What an incredible weekend for being outside... I wish this lasted longer than a few weeks a year! 
That aside, last Friday was a People & Pictorial photo competition at the Cleveland Photographic Society.  Although there were plenty of great entries, it turned out to be a fairly low scoring night for most everyone involved.

​ "Llama Master" - People Competition - Did Not Place
 

 Taken during my visit to the Great Smoky Mountains last April, this shot took me two attempts to capture (on two different days).  This spot was about 1 mile uphill from the parking area, and had some precarious rocky and root covered path to contend with. It didn't do well in the competition due to the fact that I didn't give enough breathing room around the subjects in the photo.
 

 

​"Singer In a Band" - People Competition - Did Not Place

 

 This show was taken during a co-worker's Rock-a-billy show at the Beachland Tavern earlier this year.  Although it did poorly during the competition, I still really like this photo!
 

​"Treetop walkway" - Pictorial Competition - 3rd Place

 

Also taken during my trip to The Great Smoky Mountains, this walkway can be found at the top of Clingmans Dome.  It's about 1/2 mile from the parking area, but the path leading to it is at an absurd angle... I swear it was 45 degrees at some points!  If you're willing to hike up the thing, the views span for miles around.  You can see some incredible colors during sunset.

 

That's all I have for now!
 

Hope all of you are doing great!
 

Regards,

 Dan

This was taken on an popular stretch of road among photographers in Cades Cove National park.  I guess when all these trees have bloomed, it's a site to behold! Much to my dismay, it turned out to be a rainy day and we were there before most of the trees had actually bloomed.  What the day lacked in beauty, it made up for in mood and setting.  Rainy or not, we were there to take photos, and that's what we did!  I just put my camera in a plastic bag, set up my tripod and shot to my heart's content. 

 

 

 

2016-09-23 - 1st Place - Nature Competition - "Sunrise in the Smoky Mountains"
​"Sunrise in the Smoky Mountains" - 1st Place - Nature Competition
 

Taken somewhere in them thar hills... That's slang for me not having a clue where I took this in the Smoky's,  What I can tell you is that we were waking up at 4am every morning of our trip to capture shots like this.  Although it's a dreadful hour to wake, it was well worth sacrificing some sleep and relaxation for some photos!  I was really happy with how this one turned out!

 

 

 

 

2016-09-23 - 1st Place - Nature Competition - "Misty Morning in the Smoky's"
"Misty Morning in the Smoky's" - 1st Place - Nature Competition

 

Another photo I thought turned out well!  Either the same exact morning as the last shot, or perhaps a different one... dunno for certain... but that's not what's important here.  What's important is that I was able to enjoy this experience and then ultimately share it with all of you!

 I'm really looking forward to my next photo trip which I think may be out to southern WA and some Oregon!  Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to go edit photos from the second annual Dick Goddard & Cleveland Animal Protective League telethon that raised over $140,000 to help the shelter during the one day event!  Sadly, I found out the next day that Mr. Goddard had fallen and broken his hip while walking into his home after the event... Let's just hope all is well with this local legend!

 

It'll be a while before the next photo competition, but you'll hear from me once I get through all the telethon photos!  Until then, I wish you all the best!
 

Regards,

 Dan

Hey everyone!

 Last Friday was the first Black & White photo contest at Cleveland Photographic Society, and it turned out to be a great competition!

 

​"Below Grotto Falls" - Did not place - B&W competition
 

I took this photo back in April during my trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Although this didn't place, the judges were great at explaining where it fell short of the mark.  It came down to not having enough contrast between the foliage, rocks, and other elements of the photo.  This is a problem that has plagued me in the past which I hope to overcome in the future! That said, I still like the photo.

​"Slot Canyon" - Fist Place - B&W competition
 

This was a last minute substitution for another photo that I originally liked... I'm really glad I swapped them because the other wasn't as strong! This was taken during my trip to Arches National Park in Utah last year (2015).  It's a magical place that's worth visiting!  It's even more spectacular at night when you can actually see the stars... absolutely stunning!

​ "The Thriving City" - Third place - Pictorial competition
 

 I took this about a month ago from the old coast guard station at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river. Thanks to a friend in law enforcement, I was able to park at the actual station to set up!  He stuck around to keep any miscreants or other law enforcement at bay while I took the photos!  Oddly enough the miscreants never made an appearance, but we were approached on 2 occasions by different officers because we were behind the gates. After talking to my buddy for a few moments, they were on their way, and I was able to continue.  I was really happy with the photos I captured that eve!

 

In other news, I was just contacted by CPS about publishing one of my photos in the next issue of their electronic magazine entitled "The Dark Room Door",  When I read what photo they wanted to publish, I just stared and scratching my head while pondering what they were thinking.  Still not sure... but here it is anyhow.

"Murica' or Git Out"   (Originally entered into the 2016-01-08 People photo competition where it did horridly.)

​

p.s. I really wish I had a Elmer Fudd hat for this shoot! (no pun intended).

 

I wish you all the best!
 

Regards,

 Dan