Winner Chosen - December 2009 - Admin's choice - Image of the month

**Marko** · 01-04-2010, 04:29 PM

Hi members,

In case you are new around here this is where the Admin (me) chooses one excellent photo each month from all the photos nominated by other members during that month in the Member's monthly choice forum.

Just so it's clear, the photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I've come to realize it's not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That's why there are categories in photo contests.

My goal is to simply choose an excellent photo and talk about why I think it rocks.

This month's choice First real HDR attempt is by Chantelle.

I chose this image for several reasons. First off, look at the colour; it's excellent. It's nice and bright without being too 'overdone' as many HDR images are. Next, check out this awesome composition. Lovely leading lines here in the sky, water and land. The lines move my eye very skillfully toward the sunset. The sky, what a beautiful sky with all the brighter elements in full control with good detail and no clipping. This is just a fabulous first HDR effort that does not at all suggest a first attempt. The exposures are extremely well blended here. Lastly, I really like the reflections in the water and detail in the clouds of the sky.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month.

Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That's cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Chantelle for creating this beautiful image!