I had three winning images.

Light and Shadow: This theme emphasizes the use of dynamic lighting, and by extension shadows to create mood and composition. It is not about the source of light, but rather its effect. Examples may include, but are not limited to: beams of light in dust, broken light filtering through trees or window blinds, “Rembrandt” portrait lighting, and the shadows they create.  The shadows created should also be a considered subject.
 

I had four winning images.

This theme focuses on capturing images of locations that hold deep spiritual or cultural significance. Photographers aim to convey the sense of awe, tranquility, and spiritual connection associated with these places. The theme encompasses a wide range of sacred locations, including temples, churches, mosques, memorials, and cemeteries. The photographs emphasize architectural beauty, details, and artistic elements, while light plays a crucial role in creating a transcendent atmosphere. Photographers may also focus on on the human aspects of rituals, ceremonies, or the interaction between worshippers and the space, conveying the profound connection between humanity and the divine. 

This theme focuses on capturing the essence and creative spirit of individuals excelling in artistic pursuits. It highlights their dedication, skill, passion, and craftsmanship, showcasing the artistic process, attention to detail, and unique personalities of these individuals. The theme involves intimate moments and interactions, capturing artists at work, their tools, materials, and techniques, as well as the environments where they create. Lighting and composition are carefully utilized to accentuate textures and details, while framing creates a visual narrative of the artists' journeys. Ultimately, this theme celebrates creativity and diverse artistic expressions, offering a glimpse into the world of talented individuals who bring beauty and inspiration to the world through their crafts.

A lot of club members dug into their libraries to pull images for these contests. Even though I did pull out a couple of older images from my library, I  did make a concerted effort to go our and shoot images just for this competition. I went to Old Bedford Village, Barnstormers, a Renaissance Fair, and Colonial Williamsburg just for this theme trying to find craftsmen, artist, and musicians. I captured around 400 images for this contest. I narrowed that down to 20 images I liked. Edited them and selected nine for entry into the contest. When printing I found one I was unhappy with and replaced it with another image. I had a couple that after printing I had to reedit and reprint. In the end, I had one winning digital image and one winning print. Talk a bout a soul crushing disappointment. Contests used to get me excited and I'm sure my photography improved due to competing. However, this year, contests have sucked the joy out of photography for me.

Here were my losing images.

Throwing a Pot	Fiddler
Pimp My Ride	Spin Class Old Style
Hammer Strike

This theme focuses on capturing the essence and creative spirit of individuals excelling in artistic pursuits. It highlights their dedication, skill, passion, and craftsmanship, showcasing the artistic process, attention to detail, and unique personalities of these individuals. The theme involves intimate moments and interactions, capturing artists at work, their tools, materials, and techniques, as well as the environments where they create. Lighting and composition are carefully utilized to accentuate textures and details, while framing creates a visual narrative of the artists' journeys. Ultimately, this theme celebrates creativity and diverse artistic expressions, offering a glimpse into the world of talented individuals who bring beauty and inspiration to the world through their crafts.

We had a first time judge tonight. I had one winning image. 

Here were my losing images.

Playing for College

Street Painter

Rosetta Spoonbill Rosetta Spoonbill Rosetta Spoonbill Rosetta Spoonbill

You can see the slide show here. Mine are at 0:32 and 4:14 in the slide show.

2nd Place - Birds of Prey Birds of Prey2nd Place - Birds of Prey - 2023 Photography Challenge for Manatee County’s Parks, Preserves, and Beaches. Honorable Mention

White EgreHonorable Mention - 2023 Photography Challenge for Manatee County’s Parks, Preserves, and Beaches.

I got lucky and won 1st place. I took this photo on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I staged the shot with an old bottle I had brought back from England 20 years ago. I took this at sunrise and used a prolonged exposure. This is only the second time I have placed in digital this year. When I say I got lucky, (1) There were a lot of good images. (2) If I were judge I would have selected a different image. (3) Many of the images were staged/tabletop/still life images. Who knows what a judge will prefer?

Message in a Bottle1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Glass

In digital I was skunked. No winners.  

In Color Prints I had two winners and an Honorable Mention. I did something I rarely do. I entered two photos of birds. This often results in competing with oneself with the judge picking the better of the two and tossing the other out. If I had my way, I would submit bird photos for all three entries.

Apples2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

Egret Sunset Flight3rd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

Mute Swan LiftoffHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

In Monochrome Prints I had no winners and two honorable Mentions. The feedback on the train was that it was cropped too tightly on the left. I did that to crop out the hundreds of people watching the train. This is the third and final time I will enter this still life. I love that image, but it has never won.

Shay 4 Smoke & SteamHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

Window Still LifeHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

This following image did not place. I'm really at a loss why? I will try again in a couple of months.

Florida Egret

Still Life was defined as "A photograph of an inanimate object or group of objects arranged as the subject for a picture. It can serve as an exercise in skill and creativity, to show an artist's understanding of composition, his ability to depict color harmony, form, texture, and the effects of light upon the objects. Click here for examples of Still Life."

Here is one of my practice images.

Peppers on Scale

Still Life was defined as "A photograph of an inanimate object or group of objects arranged as the subject for a picture. It can serve as an exercise in skill and creativity, to show an artist's understanding of composition, his ability to depict color harmony, form, texture, and the effects of light upon the objects. Click here for examples of Still Life."

Judge Feedback: "I really wanted to include this, but this is such a simple collection if you will. I like the objects that are in this image. I like the fact you got this tape across the bottom for the crime scene but the way the images are placed just doesn't do anything. It's like how would you arrange these to make possibly a better story. This could very easily be turned into a who done it and what was you know, what was the tool, you know, what did our client in? What did out victim in? Was it the rope? Was it the pipe? You know, was it the knife? It's a who done it sort of image. In fact, it's called Clue, okay? Duh, But I just would have liked to have seen a little bit better arrangement of the actual items. So, for that reason, I'll take it out."

Clue

Judge Feedback: "I always love seeing antique cameras. Again, don't we all. A very nice composition with the book talking about the history of photography. A very wide perspective. A very wide composition. But I like this. Nice lighting. A good background. A grouping of three. I can see each camera perfectly. I can read the numbers off of each camera, no problem." Made it through to the first round. It was the last image thrown out before awarding winners. Judges Feedback when he threw it out "One more. You guys are making this tough but keeping with the theme, I hate to do this but let's remove the cameras."

Cameras

Judge Feedback: "Very simple but you can never beat the color red. Red just stands out on just about any photograph that you are doing. You got an antique knife. Probably from some foreign country that the photographer visited cutting a couple, a couple peppers, and it's a nice arrangement, good background, nice lighting." Made it through first round. No more feedback when thrown out.

Sliced Pappers

The first image is a one-light self portrait. I used a Alien Bee strobe camera left with a large softbox,

The second image is of a couple of tree swallows at North Point State Park.

Dreams of TravelHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

Love in FlightHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Prints Open

Pipe Wrench

El Dorado 15 Rum

Avon Bottle Car

Avon Bottle Horse Head

I had two winning images. 

Red Green Blue Refraction1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Digital Open

Crystal Ball Reflection and RefractionHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Digital Open

I had one winning image. 

Stormy Morning at the InletHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Digital Open

For my photography club friends: I shot this using my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. I used a tripod and a 60mm macro lens as well as a cable release. I shot these at ISO 200, F9, 1/6 sec. I used a light box for light. I shot 8-15 photos varying the focus and did focus stacking in camera to get the flower in focus. Minimal post processing in LightRoom and PhotoShop.

Before Clouds

After Adding Clouds

For my photography club friends: I shot this using my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. I used a tripod and a 60mm macro lens as well as a cable release. I shot these at ISO 200, F9, .4 sec. I used a light box for light. I shot 8-15 photos varying the focus and did focus stacking in camera to get the flower in focus. Minimal post processing in LightRoom and PhotoShop.

Columbine 1	Columbine 2
Columbine 3	Columbine 4
Columbine 5	Columbine 6

This is the first time I have tried to shoot a water droplet macro image. I used a photo of sunflowers in the background. Worked great for background color but clearly shows in the droplet. Also the light box lights show in the droplet as well. Here is a setup shot.

Setup

For my photography club friends: I shot this using my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. I used a tripod and a 60mm macro lens as well as a cable release. I shot these at ISO 200, F9, .4 sec. I used a light box for light. I shot 8 photos varying the focus and did focus stacking in camera to get the flower in focus.

Dandelion 1	Dandelion 2
Dandelion 3	Dandelion 4
Dandelion 5OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA	Dandelion 6

I had two winning prints. 

Day of the Dead - Bridgett4th Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

Ocean City InlettHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

I had one winning digital image. 

Mortality1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital - Death

I had one winning print. 

Overdose2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints - Death

I worked for months brainstorming ideas and photographing them. Here are my losing images. Really depressing when the judge's interpretation of the theme is so skewed from my own. The judge provided little critique of value. My favorite was the one word critique of "Cliché".

Reaper
Mortality	Homicide
All Saint Day	Clue

I had three winning prints. 

Female Wood Duck3rd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Birds

Green Heron2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Birds

Red Bellied Woodpecker2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Birds

I had three winning images. 

Glen Burnie Carnival2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

Sunset WalkHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

Badlands South DakotaHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

I had three winning images. 

Bison Family 2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

Chapel of St Peter and St PaulHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

Glen Burnie CarnivalHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

The reception is on

    November 9th, 2019

    2:00PM-4:00PM

    Activity Center at Bohrer Park

    506 South Frederick Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

This photo was taken at Robinson's Preserve in Bradenton Florida last month.

Sunset WalkHonorable Mention "Annapolis Photography Workshop Group" Digital Bridges

I had one winning images. 

Melt1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Water

Cosmic Water Pop3rd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Water

I had two winning images. 

Calm Before the StormHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Print Open

Red MaskHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Open

(c) 2018 Berl Thomas, Jr.

I wrote a short two-page article titled "Thoughts on Black and White Photography" published in the March 2019 Bowie-Crofton Camera Club newsletter "The Viewfinder". The article starts on page 10. You can read it at here.

I had one winning B&W image.

Umbrella2nd Place Bowie Crofton Camera Club Advanced B&W People, Not Portriats

I had two winning images. 

Man in the MachineHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Digital

Conservatory4th Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Open

Both of the B&W images I submitted won.

London - Magic Hour3rd Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced B&W Travel

New Orleans - Canal Street1st Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced B&W Travel

I submitted two B&W images and had one winner.

Pocket Watches1st Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced B&W Prints Repetition

I had one winning images. 

Umbrella for Two3rd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Street

I submitted two B&W images and had two winners.

Inside the Clock Tower1st Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced B&W "Insides of Anything"

Inside the Operating Room3rd Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Monochrome "Insides of Anything"

I had two winning images. 

Kitchen Daisies4th Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Flowers

Garden DahliaHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Flowers

I took this at a Kelly Schneider (Ksfinearts LLC) Portrait Workshop. Model: Danielle Niemeier. MUI: Jimena Mendez-Roca Schmiedl. Stylist: Kalina Schneider. The candle was not lit. I added that in Photoshop.  I loved the details in monochrome.

I had one winning image. 

3rd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints OpenI took this at a Kelly Schneider (Ksfinearts LLC) Portrait Workshop. Model: Danielle Niemeier. MUI: Jimena Mendez-Roca Schmiedl. Stylist: Kalina Schneider.

 I had two first place images. The images of a pocket watch reflected won Best of Show.

Pocket Watch Reflected1st Place and Best of Show Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints - End of Year 2018

F Market Ferries1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital - End of Year 2018

I had one Second Place

Stormy Skies2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome - End of Year 2018

I three honorable mentions

Walt DIsney Music HallHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints - End of Year 2018

The Eye BeholdsHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital - End of Year 2018

Hat TrickHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome - End of Year 2018

“Surreal photography would be more about creating a world or image which goes beyond the physical world as we know it. It usually shows something which would be impossible in real life or tampers with the line defining what is real and what is imaginary. Surreal = beyond the real.”

I had two winning digital images. 

The Eye Beholds4th Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Surrealism

Canned SunflowersHM Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Surrealism

I had one loosing image

2018 Berl Thomas

“Surreal photography would be more about creating a world or image which goes beyond the physical world as we know it. It usually shows something which would be impossible in real life or tampers with the line defining what is real and what is imaginary. Surreal = beyond the real.”

I had four winning images. 

Time in a Bottle1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Surrealism

ArizonaHM Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Surrealism

Pickled4th Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Surrealism

Hat Trick2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Surrealism

Hummingbird and Cone FLowerHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Color Prints Nature

Spider in the GardenHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Digital Nature

Another LotusHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Digital Nature

I had three loosing images. No disrespect to the winning images and respective photographers, but I was disappointed some of these didn't place.

Egret in Flight

Mushrooms

Froglegs

Pit BeefHM Bowie Crofton Camera Club Advanced Color Prints People Working

Here were my loosing images.

Brugal Rum	Jeweler		2014 All Rights Reserved
2014 All Rights Reserved		Mural Painter

My first honorable mention was a multiple exposure

ForrestHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Abstract Landscapes

My Second honorable mention was this shop taken at the Walt Disney Music Hall in California. This one leaned more toward abstract architecture than a landscape. It's all about the patterns and lines. I printed it on metallic paper.

Walt Disney Music HallHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Abstract Landscapes

Here are my loosing images.

Mono Swipe

Reflected Red

Symatric Lines and Triangles

Swipe

Swipe Complementary Colors

Stutter

Sirling Leaves

Radio City1st Place Bowie Crofton Camera Club Advanced Color Prints Silhouettes

Fishing from PierHonorable Mention Bowie Crofton Camera Club Advanced Digital Silhouettes

Checking NetsHonorable Mention Bowie Crofton Camera Club Advanced Digital Silhouettes

Here were my loosing images.

Kite Surfer

Anticipation

Santa Monica Pier

Here are some photos from that outing. How come sunflowers always make you happy?

SunflowerOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA	SunflowerOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
BW SunflowerOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA	Bee on SunflowerOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Spider Macro	Day Lily	Bee Macro
Cone Flower		Cone Flower Macro

Here is another spider macro. I tried to get the web in focus this one. I succeeded in getting the web from the Spider to the back but not in front of the spider. You have to click on it to actually see the web.

Spider and Web

Here are a couple of images to show you why they are called balloon flowers. They look just like a balloon until they pop open.

Berl ThomasOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA					Berl ThomasOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here are several images of them after they open.

Berl ThomasOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Berl ThomasOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Berl ThomasOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The image titled "Kenilworth Garden Lotus" won first place. The funny thing is the judge was Frank Van Riper who said he doesn't like flower photos. 

Kenilworth Garden Lotus1st Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Club Events

Bridget4th Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Digital Club Events Contests

Here are my winning images. 

EgretThird Place Bowie Crofton Camera Club Digital Open

DahliaHonorable Mention Bowie Crofton Camera Club B&W Prints Open

Baltimore and Domino SignHonorable Mention Bowie Crofton Camera Club Color Prints Open

Urban Lights 2Honorable Mention Bowie Crofton Camera Club Color Prints Open

Here are my loosing images

In the judge's opening remarks he said he didn't like flower photos. He did say something nice about this one. It did make it through the first round. Note he did give me an honorable mention for another flower above.	Tulip
The funny thing about this image is it has won every other contest it has been in. But it didn't resonate with this judge.	Snowstorm Picnic

Here are my winning images. 

OrganicHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Black & White Nature

Mating PlumageHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Digital Nature

Dragon FlyHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Color Prints Nature

Here are my loosing images

The judge said the focus was not as sharp as it should be on the white mushroom caps.	Mushrooms
The judge said it was just another picture of a bear with a salmon, the bear isn't looking at us, and the rock behind the bear detracts from the composition.	Fresh Catch of the Day
By the time we got to the digital contests, it was after 9PM and I already suspected this judge wasn't going to give me 1st through 3rd place and it was pouring down rain and I had a 30 minute drive, so I headed home. Thus I have no idea what he said about this flower.	Blue Flower

If you are still reading, you may wonder what did win. The first and second place color prints were by my friend Vincent Ferrari and he climbed 3000ft with a tripod in Italy to get a sunset and nighttime shot of the Stromboli Volcano. If you want to see his first place winning image click here and his second place winner here. You really can't complain when you loose to images like these.

Glass and Decanter2nd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints Open

Urban Lights3rd Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

The MillHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints Open

Here were my loosing images

Berl Thomas

BERL THOMASOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Angelina

Here are my winning images. 

Watching the ClockThird Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Monochrome Time

July 1951Honorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Color Prints Time

Here are my loosing images

The best I could say is that the judge thought I should de-saturate the bottom of the photo and crop out the top.	Gears of Time
The judge said the center of the dial was soft.	Clock Works
The judge didn't say anything constructive or bad about this image. I guess he just liked other images more.	Pocket Watch
Judge said I had too much space on left, the right book was too bright, and the right book appeared longer than the left book.	Once Upon a Time

HotThird Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints

StoveThird Place Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Monochrome Prints

ChefHonorable Mention Arundel Camera Club Unlimited Color Prints

Here are my loosing images

I had one honorable mention. 

Lone CyprisHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Digital Travel

Here are my loosing images

Doolan Canyon
Grand Central Terminal	Virginis
Shay 11	Halibut Cove Machine Shop

Here are my winning images. 

Cake Stands2nd Place Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Monochrome Print Glass

Urban LightsHonorable Mention Bowie-Crofton Camera Club Advanced Monochrome Print Glass

Here are my loosing images

Hot Sauce	Marbles
Wine Glass Macro	Stained Glass

The cemetery was established in 1838 and it is noted for the large number of historical figures interred in its grounds as well as a large number of prominent Baltimore-area families. The cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Guided tours are available at various times of the year.

Here are a few of my images from the trip.

Green Mount CemeteryOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Green Mount CemeteryOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Green Mount CemeteryOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Mike P6110200OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The judges said this image needed to be a half stop brighter and were disturbed by the crap on the left side of frame. Made several suggestions for cropping the crap out. At the time I was irritated by their comments. However, I went ahead and reedited the image.

Mercedes You can see I brightened this image. I also cropped and cloned the crap out of the left side of the image. Thoughts?

Chinese ButtercupHonorable Mention ACC Unlimited Digital - Club Events	Jouster3rd Place ACC Unlimited Digital - Club Events
Lanaconing4th Place ACC Unlimited Digital - Club Events

There were not enough unlimited color or monochrome prints to hold contests. When this happens, we usually merge the unlimited and novice images. However we ask the members if anyone has an issue. Unfortunately on this occasion several novice members objected. They didn't want to compete against the unlimited images. This is unfortunate because this is the first time this has happened in my 10 years in the club. In the past the novices have often done well in combined competitions even beating out their unlimited competitors. To me after having spent hours selecting, editing, printing, re-printing and matting images as well as the expense of printing; this was a let down. I was very disappointed to say the least. Since no one got to see my prints here they are:

Monochrome Prints
	734	Chinese Buttercup	Private
Color Prints
Domino Sugars Fireworks	Orange	Esso Extra Motor Oil	Fly Boy Groupie