St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

From http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-172515-1.html

The winners of Holiday Cheer with 103 entries and (305) votes are...

1st place = pastagal with 9.65 points and (23) votes (New) date taken 2013:12:23
2nd place = alissaspieces with 6.35 points and (13) votes (New) date taken 2013:12:15
3rd place = Sal145 with 5.69 points and (8) votes (New) date taken 2013:12:18
4th place = Pixelpixie88 with 5.38 points and (10) votes (New) date taken 2013:12:25

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

HINT: Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=95 <

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, ocbeyer, raysailor, (jazz7), gessman, (Cliff702), boemmels, lizzy5553, Travesty, jgoonan, sleepydrdr, Captain Tom, Bridges, zuke, sandyjstimson, raysailor, ggttc, 1066, Captain Tom, Captain Tom, SunnyB, Hooman, pastagal
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, ygelman, O hi O, (catfish252), Tony R, (jimfullwood), jazz7, sleepydrdr, DavidT, cam20000, Wrongway1947, RiverNan, richz, BHurley59, sleepydrdr, mooseeyes, Admiral Horrendous, bob44044, u]DavidT[/u], Bayertake2, greg vescuso, bgberlin, alissaspieces
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, gessman, LBJ, (melequus), The Novice, (kc3m), Crowhand, samml9993, abby, ocbeyer, bob44044, LPigott, charryl, windshoppe, KWKathy, bob44044, JennT, Jamie Harper, bob44044, PW4GDF, firtree, gatega1958, Sal145
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, wowbmw, Photos by Paula, (kitmom), melequus, (smd25), larry4050, The Novice, sleepydrdr, (jazz7), Martin A, onemoment, Nightski, plessner, Captain Tom, DavidT, wowbmw, Wiskydog, lowkick, Tpharm, John Howard, Pixelpixie88

Dear Santa.....


The Vanderbuilt Museum all decorated for the Holidays!


Holiday Cheer from NYC


Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To help this weeks WPC 1351 - Holiday Cheer ANALYSIS volunteer please visit http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-172993-1.html

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with pastagal,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I have been interested in photography for most of my life. I couldn't wait to go up to the drugstore after waiting a week or two to pick up my photos and buy a new roll of film with my allowance money. I was a little jealous when my best friend received a Polaroid camera and she could see her photos almost instantly. In my first year of college (after much saving), I purchased my Minolta XGM which I loved and really made me realize the variables behind taking a photo. My brother and his girlfriend both had one and would let me try theirs. I can still picture my brother and I in the camera shop when he helped my purchase my first zoom lens. My husband dragged me kicking and screaming into the digital world about 15 years ago, where the word "delete" became my closest friend.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I took a college photography class elective one year during my college days. A lot of that time was spent in the dark room developing film. Fascinating stuff.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
I try to join the contest each week, just to challenge myself and hopefully learn something new or different. I tried to bring a little humor into it also, which I think helped sway some votes in my direction. I had been taking some shots of my Christmas tree and baking cookies that week so the idea just came to me in that way.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I used my Canon 50D, 28-135mm lens, manual mode, iso 200, f/16

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
I am sure there are several things I could do better, perhaps stage the letter in a better position, different paper, different lighting, tone etc..... I realize the votes were most likely more about the humor then the technicality of the photo, but as I said in my first paragraph, there are many variables in taking a photo, and I am happy the UHH viewers saw that in this photo!

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
If I couldn't do photography I would be very sad. It is an escape for me, and something that is my own. I know there is a lot of room for improvement, but on those occasional days when I get a lucky shot, I feel good about it. On the days I am not so lucky, I try to learn something.....I have been doing a lot of learning!

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Well, if you come to my house you will see photos hanging all over. My family politely tells me how nice they are. They pale in comparison to the other photos I have seen on the UHH, but I am not discouraged. I have learned a lot from this site and hope that one day I will have a place to send you to.

Thank you, everyone, who voted for my picture! It was a thrill that so many of you Santas out there took the time to read my humble note, and give me my Christmas wish!!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with alissaspieces,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I have been into it for about a year and a half. I went on a family trip to Italy and bought a bridge camera for the trip. I fell in love with photography then, came home and bought myself my first dslr and began to learn.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I have taken a bunch of great classes at a local college and through a local photography store. I also have found that I go out and shoot a lot. When something goes wrong or I can't capture something in my camera the way I would like (such as a sky and foreground)..then I go to the internet and all of the wonderful teaching sites to find out why and what I can do to make it happen. Then I go back out and try again.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
It was a snowing and the museum was technically closed. However, the kind guards let me onto the grounds to take some photographs. I had free reign to walk the gardens and experiment. I wanted to capture the essence of the holiday season as it was so beautifully decorated at this estate.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I used my nikon d7100 and my sigma 17-50 f2.8 lens.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
I don't think so.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I don't know. This is such a new hobby/ passion for me and I am enjoying learning and growing so much.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I post some of my photographs on viewbug.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Sal145,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
40+ yrs. Started on the high school news paper

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training. I photograph anything but portraits

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
I had taken this shot in Rockefeller center many times in the past but was always displeased with the result so I came up with the idea below to make it better.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I always had peoples heads in the way of this shot so I mounted my Nikon D5100 on a monopod, tilted the viewfinder down so I could compose the shot and hoisted it over my head and the crowd. i triggered the camera with an electronic remote

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
Every 5 minutes the tree lights twinkle on and off and that might make an interesting shot

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
i'd golf more BUT I really need my regular photo fix

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
No. I'm just an amateur photographer; no blog, no website, I just have fun with the hobby

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Pixelpixie88,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
About six years.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training. Everything I've learned is basically from the computer and the UHH forum. Anything "outdoors" is my passion. It can be anything from bugs, to animals, flowers, etc. I love it all.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
I saw a tutorial on my computer...I had just gotten the cup as a gift the same day and thought that the picture would make a cute "thank you".

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
Nikon D7000 with my Tamron 60mm lens. For a setup, hung lights on the wall and shaped them to look like steam coming out of the cup. The Cup was set up a few yards in front of the lights.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
I was happy enough with the way the photo turned out.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I have loved hunting and fishing all my life, so anything outdoors, and that's where the camera comes in...wonderful bonus!

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52356995@N07