Through My Camera's Eyes: 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Happy Holidays

Hello, my friends! How are you? Hope you're well.

Below are the whopping 15 editor's favorites followed by my entries. With my shots, I really let my captions express my thoughts as to the significance of each picture. Please be sure to read them this week. Thanks!

1st place:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2893139590091933110vgdZDI?vhost=pets

2nd place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2593497510011275312CnbBEa?vhost=good-times

3rd place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2045837430057837835okbYuO?vhost=outdoors

4th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2481708470085014826UcZJfo?vhost=entertainment

5th place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2847162550026399864cliBAc?vhost=outdoors

6th place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2047493810102988870hOhdhT?vhost=good-times

7th place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2411396770101908715BolOgD?vhost=good-times

8th place:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2151183450051354762CFYIEe?vhost=home-and-garden

9th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2382864820014370529dcCNDu?vhost=entertainment

10th place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2783475960101254769yjVWyw?vhost=good-times

11th:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2758088110014102153HvhpYq?vhost=entertainment

12th:

http://family.webshots.com/photo/2474637010049175094YGMDVk?vhost=family

13th:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2985240980013605197rYxViQ?vhost=entertainment

14th:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2905347080065404973EzHUDu?vhost=good-times

15th:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2999144010039841951TXnufm?vhost=home-and-garden

My entries:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2106258070013862179GcFRmK?vhost=good-times

http://family.webshots.com/photo/2635322460013862179LuDeUr?vhost=family

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2330219300013862179qnVkDv?vhost=good-times

The next challenge will be all about resolutions. Oh, dear, where to begin? LOL Until then, take care, be well, and Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Lakota Wolf Preserve

Hi! I went to the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, NJ, on Sunday (12/13). It was an amazing place! Here are some pictures from the day:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/575942367PVngdK?vhost=outdoors

Next week I'll post the winners of the holiday challenge on Webshots. Have a good weekend!

Creative Challenge Winners- Multiples

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Double the pleasure, double the fun

At last night's HUB camera club competition, I won two ribbons- a 3rd place in the color category for this shot

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2568270970013862179xcYeZV?vhost=good-times

And a 1st place in the black and white category for this shot

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2239537450013862179NWbqXP?vhost=good-times

For the first image, I went to my friend's studio in his house a few years ago. I was just starting to take people pictures, and she wanted some images for her portfolio, so it seemed like a win-win.

The second shot, the one that won, I took as part of a photo shoot for the Webshots Creative Challenge Jump contest. I couldn't use vertical, though, so I entered another shot from the day and submitted this for the camera club. Glad I did! There was something about it I really liked.

Hope you like them, too! Until next time...

Creative Challenge Winners- Jump!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Kitchen

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Feeling Spooky

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Mirror Mirror

Saturday, October 10, 2009

My latest HUB photos

At the first competition of my camera club's new year, I entered 5 photos- 2 color and 3 black and white/monochrome.

2 of my black and white/monochrome pictures were in the top 3 scores. This photo of a screech owl in sepia received an 8/9:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2520555080013862179tNqxfH?vhost=pets

And this photo of a broad tailed hawk received for me my first perfect score- a 9/9!

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2866169850013862179yNBrVf?vhost=pets

Both are entered into the next NJFCC (New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs) print competition, to be held at the end of the month. I won't find out how I did until the end of November, but if I get anything from them I'll let you know!

Hope you like these. I'll post next week with the winners of the Webshots Mirror/Reflections challenge. Have a great weekend!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Autumn Fun

Friday, September 25, 2009

Denville Photo Contest entries

The township of Denville recently held a photo contest. Each person was allowed to submit up to 3 pictures of Denville. Winners will be announced shortly. Here are my 3 entries (2 of which you'll see next week in the Webshots creative challenge):

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2937706630013862179ZvPHJz?vhost=outdoors

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2603882960013862179hbEKTU?vhost=home-and-garden

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1484708520013862179WJjzRw?vhost=home-and-garden

I'll let you know when the winners are announced and will provide a link, if available. Next week I'll have the winners of the Creative Challenge Autumn contest.

Until then, take care & be well!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Basic Black

Hello, my friends! How are you? Hope you're well and that you had a good week.

Below are the top 10 winners in the challenge, along with my entries. Hope you see some you like! Your thoughts are always welcome.

1st place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2867009070028425816eYPuxP?vhost=outdoors

2nd place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2569787480026663360rcywbx?vhost=entertainment

3rd place:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2354234460035386346bYjrgV?vhost=travel

4th place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2923631970011275312eYbZnm?vhost=good-times

5th place:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2904366610051724825yVDgeP?vhost=pets

6th place:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2448094110104282930OcXsIp?vhost=pets

7th place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2972978420104285887NtgbBN?vhost=outdoors

8th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2414385840046959633VHPixE?vhost=entertainment

9th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2519863780091933110ACCivO?vhost=entertainment

10th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2638606640029319295eHAOID?vhost=entertainment

My entries:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2224560600013862179TKJlXZ?vhost=entertainment

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2885694290013862179iOEFRC?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2032470480013862179HUgIyD?vhost=good-times

With the two skeleton shots, I was making my case for inclusion in their upcoming Halloween editor's collection. It worked last year- I had 2 shots in there! We'll see what happens this year...

In two weeks I'll have the winners of the Creative Challenge Autumn. Next week I'll have some Denville shots. Until then, take care & be well. Have a good one!

Rich

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Red Boat & Motif #1

Hello, again! This past June I went to Cape Ann, MA, with members of my HUB Camera Club.

As soon as we got to Cape Ann (after a stop at the Butterfly Place in Westford- those shots will be shared in 2 weeks), we went out shooting. Our first stop was Motif #1. Before shooting that, though, I took a picture of a red boat nearby, with house reflections below it. It was really something to see. Here it is:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2652305410013862179mDCqTe?vhost=travel

I took that photo and had it made into a 16x24 canvas print, from Canvas on Demand. It came out just as beautiful.

Here is my favorite shot of the Motif:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2420239850013862179RpQAvX?vhost=travel

Next week I'll be posting the winners of the Webshots Basic Black Creative Challenge. Until then, have a great week!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Contrasting Colors

Hello, my friends! How are you? Hope you had a good week.

Below is Webshots' introduction to the theme, followed by the top 8 finishers, along with my 2 entries. No pun intended, but this theme was a challenge for me. Hope you see some you like!

"Contrasting schemes use shades from opposite segments on the color wheel. Contrasting bold primary and secondary colors - red and green, yellow and violet, or blue and orange - will create a very dramatic look. Contrasting colors can also be created using pastel shades, also found as opposites on the color wheel."

1st place:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2333658690068093956ttGBnF?vhost=home-and-garden

2nd place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2556646530047570075NmlUUO?vhost=good-times

3rd place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2747605210046019448wCIODO?vhost=good-times

4th place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2235920240013938462XoDTqe?vhost=outdoors

5th place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2580095230001022016XDbaSS?vhost=outdoors

6th place:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2640634410015664893gHOTcf?vhost=rides

7th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2262264790035127249QUugQz?vhost=entertainment

8th place:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2661384130011713053msEkjl?vhost=travel

My entries:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2149501540013862179pboZnQ?vhost=outdoors

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2470046760013862179LwGSaM?vhost=home-and-garden

Here's just a fun shot of the Mets logo that I took when I went to the Subway Series at Shea in June:

http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2537541340013862179BgwrVr?vhost=sports

The next challenge will be basic black and I'll have those winners posted on the 15th. Next week will be a surprise- maybe some of my Cape Ann pictures? Until then, take care & be well! Enjoy the day.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Peggy's Cove

Hello, everyone! Since I wrote last week with the winners of the previous Canada challenge, I thought I'd include a few other pictures.

When I took my cruise to Halifax & St. John 3 years ago, I had originally signed up for a whale watch in Halifax, but it got canceled the night before because of concerns over the weather. Disappointed, I went instead to Peggy's Cove. I'm so glad I did!

I took a shot of the entrance to Peggy's Cove that looked super. It has won a 2nd place ribbon in the black and white category and an HM at the State competition in sepia. Here's the original again:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2526050980013862179XqkJnR?vhost=good-times

Black and white:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2512196420013862179wDDCTt?vhost=good-times

Sepia:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2830441120013862179LzgQaC?vhost=good-times

From that visit I also got 2 boats that I like. Here it is:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2516244010013862179NwotgF?vhost=good-times

Hope there are some you like!

Next Tuesday I'll have the winners of the contrasting colors creative challenge. Until then, have a great week! Take care.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Vanishing Point

Hello, my friends! How are you? Hope you're well.

Below are the top 10 winners in the challenge, along with my entries. Hope you see some you like.

Webshots said, when announcing the contest, "Webster’s defines vanishing point as: 1) a point at which receding parallel lines seem to meet when represented in linear perspective 2) a point at which something disappears or ceases to exist. This visual tool helps artists achieve perspective in works of art. This should be a fun exercise in horizon points and perspective for all of us!"

1st place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2271162190104731549lkbuVW?vhost=good-times

2nd place:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2246406850051724825sXJRQG?vhost=travel

3rd place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2692981290085008792OkGBga?vhost=outdoors

4th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2908783460038309039zQBllX?vhost=entertainment

5th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2704366820028425816jHOTbK?vhost=entertainment

6th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2675953450073985179qIsLkk?vhost=entertainment

7th place:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2672897820095547879ViCGka?vhost=travel

8th place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2145398140026251366uGbsaW?vhost=good-times

9th place:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2006981920055029099polSPM?vhost=home-and-garden

10th place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2850012470052487855leOGTD?vhost=entertainment

HM mentioned by judges (also taken by 2nd place winner):

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2825370950051724825whkijW?vhost=travel

My entries:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2432392390013862179gPNPTO?vhost=home-and-garden

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2174384010013862179fCxaSl?vhost=good-times

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2885840260013862179nybTjz?vhost=travel

In two weeks they'll post the winners of the contrasting colors challenge. They have done this previously, though, so it may yet change before it starts tomorrow. Either way, whatever the challenge is, I'll have the winners for you sometime in early September. Next week, I'll post one of my previous winning pictures. Until then, take care & be well. Have a great day!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Canada

Hello, again! Here are the 3 winners from this previous challenge and my entries. Hope you see some you like.

1st place:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2907313210071333087oEETdB?vhost=outdoors

2nd place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2148810380054188876mZpyJI?vhost=entertainment

3rd place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2128809110013938462SvBguk?vhost=entertainment

My entries:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2077305960013862179uHpmTJ?vhost=good-times

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2147649950013862179CVQfCI?vhost=travel

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2067777460013862179aJWrYz?vhost=travel

Next Tuesday I'll have the winners of the creative challenge for Vanishing Point. Till then...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- In My Backyard

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

My What Big Eyes You Have!

This 3rd place winning shot at the May 2009 HUB competition, came from a wonderful day of shooting at the Raptor Trust, in Millington, NJ.

For a fee, they host 2 private bird shoots a year for a group of up to 10 photographers. In 2 hours, they bring out 6 magnificent birds, from the kestrel to the red tailed hawk. They gave a history of each bird and talked about their species and habitats. It was informative and productive! Here's the shot:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2918841310013862179IvoIKi?vhost=pets

While you're there, check out the rest of the album I put together. Thanks!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Creative Challenge Winners- Body Language

Below are the 5 winners (I made the suggestion to increase the winners since they were doubling the length of the contest) and my entries. Here is their introduction:

Webster’s Dictionary defines body language as the gestures, movements, and mannerisms by which a person or animal communicates with others. Our editors enjoyed reviewing all the ”body language” entries submitted over last two weeks and expanded the winner’s list to five (though we had a tie for 5th place).

1st place:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2154101860084927142nDyMXN?vhost=good-times

2nd place:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2962121700014370529hYocKY?vhost=entertainment

3rd place:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2538503390105355936QRUnjT?vhost=travel

4th place:

http://family.webshots.com/photo/2592174120015664893cKyaDM?vhost=family

5th place (tie):

http://family.webshots.com/photo/2886576870085178239QERfEI?vhost=family

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2948398080060799772qVSCLd?vhost=pets

My entries:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2006964080013862179XSsOtv?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2832440840013862179lqvkox?vhost=good-times

The next time we get together it will be to show the winners of the "In the backyard" challenge. I have some good shots- maybe there's a winner in there? We'll find out! Until then, take care & be well. Have a great few weeks.

Rich

Welcome

Hi! Welcome to my new blog. I am a member of the Webshots photo community and you can see my pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/kidlib1.

Every other week (previously it was every week), Webshots hosts a creative challenge, where members can post up to 3 photos based on a particular topic. Winners are announced on Tuesdays. The next winner will be chosen on August 4.

With this blog, I will post the winning entries, plus my entries, and maybe a bonus shot or two. In off weeks I will put up previous challenges, or one of my award winning or favorite shots.

Hope you'll see some you like. Thanks so much!