1/21/2005 9:28:51 PM

This is a beautiful image!!! Very nicely done!!!

1/22/2005 6:38:55 AM

A stunning image, Dick.

1/22/2005 6:43:36 AM

Gorgeous! I hope we see this again!

1/22/2005 7:54:12 AM

Linda, Patty, Bonnie and Casey; It was a great surprise coming in from an Everglades shoot today to find four thoughtful comments on the pelicans going home. The shot was bland with three pelicans casually flying towards the horizon within a foot off the surface of the ocean. The setting sun was added by separating at the horizon to give a more realistic/foggy/gloomy atmosphore to their homeward journey. We usually enter our images in the Animals category, but there was so much work done on this image we did not feel it belonged there this time... Thank you again for your kind words!!! Dick

1/22/2005 12:24:10 PM

Great work, Dick! Congrats on this well-deserved finalist!

2/18/2005 8:55:40 PM

Dick, your work paid off big time. It's a wonderful job. Congrats, and, yes, well-deserved!

2/19/2005 3:48:11 AM

Congratulations on your big time win!

2/21/2005 3:32:57 PM

Congratulations Love looking at this picture

2/21/2005 3:49:08 PM

Wonderful composite. Congrats on your FIRST PLACE WIN Richard!!!

2/21/2005 3:50:19 PM

Many congrats on your well-deserved win, Richard!

2/21/2005 4:27:49 PM

Congratulations on your First Place win Richard!

2/21/2005 5:27:22 PM

Congratulations, Richard, on your First Place win! Your image tells a wonderful story.

2/21/2005 6:05:11 PM

Congratulations on your first place win! -K

2/21/2005 6:07:22 PM

Congratulations on your win, Dick!

2/21/2005 6:37:53 PM

Congratulations on your win Dick!!!

2/22/2005 3:27:07 AM

CONGRATULATIONS on your win Dick ..:)

2/22/2005 4:34:21 AM

Very cool image. Congratulations to you!!
Judy

2/22/2005 12:47:38 PM

I am so humbly honored by the judges decision, but equally honored to have met such a warm, considerate and professional group of photographers who share my ideals and proudly submit their work for others to view and enjoy. To those old friends out there that have sent praise on past entries and those new folks that were considerate enough to send their congrats and praise, I thank you!! I will try to get to all your sites as time permits and comment on them. Thanks again! Dick

2/22/2005 4:22:16 PM

Congratulations on your win! I loved this as soon as I saw it!
Cheers from Portugal, Su

2/22/2005 11:14:38 PM

Congrats on your win, Dick!!

2/23/2005 3:14:29 AM

Dick, you've created a spactacular image. Congrats on first place !!

Photography by Dolores

2/23/2005 5:01:50 AM

Congratulations Dick on this awesome winner. Formation and bacground are perfection!

2/23/2005 6:42:43 AM

Susan, Judy, Dolores & Kristi - I can't describe how great it feels to access e-mail and feel the support you guys have given. We see some of your names regularly graciously complementing various works - what a heartwarming feeling to know the support and kind words of appreciation you guys offer to your fellow photographers. Thanks again and I look forward to communicating with you in the future. Dick

2/23/2005 10:53:38 AM

What a wonderful, glorious image! Congratulations on an outstanding win!

2/26/2005 6:29:24 AM

Donna, Thanks again! We had a great time doing this one!

2/26/2005 12:51:33 PM

While this is nice graphic art, I've got to be honest and say this computer graphic shouldn't be winning a photography contest. A computer use contest perhaps, but not a photo contest. If the main elements of a persons pictures are fabricated with Photoshop then that picture was created with a computer, not a camera. Use of graphics programs for touchups is fine, but when a person uses his machine to manufacture the major elements of a picture then that picture is NOT a photograph in any honest sense. If honesty is to be tossed out the window (to the acclaim of other photographers) how long will it be before a program is written that will permit any third grader to replace the best of camera photographers?

3/14/2005 6:53:15 AM

Douglas, Thank you for comments and your point of view. It seems that we share most of them. If an image has been digitally altered it should not be entered into a straight photo contest, which is why BetterPhoto has a category called Digital Darkroom for pictures that have been altered in Photoshop,or any other software, above and beyond the usual levels, etc. This is where this picture won first place. We believe in honesty and when we alter an image we enter that image in the proper category. So as you can see, we members at BetterPhoto do not toss honesty out the window. The only part where we don't seem to agree is on "...a third grader replacing the best of camera photographers?" At this point in time it takes great skill to manipulate a picture, and great creativity to decide how. It is an art in itself, and therefore awarded its own category. And by the way, I have seen some third graders take outstanding pictures that have won contests in our Annual Youth Fair! Age and talent don't seem to be exclusive to each other. Thanks again for taking the time to respond and express your opinion. Dick & Sara - Through The Lens Gallery

3/14/2005 8:51:17 AM

great shot!

5/12/2005 8:40:09 AM

Muneer - Thank you for taking the time to respond and provide feedback! Dick & Sara

5/12/2005 9:03:57 AM

Congratulations! Great shot! Lovely colors!

9/23/2005 6:31:05 PM

Sandra, Thanks for your kind words!!

9/27/2005 1:07:59 PM