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BMX Sunset


 
BetterPhoto.com Photo Contest FinalistBetterPhoto.com Photo of the Day   BMX Sunset
BMX Sunset
This photo was entered in the digital darkroom catagory because the background on this image was replaced. The photo is a composite of two images within a few minites of one another. The sun of the sunset is what is actually lighting the boy from the frount. The Sunset was taken as I rotated myself to the left of the boy and did not have the boy in the image at all. The lighting is very similar in this image because I used the same light to light the boy and then replaced the background with the photo that was actually lighting the boy. I should also mention that the rays of the sun are actual rays and not digitally rendered.

Melissa L. Zavadil

 
 
 

Leanne M.E. Boyd
 

Cool image, Melissa! This would make a great advertizing campain.


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August 20, 2005

 

Paul Sikora
  Melissa, I like this composition. Very appealing image


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August 20, 2005

 

Donna Dunbar
  Great Image Melissa I think this is one we will see again!!


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August 20, 2005

 

John Matthews
  this is awesome Melissa. great picture.


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August 20, 2005

 
- Bonnie C. Lackey

BetterPhoto Member
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Bonnie C. Lackey's Gallery
  Bet this is hanging of this child's wall in poster size!


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August 20, 2005

 

Mary L. Graham
  Very Cool Shot Melissa!! =)


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August 20, 2005

 

Tammy Scott
  This is such a cool shot, Melissa!

CJ (my daughter who just walked up while I was opening the shot)said she liked the lighting! She said it was neat!


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August 20, 2005

 

Kerby Pfrangle
  Melissa well put together image.

Love the colors, comp and lighting.

Job well done. Kerby


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August 20, 2005

 

Ermanno Radice
  Fantastic image, gorgeous shot, Melissa!


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August 20, 2005

 
- Shelly A. Van Camp

BetterPhoto Member
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Shelly A. Van Camp's Gallery
  Very nice ..love the colors as well :)


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August 20, 2005

 

teresina m. wheaton
  Melissa great composition on this one. My little boy loves doing stuff like this. The colors are just wonderful and I love the way the light is. Just a great job all around.


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August 20, 2005

 

Lynn Crawford
  WOW this looks great :)


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August 20, 2005

 

DiAnna F. Paulk
  Wow, Melissa!! I'm sure we'll see this in the winners' group for August!!!


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August 21, 2005

 

Olivia Navarro
  AWESOME shot, Melissa!!!!!! The lighting is fantastic!


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August 21, 2005

 

Barbara Helgason
  Love this one, great capture Melissa!


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August 21, 2005

 

Johnny Santoso
  Stunning... I am speechless.. simply one of the best.. thanks for sharing Melissa.. regards,
johnny santoso.


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August 21, 2005

 

Jenny Bosmans
  Terrific image, Melissa!! Fantastic lighting and composition!! Love this!


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August 21, 2005

 

Alisha L. Ekstrom
  WOW Melissa...FANTASTIC image...I LOVE this!! GREAT lighting...Great comp....I bet we see this one again!! FANTASTIC..BEAUTIFUL!!! LOVE IT!!!:):)


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August 22, 2005

 

Cathy Stancil
  Congrats on this excellent finalist Melissa !!


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September 23, 2005

 

Jill Flynn
  Congratulations on this terrific finalist Melissa! Way to go!


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September 23, 2005

 
- LJ Corliss

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LJ Corliss's Gallery
  Congrats :)


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September 23, 2005

 

Jenny Bosmans
  Congratulations on your super finalist, Melissa!!


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September 24, 2005

 
- Donna K. Kilcher

BetterPhoto Member
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Donna K. Kilcher's Gallery
  Congratulations


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September 24, 2005

 
- Linda D. Lester

BetterPhoto Member
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Linda D. Lester's Gallery
  Congratulations and good luck in the next round!


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September 24, 2005

 

Susana Ms Heide
  This is absolutely STUNNING Melissa!!!! That amazing sunset makes your boy and his bike look like a star!!! CONGRATS!!!!


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September 24, 2005

 

Barbara Helgason
  Congratulations Melissa, I loved this the first time, I'm thrilled to see this as a finalist, now I want to see it one more time!!


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September 24, 2005

 

KHAWLA Haddad
  Congratulations on this wonderful finalists, Melissa such wonderful work on it hope to seee it again reall soon!!!!


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September 24, 2005

 

Mata Patan
  This is a gorgeous finalist!


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September 24, 2005

 

Sue L. Cullumber
  Melissa, Very cool. Congrats on being a finalist!


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September 24, 2005

 

Terry R. Hatfield
  Congratulations Melissa!The Sunset And Colors Are Beautiful,Well Done:-)


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September 24, 2005

 

Sandy Landon
  This is incredible Melissa!!! Congrats!!!!!


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September 24, 2005

 

Deb Holmes-Hatfield
  Awesome finalist Melissa, way to go!


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September 24, 2005

 

Chris M. Rembold
  Was the boy lit with a wireless off camera flash? Amazing comosition in this sunset!


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September 24, 2005

 

Melissa L. Zavadil
  Very good observance of light! Chris this photo was entered in the digital darkroom catagory because the background on this image was replaced. The photo is a composite of two images within a few minites of one another. The sun of the sunset is what is actually lighting the boy from the frount. The Sunset was taken as I rotated myself to the left of the boy and did not have the boy in the image at all. The lighting is very similar in this image because I used the same light to light the boy and then replaced the background with the photo that was actually lighting the boy. Thanks for noticing that! :)


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September 24, 2005

 

Melissa L. Zavadil
  I am going to add that to the discription of the photo! :) Thanks Chris


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September 24, 2005

 

Jennifer Rennison
  Excellent composite, Melissa! Beautiful lighting and composition! Congratulations on your finalist!


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September 24, 2005

 

Susan Patton
  Beautiful Melissa..good luck!


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September 25, 2005

 

Nobu Nagase
  Bravo, Melissa, and congratulations on your finalist!!!
This is absolutely fabulous work of the photo skill and the digital darkroom comibined!!!
Best of best wishes on the next level!!!


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September 25, 2005

 

Lori Carlson
  Awesome work and creativeness Melissa~this is one awesome image!! Congratulations! :0)


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September 25, 2005

 

Nicole Grimsley
  Another great shot of your adorable boy. Good luck and a well deserved finalist!


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September 26, 2005

 
- Laurence Saliba

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Laurence Saliba
Laurence Saliba's Gallery
  Congrats on your finalist and POTD Melissa!!! This is a masterpiece!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Leanne M.E. Boyd
  Outstanding Melissa! Congrats on your POTD and finalist!


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October 01, 2005

 

Susie Peek-Swint
  Fabulous image Melissa ~ a well-deserved POTD ~ great work in combining the layers!


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October 01, 2005

 

Wilson Low
  so nice! great shot !


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October 01, 2005

 

Ronald Balthazor
  Sensational image and great POD, Melissa.


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October 01, 2005

 

Donna R. Moratelli
  Congratulations on POTD. GReat imag; Melissa!


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October 01, 2005

 

Scott Pedersen
  Nice


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October 01, 2005

 

Claudette Foote
  Outstanding Melissa! Congrats on your POTD and finalist!


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October 01, 2005

 

Joy E. Cobb
  Amazing photo. Congratulations - you deserved the recognition! The lighting is just beautiful.


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October 01, 2005

 

Donna W. Neal
  Beautiful and well deserved Finalist and POTD Melissa!


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October 01, 2005

 

Terry R. Hatfield
  Congratulations On Your POTD Melissa!!Great Job:-)


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October 01, 2005

 

Linda Proctor
  Congrats Melissa!! Outstanding finalist and POTD!!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Virginia L. Allison
  Congrats Melissa. I am usually not drawn to people shots but this is amazing. I could look at this and see different aspects for a long time. Beautiful! That must have been a great end to a beautiful day.


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October 01, 2005

 

Diane L. Thomas
  Melissa, Great shot and PS work. Congrats on the finalist win. Diane Thomas


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October 01, 2005

 

Joy Rector
  congrats on the POTD


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October 01, 2005

 

Michelle R. Kovach
  Congrats on your POTD Melissa!
Nicely done!


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October 01, 2005

 

Colette M. Metcalf
  Congratulations, Melissa!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Olivia Navarro
  Yaaay, Melissa!!!! Congrats on your awesome finalist AND POTD!!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Leonard Pierce
  Congratulations on your very well deserved POTD and finalist Melissa!!! Beautiful image and FANTASTIC work!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Jenny Bosmans
  Congratulations again, Melissa!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Kimberly J. Whipps
  This didn't win? How is that possible? Incredible photo Melissa. Congrats.


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October 01, 2005

 

Laura E. OConnor
  CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA!!! Amazing photo!! You must be SO jazzed about your POTD!!! WAY TO GO!


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October 01, 2005

 

Wayne Nolting
  Very colorful and sharp image. The side lighting on the subject really made him stand out and the background is so ideal for this type of shot. The boy and his family must be ecstatic


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October 01, 2005

 

Kara L. Hendricks
  Congrats on your POTD!!!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Wendy Stevenson
  Superb image and amazing PS work! Congrats on your POTD win!! Beautifully done!


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October 01, 2005

 

Lisa Deaton
  What a great photo!!! I ove all the work you did and the great effect it produced. Congrats on the fantastic finalist!


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October 01, 2005

 

Melissa L. Zavadil
  Wow!! I am so surprised! I can not believe I got a POTD!! This is great! I have never had one yet :o)

Thanks everyone for their wonderful comments! I really appreciate all of them! :o)


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October 01, 2005

 

Marsha S. Smith
  Amazing work, Melissa! Congratulations on this wonderful POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

Susana Ms Heide
  This is so exciting Melissa!!! This photo desrves every bit of this recognition!!! You know that I love this image! CONGRATS on your first POTD!!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Tony Gutowski
  Spectacular Image,Melissa. Nice work in
the digital darkroom. I bet your kids
love it!-T.G


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October 01, 2005

 

Diana J. DeLucia
  One of the most stunning images I have seen in a long time. You could sell this to any BMX magazine. Awsome...


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October 01, 2005

 

Donna L. Palmlund
  Fantastic! This is a sure winner!


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October 01, 2005

 

Debra Curran
  Absolutely fantastic image! Any BMX org would be all over this!


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October 01, 2005

 

Vicki Hunt
  Well, WOW! This is totally awesome! Congrats on POTD!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Jon Kolstad
  All I can say is WOW!, what a great capture!


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October 01, 2005

 

Mary Clarke
  Many congratulations on POTD Melissa - wonderful image.


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October 01, 2005

 

Eric Schneider
  IMPRESSED !!!! I dont use this word llightly. There are a lot of great photos in POTD, but this one really jumped out at me. Well done indeed !!


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October 01, 2005

 

Danilo Piccioni
  A sure winner! Congratulations!


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October 01, 2005

 

Diane Dupuis
  Congrats Melissa on a great shot and well deserved POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

KHAWLA Haddad
  Big congratulation on wonderful POTD Melissa great winner!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Luhut Napitupulu
  Very great work, Melissa! Congratulations on POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

Sharon Day
  Big congratulations on POTD, Melissa!!! Wonderful shot! WTG!!!


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October 01, 2005

 

Juli Schatz
  I hate to throw a negative into all these great comments, but I came to the discussion to ask whether this was a "straight" shot or Photoshopped, and I see it was indeed a compilation. I think the two images individually ARE fantastic -- colors, pose, everything -- and the composition & concept are really great -- but it LOOKS doctored.


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October 01, 2005

 

Linda Stander
  stunning!!! the clarity, lighting, colors are brilliant. well done on this one. congrats on the POTD.


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October 01, 2005

 

Karen Kulin
  Great use of light! This is really dynamic. I don't think it looks "doctored" because we witnessed scenes similar to this on mountain biking trips to Moab.

Karen


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October 01, 2005

 

Melissa L. Zavadil
  Juli, I appreciate your comment and your critique. At least it doesn't look like bad ps skills... LOL LOL LOL!! Ok, I know that there are some people that are completely and utterly not into doctoring a photo at all and try to get the best shot with the camera they have. Well, its not my style. I can value the work that the 'realists' like/do. I can also value the work that I like and do. I see great things in each of these types of work.

Anyway, I think what you are seeing is that everything is so perfectly vivid and perfectly exposed. There are a lot of photographers that smush photos together here in Colorado to get that exposed look because, the sun with the mountains makes such a splended display. So, I am more used to seeing this type of a shot, doctored or not. There are a lot of great photos that look doctored but, just because someone doctors a photo does not mean it is bad, so in all I will take your comment as a compliment.

I have to agree with Karens comment reguarding Moab. I love that place and I have spent numberous times there the place is spectacular and scenes like this are really an everyday occurance!! They have awesome riding too by the way!! :o)


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October 01, 2005

 

Laura Clay-Ballard
  I love it! beautiful colors and vivid detail. Fabulous lighting. and congrats on potd


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October 01, 2005

 

Cathy Barrows
  Congrats on your POTD...i love it regardless


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October 01, 2005

 

Marsha S. Smith
  Melissa, I had to come back again, just to again say this is gorgeous and to say to others "DUH - IT IS IN THE DIGITAL DARKROOM CATEGORY!" The whole point of that category is to test our skills in PS and other digital manipulation programs. AND you stated up front it was a compilation. Great job, as always!
Marsha


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October 01, 2005

 

Mary N C. Taitt
  Gorgeous shot, utterly gorgeous! Great work in PS, and taking the original images. Nice lighting. Congratulations, Melissa, on your finalist and POTD!

I am with the school that says the final image rocks! No matter how you got there--it was, after all, YOUR WORK!

Do you like your 20D? Can you compare it to a 10D?

Mary :-)


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October 01, 2005

 

Melissa L. Zavadil
  Thanks you guys! I appreciate all the comments! :o)

Mary I can compare it with the 10D because that is what I had before my 20D. I wouldn't say it is a huge upgrade unless you want more pixels which I needed for my work. Otherwise I don't think it is worth the money to upgrade from a 10D to a 20D they are just so so similar. I do think the 20D is a much faster camera (which is great for sports-my kids do a lot) and has a little more options for artsy stuff. One of the biggest things I noticed between the two cameras was the length of time it took to turn the camera on (boot it up). The 20D pop its up, the 10D took a little pause (really not a big deal) just something that I noticed. But, for the price you can get for a 10D these days and the amount you have to spend to upgrade to the 20D--I don't think overall the swap is great from a money and feature perspective. I am happy with the camera, it is great and wonderful. If I could have waited to upgrade I would have waited for a mark 1DS to come down in price I think that that is a better swap. I am sure a lot of others will have differing perspectives so feel free to chime in! :o)


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October 01, 2005

 

Deb Holmes-Hatfield
  Congrats to you Melissa on your POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

Jill Flynn
  Way to go Melissa! Congratulations on your POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

Anita Taylor
  Well, it's all been said, Melissa! So, I'll just add another congratulations :)


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October 01, 2005

 

Pu Chen
  Wonderful work, Melissa! Congratulations on your POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

Kathleen R. Struckle
  Awesome image!! Congrats on you POTD!


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October 01, 2005

 

Juli Schatz
  Hi Melissa- No, I don't have anything against "doctoring" or manipulating digital photos -- it's been done since the beginning of photogtaphy, in the chemical instead of digital darkroom, on the enlarger (sandwiching slides, dodging, burning, etc.) instead of on the computer screen. As I said, I loved your concept, and the individual pictures were outstanding -- I just thought (only my opinion!) that it looked "fixed". . . . but surely a WHOLE lot better than I could ever hope to do!


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October 03, 2005

 

Melissa L. Zavadil
  Hello Juli, Point taken :o)

Why don't you post a gallery so we all can see your work and have discussions!! It is a great community and we are not out to get each other. :o) We would love for you to chime in! :o)

Have a great day!! :o)


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October 03, 2005

 

Donna La Mattino Pagakis
  Congratulations on your finalist and potd win!!


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October 03, 2005

 

Lori Carlson
  Happy for you with your POTD recognition!!! Congratulations, Melissa!! :0)


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October 03, 2005

 

BetterPhoto Member
  wow very interesting photograph indeed..love the coloring ...congrats!!!


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October 03, 2005

 

Alisha L. Ekstrom
  CONGRATS on your POTD!! I KNEW we would see this one again..& WE DID!! YIPPEEE for you!! I thought it was a masterpiece when I FIRST saw it & STILL do!!! LOVE IT my friend!!!!:):)


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October 06, 2005

 

Deon
  Excellent composition and the lighting is incredible. Congratulations Melissa on POTD.


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September 17, 2007

 

Jennifer A. Lambert
  This is amazingly beautiful. Everything in this shot screams to me: enjoyment, Dream chasing, Beauty, Fun and an accomplishment. OH and of course FAST Motorcycle Boys Dreams !! VERY NICE and very pretty as well.
Blessings, Jenny N Alabama


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July 26, 2008

 

Jennifer A. Lambert
  Excuse the motorcycle part...I ment dirt bike....and was thinking Motorcycle...LOL !
Blessings, ( embarrassed ) Jenny


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July 26, 2008

 
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