| Judge's Contest Impressions |
~ It is fairly common for judges to praise the field of entries. In all sincerity I can tell you that I had a very large percentage of
absolutely stunning images. Images that brought tears to my eyes, made me laugh out loud, made me despair to pick the top 10. Many of
you will have completely positive comments, and you might ask, why didn’t I make the top 10? There were so many images with great
impact, color, exposure and creativity that in many instances, judging was based on small nuances. Several images would have been
in the top 10 if entered in a different category. One aspect of this group of images that I noticed was the care taken to crop
for interesting lines and composition. To all of you who entered, know that I admire your talent (sometimes envy your brilliance)
and your internal motivation to excel. Bravo to you.
~ There were many excellent images entered in the Amateur categories. The growth in the amateur division really shows the popularity of
photography among hobbiests. The Liberty and Horses and Humans categories were particularly strong
with so many wonderful images that it was very hard to pick only ten. In most cases the placings came down to a fine line based on a single point of
comparison of the judging criteria. It was an illuminating and encouraging experience to see the many ways people view and connect with horses.
Thanks to everyone who entered. It was a pleasure to be a judge of this year's contest.
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