Flower Photo Competition 2 2013 : Results

Judges Comment
After looking at so many of the submitted flower photographs, when this image came up - I immediately know, that this is going to be the winner! It brings it all down to the point. The simplicity of showing one seed is strong in appearance, as well as strong in its symbolism. How wonderful it starts all pointy at the bottom and opens up to its fullest on the top. Ready to fly off ... Just amazing!
Photographers Comment
My name is Ivan Holmedal and a Norwegian based amateur photographer. It was really cool to win this competition and with this shot. It is part of my "365 moments" project, a picture a day in 2013. You can follow my project on my website and my facebook page. This is was number 154 and shot 3. of June. I used my Sony A99 and a good old Minolta 50mm macro lens. It is post processed in Lightroom4, where I adjusted contrast and lower the dark areas, as I wanted the seed to be like a silhouette against the blue sky, with light tones. I love the simplicity of the dandelion seeds :) Cheers :)
www.holmedalfoto.net

Judges Comment
Like a painting from one of the old masters, this photo triggers a lot of emotions. Its softness in light, shade, beautiful colors and great chosen depth of field make this an exceptional image.

Judges Comment
Very powerful photo. One needs to take time to find words to write about this, since this photos speaks so strongly on its own. The rocks where this glass vase is positioned on, the bubbles building up in the water as it starts reaching its boiling point and a single rose changing from life into death. Intense and dramatic. Also the colors from warm to cold couldn't be more intense. A true WOW image.
Photographers Comment
Thank You so much! I love these competitions and seeing the work of so many talented people! My name is Randy Kroll and I live in Utah. I shot this image with a Canon 20D with a 70-200 lens on a tripod. I shot this photo specifically for this competition but it is symbolic of a relationship gone wrong. The red rose for love, the lone wedding ring, everything in a blaze and bars of captivity in the background.
www.rkrollart.com

Judges Comment
Bright and bold stands this image with vibrant colors and strong focal point. The thin lined texture of the green leaves and the little roundish pink and orange flower blossoms creates great contrast.
Photographers Comment
Thank you for awarding my photo a Mark of Excellence. Congrats to the winner and fellow recipients of a M.of A. This photo was taken this past February in Azuay, Ecuador. The whole flower is only the size of a quarter, and I found it amazing to have so many tiny individual flowers combined to make one blossom. The photo was taken with a Pentax K5 1/800s f/8 800 ISO and a SMC PENTAX DA STAR 50-135MM F2.8 ED (IF) SDM lens.

Judges Comment
There is a sensuality in this image, and the drops of water just underline this feeling. Complimenting colors of yellow and purple make it soft and strong at the same time. Great framing and selected focal point make this one of this competitions best!
Photographers Comment
My name is John Derby and I live in a small rural town outside of Springfield, MO. This Iris is one grown by my wife Ann in her garden, and the variety is called "Starship Enterprise" (go figure). The image was taken on an iPhone 4s and processed with various apps on my iPad2. I shoot both iPhoneography and traditional photography. I am very pleased and proud to have been selected as one of the runners-up in this competition.
john-derby.artistwebsites.com/

Judges Comment
Beautiful artistic and abstract photograph. An image, one can look at for a long time without disengaging. Many things happening in there and still it is not overloaded. The low contrast execution gives the flowers a gentle appearance.
Photographers Comment
I am honored to have a Mark of Excellence on my photo! My name is Denise Phrampus and I reside in North Florida. This photo was taken at a flower bed at an old school with my Fuji FinePix S4000 in black & white and then softened the contrast in PS lightroom. I love taking photographs! Congrats to the winner and runner ups. Thank you!

Judges Comment
Another strong black and white image, managed so well in the execution. Showing once and again the power of reduction and focusing on the important. The mysterious darkness reminds me of of a Nick Cave songs.
Photographers Comment
Thank-you for a mark of excellence. I was quite shocked! It was quite an honor to be chosen along with the other beautiful photos.

Judges Comment
Immediately I feel being transported into the world of this photograph. The warm colors of fall makes the observer feel welcomed get down and emerge within. This little purple flower is so delicate, and stands proudly in all its surrounding.
Photographers Comment
The photo was taken in a sheep pasture close to where I live on the 22 of July 2011. The flower is a bluebell. The camera I used was my Canon 5D MKII with the 35mm f1,4 L lens on. Lotta Ringqvist, Linköping, Sweden.
lottaringqvist.se

Judges Comment
This photo stands out from the rest. A still life image with almost a black and white appearance. The flowers are nicely spaced out and only have a few cross over points with other stems. Well composed and beautifully executed. Also the chosen neutral background works well.
Photographers Comment
Angie Rea Northern Wisconsin
www.etsy.com/shop/BeneathNorthernSkies

Judges Comment
This is such a positive image. Vivid green and red complimenting each other and the blue mountains and sky in the distance. Poppy flowers have such delicate petals which are wide and bend in interesting ways. The view from which this situation was shot makes it intimate.
Photographers Comment
My name is Leona Veltkamp. I live in Bozeman, Montana. This photo was shot just outside of Bozeman, with the Spanish Peaks in the background. I love the late spring and early summer here, when the snow is still in the mountains but flowers are also blooming. I so appreciate the changing of the seasons and that is what came to mind when I saw these poppies in a field near my home. I used a Nikon 7000 with a Nikkor 70-200 lens. There was no post processing. Thank you so much for this honor.