Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

Well, it's taken all day and half the night (not really, but the FD judges are given to hyperbole), but it's here!  The moment you've all been breathlessly waiting for.  The introduction to the winners of the Second Annual Finding Direction Summer Desktop Photo Contest Winners. 

Anticipation has been building.  Bribes have been offered - and reluctantly semi-rejected.  The Finding Direction judges have been working feverishly to gather the more than 60 photo submissions together to review and the judging has been arduous and most difficult, indeed. 

With the closing of the 2nd Annual Finding Direction Summer Desktop Photo Contest, the Super Bowl of all contests has ended.  All that remains is the announcement of the winners.  Oh yeah - and copies of the winning photos for you to ooh and aah over.

The Finding Direction Judges have been busy pouring through the record 60+ entries and have made their decision.  As usual, the ersatz publisher, editor, reporter, photographer, accountant, financier and general flunkie of Finding Direction will accept high praise for their finely honed judging skills, but accept no flak from disappointed would be winners.  (There are never any losers here at Finding Direction, as you know, except in the minds of some of the disgruntled entrants, who must be placated at all costs by fellow would be complainees.)

And, as usual, all decisions are final, although an appeal process might be considered in the event of an extraordinary oversight by the FD Judges, which is highly unlikely but let fairness abound.

Finally, as usual, the intro into the announcements of the winners is taking entirely too long (the Judges like to read their own words way too much, obviously) so let the announcement begin.

Okay.  Here goes. 

Really.

Well . . . after a few words from our sponsors.

(Just kidding!  Here we go.)

The Photo From Furthest Away Award goes to Trey Morgan for his lovely shot from Alaska - "Fishing in Alaska."  That's a great summer vacation for you to get away from all the heat.  Alaska.     

The Most Romantic Picture Award goes to Pat Bliss for "Invitation," which the judges liked a lot because it was summery looking and - uh, well - romantic.  An invitation to the closed in quiet garden.  

The nostalgic award, Reminds Me of Home Award, goes to Anthony Parker, previous winner in several categories in several FD contests, for "Miles & Miles of Texas," which doesn't look much like the exact place I grew up in in Texas, but is certainly a view you see a lot when you go out there.  I mean - there are miles and miles of Texas, for sure. 

Moving on:  The Hardest Working Man Award for service above and beyond the call of duty to help out those less fortunate goes to Cecil Walker for "Mostly on the Ladder."  Cecil took some young people for a week of service this summer and that's a noble pursuit, justifying the award.  Congratulations, Cecil. 

This is a summer contest so a couple of entries stood out as being especially summery entries and activities that many of us would, or should, be doing if all was well with the world.  The Dog Day Afternoon Award is a tie.  It goes to Karen of "Pass the Prozac" for her picture, "Two Dogs Napping," of her two pups and to Les Ferguson, Jr. for his picture of his son, "Casey With Bullet."  Cute pictures, guys.

 Important Disclaimer:  Now that the FD judges have broken down and awarded the first award to a photo with a child in it, they have to issue this disclaimer.  There were 10 photos of people's kids entered and six of people's grandkids.  Not being one to be softhearted, yet decidedly am, I am not awarding a best kid or grandkid photo award, but plan to run each and every child/baby/grandchild photo entered over the next few posts, lest anyone be upset or offended.  The FD judges are of a mind that no child/grandchild is any less dear than any other, including the FD judges' own children and grandchildren.   All winning entries today with children in them are incidental to the photo as a whole and not any judgment on the beauty or abilities of anyone's children/grandchildren.  The FD judges so speak.

Moving on yet again:

This contest was a contest of firsts in many ways.  For the first time there was no theme.  The contest was wide open to anyone with any entry they choose and the entries varied greatly.  Entries included for the first time a number of children, as mentioned above.  Entries included several flags, goldfish, clouds and sky and a good many nature shots.  There were a number of flower entries and so the FD judges decided to award the Prettiest Flower Award.  This award goes to John Dobbs for "Rain on Hibiscus," which is a lovely shot taken in his yard.  Thanks John for this entry, among several.  

 The Best Composition Award resulted in a tie.  (Have you noticed the FD judges have a hard time turning any entries away?  It's a tough job, y'all)  The winners are Karen Keller for "Lola at July 4th Parade" and Nancy French for "What Happened to My Expensive Soap?".  Honorable Mention in this category go to Donna Gossett, with her "Seagull" entry and to Cecil Walker for "Steven Playing Summer Baseball."  Enjoy!

 The Best Use of Color Award goes to the honorable Patrick Mead, who won despite numerous bribery attempts, the latest being to offer the FD judges a new car.  (See Patrick's post of today.)  That lasted until his fellow minister wanted his car back.  Oh well . . . the picture was too good to pass up, so the FD judges relented and graciously granted Patrick the award for the really neat photo of "Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland." Honorable Mention in this category goes to Greg England for "Hot Air Balloons."

The next award is a new one, fittingly called New Life Award.  Two contestants submitted baptism photos and as with the disclaimer about children and grandchildren, the FD judges believe that any one baptism is as important and significant to any other and that we should all rejoice with all baptisms, which are all special and wonderful.  Especially when sweet, tender children give their hearts to God.  The first award goes to Lacey Mauk of her young friend baptized at summer camp.  The second award goes to Tammy Marcelain, whose twins were baptized recently by their dad.  Don't you love the look on Jack's face as he looks up at his dad?  This is a photo to treasure.  Congratulations to all for the wonderful photos and baptisms! 

As with the award given Patrick Mead (who has two blogs, by the way, both Patrick Mead and Tentpegs), the next award, the Blatant Advertising Award, is awarded to a big time bribe offender, Greg England, who wins nonetheless because the FD judges found his bribes, and his photo, highly amusing and actually laughed out loud at some of his antics.  It was worth the price of admission to what is no doubt the Finding Direction Hall of Fame for an entry above and beyond the pale.  It will probably never be topped again in the annals of Finding Direction Photo Contests in this category.  Judge for yourself: 

Finally, last, but not least, the moment you've all been waiting and waiting and waiting for - the top prize (well, make that "top" with no prizes, other than the accolades and high esteem) winners.  

Third Place in the Second Annual Finding Direction Summer Desktop Photo Contest goes to Maureen Parker for "Dragonflies Mating."  It's a bit risque, but hey, it's a neat photo and looks good on the FD judges' computer desktop.  The composition is great, too.  Congratulations, Maureen. 

The Second Place Award goes to John Roberts for his interesting photo, "Lost Horse Mill" taken near his home in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where John is minister.  How would you like to climb those stairs to go  home every day?

And the First Place Award in the Second Annual Finding Direction Summer Desktop Photo Contest goes to the aforementioned Patrick Mead, who is a winner above and previous winner in some of the FD contests, for "Cruise on St. Thomas."  This photo wins because it epitomizes what summer is all about and what we all dream of, if we don't actually get to do it.  Go on a summer cruise to a white sand beach with palm trees and lots of pretty girls about.

 This photo looks great as the FD judges' computer desktop and is where the FD judges would like to be at this very moment.

Congratulations to Patrick and to all of you who entered the contest.  I hope you all had fun and will enter next time.  Because the next contest will be held next winter just in time for the Finding Direction judges to procure a winter desktop photo to grace the FD judges' computer.  Y'all are all winners in my book and will always be.

Cheers & Blessings to you all today and remember that all of the kiddos' pictures will be forthcoming in the next few posts here at Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles.  They are all big winners in my book!  Love ya!  Dee

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