| Contest Impressions |
~ I was so astounded to see such talent in this photo contest. I saw images which depict beauty
and simplicity along with images that used light skillfully. I saw images which had the
ability to draw the viewer into the image and touch your heart. There were images that left
you yearning to see more and razor sharp action stopping images with stunning rich color
that almost didn’t seem real. Thanks to all the photographers who submitted images. It was
a pleasure to be a part of this contest.
~There were some amazing, knock-out photos entered: technically perfect, artistically conceived,
masterfully executed. There were a select few to which I gave scores of "10" across the board. To
those who received these scores, I offer congratulations, and my respect. On the other side of
the coin were photos that were out of focus, incorrectly exposed, poorly cropped, and/or showed
little understanding of horses.
~In this contest, there was evidence of photographers with artistic eyes, good camera skills and
good knowledge of their subjects. Many photographs contained creative use of natural light
sources and camera angles. There were lots of interesting lines and colors that will continue
to keep viewers' eyes appreciating these works of art for a longtime to come. It appears that in
this fine world of equine photography, individuals continue to raise the bar with their creativity and talents.
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| Judge and Contest Administration Staff Favorites |
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Leopard Appaloosa
Jennay Hitesman-- Judge
www.manephoto.com
I saw many wonderful and beautiful images. However it is this particular image that is my
favorite. It is so stunning in its contrast of black and white. The light, color, flow of the
lines in the mane, and expression of this horse make it my favorite pick.
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Winter Dawn
Terri Miller - Judge
www.terrimiller.com
Wow. I wouldn't change a thing. Cropping, lighting, the subtlety and complete use of tonal range, the precision of the composition.... A stunner!
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Pastoral Heaven
Suzy Lucine-- Judge
I chose "Pastoral Heaven" in the Professional Scenic division as my overall contest favorite. To me, it had an
incredibly strong first impression. The photographer had to have patience and an artistic eye to capture this shot
taken without any props, and to capture a serene moment in a beautiful, natural setting. There are so
many positive artistic and technical elements that make this photograph tops. The contrasting colors
of this pony mare and foal are a plus, as well as the lines of their bodies, the trees, grasses, and stream
keep the viewer's eye flowing throughout the photograph. The camera angle positively utilizes the strong
natural light, which creates eye-pleasing shadows. The photograph makes me wish I could sit on that
hill some day and watch these ponies in a natural setting.
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Infinity of Sand
Carien Schippers -- Equine Photographers' Network Founder
www.imagequine.com
This is a great image that I would love to have hanging on my wall! This image has an other worldly
feel to it that gives me a real sense of time and space and shows the scale and grandeur of nature.
Technically, I like the flowing lines of the dunes and the composition of the two riders in the right
hand corner. I feel a sense of adventure as these riders embark into the unknown. Excellent job!
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