Foto Trek

http://www.northwoodsphotography.com/29/freaky-friday/ Come by and see it please!

I have decided I do not like to judge, so this will be the last contest.  With that said I am going down the list and giving my thoughts on this months entries.

1. Carole’s hummingbird shots are fantastic, though I would be more likely to choose them as winners in a bird contest.

2. The same for the two Sparrows sent in by Christa, except the greens in Christa’s photo have a summer feel about them!

3. Out of everybody, Nanci James strived the hardest to have her photos match the summer theme. Grilling, lawn mowing, outdoor thermometer, waxing a car. Good job, Nanci!

4. Ken Jones landscape photos are beautiful, but again, I’d rather have them in a landscape competition.

5. Lorna’s photos are beautiful. I especially love the aquarium shot. Beautiful composition. I wish it had been taken outdoors though.

6. Lindsey’s shots of her sweet daughter all screamed summer to me. Which leads me to the first winner.

7. Karen’s photos are all excellent. She could win with several, but not this time.

8. The photos with children are what really caught my eye this time. Children and summer go hand in hand. Bringing back memories of my own childhood I suppose, and maybe that’s not right, but it’s the feeling in my gut this time. With that said the next winner is:

9. I also need to choose this photo because of the wonderful memories it holds for me. I spent all summer in the pool. Yes this is summer fun!

I know that’s 3 but there will be one more winner…

10. Laura’s photos are breathtaking. I am in awe. Yet again though these would fit better in a flower or birds/bees type of category. Just as Carole’s bee covered with pollen photo would.

11. That brings me to the last winner. She got her pictures in at the last minute so many may not have seen them. The are at the top of the gallery because I didn’t have time to number/label them. Patty Jeske is the photographer and the final winner is:

Sorry for choosing all children. I know that put some of you at a disadvantage, but it was not planned that way at all. This is all so subjective, and it really does drive me crazy trying to choose the best photos when I love all of them.

Instead of cancelling all future contests, give me another month please to give this more thought. I am back at work and going in a million directions at the moment. I want to do something and have been playing around with different gallery programs and the like but have not reached any conclusions. Also, Carole (Rambling On) sent me an email tonight with an interesting option for future consideration. Possibly a photo challenge where we would all just have themes and share. Something to think about at least. Please leave your input thoughts etc in the comments.

Congrats to Lindsey, Jill, Kim, and Patty and to all the rest of you too. You are all winners in my book. I appreciate the time you took to participate, and the thoughtful comments you left for each other. Very inspiring indeed!

Will update in the near future! Take care, and God bless you all!

[Before you read this, please know I am just think out loud! This contest will be finished and winners announced! At that time I will announce my decision about the future of this website! Hey, if I decide to discontinue it, I could give it away as the yearly prize maybe!]

Now… my thoughts…

Do I keep this site running or move on to other persuits? That is the question that has been running through my mind of late. I would still be blogging so we wouldn’t lose touch, but we would be giving up these photo contests which I think everyone has come to love. Just can’t get all the pieces of the puzzle to fit. Started using galleries on here for the contests, but Kim can’t get it to work and she was blogging with me. I also don’t know of a way to have you be able to upload your photos yourselves so I am having to do it. I really don’t mind doing this, but it is time consuming and if these contests were to grow I know I couldn’t keep it up. Anyways, no decision has been reached yet, but maybe some of you can offer some insight/suggestions to make this all come together more smoothly.