***WINTER CONTEST*** Comments & Questions Thread.

[CC]

Talk away!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. Sorry, just screwed up your submission thread ! Not enough coffee. Loved the icicle

and hot coal pics...are they yours?

[Mira]

2. We can live with the little screw up after seeing your submission.

Was this at our President's SECOND inauguration? Because I was at the first one and did not see that man....
It is a good example of that snow is not the only way winter can be depicted.

(reminds me, I have a photo I took in the Florida Keys of a house amidst palms and flowers abloom, lit up, and decorated to the max for Christmas)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Yes, second. I was thinking the EXACT same thing - like have you

ever seen the coke commercial they play each Christmas with the lights on the palm tree !

Like my husband said, great minds think alike, and so do we. :&gt

Here are two of my fav pics of the first one....do you have any?

[Mira]

4. To your last question...does a bear... is the pope...?

I will pull some and show you. Love your second one of the exhibitionist.
Because as all folks here know all I need is a little bit of encouragement.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. HAHAHA . Bring them on, girl ! Joining up recently

with the DU Photography group here has really given me a lot of inspiration ! I do know now that
I will take a lot more shots of the same thing with changing focus and composition. Instead of
just "snapping" whatever. Like that second shot would have been so much better if maybe
some of her pics in her coat were in focus.

Still having issues with resizing and cropping and compressing...but trying to study up. Can't figure out why I have a 302k file size, I go in and crop and it grows to 308k. Duh.

BTW...that's funny..."exhibitionist"..she does look like a flasher. But, seriously, I saw a lot of people with pics the first time and it was deeply moving to me.

[Mira]

6. The beauty of being in this group is multi faceted. It's a kind and

supportive batch of people, and the longer you hang around the more you learn. I just now looked through last year's snow photos (we had none this year) and my new improved eye sees things I did not see before.

I'm thrilled to have you here, for your name alone, cracks me up every time you appear.

(have to find the photos, there is a whole CD of them........)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. yes ! Solly Mack and Celebration both have helped me a lot. nt

[Solly Mack]

11. I'm glad I could be of help. I love this group.

Last edited Fri Mar 1, 2013, 05:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Everyone is friendly and helpful. I've learned a lot from the people in this group and I keep learning from them.

This group has been a sane and wonderful place for me.

[Mira]

44. Here is one from 1-20-2009 Washington

This woman was strutting on the mall. The others seem to be on a CD somewhere so this one is all I can post for you now.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

46. +1,000

[Mira]

47. Good, glad you saw it after me taking so long to come up with one.

The reason I saved it on my computer hard drive is because I found the juxtaposition of the two women in red so fascinating.
And yes, she insisted she was related to our President. She was so proud to be there.
Me too.
Coldest I've ever been.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

54. I know...at first I thought they were attached somehow. What a kind looking

lady. For some reason, I think her name is Mary.

[CC]

16. Welcome to the contest

wouldn't be one with out a few bumps. Yes both are mine from back when we actually had winter weather. Been a couple years now since real snow (not missed) or the need for back up heat.

Love your entry!

Sizing-does not mean cropping only. Not sure what editing program you use but there should be a place to change the length and file size. Though 302kb is close enough and no big deal.

[Earth_First]

8. Before I submit:

Did we come to agreement on photo sizing requirements at their maximum dimensions?

Should I just stay with the usual monthly sizing requirements?

Thanks!

[Earth_First]

9. I went with sizing that adhered with the OP and previous submissions...

It looks like 800x534 was acceptable.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Do you mean you would have gotten a PM if it wasn't?

I would rather have the file size upped than the pixels

PS> love the swirling snow !!

[Earth_First]

14. It is a star trail photograph, acutally...

It is a one hour long exposure of the night sky; with the top right of the photograph being Polaris.

[Solly Mack]

23. A shot I envy!

Very cool shot!

[JohnnyRingo]

51. Nice exposure.

I'll never figure out how you get that so right.

[Earth_First]

53. Alot of it is trial and error when you don't set up your foreground ahead of time...

This particular photograph is still somewhat bothersome (in my mind) and extremely noisy. I've since learned of a technique called stacking in which you utilize tens or hundreds of 30 second exposures stacked upon one another...

I am still in my infancy with this technique. This time of year doesn't particularly lend weather that is acceptable for myself or my gear; or clear skies for that matter...

[JohnnyRingo]

58. I've heard of "stacking".

I assume it's kind of like building a digital panorama except all within the same frame.

Coincidentally, today's "Astronomy Picture of the Day" is a similar exposure done in that same technique, but I heard about it here from you last week first.

Grand Canyon Star Trails:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

I enjoy checking that site daily to see what heavenly wonders they present.

[CC]

20. I went with keeping the 800 pixels on the longest

side and a 300 kbs limits because of the scrolling problem for so many but decided to allow a bit bigger files size. I would say that if someone was hosting themselves and really wanted bigger photos they could allow it as their prerogative as host. But keeping 800 kb for this one.

[Solly Mack]

12. I'm in! Didn't think I would be able to enter.

Lot going on. Felt defeated by the lack of a real winter here. Glad we don't have snow but sorta missed it too. Weird.

Husband reminded me to think "outside the snow". So I did. He's great that way.

Got home about an hour ago. Been away. Thought I might miss submissions if I didn't get back today.

Whew.

Love the submissions! Thank you, CC!

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. My picture is where I live, In Mattawa at the junction of the Mattawa and Ottawa rivers

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The bench is at what we call "The Point" - kept natural and groomed, sorta like a mini park

We have rock groups including some like "Heart" and others on a 3 day party every summer

It's called "Voyager Days"

Picture

Facing East towards Quebec across the Ottawa River

Train bridge rarely has trains on it

- locals and informed visitors use it to hike across to the Quebec side

- mostly to hike up to the three crosses near the left top corner of the picture

3 crosses are lit up at nite by the people in Mattawa who hike up to maintain the lights and it's solar system

oh yeah

I luv where I am living

[Blue_In_AK]

19. It's very pretty.

I can see why you like to meditate there. We have some similar benches along our Tony Knowles Coastal Trail where you can sit and gaze across the water. It's so peaceful and relaxing, you can almost forget about the cares of the world.

[ConcernedCanuk]

25. Hi Blue - I'm glad to be back at DU

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and your picture is gorgeous

and gee

it's blue

hmmm

I actually dove into that river (Ottawa River) one warm April day decades ago

and literally bounced out from the cold scrambling up the side of the dock I dove off that is located to the left of that picture

only did it once

CC

[Solly Mack]

15. Blue:Breathtaking!

Just wow! That's magnificent! Both the photo and the view!

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Thanks, Solly.

The mountains here do look so beautiful when they're totally covered in snow like this. Like giant ice cream cones.

[Solly Mack]

22. I wanted to be at the top of it.

It would spoil the beauty but your photo had me wanting to be there. And I don't like snow.

[Celebration]

17. great photos!

I don't have a single decent winter photo this year, and I hate going to archives.

We've had cold weather for sure, but no white stuff.

I'm sitting this out and enjoying the entries.

[Solly Mack]

21. I was going to sit it out. Then my husband got me to thinking differently.

Birds never occurred to me. Isn't that wild? Me, of all people. Right in front of my face and I didn't see it. Luckily I had a bird that isn't around except for winter.

[Celebration]

34. aw, I love your birdie!

The bird photos I have taken this winter aren't migratory, for the most part. Maybe a fuzzy duck photo or two??

[Solly Mack]

36. Maybe! I had to double check to make sure about the birds here and I found one.

I went to allaboutbirds.org to be sure. You could check. You might be pleasantly surprised by what it is considered a winter bird in your area.


I also thought about using dead leaves that no longer have any color. Many of the leaves here look more like fall though.

[handmade34]

24. love the photos coming in...

I can not enter because i will be away for the next 4-5 months... but if...


my own private fairy land...



view while shoveling the roof...



my lot line from the outside...



took this years ago and still love it...

[ConcernedCanuk]

26. "my own private fairy land.." - that's what I'm looking for

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.
.

Got funds now to buy property

and there's lots of it around here in Northern Ontario that is within my price range

I want space

and a view

[Mira]

27. Literally they are taking my breath away

especially the first one. The thought you are surviving in this environment well enough to take these photos blows my mind.

[Mira]

28. Intimidating

that's what I think all of the photos are. I have said things before like "gorgeous entries" - "great variety" but I'm not sure I mean it more this time than ever.
There are drop dead beauties abounding!

[annabanana]

29. Re: Copse

"where the woozle wasn't"

from Winnie the Pooh

[Blue_In_AK]

30. Nothing beats the original.

None of that disneyfied stuff. I still have this one and The House at Pooh Corner from about 60 years ago.

[alfredo]

31. Good illustrations.

Copse - I love obscure words.

[Blue_In_AK]

32. The illustrations in the original

Winnie the Pooh books were the best parts.

[alfredo]

38. I was a fan of "Wind in The Willows."

The illustrations were excellent.

I wonder if it had anything to do with my dim view of the upper class?

[Callalily]

33. Some really nice submissions!

Ii wasn't going to enter but was perusing through my photo files and found the one that I did end up entering. I've been looking for that photo b/c one of the children is the sister of a (new) colleague of mine and I told him I'd give him the photo.


Although not a great photo, I really like the one I posted below. Got the ornament from a "funny ornament exchange" party so I put it in the snow and made an ecard from it and sent it to the giver of the ornament.

[handmade34]

35. made me smile

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. I love your submission...are you saying those are real people ? I had to really study it. there

is snow on them like they are statues. Or, are you saying they are statues of real people?

[Callalily]

40. My apologies. I should have elaborated

on my explanation. The children in the sculpture were modeled after real people, my colleagues sister being one of those children.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

45. thanks. Sure the smarter people got it. nt

[ConcernedCanuk]

61. LOL - I didn't until I just read the preceding posts . .

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[Solly Mack]

39. That's adorable!

I love your submission. Bathing suits and snow! I love the head gear and scarves on them.

[Callalily]

41. I think I've posted photos of

this sculpture here before in various times of year. The sculpture was very controversial when the artist first submitted the rendering. The children (gasp) were naked. Because of the public outcry, swimsuits were incorporated into the sculpture.

[Solly Mack]

42. I've always liked the sculpture.

Shame people had a hissy fit over the nudity.

[a la izquierda]

43. Nice photos all!

[ConcernedCanuk]

48. I think I see the winner

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1036&pid=14778

got my vote!

well, not actually - don't think I can vote with an entry in there

I don't think he/her will need my vote anyhoo

dat's gotta be it methinks . . .

[handmade34]

55. you certainly can vote!!

I have always enjoyed voting in the contests... normally what I think is the best isn't mine but I have voted for myself before

[ConcernedCanuk]

62. Well Thank You very much

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.

gotta go vote

chat later



on edit

How DO you vote?? . . .

[Mira]

63. I am smiling so large. Maybe I'm a bit naiive but tell me

is this the first time you are participating?

I'll assume you are serious so let me tell you that the threads for the winter contest have not yet been posted but will tomorrow, I'm just seeing this before the hostess who is probably very busy making them at the moment.

You then get to cast your vote, one of them, in each thread.

After that the 10 finalists will be chosen and you get to vote for your top favorite in that thread of finalists, which will come about 3 days later.

I hope I'm explaining this well, sometimes late at night my English fails me with awkward sentence structure.


Anyway
let me take this opportunity to tell you that your photograph is one of my burning favorites, and that is in spite of them all being photos of the cold, one way or another.

Enjoy!
Vote early, but not often.

[ConcernedCanuk]

64. "is this the first time you are participating? " - no, I came in 7th last month

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"Birdsong in a Snowstorm" I think - dozens of birds around my feeders in the snow

but I didn't think I could vote if I made a submission

That's why I asked

I do realize that it wouldn't be right (or allowed) to vote for my own photo,

and was wondering if I am allowed to vote for another person's submission

[Mira]

65. OOPS - that was such a fun and happy photo. Sorry

I did not put the two of you together.
You CAN, yes, vote for anyone you chose even if you are a participant with an entry.
You CAN, yes, vote for yourself if you think you deserve the nod.

So I was wrong in not associating you with that great first entry of yours, but right in that you had some legitimate questions.

[ConcernedCanuk]

66. The one last month wasn't my first entry

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It was the first one that made it into the top ten

I believe I entered a picture a few months ago of the same location, in the summer of the river and the three crosses above on the mountain across from where I live

and no

I would not be voting for my own submission

Don't think that is right

If I "win"

I'd like to know it was because others appreciated my picture

winning isn't everything

[tnc276]

49. newbie

This is my first submission to a contest , not the best BUT I do LOVE LOVE LOVE reading all of your posts on here. The picture is more meaningful than any thing because it was my first "big experiment" on my new dslr it was taken 2 days after I got it just happen to be a big meteor shower..... No meteors in th picture (even though I froze my TAIL off for 4 hours outside in the dark & cold ended up with a cool time lapse though, lol)

[Mira]

50. Before I turn in please let me welcome you

first of course to DU and secondly to the photography group. How good for you and for us that you found us so fast.
We are the kind / co-operative and ever gentle branch of DU where the living is easy and beautiful photographs are welcomed and shown. Such as yours. I studied it and am so glad you told us a bit about what it took to get it.
The first entry I think is the hardest to do, good luck in the contest.

Again
WELCOME

[tnc276]

56. Thanks

I was a little naive thinking I could just go out and get a picture of a meteor my very first time trying. It was a great lesson on shutter speed and keeping camera on manual though it was still worth it

[JohnnyRingo]

52. Welcome

I love astronomy and I have a couple 'scopes, but I haven't had any luck taking photos. How lucky you are to live where so many stars are visible. Nice image.

I live in a small town near a lake, but my house is always shrouded in either clouds or light pollution.

[Callalily]

57. I absolutely love scrolling

down of the contest submissions. I learn so much from viewing others photographs. This is truly one of my favorite online discussions groups.

[CC]

59. Check your INBOX.

If there is nothing there from me you are fine. If you have a PM from me it should have your resized photo in it and short instructions. TY

I will be back in an hour or two as my dogs really think they need some much delayed play time out doors.



There is room for 4 more entries last I checked. As always the first 30 are in if it should go over in my absence.

[Solly Mack]

60. graywarrior: Your photo is delightful!

I feel like I'm peering out at the snow scene.



I'm truly loving the submissions.