6/16/2011 4:18:27 AM

I had to re-upload. Thanks to everyone for the very generous comments.

Linda D. Lester
Now I'm hungry! :) Awesome shot and I bet he loved his print!
6/13/2011 7:29:57 AM

Candice C. Calhoun
Fantastic portrait and an unforgettable dinner experience!
ccc
6/13/2011 7:39:10 AM

Usman Bajwa
Terrific treatment and capture, Nikki. This is even better than the one without the texture, IMHO. I hope the judges agree and its a FAVE!
UB.
6/13/2011 8:02:28 AM

Katarina Mansson
This is a winner and a beauty!
6/13/2011 8:10:32 AM

Bob Cournoyer
Perfect!!
6/13/2011 8:11:22 AM

Jeff W. Robinson
You have done an Amazing job with this portrait Nikki - Sounds like a Great time!
6/13/2011 8:44:14 AM

Patrick Rouzes
Can see why it is framed and hanging in his house, Nikki! Quite the honor, my friend! Congratulations & hope to see this again!
6/13/2011 10:49:00 AM

Joy Rector
well done
6/13/2011 10:54:51 AM

Bonnie C. Lackey
It's so nice to hear of wonderful work being appreciated and shown. Congratulations, Nikki. And I bet the dinner is a memory that will stay with you forever.
6/13/2011 11:05:44 AM

Anita Hogue
I can certainly see why he would love it! WOW, the clarity and lighting are amazing, Nikki!
6/13/2011 11:19:41 AM

6/16/2011 4:28:09 AM

Tarun Bose
Outstanding image, I feel this one deserves to be a winner. Well done Nikki. I am sure dinner was delicious.
6/13/2011 11:41:19 AM

David Phalen
What a great way for them to say thank you!! Adding the textures raises this image to elite status!!
6/13/2011 12:49:21 PM

Marcie Fowler
Love this portrait. So well done.
6/13/2011 2:57:29 PM

MELODIE C. ROBERTS
Did you bring a doggie bag back for the rest of us??
I think I see a Winner here NiK
This is Outstanding!
6/13/2011 4:42:24 PM

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna
Magnificent images and what a wonderful honor for you! :-) k
6/13/2011 5:59:41 PM

Patricia A. Coblentz
I like Dave's comment and fully agree, Nikki...truly magnificent portrait work and what a wonderful experience! Start to finish.
6/13/2011 6:47:45 PM

Memoriee G. Sconce
Nikki what fun and on top of that you have a beautiful image that I am sure we will see again.
Memoriee
6/13/2011 9:48:31 PM

Renee Doyle
Cool texture and wonderful story Nikki!!! Excellent work!
6/14/2011 12:36:47 AM

Dave Montero
Sounds like a delightful evening and your image of the Colonel is fantastic with treatments fitting the period. Well done Nikki!
6/14/2011 7:33:18 AM

Christopher J. Budny
I can't decide which I like better! The texture addition to this one is lovely, and very appropriate, in feeling/age. Congratulations again, on both versions, the large print, and the dinner outing!
6/14/2011 6:05:43 PM

Jessica Jenney
Fantastic capture, beautiful textures and treatment, Nikki! Amazing detail!
6/14/2011 6:25:14 PM

Leslie McLain
A stunning capture, Nikki.
6/15/2011 7:48:06 PM

6/16/2011 4:28:45 AM

Nikki...this is just a wonderful capture and I love the expression on his face and the texture you applied. Right into one of my favorites. Wonderful work.!

6/16/2011 4:34:46 AM

Thank you, Becky :) I had a couple of other favorites on it and I lost them because of the upload :(

6/16/2011 4:38:58 AM

A wonderful job on this portrait Nikki...love the expression you captured. Sounds like a fun experience!

6/16/2011 5:06:06 AM

A wonderful experience for an extraordinary portrait. How exciting, Nikki. Congrats!

6/16/2011 6:07:24 AM

Wow!

6/16/2011 6:47:16 AM

Guess I need to mark this a favorite Again!! ;0)

6/16/2011 1:32:15 PM

I think it's absolutely terrific that you got to do that sort of delightful followup at the dinner. I don't know which of the two images I like better. I adore them both, and they are both gold to me.

6/18/2011 8:45:05 AM

What a wonderful experience, thanks for sharing, you made me hungry, though. LOL
Beautiful capture and work!

6/18/2011 8:12:29 PM

WOW for the both story and the portrait of this handsome guy! I agree this is a definite winner!! Love the texture!

6/20/2011 6:25:49 PM

A lovely portrait, and I am sure "The Commander" is very proud of it. Thank you for a description of your meal. It sonds wonderful.

6/27/2011 10:55:00 PM

Congratulations on your awesome finalist! Good luck next round :)

7/28/2011 6:47:50 PM

Congratulations on this beautiful Finalist!

7/28/2011 7:15:05 PM

Congratulations, Nikki!!!

7/28/2011 7:25:47 PM

Fabulous Nikki, congrats on your finalist!

7/28/2011 7:35:19 PM

Nikki, Congrats on your finalist selection. Good luck.

7/28/2011 7:36:02 PM

Whoohoo Nikki another finalist. Congratulations on this award. I think this should win!

7/28/2011 7:38:14 PM

Wow!!! Everything that can be said about a photo is in this photo...color...crop...substance... and on and on...

7/28/2011 9:36:50 PM

Congratulations, Nikki, on another well done finalist.

7/28/2011 10:30:37 PM

thanx for sticking with it. super job.

7/28/2011 11:43:56 PM

Glad to this wonderful image again, Nikki. CONGRATZ on the Finalist and good good good luck up next!!!

UB.

7/29/2011 1:33:21 AM

Outstanding, Nikki!! Many congratulations on this superb Finalist!!

7/29/2011 1:48:38 AM

Congratulations once again, Nikki!

7/29/2011 4:40:47 AM

CONGRATULATIONS Nikki!!!

7/29/2011 5:03:26 AM

Congratulations on your finalist! Good luck in the next round!

7/29/2011 6:06:08 AM

Congratulations on your awesome finalist, Nikki! I hope we see it again with gold!

7/29/2011 6:31:31 AM

Big congratulations, Nikki!

7/29/2011 6:53:29 AM

Congratulation on this awesome finalist
Nikki and so very well deserved! Love the history of it and about your dinner...hope it gets gold!

jo ann c.

7/29/2011 7:48:00 AM

This is a favorite...love it, Nikki!!

7/29/2011 7:56:51 AM

I love both! What a wonderful experience. Congratulations, Nikki!!

7/29/2011 7:58:18 AM

Congratulations, Nikki on your fabulous finalist!

7/29/2011 8:15:44 AM

Well deserved, well done, simply the best...Congratulations.

7/29/2011 8:39:13 AM

I can't look at this superb Finalist and not see Gold attached. My fingers are crossed but don't think luck will be necessary - it's sure to go Gold completely on it's own fine, superbly executed merit. WTG, Nikki - Congratulations!!

7/29/2011 9:05:35 AM

Beautiful. One of your best, and that says a lot. Congratulations.

7/29/2011 9:23:44 AM

Love this version too and Huge Congrats, Nikki!

7/29/2011 10:03:18 AM

Congratulations on your finalist, Nikki.

7/29/2011 10:42:15 AM

Nikki, Big congrats on your winner!!

7/29/2011 1:21:28 PM

Such a wonderful capture, Nikki.
You caught the mood and sense of the time perfectly.
Many congratulations on your gold win.

7/29/2011 1:22:24 PM

Congratulations again, Nikki.

7/29/2011 1:23:33 PM

Yeah, Nikki!! SO happy to see this get a gold badge! Congratulations!!

7/29/2011 1:23:55 PM

I know how happy this must make you!! Congratulations, Nikki!

7/29/2011 1:26:54 PM

Couldn't help but be a winner, Nikki! Congratulations!

7/29/2011 1:34:45 PM

Congratulations, Nikki on your fantastic win!

7/29/2011 1:43:39 PM

So happy to see this a winner, Nikki...big congratulations!

7/29/2011 1:47:44 PM

A well-deserved win, Nikki! Congratulations!

7/29/2011 1:50:49 PM

I haven't seen an image of yours, Nikki, that was not a winner in my eyes. This is a phenomenal portrait!
Congratulations!

7/29/2011 1:55:30 PM

gorgeous winner, congratulations!!!

7/29/2011 1:59:53 PM

Congrats on this fabulous win, Nikki!! Love this capture!

7/29/2011 2:03:33 PM

Congratulations Nikki!

7/29/2011 2:15:20 PM

Congrats on your win Nikki . . .

7/29/2011 3:25:26 PM

BIG Congrats to you Nikki on this fabulous winner!

7/29/2011 3:29:48 PM

A fabulous winner, Nikki! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

7/29/2011 3:32:54 PM

Congrats on your wonderful winner Nikki!

7/29/2011 3:55:22 PM

WTG, Nikki! Huge congratulations on your SUPERB GOLD WINNER!! Deb

7/29/2011 4:12:43 PM

Absolutely FABULOUS, Nikki! And what a heart-warming story and memory behind it! Beautiful work, as always - and a favorite for sure! Many congratulations on this superb Winner!

7/29/2011 4:15:12 PM

Fabulous winner! WTG Nikki! :-) k

7/29/2011 4:32:18 PM

Brilliant work Nikki!!! Big Congratulations on this excellent winner!!

7/29/2011 4:33:55 PM

He should have come in first.....

Congratulations NiK

Hope you are having fun

7/29/2011 5:20:21 PM

BIG Congrats on an outstanding Winner!!

Ditto on Mel's comment!!

7/29/2011 5:24:24 PM

Congratulations on your beautiful WINNER Nikki!

7/29/2011 5:45:35 PM

Excellent work....Congratulations!

7/29/2011 5:59:15 PM

This just had to be a Gold Winner!
Congratulations Nikki!

jo ann c.

7/29/2011 6:00:37 PM

Love this, congrats.
Memoriee

7/29/2011 6:11:02 PM

Congrats on your amazing winner, Nikki.

7/29/2011 6:19:11 PM

Congrats on this exceptional Gold Winner Nikki!! Great story and memories for all.

7/29/2011 7:04:37 PM

Way to stick with a great picture Nikki! So happy to see this with the Gold. Congratulations!

7/29/2011 7:09:05 PM

So happy for you, Nikki. WTG !!! HUGE CONGRATZ on your beautiful Second Place Winner.

UB.

7/29/2011 8:58:50 PM

Congratulations on your awesome win, Nikki! Amazing capture and work!

7/29/2011 9:05:52 PM

Big congratulations on your fantastic winner,Nikki!!!:-)

7/29/2011 9:20:37 PM

YEAH!!! Big congratulations on this fantastic winner Nikki!

7/29/2011 10:33:43 PM

Congratulations on this awesome winner, Nikki! Wonderful description of the event.

7/30/2011 2:25:37 AM

Congratulations Nikki on your winner!

7/30/2011 5:13:04 AM

Wonderful work, Nikki...congrats!

7/30/2011 5:28:10 AM

Huge congrats on your win, Nikki, for this magnificent portrait!

Debby

7/30/2011 5:33:32 AM

Awesome, Nikki. Congrats on your gold!

7/30/2011 5:49:45 AM

Congratulations on your win, Nikki.

7/30/2011 6:30:12 AM

Congratulations on your winner, Nikki!

7/30/2011 6:39:51 AM

Congratulations on this amazing Winner, Nikki! WTG!

7/30/2011 7:40:12 AM

A big congratulations,Nikki!!!

7/30/2011 7:53:10 AM

Excellent! Congrats on your win.

7/30/2011 8:09:03 AM

So happy to see this get a gold, Nikki...I love this image..Congratulations and best to you!

7/30/2011 8:34:20 AM

You know how very pleased I am about this, Nikki. Congratulations to you and the Colonel.

7/30/2011 9:49:05 AM

Imagine it. Feel it. Receive it. Congratulations, your entry was very special and thanks for sharing it with all of us. Merna Nobile

7/30/2011 1:53:15 PM

Nikki, HUGE congratulations on your outstanding and well deserved Second Place Win!!! Thank you for sharing the story behind this image... very interesting and makes me hungry. :)

7/30/2011 2:12:21 PM

This is truly a wonderful portrait, Nikki. The facial expression and setting are terrific and the treatment adds to the character of the image. I enjoyed reading the information you included, as well. Congratulations on your well-deserved winner!

7/30/2011 5:05:27 PM

Awesome image...Congratulations on a well deserved Second Place win !!

7/30/2011 6:49:53 PM

Congratulations Nikki on your Win!!!

Dominick

8/1/2011 12:34:17 AM

Congratulations Nikki on this wonderful Winner! Beautiful work!

8/1/2011 8:47:48 AM

I had no doubt. Congratulations on your win Nikki. Well done.

8/1/2011 4:03:56 PM

Artistic and cool, a beautiful winning portrait Nikki. A huge congrats!!!

8/2/2011 9:26:23 AM

No surprise here, Nikki. Love it. Huge congrats.

8/3/2011 10:29:00 AM

Great portrait capture and Big congrats, finally getting around to checking out the winning photos this month, certainly well deserved here. Cheers.

8/3/2011 2:52:57 PM

What a gift Nikki. Congratulations!!!

8/18/2011 3:28:51 PM

Absolutely fabulous, Nikki! Congratulations!

10/2/2011 3:10:05 AM

Wonderful image Nikki! Congratulations.

12/21/2011 3:48:02 PM

Wow, what a difference those texture layers make--and what an artist you've become!

3/13/2013 7:37:29 AM