6/7/2003 8:38:50 PM

Thank You Girda. I took your advice and cropped the image. I agree, it is better. This is actually photoshop magic. I had a rather lack-luster shot of the statues and a really nice sunset shot I took out of an airplane window. Neither was exceptional on their own, but together I think they create great image.

It was a great idea to put those two images together, Michael, and you're right: they do create a wonderful image together. Incidentally, you put them together so seamlessly that I would never have guessed that the resulting image was a composite if you hadn't told me. I'm very glad that the cropping worked for you. -Gerda

Light and dark with the sky create a wonderful sense of drama to the pic...

This is a really beautiful photo. I lived in Rome a few years ago and drove past this palazzo quite often. You have really captured that 'Roman' atmosphere, that dusky, energetic, almost raw and electric feel that Rome and il vaticano has. Well done. Also, technically speaking, you have done a superb job as well. Very crisp. Great light. Very magical....and moving.

Congrats to you :)

7/7/2003 6:14:36 PM

Congrqatulations, Michael, and best of luck in the final round.

7/7/2003 6:19:48 PM

Thanks everyone for all your kind words and encouragement.

7/7/2003 8:23:37 PM

Gerda's comment above is right - if you hadn't mentioned it, I'm sure most viewers would assume you waited patiently for that Perfect Framing of light around His head...instead, you truly worked some magic with the two photos. Congratulations on your creativity, and good luck in the finals.

7/9/2003 1:57:57 AM

This is beautiful, almost magical! Congrats! Cheryl

7/10/2003 9:24:13 AM

Thanks Mary and Cheryl, I really appreciate the comments.

7/13/2003 7:55:14 PM

congratulations!
gy

7/14/2003 4:44:40 PM

Congratulations Michael! Fantastic work in PS!

7/14/2003 4:45:52 PM

Many congratulations on this powerful image you've created! Enjoy your well deserved first place win!

7/14/2003 5:02:01 PM

Congratulations on your well deserved first place win! Beautiful image, great work!

7/14/2003 7:27:50 PM

Fantastic and inspiring... congratulations.

7/14/2003 7:44:23 PM

Great job with your combination of the two images....congrats on the big win!

7/14/2003 8:13:20 PM

I loved this image when I first saw it and I'm really delighted that it was chosen as a first place winner! Congratulations on a well deserved win!

7/15/2003 1:16:10 AM

Congratualtions- great work:-)

7/15/2003 1:48:57 AM

Thanks everyone for the great comments about my photo and the congratulations. I´m really excited about the win....finally. Betterphoto is my favorite site with very strong competition. I feel very fortunate to even get a picture in the finals... to take a first place, however, is really fantastic!

7/15/2003 7:12:16 AM

A very deserving win! Really outstanding image! Good job!

Kudos!

7/15/2003 5:32:27 PM

Many congratulations on your first place win, Michael!
Monika

7/15/2003 7:15:13 PM

WOW! I missed this one the first time around - what an incredible image! I would have hated to have to choose between this and the Grand Prize winner - that would have been a most difficult decision!

7/16/2003 10:51:54 AM

Thanks Darren, Monika and Gary for you kind words.

7/17/2003 10:11:55 AM

Great thing about this image is that is has a strong element of credibility to it. You sort of know that the sun wasn't setting back there, but the lighting on the building and the sunset work together somehow. It must have been a lot of work masking out or erasing the spaces in the balcony rail. Wonderful piece or art, skillfully crafted as well. Congratulations

7/21/2003 7:36:04 AM

Thanks Doug. I am still fairly new to Photoshop and am teaching myself as I go. I changed the color balance and hue of the building to create a more realistic scene to match the sunset. I actually spent a lot of time erasing around all the statues and balcony rails. I'm sure there is an easier way, but I'm not yet proficient enough to tackle it.

7/21/2003 7:57:10 AM

Michael, Congratulations. Your photograph is very beautiful. Can you just image what heaven must really look like. It just beyond our comprehesion. There is a Christian Song out I can only imagine. When I look at your photoit just intensfies my imagination. Kathy Struckle

8/12/2003 9:18:17 PM

Thank you Kathy. I appreciate your comment.

8/13/2003 3:32:04 AM

Congratulations on this image Michael. I am just seeing it today for the first time and with the recent passing of the Pope it made your photo even more touching. Thank you for sharing it with us and from what I can see... you certainly have a handle on Photoshop. I can't wait to check out your gallery to see the rest of your work.

4/17/2005 7:55:13 PM

Thank you very much for your comment on my photo Brenda. I thought it appropiate to re-enter a cropped version of this photo in this months contest.

4/17/2005 8:29:50 PM

Great work, great gallery, Michael!!!

5/7/2005 1:52:35 AM

Thank you Luis.

5/9/2005 9:15:54 PM

Very belated congratulations on this inspiring image Michael! It just came up on the Contest page and I had to comment!

2/4/2006 1:00:53 AM