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Contest #6 2003
(announced Jan. 18, 2004)

First Place - Steve Coburn-Griffis Second Place - Jes Dietrich Third Place - Grayce Pedulla Dillon Honorable Mention - Jes Dietrich Honorable Mention - Beth Samsa

First Place "Spawning Shiners" Steve Coburn-Griffis

Second Place "Sleeping Swan" Jes Dietrich

Third Place "The Heavenlies" Grayce Pedulla Dillon

Honorable Mention "Searching Swan" Jes Dietrich

Honorable Mention "Morning Glory" Beth Samsa

(See judge's comments at bottom of page)

Photographer's Comments First Place - Steve Coburn-Griffis Photograph: Spawning Shiners Date taken: August 2002 Location: Cranberry Run, Riley Township, Putnam County, Ohio, USA Equipment used: Olympus C2100. Comments: This was a difficult shot to get. As a predominantly agricultural area, non-point source runoff makes any stream shots problematic at best. Fortunately, the natural lighting was just right, the stream was relatively clear and the fish were sporting their spawning colors. Second Place - Jes Dietrich Photograph: Sleeping Swan Date taken: December 2003 Location: Skovlunde, Denmark Equipment used: Nikon Coolpix 5700. Comments: I took the picture on a very foggy day. There was a calmness in the air which in this photo is expressed by the sleeping swan. Third Place - Grayce Pedulla Dillon Photograph: The Heavenlies Date taken: November 2003 Location: Florida, USA Equipment used: Kodak DC4800. Website: BetterPhoto Member: Grayce M. Dillon Comments: Almost daily I go out on my bicycle to witness the sunsets. Some are more dramatic than others. This one was photographed for an assignment of "Sacred Places." It was over a lake in my community in Florida.     Honorable Mention - Jes Dietrich Photograph: Searching Swan Date taken: December 2003 Location: Skodsborg, Denmark Equipment used: Fuji S2Pro. Comments: I find swans amazing birds and I never get tired of watching them. This particular swan made a funny pose for me. Honorable Mention - Beth Samsa Photography:  Morning Glory Date taken: June 2003 Location: Topsail Island, NC, USA Equipment used: Automatic camera. Comments: I was so excited to photograph sunrises on the beach. I got up early every morning to watch the sunrise and record it. It was a beautiful and peaceful experience.

Judge's Comments First Place: "Spawning Shiners " This is one of those lovely examples of simplicity in patterns of nature. The image evokes a patchwork quilt quality and asks us to examine nature in its disordered passion of individualtiy. Second Place: "Sleeping Swan " Quiet and elegant. The judges were moved by the elegant composition, beautiful lighting and simple beauty of this spontaneous moment of worship. Third Place: "The Heavenlies" Wow. What an amazing sky. It would be easy to say the photographer did little here to make this image. It is a beauty created by "the heavenlies." But, we know better. It still required a photographer with the technical skill, the "eye" and a camera to make the image. That's good news for the rest of us who weren't there to see it in person. Honorable Mention: " Searching Swan" Whimsical and natural. We get lots of photos of ducks and swans submitted to this contest. But this one suggests a personality. We enjoyed it. Honorable Mention: "Morning Glory" The photographer was in the right place at the right time. We only wish we could have seen it ourselves. But, I guess, in a way we did. That's why it made it to the winner's category. About the judges: Judges for this contest were: David Leeson, Kim Ritzenthaler and Darnell Jean David and Kim are founders and owners of www.fieldandforest.com. Darnell Jean is a Dallas freelancer.  For more about them please visit: About Us e-mail: David Leeson e-mail: Kim Ritzenthaler e-mail: Darnell Jean