To see Maureen’s block, CLICK HERE!  

 

There it is! The Fabulous Five Finalists! Didn’t I tell you they were AMAZING!  Click on their names to see more of their work!  But vote before you go b/c whoever gets the most votes will WIN!!

 

And all of you, plus the winners, have the opportunity to win a Sony Cyber-shot Camera! All you have to do is post a comment and vote for your favorite finalist. Leave a few words about why they were your favorite, and you are entered into the Sony Cyber-shot Camera drawing!

 

Let’s go!  750 vote goal, HERE WE COME!

PHOTO CONTEST FAQ:

FAQ #1: How do you vote?

Answer: Just click on the pink word “Comments” at the end of this blog post. Put the # of photo your voting for first (it makes counting the votes way faster), and then add a few words about why you like their image the most. Remember, your comments and feedback give to the Five Finalists more than any prize from us. Please be kind, encouraging, and share all that you can with these wonderful Five Finalists! Your feedback on their images is priceless! That’s why we do the Random Voter Awards, because we appreciate your voting and feedback so much. So spread the word to family and friends! And ask them to vote! We need 750 VOTES to give this camera away!

(Please vote one time for one image. Thanks!)

FAQ #2: Is there a new Photo Contest happening right now? And when is the Deadline?

Answer: Not yet!  After we finish the voting for these two contests (or sooner) we’ll announce the next Photo Contest Theme.  It’s one my favorite Photo Contest Themes so far!

 

FAQ #3: What are the prizes for the Random Voters and the Finalist?

Answer: Scroll on down!!

 

Prizes for the Winning Finalist and the Random Voter Winners!

In the last couple of contests, we’ve broken our record for votes received!  You all spread the word, and the votes came rolling in! If we clear 750 votes on this contest, we are going to pick a Random Voter (not necessarily #750, but a RANDOM Voter) to win the Sony Cyber-shot camera!!!

And then we’ll keep going and pick one more Random Voters to win a $25 customized, cool looking Starbucks card! So that’s one Random Winner of a new, slick Sony Cyber-shot camera, and one MORE random winner of $25 customized Starbucks cards, if we clear 750!

 

Deadline for all voting is this Monday night, 4 days from now, 2/8, at midnight PST!! That means we have to clear 750 votes by that time for two Random Voters to be picked and win a pink (or different color ) Sony Cybershot Camera!

Prize for being the Winner of the Five Finalists!!!

Now what about the finalist’s prize! What will they get?  Well first, each finalist should vote too so they get a fair shot of winning the Sony Cyber-shot camera!  And then the Winning Finalists gets THREE SPECIAL PRIZES!!!

 

1. Get Girded Up with Award Winning Resources!  Their choice of one of our popular 101 Kits: The Essentials to Starting a Photography Business OR the Downloadable version of our Award Winning Refuse to Say Cheese/Beyond the Green Box DVD series.

 

2.  Continue Your Creativity After the Shooting!  Their own copy of Adobe’s Lightroom 2.0 Software!!!!  (thank you Adobe!)

 

3.  Don’t Hide Your Winning Photo!  Show It Off!!!  And the newest addition to our Winning Finalist prizes, their winning photo will be printed on a beautiful canvas!  Our SOAR! Partner, Pixel2Canvas, has joined the Photo Contests as of this year!   And we are so excited b/c now your winning image will be on a BIG, Beautiful Canvas for the wall!

 

So get all your friends and family to jump on here and vote before this Monday at midnight!

 

VOTE AWAY!!!

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p.s.  If your in the mood to keep voting.  You can cast a new vote today and every day for Pocket Philanthropist!  This is your daily reminder.