St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=46 <

And the winners of Artistic Close-Up with !262! entries and 678 votes are...

1st place = wbaiken2 with 11.79 points and (16) votes (new)
2nd place = jasarah with 9.76 points and (21) votes (new)
3rd place = LovePhotography330 with 7.54 points and (11) votes (new)
4th place = Bret with 6.13 points and (15) 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
2nd = Bridges, wbgrice, Severums, colie, R'laine, Fuzzycoach, jasarah
3rd = nanaval, pinkycat, behindthecamera, tk, brownky, wowbmw, LovePhotography330
4th= TNmike, Flyboy001, O hi O, Canoe50d, plessner, fotkaman, Bret

HINT: Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=46 <

NOTE: Please note the change to voting below
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-98671-1.html <
You can vote as many times as you like, but only have one voting point.
If you vote for multiple photos, your voting point gets divided across them all.

Childhood innocence


A simple reflection in a rain drop


This is a photo of the 5-Spotted Hawk Moth (from a Tomato Hornworm), sometimes called a Sphinx Hummingbird Moth feeding on the Spinning Persian Primroses. The Primroses open at dusk and close at dawn. They only last one night. You can watch the flowers open right before your eyes, like time-lapse photography, in a matter of seconds. Then, within a few minutes, the moths are there gathering the pollen. The moths have a proboscis that is several inches long so that they can hover over the flowers to gather the pollen.


With some creative coloring for the fun of it

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with wbaiken2

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I have been taking photos from the time I was about 10 years old. My grandfather was an armature photographer and he encouraged me.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No I have not had any formal training. I do a great deal of reading so I am self taught. The majority of my photography is photographing family. I also enjoy landscape.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
I loved the light coming in through the glass door. When my great niece stood by the door staring at the snow falling I grabbed my camera!

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
No special setup. Just my Olympus 510 with my 50mm lens and flash.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
No I was fortunate to capture the moment with this shot.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Never thought of doing anything else.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Bret

WOW thank you everybody for the votes....what a surprise.

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
Iv'e been interested in photography sense I was a kid. Started with a Kodak 110..120 and a few Polaroid Instamatic's along the way. My military career guided me towards 35mm film...Olympus OM2n for some time. Then it was off to a Sony digital....the one where you put a floppy disk in the side...remember those? A few years later a friend of mine that works for Kodak suggested I look into their newest bridge camera...so back into the game I went with the Z981 and now primarily use Nikon...what a journey....and it most likely won't end anytime soon.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training...mostly learn and practice as I go.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
This shot was taken with a Nikon D5100 and the 40mm macro lens. A 2 second exposure at F16 iso200. The vase was placed inside a LED ring light and lite from below...if you look inside the flower...center top just to the right you can see a small part of the vase edge. In this shot the glass actually helped...along with some creative experimenting with color and this is what I came up with.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Now I did try golf years ago..and after losing several balls...nearly hitting 2 people on opposite fairways I was quickly relegated to the Bar tender position... strangely...I don't really remember much past the 3rd hole..HaHa.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I do have a web site...just click on my profile and the link should take you to it... although it hasn't been up-dated for awhile...which btw...is a whole nother job in and of its self.

Again thank you everyone for the votes. Enjoy the UHH as it offers us a great opportunity to learn and grow as photographers.

Bret

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with LovePhotography330

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I have always loved photography. As a child, and with an old Brownie Hawkeye, I wanted to record what I saw.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I am mostly self-taught. I have taken a couple of classes in the past two years and now belong to a photography club where we can share ideas, etc. I especially love nature photography.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
We have the Spinning Primroses near our front steps where I first saw the Hummingbird Moths that are attracted to them. They are there after the Primroses open, just like clockwork and are so fascinating to watch.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I used a Nikon D90, hand held, and had to use the flash as it was nearly dark when they arrived. The moths are very fast darting around, so you can't use a tripod. I also have photos of them in the air by themselves.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
I am never completely satisfied with a photo. I keep trying and always strive to get a better focus, view, etc.

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I am retired and always working on some project. I have been making homemade soaps, all natural deodorants, hand creams, lip balms and other items for several years. I like to recycle when I can and do some volunteer work.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I don't have a website. Most of my work is on my computer and hanging on our walls. Occasionally, I show some of my photos at local venues.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Not only good photos, but interesting account about the Moth. Thanks.

LovePhotography330 Loc: Indiana

My wonderful husband, who bought me the camera for a Christmas present, voted for the wrong photo! He mistakingly did not vote for mine :( :thumbdown:

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I am sure he did not think it fair to vote for yours because it was so wonderful and he knew how many votes you would get!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with jasarah

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
About 6 years now I have been taking pictures for the enjoyment. Before that it was just to capture family moments.

2) Have you had any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No I have not had any formal training.

3) What inspired you to take your winning shot?
I love to shoot water, rain drops, dew.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
I use a Nikon 40D. No special setup, just a walk in my local park.

5) Would you change anything if you could do it again?
No

6) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I am a Systems Analyst by trade, but enjoy photography.

7) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Not yet.