Digital Speed Challenge # 624: Wow Me!

It's time to break out your most astounding awesome images in an attempt to make me go "WOW"!

This challenge begins when posted, and ends on Monday, 12 October at midnight GMT. Winner of this challenge will be announced shortly thereafter.

Challenge Rules:

1. Camera: Any DIGITAL CAMERA is allowed, not just DSLR.
2. Time: Any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.
3. Size: Please visit Image Posting Rules.
4. Post Processing: Do whatever you like and the host will decide if it works.
5. Posting: ONE PHOTO per photographer per challenge. List camera model & lens used. Post brief EXIF data: ISO, shutter speed and aperture.
6. Commenting: No commenting during challenge. When the posting is closed and a winner declared, comments can be made in this thread.
7. Keep it clean, and both Family and Work safe.
8. Have questions, PM me.
9. Have lots of FUN!

* THE WINNER ALWAYS SETS THE THEME FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE, POSTS IT AND JUDGES IT - BE PREPARED!

Monument Valley, AZ

Traverse City Michigan

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …nerations-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A

Big sky in Scotland

Optical illusion.
It's still the weirdest bird photo I ever took.
(All in camera. No Photoshop trickery of any kind.)

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Offshore islands near Ferryland N&L

Sugar Hill, NH. Lover's lane.

Photo from Eidelweiss's gallery.

WOW, I am wowed by the selection of photos that you folks posted. So many good ones!

Let's get down to the judging, shall we?

Wasn't there a different first image? Two large birds fighting? I wonder what happened to that image? I would have said nice things about it. Really!

Don (OldCrow) - Monument Valley, AZ
Awesome location complimented by good side lighting and great colors. The road in the foreground provides additional visual interest. I would have preferred to have the road closer to the bottom of the frame to "anchor" the bottom of the photo and reduce some of the foreground dead space but that's just me. Would look good hung on the wall. Good job!

Ed (dilorenzo1954) - Traverse City Michigan
That's a great image right there! The juxtaposition of the semicircular tree "canopy" next to the vertical fir trees is quite unusual and interesting, and the snow on the tree branches helps them to stand out from the background. Good composition too. Good job!

Martin (Stiga) - Big Sky in Scotland
Pano-like shot of drilling rigs near the beach under an interesting sky. Uncommon subject. I like how the couple on the beach on the left balances out the infrastructure on the right.

Levina (Levina de Ruijter) - Optical Illusion
Wow, just wow! Upon first glance you see what appears to be a disembodied large bird in a pool. Upon closer examination one can see the remainder of the body. Nice pose, nicely framed, nicely focused, great all-around image. Thanks for dredging that up from your 2010 archives! Good job!

Rob (RDWP) Offshore Islands near Ferryland N&L
Nicely lit seascape with orange sky. I like the seagull in the foreground which helps lead the eye into the image. Good job!

Chris (Eidelweiss) - Sugar Hill, NH. Lover's Lane.
Very calming autumnal image of a tree-lined country road. Great colors and leading line. Extra points for taking the time to rake the leaves to the side of the road. Good job!

Now for my picks <drum roll>...

1st Levina - Not one but two "wows" in my review made this the obvious winner (but there was definitely some good competition).
2nd Chris (Eidelweiss) - This edged out Ed just because of its seasonal beauty.
3rd Ed (dilorenzo1954) - Awesome subject nicely shot and processed.

This was the best competition that I have had the honor of judging and I wish to thank all of the participants for submitting their work. Good job folks! Now take it away Levina!

Roger

My time to say wow! With so many beautiful images I was sure I had picked the wrong one and should have gone with a landscape too.

Thanks very much, Roger.

And my hat is off to all other contributors. Some truly wow-ing photographs.

I will have a new challenge up in a minute.

New challenge is up:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1517871

Congratulations Levina. An amazing capture!

rwmson wrote in post #19137757
WOW, I am wowed by the selection of photos that you folks posted. So many good ones!

Let's get down to the judging, shall we?

Wasn't there a different first image? Two large birds fighting? I wonder what happened to that image? I would have said nice things about it. Really!

Don (OldCrow) - Monument Valley, AZ
Awesome location complimented by good side lighting and great colors. The road in the foreground provides additional visual interest. I would have preferred to have the road closer to the bottom of the frame to "anchor" the bottom of the photo and reduce some of the foreground dead space but that's just me. Would look good hung on the wall. Good job!

Ed (dilorenzo1954) - Traverse City Michigan
That's a great image right there! The juxtaposition of the semicircular tree "canopy" next to the vertical fir trees is quite unusual and interesting, and the snow on the tree branches helps them to stand out from the background. Good composition too. Good job!

Martin (Stiga) - Big Sky in Scotland
Pano-like shot of drilling rigs near the beach under an interesting sky. Uncommon subject. I like how the couple on the beach on the left balances out the infrastructure on the right.

Levina (Levina de Ruijter) - Optical Illusion
Wow, just wow! Upon first glance you see what appears to be a disembodied large bird in a pool. Upon closer examination one can see the remainder of the body. Nice pose, nicely framed, nicely focused, great all-around image. Thanks for dredging that up from your 2010 archives! Good job!

Rob (RDWP) Offshore Islands near Ferryland N&L
Nicely lit seascape with orange sky. I like the seagull in the foreground which helps lead the eye into the image. Good job!

Chris (Eidelweiss) - Sugar Hill, NH. Lover's Lane.
Very calming autumnal image of a tree-lined country road. Great colors and leading line. Extra points for taking the time to rake the leaves to the side of the road. Good job!

Now for my picks <drum roll>...

1st Levina - Not one but two "wows" in my review made this the obvious winner (but there was definitely some good competition).
2nd Chris (Eidelweiss) - This edged out Ed just because of its seasonal beauty.
3rd Ed (dilorenzo1954) - Awesome subject nicely shot and processed.

This was the best competition that I have had the honor of judging and I wish to thank all of the participants for submitting their work. Good job folks! Now take it away Levina!

Roger

That was a tip-top challenge. Kudos to you and, of course, all the wimmers

Bravo everyone, bravo!
Well done by all!

Excellent posts. Glad I didn't have to choose. Really liked those original birds, too.

Congratulations to the winners. Great show everyone.