12/26/2005 6:26:04 AM

Stunning! She has Beautiful eyes! Amazing capture Maria!

12/26/2005 6:33:13 AM

Yep, this has winner written all over it. Those eyes are just incredible!

12/26/2005 7:26:10 AM

Beautiful, mysterious, intriguing, and a wonderful capture, Maria!

12/26/2005 9:02:14 AM

Mysterious!!!! The eyes have it!!

12/26/2005 9:42:38 AM

Whoa AMAZING! Impressive eyes. If this doesn't win...then I have to question who is judging! LOVE IT!
Sheesh

12/26/2005 3:25:17 PM

Thanks a lot everyone. =)

12/26/2005 10:28:51 PM

Wow! You can do some amazing things with (our) camera. There are a lot of likes and dislikes about it. I would love to hear how you got some of your shots. I never p.s. except for color filters and glows. Have any advise?

12/27/2005 7:29:37 PM

Thank you Richard =). Well, first let me say that I hate my (our :P) camera. I don't know what kind of advice I could give, except for practicing and taking hundreds of pictures. I should post pictures from only a year ago so you could see how much practice has helped me. Since our camera seems to be mean when it comes to certain lighting, I only take pictures outside or under very bright lights inside. That seems to be all the camera can handle without getting all noisy. As for PS, you should try using it more often. When I want to keep my pictures looking as real as possible, I only use basic adjustments, but some of the more extreme edits can be fun. Plus it is great for the creative process.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

12/28/2005 6:17:21 PM

Awesome work, Maria! Love this image!

12/31/2005 11:55:42 AM

Congratulations!

1/21/2006 12:12:08 AM

Congrats on your finalist. Really surprised it didn't go further. Wonderful image Maria.

1/21/2006 12:16:23 AM

This is amazing Maria! Congratulations.

1/21/2006 5:13:38 AM

Congratulations!!!!!!

1/21/2006 8:48:01 AM

Simply AWESOME, Maria! Framing, composition, everything is working. An image to remember. Congratulations on your well deserved spot in the finals!

1/21/2006 10:34:31 PM

This is so beautiful! An amazing portrait. Very well done. Congrats!

-Fawn

Http://TimeExposure.tripod.com

1/22/2006 1:47:47 PM

Congratulations, Maria. :) This is gorgeous!! Good to see you here.

1/23/2006 7:53:42 AM

Congratulations on this wonderful finalist, Maria!

Cathy :)

1/23/2006 11:13:42 AM

Maria, it was only a matter of time before one of yours became a winner. This is absolutely spectacular! Congratulations!!!!

1/24/2006 7:51:02 AM

Amazing shot!
Congrats on your win!
~:O)

1/24/2006 8:38:30 AM

LOL I didn't know how the contest worked earlier and I thought Man, Maria got cheated if she only got a finalist out of this! But low and behold...this is more like it. Awesome Maria! My sincere Congratulations!! IT is a well deserved win! :D

1/24/2006 8:43:47 AM

Congrats again! You have amazing talent! I can't wait to see what you'll be producing in a year!

1/24/2006 9:03:43 AM

WOW ~ you're getting everything possible from your camera and more! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

1/24/2006 10:55:52 AM

Congratulations on your Second place winner!!!

1/24/2006 8:37:28 PM

Stunning image Maria, Congratulations!

1/24/2006 8:46:46 PM

Wonderful! Congratulations!!

1/25/2006 4:24:43 AM

Congratulations on this fine winner Maria

1/25/2006 4:39:04 AM

Congratulations on your Second Place win, Maria!

Cathy :)

1/25/2006 3:45:20 PM

Thank you so much everyone! I am so excited =)

1/26/2006 11:08:27 PM

Simply gorgeous. Congrats to you!

2/3/2006 1:17:03 PM

Just a question, is it photoshoped? (her black wear) Thanks for responding.

2/5/2006 3:49:48 PM

Nope, not photoshopped. It was just a wrinkled old cloth. I cut a piece out, clipped it up and looked through. What part did you think was photoshopped?

2/5/2006 4:26:48 PM

excellent photo Maria.
well worth a winner badge, congradulations.

2/9/2006 7:21:22 AM

Maria...beautiful photograph, I saw it on the home page and it took my breath away!
you also have some very nice ones in your gallery!
You say you did not photoshop....are you saying you did not enhance it at all? The eyes are so bright and piercing in this and many of your photos, if you are not photoshoping them to bring them out, what are you doing? They are awesome. I would love to know how you get that look

2/12/2006 7:41:14 AM

This is great, and really inspiring. Gongrats to your win, Maria. Well deserved :-))

2/24/2006 9:15:08 AM

Excellent shot, very well captured.

3/27/2008 6:46:09 AM