The Little Girl in the Garden
Uploaded: August 05, 2010
~Zilker Botanical Gardens - Austin, TX~
She wasn't there when I set up to take this shot...and then, there she was in my viewfinder when I was ready to snap the photo...when I looked again to take a few more shots, she was gone. One of those moments that seemed like almost a dream...Happy to get the one shot of her, tho. :)
Reentered into CA 02/12
Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 2/100 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 320, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 38.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300
Erin L. Perkins-Watry August 05, 2010
Beautiful shot, Valarie! I love the Zilker Botanical Gardens! #1295047Jeff Robinson August 05, 2010
Enchanting! Wonderful work Valarie! Jeff #8807413Marcie A. Fowler August 05, 2010
Beautiful. #8807456Leslie McLain August 05, 2010
Beautiful capture, Valerie. #8807480Patricia Seidler August 05, 2010
Love the tones and POV leading right up to that little girl Valarie. Maybe Thomas Kincaid would be interested in this to paint - for a price of course! #8807485John Rivera August 05, 2010
Beautifully composed and captured Valarie! #8807491R. J. Laudenbacher August 05, 2010
This looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale and you have such an enchanting story to go with it. The tones and your comp on this is gorgeous. #8807517Robert R. Goodman August 05, 2010
Hi Valarie,beautiful image my friend.LOL!I'm thinking maybe a ghost.I like how green everything is,a color I don't get to see in the desert that much!!! #8807544Douglas Pignet August 05, 2010
Wonderful capture with great post work as well #8807546Danny B. Head August 05, 2010
I love everything about this image. The treatment is outstanding as well as the comp. Love the way the eye is lead to the little girl! A fav for me! #8807596Linda D. Lester August 05, 2010
The thumbnail had my attention and when I opened it it was a big WOW!!! This is a beauty!! #8807601Vickie J. Jenkins August 05, 2010
Beautiful, enchanting shot. Gorgeous tones. #8807689Monnie Ryan August 05, 2010
A gorgeous place, Valarie! Maybe this is where Alice in Wonderland surfaces every now and then...?? #8807732Val Feldman August 05, 2010
The rabbit hole!!!! Thanks, Monnie - it's a good explanation of her disappearance as any! :) :) #8807764Julie Burnett August 05, 2010
Enchanting, gorgeous, a true fairy tale feel, Val. (I could believe in rabbit holes....) #8807786Carol Flisak August 05, 2010
Stunning, enchanting image, Valarie! I agree with Danny... I love everything about this. It is an image that I can sit and linger with and look at for a long time. Well done! #8807805Rolando Rosito August 05, 2010
This is beautiful Valarie! #8807836Kathleen Rinker August 05, 2010
Gorgeous image!!! She must have been the spirit of the forest!!! #8807880Nikki McDonald August 05, 2010
Beautiful capture and what wonderful effects -- so rich and golden -- enchanted and enchanting are perfect adjectives for this lovely image, Valarie. #8807883Jeana Clark August 05, 2010
~J~ #8807941
Ruth E. Foster-Lindsay August 05, 2010
Wow Valarie! This looks so magical!Kathy Salerni August 05, 2010
Enchanted AND magical are the words I would choose to describe the wonderful image, Val! Terrific treatment and POV with the path leading up to the little girl! I love it! #8808062Stan Kwasniowski August 05, 2010
Valerie, yours is a work of "art" #8808119Jack Ryan August 05, 2010
An interesting story and a beautiful, well composed photo. (Apparently well timed as well.) Great work. #8808120Anita Hogue August 05, 2010
All I can say is WOW WOW!!! #8808147Debra R. Harder August 05, 2010
I believe this would be every little girl's dream! WOW, Valerie! This is truly mesmerizing! Love the lighting, colors, POV and treatment. I'm sure we'll see this beauty again! Deb #8808248Debra R. Harder August 05, 2010
Sorry Valarie...I meant to type Valarie...not Valerie!! My typing isn't the best...LOL! Deb #8808255Val Feldman August 05, 2010
No problem, Deb...everyone gets it wrong - I'll go by any version :) #8808258Dianna Murphy August 05, 2010
I love the treatment Val. The colors are so intriguing. I love the addition of the little girl to lend perspective and proportion. Maybe she was a fairy! #8808417Bojan Bencic August 05, 2010
Beautiful light and color, Valarie. Dreamy image. #8808444Gina Cormier August 05, 2010
Oh boy...we'll see this again my friend!!! Simply breathtaking Val!! It pulls you right in and I love the effects too.I don't think the little girl was actually there...I think you were sipping something!! ;-)
Oh did I say sipping? I meant gulping.... #8808478
Val Feldman August 05, 2010
LOL, Gina!! Nope, not this time! No brandy in my AM coffee, no taste of the vine on my lips, I swear...that little girl vanished into thin air, GG!!!! If it wasn't for the distance in miles between charming old Cape Cod and hot ol' TX, I'd think you were behind this!! #8808507Alan L. Borror August 05, 2010
WOW!!! What a fantastic image, Valerie! Into my faves! #8808529Donna La Mattino Pagakis August 05, 2010
Dreamy, beautiful image Valarie! #8808587Gord MacEachern August 05, 2010
A real jaw dropper Valarie, a real pleasure just to view!!!!! #8808630Carol L. Fowler August 05, 2010
Looks like a page from a fairy tale- spectacular, jaw-dropping, mesmerizing work of art! And the little girl is perfectly placed- more Twilight action! #8808668Rony Sagy August 05, 2010
What a wonderful visual interpretation of the little girl's appearance in this beautiful spot at Zilker Park. The fantastic colors and effects do make this photo feel like a fairy tale. Art at its best. #8808685Pamela Shane August 05, 2010
Oh, my Valarie!! This image is simply magical. Outstanding work; perhaps she was an angel?!? So, you are a transplanted Youngstowner? #8808861Ron McEwan August 05, 2010
Valarie this is one super piece of work. WTG we will see this again, I am sure. #8808928Sam Britt August 05, 2010
Beautiful image, great composition & treatment, Val. Did you use the Orton Technique on this? #8808980Ellen Hodges August 05, 2010
Very beautiful little girl that visited your fairy tale image! Soooooo very lovely!!!!! #8808985Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna August 05, 2010
Incredible capture, Val! Such a beautiful image! Maybe Outer Limits while you are at it! LOLThomas E. Hinds August 05, 2010
This image is fantastic, Valarie! Once again, I'm in awe! #8809039Jean-Pierre Ducondi August 06, 2010
Wow this is really good. Love the dreamy feeling and subject. Great work Valarie.Marilyn Cornwell August 06, 2010
Gorgeous image - everything is so perfect! #8809490Marty Straub August 06, 2010
If only you could see my face right now, there would be no need for me to type here, Valarie. This is the most beautiful, outstanding "Secret Garden" like photo I've ever seen. It now takes the place of the last one that had such a moniker; it, too, was yours. I'm not going to type anymore; just one word: perfect.P.S. That was NOT a little girl, Val. da-da da-dum, da-da da-dum [TZ theme.] #8809872
Tammy Espino August 06, 2010
Magical~ #8809947Patrick Rouzes August 06, 2010
Exceptional shades of green, golden tones, lighting, perspective, clarity & phenomenal mood here, Valarie! An enchanting & magical image & story here! I believe she was an angel or a ghost?????Ann H. Belus August 06, 2010
Wow, Val, this is really, really beautiful! The sunlight streaming through the trees gives it a feeling of the surreal...absolutely fantastic...a place I would just love to sit and absorb the beauty for hours! Catching the little girl in there perfectly completes the scene! Fantastic job, Val! #8810541JO ANN CLEVELAND August 06, 2010
Totally gorgeous Val, Frame it and Hang It!Have a great weekend...
jo ann c. #8810949
Tommy E. Burgess August 06, 2010
What an ethereal masterpiece you've captured here Val!!! Normally I would say I hope we see this again, but with this capture I hope we see a first place or better!! Stunning!! #8811229Nina Shields August 07, 2010
Valarie, this is fantastic; your use of color, lighting and composition totally draw the viewer into the image; truly masterful work; love it!! #8812101Julianne Bradford August 07, 2010
Nina's right Valarie..this is just fantastic! I love your pov..draws you right in :-) #8812333Tammy M. Anderson August 08, 2010
This is absolutely breathtaking and a for sure winner, Valarie. Everything is perfect! #8813001Stefania Barbier August 08, 2010
GORGEOUS! #8813721Ann Coates August 09, 2010
I don't know what's left to say, everyone has said it, enchanting, breathtaking, fairytale. What a beautiful place and the little girl sets the scene perfectly. Beautifully dreamy Valarie. #8816296Jim Baines August 09, 2010
This is too much, Val!! I am speechless! #8816554Val Feldman August 10, 2010
Thank you so much, everyone...I really appreciate your comments. Wish I knew where that little girl went, tho! :) #8817488Patti Coblentz August 11, 2010
Beautiful, dreamy image, Val...excellent and artistic work!! A favorite for me, too!!!Karen Celella August 11, 2010
Fabulous treatment, Valerie. This could be the cover of the story book of the disappearing little girl. #8819907Val Feldman August 12, 2010
Thanks so much Patti and Karen! #8822172Maria A. Gonzalez August 13, 2010
Very moving image,Val with beautiful lighting and story..Chuck S. Frizzell August 17, 2010
Wow Valarie, what a beautiful spot, and a great capture. Well done! #8843178Laura E. Swan August 18, 2010
I love this so much and I love your story, too, Val. I say similar things on MY images but I am just playing make believe. I BELIEVE -YOU-! WOW! Maybe she was an angel in disguise? NEAT!Instant FAV!
-Laura :D
So nice to have you visiting my work today. Come back anytime!!! :) #8845926
Amanda J. Tanner August 24, 2010
I love this image. It is magical, inspiring and keeps your attention, so much to look at. Beautiful work Valarie...into my favorites. A Winner! #8858586Rod Partington September 13, 2010
This is Awesome Valarie!Tommy E. Burgess September 15, 2010
I just wanted to say that I'm surprised this didn't make a finalist this month. This was probably my favorite capture I saw all last month and really wanted to see it not only get a finalist, but get a gold. I'd consider a re-submit because 15 of us can't be wrong, right? Have a wonderful day and happy shooting Val.Laura E. Swan September 15, 2010
Huge congrats on your wonderful finalist!!!-Laura :D
P.S. Okay, okay...you didn't get one...BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE...Like Tommy said!!! (TOTALLY!)
(LOTW here, signing off for the night! Zzzzzz)
_ #8906638
Dayna Cain September 17, 2010
Val, I just keep coming back to this image. VERY mystical feel to it. This is a winner in my book. Beautiful! #8912583Laura E. Swan September 18, 2010
ON GOING GOLD!!! WHAT ??? NO GOLD ???
RE-ENTER!!! IT IS WORTHY!!!! WE MEAN IT!!!
-Laura :) !!! #8914658
Dayna Cain August 30, 2011
Glad to see this one again, Val. It should have gone gold before. I've got my fingers crossed for this time around. It's to amazing not to win. I love it. I wish you all the luck in the world! #9642331Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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