Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

With the closing of the Third Annual Finding Direction Winter 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 excellent 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.

Winner of the first category, "Reminds Me Most of Home (Texas) Award" goes to minister Anthony Parker of The Journey Home blog, whose winning photo, "The Water Tower," was taken on a farm near Albany, Texas, just a few miles from Abilene.

 Winner of the "Best Spot Color Award" is Janice Evans-Lauder of My Place blog with her "Winter Cardinal."

Honorable Mention in the Best Spot Color category goes to my long time (45 years!) school friend and professional artist, Bill Barrick, for his "New Mexico Winter" scene:

The next category is "Winter Photo From Farthest Away Award" and this winner is Brian McKean, who says he is a "regular reader" of Patrick Mead's blogs, Patrick Mead and Tentpegs.  Brian is on business in Chennai (formerly Madras), India, where he took this winter picture of "San Thome Catholic Church."  Brian says that the winter temperature there in India is about 80 degrees, while the summers go into the 100s.

Greg England of The Ex-Rev's Ramblings wins the "World's Largest Christmas Tree Award" for his brilliantly titled "Xmas Tree" photo.  Only Greg (or Patrick!) would be so bold . . .

Moving on . . . The "Most Nostalgic Winter Scene Award" goes to Janice Evans-Lauder for her "Horses & Farm Implement" photo, as follows:

Honorable Mention in this category goes to reader Marilyn Hughes, of Poteau, Oklahoma:

The next category is an unusual one, as you will see.  This category resulted in a tie.  The first winner is reader (and my step-daughter!) Kristine Nguyen with her photo titled "Julian's Winter Violin Concert."  This is for the "Most Creative Winter Trees/Wood Disguised as Something Else Award."  Here's her winning photo:

Our other winner in the "Most Creative Winter Trees/Wood Disguised as Something Else Award" goes to the illustrious Patrick Mead for his photo "Edinburgh Castle," which is in Edinburgh, Scotland.  While Kristine's photo clearly showed the wooden violin, Patrick had to assure the skeptical Finding Direction Judges that there was, indeed, wood in the obviously winter photo.  It can be found, according to Patrick, who has been to the castle many times and is from Scotland, in the guard station and in the signs on the businesses along the street.  Here it is for y'all to judge for yourselves.  You do have to admit it is quite creative for the category!

The "Best Candid Winter Photo Award" goes to reader Kristine Nguyen with her "Kristine, Veronica & Julian" in front of a Christmas tree, while Honorable Mention in this category goes to Cecil Walker of West Cocoa Chat with his "Steven & Friends Camping."  Enjoy!  First, Kristine's lovely photo (and aren't my grandkids good looking!):

Here's Cecil's Honorable Mention:

Patrick Mead has yet another winner, this time in the "Best Winter Tree Composition" category.  It's for his neat and interesting "Loch Lomond Winter" entry.  See here:

Winner of the "Most Unusual Winter Tree/Wood Photo" is reader Marilyn Hughes with her "Ice Crystals on Wood Piece" photo, as follows:

Lynn O'Neil, my sweet daughter-in-law, of My Charmed Ones and In His Footsteps wins the "Brightest Winter Sunset Award" for her lovely "Winter Sunset" photo.  Here it is, and it's really pretty:

 Having a son who is a Marine Corps veteran (retired as Captain U.S.M.C. and veteran of the First Gulf War), I was moved to award the following photo "Most Patriotic Winter Scene Award."  This photo, "Marine Memorial in Winter," was submitted by proud dad Patrick Mead, whose son, Duncan, is in the Marine Corps.

"Best Black & White Winter Photo Award" goes to Peggy Corder of piggys piglets for her "Winter Sun" photo.  It's really interesting and uplifting.

Now to the top three winners!

Third Place, and a beautiful black and white photo entitled "Craigievar Castle, Scotland," goes to the indubitable and always humorous Patrick Mead, winner of several awards this time, and all above board with very few, if any, attempted bribes involved.

Although Patrick is clamoring for a bucket load of loot to tote home to his snowed in cottage in Michigan, he is going to have to be satisfied with the glamor and elegance attached to winning said awards here at the internationally renowned Finding Direction where he shall be highly praised for his entries, while no money or elaborate gifts exchange hands.

Actually, the Finding Direction Judges have soft hearts and have decided to award Patrick, there in the hinterlands of snow and ice country, with a special gift that shall be sent by U. S. Mail (knowing how competent all of the mail carriers are in snow, sleet, ice, etc and, mostly, how competent the U. S. Postal Service is!) at the Judges' earliest convenience for his wintertime pleasure, so be on the lookout for said gift, Patrick, because you are a winner in all of our eyes!

Moving on . . .

The Second Place award goes to an usually gifted photographer, Janice Evans-Lauder, for her "Cabin in Winter" photo.  It is a beautiful, evocative photo that has brings lots of nostalgic thoughts.  Check out JEL's blog, my place, where she lovingly presents her photos on nearly a daily basis.  Janice lives in Missouri in what was once her grandmother's house, where the only heat is a wood burning stove!  Winters sometimes turn icy and bitterly cold, so winter life can be hard, but thank goodness she has her camera and her computer to share with us all her lovely photographs.  Congratulations, Janice, on a beautiful photo here:

 Finally, the Finding Direction Judges are most happy to present the First Place award in the Third Annual Finding Direction Winter Desktop Photo Contest to Marilyn Hughes for her "Winter Sunset 1" photo, which looks terrific on the Judges' computer desktop!  Check it out:

 Marilyn is a long time reader, first time entrant in the FD photo contests and she is to be congratulated for her award winning photo.  It is a unique and exquisite sunset shoot with a tree right in the middle of the photo with the setting sun behind.  Great shot!

As always, y'all, it's been a most fun contest in which all of the photos submitted are winners.  I was really impressed with the quality of the art and creativity among everyone.  Also, as always, all of the photos entered have been serving as, and will be, my screen saver for the season and so I've already been enjoying all of them every day for the past three weeks. 

I spend a lot of time in here at my desk (when I'm not visiting doctors!) and so see the screen savers several hours each day, usually, and it's been uplifting for me to view all of the talent displayed.

I'm going to leave this post up for several days to give all of you a chance to see all of the winning photos and to invite your friends over to see your work and the work of our comrades.  Please leave comments to let all of the winners know what you think of their work, and all of you winners comment, too, on each other's work (and how proud you are of your own - Patrick!)

 Y'all are a great blessing to me and I just want you to know that.  You make my life better as a Christian!

Thanks for your participation and sense of humor in being in the contests and be looking forward to summer, when yet another summer FD desktop contest will take place.

Cheers & Blessings to each of you today!  Dee

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