June 2009 POTM - Winner Announced!!

[Pufferpunk]

Well, let's see... I just got back from the Philippines...

[Smashtoad]

A photo should be voted on for a few different qualities. 1st of course, is the subject & entertainment value of the pic. 2nd is sharpness, 3rd is composition. All 3 make for a winning photo.

That's why good photographers don't enter lots of online photo contests...because most of the time, (in my opinion) it is simply a way for a company to get great shots for free, then the prize goes to an out of focus chihuahua on a lawn chair with a birthday hat on it's head. I've seen it over and over and over...Drs Foster and Smith is the worst.

They had a big contest (givin away a trip to Hawaii and a bunch of other valuable stuff)...so I sent them a macro shot of one of my dart frogs that could have been a magazine cover. Didn't even get an honorable mention...but what did were pictures of lizards in tanks with water stains on the glass, dogs with bows on their heads...it was kinda surreal, actually. The same month I sent mine, one of the winners was a blurry shot of two dart frogs facing completely away from the camera...but it showed their pretty patterns!

But what a great way to get professional shots real, real, cheap, huh???

If you ain't got composition...you ain't got nothin.

[Smashtoad]

Well, let's see... I just got back from the Philippines...

AHA! That was by far the best shot in that lot. That eye screams...and the tail seems to come from nowhere. But like you said...people like what people like. I mean after all...somebody actually watched Baywatch. And somewhere, someone must be watchin The Hills...go figure.

[Pufferpunk]

Thanks for the compliment! I do enter photo contests but I have friends who have won some pretty great dive trips from them already. I usually win the local contests on the dive trips we go on (see Other Pets pics for the winner of the last one). Lots of times it's just a popularity contest. On our last dive boat a blurry blue pic of a lizardfish won over some much better pics, because that gal had a lot of friends on the trip. I did win 2nd place though! Usually the cutest pic wins here.

[Lil' Swimz$]

I just joined, like two weeks ago, Pufferpunk, and had no idea that you had gone there. Good photo thought! All of them! I chose #5 for its character and clarity. I don't mean to offend anyone, by the way.

[Pufferpunk]

No offence should be taken--this is all in fun!

[Lil' Swimz$]

Great!

[El Pez Globo]

Wow, I just got online and saw that I won! Thanx for all of the votes!:D It was my first time ever to enter so I never ever expected to win. It was definitely a tough competition. The picture of Elvis going for his mussel was just too cute. I also liked the photo of the puffer from the Philippines. The eyes on it are so beautiful.

Thanks again everyone for all of the votes. I have some more good shots that I might enter sometime in the future!

[Pufferpunk]

Thank your puffer for such a nice smile.

[El Pez Globo]

Thanx for the great comments My puffer is definitely smiling now that I gave him a little treat!

On a different note, I realize my photo this month wasn't the clearest and the glass on the tank wasn't clean but it was taken at the spur of the moment. It was the expression that I liked so much and wanted everyone to see.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Congrats El Pez Globo!

[Pufferpunk]

I'm sure it was that toothy smile that won everyone over.