St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=71 <

And the winners of Still Life - Flowers with 164 entries and (549) votes are...

1st place = gessman with 20.99 points and (42) votes (new)
2nd place = pebbles with 9.33 points and (25) votes (new)
3rd place = Nan333 with 8.22 points and (12) votes (new)
4th place = Susyseek2 with 5.86 points and (16) votes (new)

Congratulations everyone - especially those who added a little more by telling us about their photos!!!

Running Totals - Underlined equals multiple time winners
1st = Skew, Eric LS, colnago, Ugly Jake, 369Kae, scruffyherbert, wbaiken2, LovePhotography330, Kerryanne, LovePhotography330, Audie Thornburg, Gryffon, wowbmw, christy123, JoeS, pinkycat, Zulu inc, robartphoto, mooseeyes, BLeete, Govt_Lacky, jazz7, lorindam, debsic, imagebyTerri, wISOr, Chris, DavidT, rodee5430, gessman
2nd = Bridges, wbgrice, Severums, colie, R'laine, Fuzzycoach, jasarah, simplesimon, LovePhotography330, JJPhoto, LovePhotography330, abby, dickerst, Delaware Man, mopinia, abby, amyinsparta, kcimato, ocbeyer, Rex-Pix, Isshe, Vicki57, hgsp, O hi O, Old Redeye, scruffyherbert, gym, treadwl, calan, pebbles
3rd = nanaval, pinkycat, behindthecamera, tk, brownky, wowbmw, LovePhotography330, Severums, Lazy Old Coot, krus54114, abby, jrstjean, Gifted One, rsd381, susanmary, kerfree, amyinsparta, Sundance, Shaughnessy, Panacea Particulars, LiamRowan, pledwith, DebAnn, hgsp, NormPR, planepics, Coolcameragirl, larrywilk, seeSAW, Nan333
4th= TNmike, Flyboy001, O hi O, Canoe50d, plessner, fotkaman, Bret, bob44044, Shane T, jkaye65, Severums, jazz7, Edmojo, LolaPL, johnhowardkemper, ophart, Lorima, auntmary, RoyM, jazz7, legion3, John Howard, grubnide, CHG_CANON, wilikioti, plessner, melequus, MJPD, GENOBURRITO, Susyseek2

HINT: Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=71 <

NEW: Please note the change to voting below
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-109092-1.html <

After the Dance


Avebury bicycle


Portrait of a Dandelion


Old Traditional Style Still Life with Old Handmade Lace Tablecloth, Hydrangeas, Antique Glass from Heidelberg, Germany, and Fresh Peaches

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To help this weeks WPC 1331 - Still Life - Flowers ANALYSIS volunteer please visit http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-139420-1.html#2359352

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with gessman

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I became interested in the late 1960s when my three sons started playing Little League sports.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I've had no formal training and have focused mostly on sports and wildlife. My oldest son coaches a semi-pro football team and I shoot some of his games but mostly I like to wander through the woods and shoot wildlife.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
A foot of snow outside and a desire to branch out. At 76 I'm getting a little old to be tromping around in deep snow
chasing critters. A 40 year diabetic, I had to have part of my left foot amputated late last year and it sort of kept me inside so I ordered some lights and a backdrop and set up a little place in my basement and was driven to look at other ways to use my camera, some macro, some still life maybe, perhaps some portraits maybe. It's all just for my enjoyment but I do have grandkids who will hopefully cooperate and I say that with a smile.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
This image was shot with a Canon 5D MkII and Canon EF 100mm Macro II f/2.8L IS. I used some black high gloss plexiglass and my lighting was with a CFL daylight bulb behind an umbrella on one side and a small led light on the other side. The exposure was iso 100, 1/13th @ f/8.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
Not very much I don't think. That was my first still life attempt but I have some more I may try to do.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Oh, I wouldn't want to have to consider that. Probably be on the computer a lot.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I've started a few threads here on uhh that are accessible in my profile. I don't have a website. As I said, I do it for my own enjoyment.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An update to the interview with gessman

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
This image was shot with a Canon 5D MkII and Canon EF 100mm Macro II f/2.8L IS. I used some black high gloss plexiglass and my lighting was with a CFL daylight bulb behind an umbrella on one side and a small led light on the other side. The exposure was iso 100, 1/2 sec. @ f/2.8.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Susyseek2

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
About 40 years. I have always enjoyed photography, and my husband bought me a point and shoot a number of years back which really got me more interested. As the years progressed, I began to find it relaxing and also a challenge. Also found that it can be very addictive, and am always looking forward to the next challenge and acquiring new equipment! The bird photography has been an interesting challenge as of late.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I have taken some art classes, not specifically photography, in which I learned some of the basics such as the thirds rule, etc., mostly as it pertained to landscape oil or acrylics painting. I have taken classes on interior design also. My daughter and I had an interior re-design business for a while, and now I am enjoying all types of photography, but especially, flowers and birds.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
I have always enjoyed the "Old Masters" still life paintings and especially flowers.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I have a Nikon D5100, and SB700 speedlight which I used for the lighting in this photo, a tripod, and an old antique glass, old tablecloth crocheted by a relative, and an antique pewter vase. I took about 20 photos varying the lighting, positions, backgrounds, etc. until I was relatively happy with the results. That's the beauty of DSLR photography. If you don't like the results, you can do do-overs immediately. I love it. So much easier to be creative when you don't have to wait for film to be developed to see the results.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
Not in this case, I think I was able to achieve what I set out to do. I did add some post processing with Photoshop Elements 10 to get a look of old paintings.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Probably go back to oil or acrylic painting. I did enjoy that.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Not really, I have paintings in several homes in the area in which I live, and a few photographs with my Calligraphy incorporated into the finished piece. But those are not available to me.
Thanks so much... I really enjoy Ugly Hedgehog and have learned so much from those talented folks who have responded to my posts on this forum. They have been so very helpful. I look forward to checking out the UHH Forum every day.

neco Loc: Western Colorado Mountains

All of the photos were so good in this category, I wish I could have voted for all of them. Great job, all of you

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with pebbles

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I began my interest in high school. A close friend had a dark room in his basement. He went on to become a photography teacher and I joined the Navy. Bought my first 35mm then, a used Mamaya. Wore it out before I got out. Raising a family pushed aside my photo passion for a while. Kids gone now I'm really getting back into it . Love the digital camera.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
Took a couple of workshops some years ago but nothing formal. Most of my training is from reading and trial.
I do a lot of travel pictures and like a graphical style. I don't do well photographing people. YET

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
In my travels I begin to see things with a photographic eye. It's like being on a safari.This photo was taken in England in the town of Avebury not far from Stonehenge.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I had just purchased my Nikon D5000 shortly before this trip. I wasn't quite comfortable with it at that point. The lense was a kit lense 18-55mm set to 55mm 1/60 sec F5.6 with an ISO of 200. No special set up. I liked this shot even before I took it.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
Always room for improvement I suppose but considering it placed in a contest i guess i'll just leave it alone.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I would like to do some Intarsia when I get more time.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Some of my work is on this site.
Under CHRISTIAN PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP I have: Cathedral Ceilings - The Painted Church of Kona Hawai - and Cross Mountain.
Under PHOTO GALLERY I have: Boston and Japan
I'm really becoming attached to the Hedgehog.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

The Avebury bicycle is an image worthy of a fine frame. Very nice!

pebbles Loc: New England

Thank you Cheineck. This is one I have framed. For me it is not only a photo but a memory of a trip.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with treadwl

Thank you for this honor!

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
The desire to record, accurately what I saw when I traveled. I hated where I was (photographically when I started).

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I am completely self taught. Although I red a great deal about photography and study the works of the masters and others I admire.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
The lighting was just beyond belief, I had to record that vision.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
Nikon d800, 24-70 f 2.8 lens, a tripod and a gnd filter.
The photo involved running to get in position before the light changed. I'm really glad I know my photo gear as there was just a few moments before that great light was gone.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
I just wish I could have had more ti me to enjoy the moment.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Train my Aussies for competition.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I have a photo website at reminisces.smugmug.com

Thank you very much for you time. And many thanks to those who voted for me.
Sincerely
Larry Treadwell

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Nan333

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
Since children young. I'm 72 now. Only started professionally about 2 years ago.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training in digital. Mostly nature.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
Love dandelion puffs and decided to try a different sort of image - a portrait of the puff in a silver vase. I thought this would upgrade the lowly weed.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
Canon Power Shot G1 camera, f2.5; 1/60sec; flash; black card behind.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
Don't think so- like to keep simplicity.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Painting.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Website still in construction. Can see winning photos in archives of www.lightspace time.com. Won an award in each category entered - 4 so far.