8/20/2005 12:18:22 AM

Melissa, I like this composition. Very appealing image

8/20/2005 12:40:18 AM

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

8/20/2005 2:33:29 AM

this is awesome Melissa. great picture.

8/20/2005 3:31:02 AM

Bet this is hanging of this child's wall in poster size!

8/20/2005 4:04:00 AM

Very Cool Shot Melissa!! =)

8/20/2005 5:29:38 AM

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!

8/20/2005 5:40:06 AM

Melissa well put together image.

Love the colors, comp and lighting.

Job well done. Kerby

8/20/2005 6:52:44 AM

Fantastic image, gorgeous shot, Melissa!

8/20/2005 12:55:21 PM

Very nice ..love the colors as well :)

8/20/2005 12:58:54 PM

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.

8/20/2005 1:03:50 PM

WOW this looks great :)

8/20/2005 7:09:26 PM

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

8/21/2005 6:20:19 AM

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

8/21/2005 6:53:01 AM

Love this one, great capture Melissa!

8/21/2005 7:16:32 AM

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

8/21/2005 7:19:20 AM

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

8/21/2005 1:14:36 PM

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

8/22/2005 4:15:48 PM

Congrats on this excellent finalist Melissa !!

9/23/2005 10:01:57 PM

Congratulations on this terrific finalist Melissa! Way to go!

9/23/2005 10:14:45 PM

Congrats :)

9/23/2005 11:01:34 PM

Congratulations on your super finalist, Melissa!!

9/24/2005 4:57:42 AM

Congratulations

9/24/2005 5:08:34 AM

Congratulations and good luck in the next round!

9/24/2005 5:33:57 AM

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

9/24/2005 6:46:46 AM

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!!

9/24/2005 7:21:30 AM

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

9/24/2005 8:01:34 AM

This is a gorgeous finalist!

9/24/2005 8:19:11 AM

Melissa, Very cool. Congrats on being a finalist!

9/24/2005 9:34:55 AM

Congratulations Melissa!The Sunset And Colors Are Beautiful,Well Done:-)

9/24/2005 10:14:05 AM

This is incredible Melissa!!! Congrats!!!!!

9/24/2005 10:14:41 AM

Awesome finalist Melissa, way to go!

9/24/2005 11:36:58 AM

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

9/24/2005 11:59:48 AM

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! :)

9/24/2005 1:17:20 PM

I am going to add that to the discription of the photo! :) Thanks Chris

9/24/2005 1:29:24 PM

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

9/24/2005 9:55:41 PM

Beautiful Melissa..good luck!

9/25/2005 4:43:06 AM

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!!!

9/25/2005 9:11:25 AM

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

9/25/2005 7:50:52 PM

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

9/26/2005 1:49:25 PM

Congrats on your finalist and POTD Melissa!!! This is a masterpiece!!!

10/1/2005 12:27:00 AM

Outstanding Melissa! Congrats on your POTD and finalist!

10/1/2005 12:28:11 AM

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

10/1/2005 12:40:46 AM

so nice! great shot !

10/1/2005 12:50:56 AM

Sensational image and great POD, Melissa.

10/1/2005 2:06:25 AM

Congratulations on POTD. GReat imag; Melissa!

10/1/2005 3:05:15 AM

Nice

10/1/2005 3:40:17 AM

Outstanding Melissa! Congrats on your POTD and finalist!

10/1/2005 3:42:49 AM

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

10/1/2005 3:52:09 AM

Beautiful and well deserved Finalist and POTD Melissa!

10/1/2005 4:25:26 AM

Congratulations On Your POTD Melissa!!Great Job:-)

10/1/2005 4:26:39 AM

Congrats Melissa!! Outstanding finalist and POTD!!!!

10/1/2005 4:29:08 AM

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.

10/1/2005 4:44:46 AM

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

10/1/2005 5:13:24 AM

congrats on the POTD

10/1/2005 5:34:09 AM

Congrats on your POTD Melissa!
Nicely done!

10/1/2005 5:35:41 AM

Congratulations, Melissa!!!

10/1/2005 5:47:00 AM

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

10/1/2005 5:51:32 AM

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

10/1/2005 6:01:21 AM

Congratulations again, Melissa!!!

10/1/2005 6:02:56 AM

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

10/1/2005 6:51:16 AM

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

10/1/2005 6:56:06 AM

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

10/1/2005 6:56:49 AM

Congrats on your POTD!!!!!

10/1/2005 7:00:19 AM

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

10/1/2005 7:04:50 AM

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

10/1/2005 7:14:49 AM

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)

10/1/2005 7:41:30 AM

Amazing work, Melissa! Congratulations on this wonderful POTD!

10/1/2005 7:44:20 AM

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!!!!

10/1/2005 7:52:10 AM

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

10/1/2005 8:06:46 AM

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

10/1/2005 8:12:39 AM

Fantastic! This is a sure winner!

10/1/2005 8:35:55 AM

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

10/1/2005 8:49:01 AM

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

10/1/2005 8:53:35 AM

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

10/1/2005 8:58:00 AM

Many congratulations on POTD Melissa - wonderful image.

10/1/2005 9:01:01 AM

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 !!

10/1/2005 9:17:45 AM

A sure winner! Congratulations!

10/1/2005 9:23:20 AM

Congrats Melissa on a great shot and well deserved POTD!

10/1/2005 9:28:44 AM

Big congratulation on wonderful POTD Melissa great winner!!!

10/1/2005 9:30:54 AM

Very great work, Melissa! Congratulations on POTD!

10/1/2005 9:34:29 AM

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

10/1/2005 10:05:26 AM

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.

10/1/2005 10:11:44 AM

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

10/1/2005 10:29:03 AM

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

10/1/2005 10:29:32 AM

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)

10/1/2005 10:59:12 AM

I love it! beautiful colors and vivid detail. Fabulous lighting. and congrats on potd

10/1/2005 12:05:39 PM

Congrats on your POTD...i love it regardless

10/1/2005 12:07:16 PM

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

10/1/2005 12:31:57 PM

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 :-)

10/1/2005 12:38:33 PM

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)

10/1/2005 1:21:17 PM

Congrats to you Melissa on your POTD!

10/1/2005 2:00:17 PM

Way to go Melissa! Congratulations on your POTD!

10/1/2005 4:50:37 PM

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

10/1/2005 5:22:33 PM

Wonderful work, Melissa! Congratulations on your POTD!

10/1/2005 6:03:22 PM

Awesome image!! Congrats on you POTD!

10/1/2005 7:21:15 PM

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!

10/3/2005 9:01:11 AM

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)

10/3/2005 9:08:25 AM

Congratulations on your finalist and potd win!!

10/3/2005 10:22:56 AM

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

10/3/2005 10:24:10 AM

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

10/3/2005 6:20:22 PM

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!!!!:):)

10/6/2005 8:29:48 AM

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

9/17/2007 5:56:24 AM

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

7/26/2008 7:13:19 PM

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

7/26/2008 7:15:27 PM