Grand Prize Dahlia Sunrise This image was taken in the photographer s own garden with a Nikon D70 D-SLR, 105mm macro lens, and natural lighting. He has been taking photos as a serious amateur hobbyist for almost six years. Our photo contest judge, Katherine Lambert, commented, Beautiful composition and excellent craft overall this one really stood out from the rest. The sharpness, use of depth of field, and choice of framing, background, and subject all make for a gorgeous image. MARCH/APRIL 08 WASHINGTON GARDENER 19
Small Wonders Category Tulips, A Bug s Eye View This ground level shot in a tulip bed was taken at the Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club in Gainesville, VA. Katherine Lambert, our photo contest judge noted, The abstraction and soft painterly feel is really lovely and transcends the reality of these tulips. Raymond Lehr, Gainesville, VA Gerber Daisy Raymond took this close-up of a single flower in his own garden with a Nikon CoolPix 8800 with built-in lens on automatic setting. He is an amateur photographer with over 30 years experience. Our judge explained her choice, Loved the use of the bright blue sky with the bright pink flower. It feels like the perspective of a child or small creature. Benjamin G. Sullivan, Oakton, VA Unfolding Fern Frond Ben commented, A beautiful, calm spring day forced me out into our yard to capture a variety of the wonders that were out in full glory. This group of ferns showed the full range of the amazing process they display as they roll out their tightly packed bundles. Our judge said, Captures the delicate nature of ferns, plus technically this was really well done. 20 WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH/APRIL 08
Garden Views Category Yoma Ullman, Washington, DC Early Mist Rising Our judge commented, I just kept going back to this one. Loved the fog, the gentle light, the mundane yet evocative scene. The overall softness of the colors and depth created by the fog just really held it together as an image. Yoma placed an Honorable Mention in our contest last year. She is an amateur photographer with just four years experience. This image was taken at Brookside Gardens. Orchard in Winter This image is of an orchard along Route 28 in the Germantown, MD area. Our judge noted, I thought this was a lovely composition leading the eyes to sweep across those fields. Karen is an amateur photographer. She saud, I did a lot about 30-40 years ago, stopped for years, and then have been shooting again for the last couple of years. William B. Folson, McLean, VA Bridge Over Untroubled Waters This view was taken in early November 2007 at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. William has 50 years of photography experience (30 years as a professional and 20 years prior to that as an amateur). Our judge said, Wonderful colors and the framing makes it both literal and abstract. PHOTOcont t MARCH/APRIL 08 WASHINGTON GARDENER 21
Garden Creatures Category Julia Dolan Green, Laytonsville, MD Tufted Titmouse with Cute Face This photo was taken of a Titmouse in the Redbud tree outside her own living room window. Our judge said, Loved the eye contact with the titmouse and what a lovely background. Julia is an amateur photographer of 2 years. The photo was taken with a Panasonic DMC-FZ4 w/ 12x optical zoom in natural light, Dragonfly and Lotus Bud This macro lens shot was taken at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC. Our contest judge observed, Great framing, color palette, and it really captured moment a difficult shot really that is well-done. Gloria Hynes, Laurel, MD Together Forever Gloria is a Prince George s County Master Gardener. She uses her photography in developing nature awareness programs for elementary school students. This image was taken with a macro lens at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Our judge commented, Beautiful light and intriguing subject wow! 22 WASHINGTON GARDENER MARCH/APRIL 08
Honorable Mentions PHOTOcont t Iris Posner, Silver Spring, MD Bog This image was taken at Tuckahoe State Park on Maryland s Eastern Shore. Iris was the Grand Prize winner in our contest last year. Mary Austin-Keller, Herndon, VA Squirrel Feast A squirrel feasting in a trashcanat Algonkian Park, Sterling, VA. Mary noted, He was having so much fun rattling around in the trashcan, coming up with his feast to eat, then going back for more. Blue Gloves Garden gloves resting on a fieldstone wall in the photographer s front yard. Pink Tulips Taken at a classroom in Brookside Gardens. Dan Dennison, Arlington, VA Hummingbird and Monarda A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird visited the photographer s garden last summer. Evelyn Jacobs, Potomac, MD Opening from the Void Evelyn placed an Honorable Mention in our contest last year as well. This is the bud of an Angel s Trumpet beginning to open taken at Brookside Gardens. Washington Gardener Photo Contest Exhibit Invitation Thank you to all our entrants for their marvelous submissions to the Second Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest! Our judge, Katherine Lambert of Katherine Lambert Photography (www.katherinelambert.com), commented, This was really tough to choose at the end but a lot of fun. The winning photos are published here. You will also be able to view the winning images in person at an art show. All Washington Gardener readers are invited to the opening reception on Friday, March 28 from 6-8PM at the Adams Bank Lobby in the World Building on Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, MD. The show then runs through May 22 and is free to view during bank hours. A big THANK YOU to our prize donors! They include Penn Camera, Timber Press, Washington Gardener and the Washington School of Photography. It s not to early to starting gathering photos for next year s competition. Contest rules and categories will remain essentially the same. They will be available on our web site (www.washingtongardener.com) after March 31. We will open up entries for the Third Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest on January 1, 2009 and award the winners at the Fourth Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange on January 31, 2009. MARCH/APRIL 08 WASHINGTON GARDENER 23