Without question, this was another tough contest. Before I announce the Five Finalists to you, I want to thank the people who sent hundreds of Fatherhood images to us. I read every email and looked at every photo at least twice. During the process, I found myself crying, laughing, and standing in awe of what you have captured. Having come from a painful relationship with my own dad, I thank all of you who entered images. Every image was healing and full of passion. The finalists below are only a sampling of what was entered, but what a sampling they are!
Five roles of fatherhood came up again and again in the hundreds of entries. Not only are these finalist images artistic, but they are also a much larger representation of the different roles.
The first role of fatherhood is being a Playmate.
Finalist #1, Happy Food Spot, by Sarah (mama and wife to these two)
Doesn’t this image bring a complete smile to your face? When I opened it up, I almost fell out of my chair. It’s wonderful! The composition is fantastic! We see just enough of the lettering above and just enough of the sidewalk below. Study that for just a moment. The top third and bottom third are both minimal–adding a beautiful simplicity to the overall image. I even like how the two aren’t totally centered, off centered by just a smidgen. This adds forward motion to the two of them. The image also reveals a wonderful connection between the dad and his daughter. Dad is totally her playmate. And the combined green background and fun lettering take it to a whole new level!
The mama behind this wonderful photo is Sarah. She is out of Chicago. Her email signature revealed that she also contributes to Shutter Sisters. Tracey Clark and a bunch of other beautiful women host the awesome website, Shutter Sisters. If you haven’t, make sure you check out their site and Sarah’s too! You will eat it all up! (back to the photo) Sarah said her husband and daughter are two peas in a pod. Doesn’t that phrase have a whole new meaning with this photo! Thank you Sarah for sharing Happy Food Spot!
The next role of Fatherhood is Protector.
Finalist #2, Water Balloon, by Sara (Sara with no h :))
The timing of this shot is unbelievable! Not only did Sara catch the exact moment of the dad catching the water balloon. But she also caught the little girl’s hands. Her hands reveal the intensity of the energy in this moment. This is also a beautiful example of Less is More. We don’t need to see the faces to know this little girl is both scared and relieved at the same time. Dad is there to protect her. In Sara’s words;
When I look at this photo, I can just feel my father’s arms around me. I can feel him protecting me. I can feel the security in his voice and in his laugh. Even though this child is only being protected from a water balloon, I can just imagine the feelings she had as she slowly opened her eyes to realize that yes, her daddy kept her safe once again!
When looking at the photo submissions, I have a system that helps me ignore the names of the sender. You can imagine how excited I was to find that this was Sara Montgomery! She attended two of our workshops and is now doing family photo shoots and has a wonderful blog. Enjoy! This woman is an inspiration! Sara, thanks for sharing your gift with us!
The third role is Provider.
Finalist #3, Falling Asleep Under the Truck, by his wife Lauren.
This image brought me to tears. Lauren shared how her husband repairs aircrafts for his day job. And then Lauren lost her job and Brian decided to start repairing cars at night for extra cash. After a 10 hr. work day of working on planes, he has fallen asleep under the purple truck. There is so much more to this man that Lauren has shared. But I want to continue the focus on not only his commitment to Provide, but also how Lauren caught the spirit of a Provider.
His dirty, oily hand in the foreground of the shot says so much about this dad. And the fact that he’s asleep on the garage floor, need I say more? Again, Less is More. We don’t need to see his sleepy eyes to know he’s exhausted. It also looks like Lauren added a vignette to this which is a soft blackening around the outer edge of the image. You can do this in Adobe Lightroom under the vignette tab. Sometimes people over use vignettes, but I think the vignette in this image adds a certain “hush” to the image. Lauren, thank you for not only sharing this amazing image of Brian, but for also sharing your story. You are both incredible. What a honor to feature your image here.
The fourth role is Timelessness.
Finalist #4, Skateboarding with Dad, by Renee (mama and wife)
Why timelessness? I look at this picture and I see myself walking into a stationary store someday and buying a Father’s Day card with this image on it. It is the classic vintage shot of dad doing something crazy with the kids. Timeless…that’s what it is. I also love the composition too. Of course we fall in love with the little girl smiling at us and dad behind her, but I’m really loving the other one behind them. She’s the sweetie with the purse trying to catch up.
This little girl’s presence in the image adds motion and speed to the dad and daughter on the skateboard. Try to picture this image without the little girl running behind them. It could almost look like they were just standing on a skateboard. But because the little is running we feel the forward motion in the skateboarding. Wonderful Renee! Well done!! I also love how Renee turned this image to black and white. I like to use black and white toning when I want to accentuate emotion or a sense of timelessness. This image is the perfect fit!
The last role a father plays is Enduring Love.
Finalist #5, Photo Shoot for Dad and His Sweetie, by Carrie (wife and mama)
I’m struck by how the expression on the dad’s face brings me to a pause. I feel myself exhale as I take in all the enduring love that comes through in that simple furrow of the brow. She is playful and in love with dad; he savors every moment of their connection. The tight frame with a simple, blurred background helps us come close. We can almost her his breath. Imagine this picture if there was distraction in the background behind them. Carrie’s thoughtful composition has made all the difference. Her focus is sharp on dad’s face and because of this we are overwhelmed by the emotion he reveals in a single moment–the strength of his enduring love that will not end no matter how many miles sep
arate them.
It was wonderful to find that Carrie had entered this picture. She lives in Florida and attended our Sonoma Workshop. Carrie wrote that when she got home from the Sonoma workshop her husband told her he wanted to be her first “real” photo shoot. Would she do a photo shoot of him and their daughters? He wanted Carrie to pretend like they were clients and wouldn’t even let her drive with them to the park. Instead he and the girls picked out their clothes and met Carrie at the photo shoot location. First, what an amazing gift to give his wife, to call her out as an artist and assign value to her time and art. There’s a handful of you husbands out there (like our avid male blog commenter, Jeramy. What would we do without you guys?)
He also wanted these photos because he was being deployed again and it will be several months before he holds his girls. Carrie hasn’t been able to look at this series of photos since he left. But for us, she was strong and shared them. What an incredible gift you have given us Carrie. What a gift you are. Thank you.
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These are the Five (AMAZING) Finalists for June’s Fatherhood Photo Contest! I hope they give as much inspiration to you as they have given to us.
Now it’s your turn to vote! Yeah!! Brian and I invite you to post a comment and vote for your favorite finalist (you only get to pick one :)). The most important part to voting is sharing a few words about why you picked the image you have. These comments are better than any prize we could offer. Your feedback, no matter how short, helps the finalists
There will be One Final Finalist who wins a $100 Home Depot certificate to share or give her hubby.
We’re also going to give $20 Starbucks cards as two Random Voter Awards. This means if you post a comment and vote, you are automatically entered into a drawing where two people will win the Random Voter Award.
One more way to win! If we hit 400 votes (which hasn’t happened yet), the #400 voter will also win a $20 Starbucks card! But here’s the catch. Voting ends this Wednesday night at midnight PST.
Time to email your friend and get them voting for a finalist and possible week’s worth of coffee! 🙂
p.s. I was going to finish up the engagement session for the blog yesterday, but my mom came over and we ended up canning Ginger Peach Jam. Oh, it’s so yummy! But the slide show is coming soon!
I vote number 1, it just makes me smile and reminds me of the playfulness between my Pop and I. Even at 27, we are still that goofy together!
Number 5. They are all great!
My vote is for #5. The moment I saw this photo it made me think of the enormous amount of love I have always felt from my father. It’s obvious that this daddy feels the same about his little girl. I thank my dad all the time for loving me with such a big heart. That love has molded me into the person I am today.
#4! Great job!
I vote for #5. The minute I looked at it, my eyes teared up and I couldn’t even explain why. The way his brow is furrowed told me that he almost had a bit of worry going on in his head and that the amount of love he has for that little girl is almost painful.
Then I read the part about how he was deployed, and I just lost it. I then understood the expression on that amazing dad’s face.
So although all of the finalists are amazing, that last one is the one that brought the most emotion for me. Wonderful job everyone!
My vote is for number 2. Wishing I could be voter #400, but there are only 4 in front of me and I don’t want to forget to vote. 😀
#3 #3 #3!!!
I love the picture, but I more love the moment.
Praise God there are men that will do anything to provide!
My vote is for Number 1, love the comp, color and the playfulness of the shot. great work to all of the finalists and good luck!!!
P.S. Me Ra….www.polldaddy.com is a great way to have your blog readers place votes for contests on your site. i am pretty sure that it is free to sign up. i have used it before on my blog and it’s pretty cool 🙂
I love #2. The composition and timing of this photo are perfect. Plus, the fact that the image is in black and white helps you focus more on the moment and see the image as a whole rather than looking at the water ballon, then the hands/arms, and then the little girl. Fantastic!
Oh my gosh! I am so excited to see not just one of my friends but two have there wonderful pictures selected!!! I’m very proud of you guys!
Sara I love how I can totally feel the energy from your photo. Both relief that her daddy saved her from the water ballon but still excitment, what you wrote was beautiful!
Carrie wow!!! Even though ive already seen this picture seeing it here I was even more stricken with it the emotion behind it is AMAZING! It brings tears to my eyes knowing that your sweet girl will always have this special picture of her and her daddy!
Congrats to both of you!
Wow..what amazing entries. I am going to have to vote for #5. I was lucky enough to meet Carrie in Sonoma and have enjoyed following her photography journey along with the journey of her husband being deployed. The photos that she got of her husband and girls are just beautiful and really bring out so many emotions. This picture you submitted is just wonderful. Congrats Carrie!
I love Lauren’s photo. He is an inspiration to every hard working dad!
Brian needs materials for the workbench in his Man Cave, so I’m voting for myself!! LOL!
I almost burst into tears of joy and amazement when I saw my photo on the blog!!! I thought for sure it wouldn’t make the cut, even though I love it so, so, so much. Thank you for choosing my picture!!!
I also wanted to say that I ADORE photo #5. I read Carrie’s blog a few days ago where she posted a whole series of these daddy-daughter pictures and ALL of them made me cry. My husband sacrifices SO much for us, but I can’t even imagine how much harder it would be for him to leave for months at a time. I have the highest respect for our troops and especially for their families that stays home. I know a lot of “single” moms who’s husbands are off on tour and they have to be the mom and the dad. I’m thinking and praying for you and your family, Carrie, and for your husband’s safety and quick return to you.
Me Ra – thank you again!!
I have to go with #5. These really are all wonderful pictures, but the emotion that #5 provokes is unbelievable. I am thankful she chose to share it even though it was so emotional for her to see the images again. It is a blessing to all of us to hear her story.
wow….this is tough. my first photo contest vote. i can’t imagine how you two narrowed it down to five…but here it goes.
these are all fantastic! i really got a lot from your comments me ra about the different technical aspects of the shots. you can really tell the mastery that you have in your craft by how you can see all the little things. someday i’ll have to listen to some music with you and break down the different aspects of arrangement, instrumentation and lyric…it seems really similar. i learned a lot though…just from reading that. ok…so, i love #2 and #4….again…i probably appreciate them more after you pointed out the fine details…but i have to rest my vote with #5. i have seen this shot before, but haven’t really looked at it the same way. my favorite part is how the little girls eyes are open a little…and you can see the smile on her face….in the playful way like you pointed out….but the dad’s eyes are closed….and his countenance is much more thoughtful and serious. the two subjects are in the same moment…yet, the meaning is slightly different for each of them. she thinks she’s stealing a quick kiss from her pop, but he’s saying goodbye to his little girl for a time and burning this moment in his heart…almost to stow away as a keepsake in his bag. it connects…you know? how many times have my kids done something that is simple to them, but as a parent i have a much deeper appreciation for the action because i see if and feel it from a parents perspective…i’m not being clear…but hopefully you know what i mean. it’s the reason i cry when i watch ‘father of the bride’….because i see Mary Rose’s face when they dance at the wedding….nuff said.
So…sorry for such a long vote. 🙂 but…thanks for the photography lesson. Great job Carrie!
Wow, i am completely overcome. I am HONORED to have my photo among all of these beautiful, touching and inspiring images.
Me Ra, thank you for the kind words, they mean more to me than you’ll ever know. Not only do I look up to you as a photographer and business woman, but as a true poet.
It is so great to hear what others feel when they see your images, reading these comments are so invaluable. Allison, your comments made me cry. This photo was taken the day before he left, and everything you described is exactly how he was feeling.
My daughter just came up to see why I was crying and saw the picture of her and her daddy on my laptop screen. “Oh let me give him a kiss” she said…
Exhale
Picture #3! It pays tribute to all of the hard working men out there!
I have to vote for #5! I saw it and a tear went down my cheek. What emotion! It really touched me…
I would like to vote for photo #5 by Carrie. It is such a beautiful and moving picture!!
#5 Carrie Hasson. It touched my heart.
Tom M.
#5 Carrie Hasson’s photo touched my heart.
Tom M.
I would like to vote for photo#5 y Carrie. I know her husand for a long time and I am ale to see him and the girl throught the picture. It really show who they are and how they are (really loving family)
#1, it just makes me smile…
Number 5 by far. It taps into the emotion shared between a father and child like no other.
I vote #5. I love the look on Matt’s (dad) face. Like he never wants to let that moment escape and he’s cherishing every second.
#5 for sure!
# 5
Says it all.
Carrie, #5, the photo was so beautiful and took my breath away. I think it was so much more powerful in black and white!
#5 captures the innocence of childhood! It will be a memory to cherish. It has my vote. . .
Carrie, #5 expresses a lifetime of experiences in a single father / daughter kiss.
I vote for #3 for two reasons: 1) Lauren has just recently taken up photography after the birth of my first granddaughter and I am amazed at how good her photo’s are, at least to my untrained eyes. 2) Brian is an AWESOME father, both to his 11 year old son Collin that he has raised alone until Lauren married him 3 years ago and to our sweet Kaitlyn. We are so proud of him and appreciate all he does!
Definitely #2! The simplicity of the monochromatic color scheme and dark background make the subjects pop, the timing is impeccable, and I love that you can feel the expressions of both father and child without seeing their faces. Great work!
my vote goes to #3 – this is what the “real” American dad is all about – hard working and dedicated to providing for his family.
#5!!!
Brought tears to my eyes when I saw it on Carrie’s blog. I love the story behind it!
I was so happy to see the love that each of these Dads has for their kids. It caused me a moment of sadness remembering I didn’t have a dad. Then I remember that I have the BEST dad in the world. My Heavenly Father is all these are MORE! I am so thankful that He is with me all the time. I love looking at my friends and seeing the husbands and dads that they are! They are all that God has intended them to be.
Not only is Jeramy an amazing Daddy he is also an amazing musician who shares his heart through his awesome talent that he loves!
Thank you for sharing all of these beautiful images!
#5!! Carrie, your photo is so wonderful! It totally made me tear up when I saw it. It looks like your husband is drinking up your daughter, smelling her and trying to remember that moment for ever and ever, amen! I was so glad to sit next to you the second day at Sonoma becasue I got to peek at some of your photos on your (awesome) Mac. You are a truly talented artist, and I’m so glad to have met you. Hope you and the girls are hanging in there!
#5 rocks!!
#2
Love the emotion that comes with seeing the protector. It might have been a moment that little girl would have forgotten but now for years to come she will know and remember what her dad has done for her. I also love it because in the digital age it is sometimes ‘easy’ to take a good photo because we can take hundreds to get just one. But I truly believe to capture a moment like this you are a true photographer…ready for that second to capture a moment to never be recreated.
#5 is an amazing picture and shows a true love between father and child,it’s beautiful!!
I vote for #5
oooh tough, tough, tough!!
I am voting for #3. It just hit sooooo close to home….
Thanks to all the Fathers who work so hard and give so much to provide for their families….
All the images are gorgeous!
#5…very cute picture and such a touching story!
#5…The photo is so intimate and beautiful, it captures so many emotions.
#5! I had so much to say, but after reading all the comments, I’m now crying and can’t get all this emotion out of the way to think!
Carrie this picture should be published.
They’re all so amazing. Number 5 is stunning in its emotion, but #1 made me laugh.
#1
Awesome pix everyone! My vote is for Sarah’s beauty, #1.
And Me Ra, thanks for the Shutter Sisters mention. Can’t wait to meet you in person on our BlogHer adventure! : )
#3…..simply hows how Fathers work and work to provide for thier families
Although I LOVE number one, I have to vote for number two. Really neat image, sara!
They are all amazing…my vote is for Sarah’s #1 as well.
And thanks for the shutter sisters mention too!! 🙂
#1 Happy Food Spot. I love it! I also love how they all represent what I always think Dad’s should be.
wow, these are all wonderful finalists!! my vote goes to finalist #1 Happy Food Spot, i LOVE it!
i vote for #1!
>I vote for #3 for two reasons: 1) Lauren has just >recently taken up photography after the birth of my >first granddaughter and I am amazed at how good her >photo’s are, at least to my untrained eyes. 2) Brian >is an AWESOME father, both to his 11 year old son >Collin that he has raised alone until Lauren married >him 3 years ago and to our sweet Kaitlyn. We are so >proud of him and appreciate all he does!
Hey and she has trained her family to ignore Kayla too.
#1
This photo reminds me of the ways parents and children touch each other without touching, how sometimes the most profound thing (and sometimes literally the only thing) you can do as a family is look in the same direction.
Love the colors and composition. Many people have already said it makes them smile–me too.
#5 all the way. I love you Carrie!
#5!!! Thank you Care!! You’re such any amazing artist.Hurts so good to look at that picture… Tears flow everytime I look at it. It, along with countless other shots of yours hang proudly in my office and my room over here…
All the shots are amazing! Good luck to you all…
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Carrie-you did it! Amazing! Because I know Matt, and I have seen him happy, sad and many other things-I almost can feel his emotion at that very moment-it is actually making my heart physically ache right now. I now know why you couldn’t open these photos until now. I know how deeply you miss him and wish that I was closer so I could hug you every day. Matt-I know you are reading all these from afar-Thanks for what you are doing and stay safe. Your wife is an amazing photographer and got shots that I know you look at-at least 10 times a day over there. They are truly memories forever.
#5
Love them all, but I am going to vote for #4 as we have “board-head mania” going on around here and as soon as dad gets home, one of the girls will be getting on his board with him for a try at this shot!! Congrats to all you fabulous photographers!
#5! It touches me heart, breaks my heart, and fills my heart…all at the same time. I am flushed with many emotions as I view that photo. Not just the beautiful image itself, not just the photographer’s ability to ‘capture’ that moment so beautifully, but moreover, the most lovely of elements…the ESSENCE of its intangilbe yet indelible symbolism. This photo conjures up something we all “see” with the heart, not the eyes.
Pure. Impressive, indeed.
And although all the finalists have produced very fine work, I hope this particular artist is recognized as the winner of this contest.
These are all gorgeous, but I have to vote for #5. It makes me want to go hug my daddy. 🙂
#5. A picture of one of the nicest men in the world. Carrie, I’m very proud of you.
Love,
The Tanksleys
I vote for #3. That’s a dangerous kind of love! All the other images are breathtaking as well though! Great job finalists!
My vote is for #5! The image spoke to my heart and made me wish my husband had a little girl (we have 2 boys) that would crawl into his arms, wrap her arms around his neck and share the silence of being “daddy’s little girl”.
Having 2 boys is great, but those type of tender moments are a rarity. 🙂
My vote it for #2. I love, Love, LOVE this photo. #5 ran a very close 2nd for me, but #2 won out because of how rare a moment it is to catch this action shot so crisply. It was wonderful.
I vote for Carrie #5! It’s a deeply heartfelt beautiful emotive portrayal of the personal events in their present life. It captures integrity, honor, and devotion. Both lil Emmy and her Daddy Matt, are befitting of this very honest and personal portrait. Love you, Care.
Love, Sera
Until I got thru all of the pictures, I was totally going to vote for no. 3. It strikes a chord in my heart as it reminds me of how long and hard my Dad works to provide for my Mom and my siblings.
But then I saw the last picture and knew I had to vote for no. 5. The simple love that fills the picture brought tears to my eyes — just as much as knowing that this Daddy is serving his country and can’t see his little girls every day.
Amazing job everyone !!
i vote #1 happy fun spot!!! by far my favorite!
#3…. nuff said.
Okay, wow, this is going to be hard…
Picture One is so fun! I love the green wall! And the cute dress the little girl is wearing. I just want to be 5 and play with my daddy again after seeing this.
Picture Two is so sweet! Dad is going to be that little girls hero because he saved her from that water balloon. I love the simple innocence in that heroic act.
Picture Three is so fun! I looked at it and instantly thought of a timeless, California boardwalk photo for some reason. And no one can keep you safe on a board like Dad.
Picture Four is so heavy…I am exhausted just looking at it. But what a sweet, dedicated man he is. Imagine how tired he must have been to fall asleep under a truck, on concrete…such an unintentional act of devotion to his family.
Picture Five…wow. Simply put, wow. I LOVE what Jeramy had to say about the shot. Jeramy, you summed it up perfectly! Its one moment, with opposite feelings. Its so sweet and sad at once, especially after you read the story that goes along with it. I look at photos of my dad and I now and I see a similar exchange…and now I know what it meant for him.
Okay, enough rambling…I am so torn on my vote!
Okay, my vote is for #5…I just feel the heaviest emotion from it. GREAT job, Carrie.
Me Ra, thank you for giving photographers of all experience levels a change to share their work! Your advice, thoughts, and shared experience are priceless!
-Amy
#2
I love everything about it! Nice Job.
I LOVE number 4!!!!
Congrats to all the finalists. They are all fabulous and you ladies are so talented!
My vote is for #5. But here’s what impressed me about each of them:
#1 – color/contrast, composition. Superb! It looked like a fun adventure with those two.
#2 – I love the motion, and the representation of fatherhood/protector. Just a little bit of flex in those manly arms, and the “oh no” hands in front of her face – SO GREAT at capturing the moment and the Dad who saves the day and plays!
#3 – MADE ME CRY, becasue I too am blessed to have a hubby who busts his ass to provide. Earlier today, I only had time to briefly scan the pics and I just caught that he was asleep; the image told the rest of the story even before I returned later and read the full description. Let’s hear it for our men!
#4 – Me Ra said it all, so ditto that – it says to me, “timeless summer, loving dad”
#5 – STILL CRYING. It captures how he is actively memorizing the time with her (and all of his girls) before deploying. Love how it’s in close, b/w, blurry background, quiet. ARTIST! Thanks C & M for your sacrifice and service to our country.
Great job all of you!!!
Well, I vote for #1, for its quiet whimsy and playfulness, and visually that GREEN wall just speaks to me. And fine, I’ll ‘fess up – knowing that the subjects are truly sweet people and this photo captures their personalities and relationship so well makes it all the more enjoyable to see! Yeah, I’m biased. 🙂
All of the pictures have a beautiful quietness to them that I love. I wept going through them all and the gorgeous description that accompanied each. Just to share with the family of #3 – this photo broke my heart, in a good way. Seeing a father giving his all from dawn to (well past) dusk, all for his family. This touches me beyond words.
I love #5. It tugged at my heartstings before I even read the story behind it. What a gorgeous picture that speaks a thousand words.
Kim
(cont’d from above) Oh, and I got the shivers with #5. I can totally feel the warmth of the dad, wrapping the towel around the daughter. Pure love.
hahah! they are all really great!!!!
i vote for #1!!!!!!!
i’m loving the composition and color of it.
and of course, it looks like silly fun to me!!!!!
*smile*
I vote for number one because it looks so funny 🙂
#3 🙂
#5! Adorable!
#3 is my second choice!
This is SOOO hard! I LOVE the waterballoon moment, and my husband is also a mechanic, so dad asleep under the truck touched me really deeply. But I’m voting for #5. Dad looks like he is soaking in and recieving his little girl’s smooch. It’s like he’s Me Ra, thinking, “I recieve.”
Wow, those are all great! But I can not stop tearing up over number 5. Before your lovely words Me Ra I thought it was a very sweet photo with great composition and perfect timing. Then add background story of the photo you just see so much more detail, like in the dad’s face and its meaning is more than just love; its fear, joy, and sadness.
My vote is for #5. Great job all of you!!
No 5 What love of a Father and Child. I could feel the tenderness in His Spirit and the Child-Love in return. Tears were in my eyes knowing he would be deployed soon but what a wonderful photo to have in his heart.
#5 for sure. I love the emotion in both his brow but also her’s! I can “see” her face even though I can’t! lol Love it!
They are all good, but #2 is my 2nd fave. Great timing and capture!
#1 all the way – I can just feel the playfulness!
#3!!! The lighting and color are really beautiful!
All of them have very different things to offer. It’s going to be a tough decision but in my eyes, I would have to pick finalist #3’s entry.
It creates that visualization of “arriving home late to spend time with the family after an exhausting day at work” feeling and then to top all of it is the feeling of need to do more work for the family at home so that things can get better. Anyone can only do so much before they can fall asleep at working the things they love doing. This entry really captures that moment of where “everything is everything when we do more than needed.”
Congratulations to the finalists and good luck to all of you! Happy voting!
I’m voting for #5. The true essence of love and strength displayed by Father to daughter is shown in this picture with an underlying meaning that he will always be there even miles away!
I’m voting for #1
I love, love, love #5!! I’m still crying! What a way to capture the “enduring love” between a father and daughter. I think that Carrie is incredibly strong for sending her picture. I completely felt the emotion and the deep love that her hubby had for his baby girl. I pray for his safety while he’s deployed.
My vote is for #2…I like the action, those little hands waving behind Daddy’s big ones. I think it really depicts an “everyday” daddy moment, daddy just takes care of everything!
All the pictures are great, but I really like the comments and descriptions that were written. I understood so much more after reading about them.
Great job to all of you…they all are terrific…I have been inspired!!!
#4
I agree with Mera, when she says that this looks like it could be on a card. As a matter of fact I would buy that card for a lot of “modern” dads that I know!
I love number 5 but there is just something so cute about number 1 too. Oh, I just love them all!
#1 – I love this picture because of the sense of playfulness it portrays. The green wall is a great background for the goofy connection between father and daughter.
#5
Brought tears to my eyes.
I love that happy spot (and I know the subjects, it captures the personality of both so well–Sarah it is a wonderful picture), but I love the playfulness of #2 too. It gets my vote.
Sarah E
This is so difficult! I love #2 and what it represents as a daddy’s role in his daughter’s life. What a gift for that little girl (and all little girls out there).
I had my husband look, too. I was just curious as to which one he connected to the most. He voted for #4. I think that is the one he most sees himself in. So, I don’t know if you want to count his vote… but I thought that I would add his!
Although #5 is moving, I do feel like I have seen that shot before or something similar. That’s why I am voting for #2 because it’s a shot that you don’t see all the time and I think most kids look to their dad most importantly for protection as a child and an adult 🙂
I really enjoyed #1, because it’s such a father/daughter moment. But #3 really brings home a dads dedication, so it’s got my vote.
All amazing photos – Great job to all of you! I love how each one portrays a different aspect of fatherhood. I will vote for #3 because it isn’t the most glamorous side – but is so important…knowing that fatherhood isn’t always fun and games and sweet hugs and kisses but hard work and discipline and being exhausted at times!:) He seems dedicated to providing for his family…
Fatherhood ahhhhh it just reminds me of those days when i want to beat somebody its the dad first
if i cudnt win n i wanted to cry about it, its his lap first
if something happened to me its his hands on my forehead
through out the night
God……… a father is someone who is always behind you but will nt let you know his presence
I WOULD VOTE FOR NO 2
REASON
WHAT A PERFECT TIMING TO CATCH THE WATER BALLON SHE CAN BE AFRAID OF FALLING IT ON HER
IT SHOWS HIS CARE ABOUT THE GIRL
I LOVED IT
I LOVED IT
TODAY I GONNA THANK MY FATHER FOR ALL HIS LOVE FOR ME
These are all gorgeous, and I think that they definitely depict the emotions that you listed.
That said, my vote is for #2 – like you said, I think that the timing is just perfect — and the fact that you can see both sets of hands and not much else makes it such a simple and yet lovely composition.
#5 what a great image of love!
#2!
I vote for number 3. That photo says so much. You could feel the exhaustion and the dedication to his family. WOW.
#4
SO much fun!
Im voting for number three. That father should be very much appreciated!
I vote for #5. The simplicity of the picture allows the love between Fateher and Daughter to shin though.
My vote is for # 5 The contrast betweent the subjects, emotions and expressions is all telling, the dad with his worries concerns and love and the little girl who “Just loves her dad” such innocence is beautiful.
Oh, I just love them ALL, but my vote is for #5. This one evoked so much emotion from me. I love the “closeness” you feel between daddy and daughter.
#4 #4 #4 #4 #4
What a classic shot! When these little girls are all grown up and dad has a few grey hairs, this will indeed be a timeless image. It’s classic today and for many years to come.
Fantastic image!
I love # 5. Carrie did a wonderful job with this picture. It makes me sad when I hear about father’s being deployed. I am sure he misses his daughters very much. The picture shows how much he loves his little daughter. I’m sure that it is very difficult for Carrie to even look at this picture, as she probably wants to hold her husband tightly right now.
I vote for #1 because I love the colors and the vintage feel. Plus, Happy Food Spot? So awesome.
#4 It is mine 🙂
I like #4 – nothing more to say.
#4
I like the innocence of number 4.
Number 4 is the most awesome photo
Skateboarders rule, number 4, it reminds me of my youth.
I like number 4, even though the father should be wearing a helmet.
Shut up and pick number 4.
My vote is for number 3. That is an awesome picture just like the family that it represents.
#4….just thinking of all the things my dad taught me. This depicts one of those moments that should not be forgotten….fun in the sun with dad!!
I vote for #4….awesome photo of our son and 2 of our beautiful grand daughters.
#4
Oh my. Check out the little girl in the background. Shades and a purse. A little Mom. Dad and the rider just having fun. Go faster Dad.
hands down #5
Oh I vote for #3!! This reminds me so much of my husband right now in this season of life we are in. It definitely is not a season we have chosen but due to circumstances here we are. He is so comitted and works long extra hours every day and I often forget to say THANK YOU and tell him how much I love and appreciate all he does for me and our kids. This picture has gotten my attention! Love it!
I’m going to vote for number one just b/c I like the colors though!
That didn’s “sound” right, not ONLY b/c of the colors, I really liked all the pictures, but that green is drawing me in right now and the cute poses of the dad and daughter! So sweet!
My vote is for photo #4 – so cute!
I vote for #4 not only because Renee is a friend of mine who begged me to come here and vote but also because it’s a damn good image if you like images of kids, dogs or flowers… She is, Renee, also is a damn fine photographer even if she does shoot kids, dogs and the occational flower… Cheers, r.
I vote for #2, I like the composition and that it is slightly different from what I would typically think a fatherhood photo to look like. I like the steady hands of th dad and the unsure hands of the child, that is what fatherhood should be about.
#4 gets my vote! Great work, Renee!
loving the depth of emotion in number 5!!!!
number 4 depicts a fun summer day with daddy! Love it!
I vote for Renee. She’s an awesome photographer, and of course my 2 little 3rd cousins are the cutest.
My vote is for # 4.
My heart is for # 5.
My smile is for # 2.
My wow!!! is for # 1.
My laugh is for # 3.
Good job!!! all of you.
# 3…I just read the story after I voted.
At first I thought this is a cute and funny candid picture but after I read the story, I changed my mind.
The picture…makes me smile but the story makes me cry.
Photo #1 by Sarah get my vote! All are such great images.
My vote is for number 4! Those cuties are my nieces!
My vote is for #5. An amazing, beautiful shot. I love everything about this photograph! The composition is wonderful…revealing such strong emotions in their faces. It is real, raw and heartbreaking yet sweet, tender and playful all at the same time. Even though their perspectives as father & daughter seem worlds apart, the pure love towards one another in this photo is undeniable. Me Ra picked the perfect photo for what I believe is the most powerful “role a father plays…enduring love”.
My vote is for #5 – I just have to say “Wow!” I feel so many emotions looking at it!!
#4 definitely! I agree with Me Ra that the big sister running to keep up in the back add so much to this picture. I love that she’s looking in a completely different direction. Good job Renee!
#4 My favorite photographer!!
%5, the expression in his face…what a moment.
Number 1. Color, composion, and emomtion (happy!) are all coming together to make one stunning shot! It’s the kind of shot I’d even consider putting up when I don’t even know the people!
Both the girls and dad getting the most out of life, perfect capture?
# 4, both the girls and dad getting the most out of life, perfect capture
I like #2 best because it says so much with showing so little.
#4 — Fanatastic shot!!!
# 4 Just captures our heart!! LOVE how Dad is not posing but seriously engaged in the ride, while we see the sheer delight and direct eye contact in the face of his passenger. The little girl behind, carrying her purse (which is overly large for her) is quite adorable and the fact that she is distracted and lookng off to the side gives us even more interest. One in a million shot and so well done.
Number 4 gets my vote.
Tough vote!!! I love the first one, but I’m voting for #5. My heart just melts when I look at it. 🙂
I vote for # 4. This photo captures summertime fun!
What a difficult decision. My vote is for #5. I love the emotion in the image.
#1
What beautiful expressions of fatherly love, all of them! But I am repeatedly drawn to #1 and #5……difficult choice but I’m going with #1.
everyone is going to hold off from voting to try and be number 400!
I can relate most to number three, so I’ll vote for that one
#4 it is!!! I just love it!!
Deann Guest
i just love #2. hands can tell such amazing stories. this is a story of love, protection and fun.
All of the finalists are so good, it is very hard to choose. But I choose #5. The daddy’s expression is so precious.
my vote is for #4. I love the b/w composition and the motion in the shot. Great photo.
No.5 is truly captivating. This picture brought tears to my eyes. She captured the father/daughter moment and you can totally feel the dads emotions in this picture.
Beautiful images and powerful stories. Loved each one but No.5 is just so precious. The image is so tender and sweet, it reveals such a sense of peace and contentment between father and daughter. It’s a lingering kiss that only a daddy and his girl could share! Absolutely love it!
#4 Renee this picture is one of my favorites. Daddies love to have adventure in their life and to share it with their girls is that much more special. Great shot!!
I vote #2 – I love this picture! Not only is the timing absolutely amazing but it reminds me of all those “close” times when dads are there to take care of their girls.
#2 – Way to go Sara!
#2….PERFECT SHOT! WTG Sara!!!
#3 all the way! I’ve known Lauren for years (we’re talking since middle school) and I’ve heard her talk about how hard working Brian is and how much she likes photography. This pic is perfect!
I vote for #2 – love it!
#3 – hardworking, not afraid to get dirty, puts himself (and his exhaustion) way behind his family’s needs. That’s what a dad is to me and that’s what this picture says to me.I can smell the garage and grease when I look at it.
My vote is for #2. You see the total trust the little girl has in her Dad.
Mary Ann
#4 is amazing, I love it! What a perfect moment and a fantastic shot.
I vote for #4. love the composition. #5 was a very close second, because of the emotion of it.
I vote for Finalist #5, Photo Shoot for Dad and His Sweetie, by Carrie (wife and mama).
Oh this is soo tough! But I have to go with #1 Happy Food Spot, I love it!
They are all so good!!! But… I am going to vote for #5. What an emotional picture. It brought tears to my eyes! The look on both of their faces are just beautiful. It just goes to show that as parents we will carry the weight of the world for our children. Carrie, I send you and your family much love and hope for your husband a safe return. Thank you for so bravely sharing such an intimate glimpse into your life.
Kristina
#5
What a great moment. You can feel the love.
My vote is for #2. Your awesome Sara!
#5
All these dads, were in my dad, my father Joe –
he came to the States when he was nine from Hungary.
A gypsy amoung Jews being exiled and annihilated.
Now, in Italy, they’re doing a legal version of marking the Romany people – our people.
But he was kind and strong, funny and compassionate.
He had a brain tumor that eventually the post-op work contributed to his failing health (along with an abusive wife, my mother) and he passed on when I was only 11.
He is still the love of my life next to my son Tanner, and my work.
But 5 – 5 is the kiss I never got to have again. 5 is the hug I have lost forever. 5 is the reminder I had a damn good father. He bought me my first train set and encouraged my tomboyness. He taught me to fix a flat tire at 5, and how a woman should never need a man, but want to love one.
My only regret is my son does not have that father, yet. But he will one day. I know he’s out there, among us artists and catchers of light. He’s waiting to bring my son the very things I cherished in my father. It’s not money, it’s not looking good on the outside, it’s not cheating to get ahead, it’s not blaming others, it’s not any of those things. A father doesn’t do that to provide for his child. It’s a choice and an instinct in the responsibility of wanting to be a dad that makes a dad, makes a father.
Every photo reflects this, and each one harder than the next to see.
Just as #5 is off to serve his family and the home they live in I know mine is in the ether, with Michael and all the Angels, keeping guard over me and my son.
Thank you so much, all of you, for sharing each and every one of these.
#2 – I think it’s amazing how completely Sara conveys the story and emotions without showing a face, the image that usually evokes response.
#1 for me. Love everything about it. Awesome job Sarah!
As an aside- I would love to see a contest that only pictures, and not stories, are allowed… just to see how it affects entries and judging.
I vote for #3. If you’ve ever had a dad that worked two jobs..or night shifts..to do whatever he had to..you understand the sentiment behind that one photo. 🙂
I vote for #5, hands down! A picture says a thousand words, for sure! I can just feel the emotion.
They were all great, but that one just struck me.
Finalist #5 – Carrie has truly captured the love of a father for his little girl. Love it!!!!
#2 is my favorite. I perfectly captures the faith we have that our daddies will always protect us…
Beautiful work, Sara.
#2 is my favorite.
Oh my goodness!!! How hard is this? Every photo has it’s own reason for taking the prize. Each one sweetly depicts the awesome love and devotion of a father.
However, since we have to only pick one, my vote is for #5. It so powerfully shows the tenderness and purity of the love that is shared between a father and daughter. It made my heart melt! Not only does it capture a specific moment in time, but I feel it is telling a story. My mind immediatly imagines the two of them only moments before having a wonderful time in a pool, playing joyfully and then taking a brief moment to chat and giggle. Then, while sitting on her fathers lap to dry, this adorable child decides to let her father know how happy she is to have him. She leans over and tenderly kisses his face. Carrie did a fabulous job of capturing her husbands emotion of wanting that moment to last forever and the sweet childlike spirit of her daughter adoring her father. I can almost hear her precious little voice telling him “I love you, daddy” and feeling his heartbeat saying in response “I love you more than life, my precious angel”. I hope Carrie’s entry is the winner. I don’t know this incredible family, but my thoughts and prayers are with them.
My vote is for #2! If you only knew the fear that little girl has of water, let alone possibly getting water on her face, you would totally understand how protected she must have felt when she was saved from that balloon! Great job capturing the moment Sara, you can feel the emotion of the photo without ever seeing a face.
[…] check out the amazing work of the Top Five Finalists for June’s photo contest, and cast your vote here! The theme was Fatherhood, and I guarantee one or two will make you […]
I vote for #3! Lauren’s story is so moving and the picture is just incredable!
I vote for #5, it brings tears to my eyes every time I look at it. Great job!
Number 5 all the way. Beautiful!
#3 – what a true representation of fatherhood. I was laid off from my job a year ago and have not been able to find work that is worth going back for (I have a 3 year old and day care is so expensive) so, Ive been a SAHM for a year and we have been so short on money. My husband has stepped up and done everything he can to make money to support his family. Thats what a father does, he supports his family, emotionally, mentally, financially. I know the picture doesnt show a father/child bond but it does show a father doing everything he can to support his family. Great Job!
I love #2! It’s a different take on the father-daughter shot that definitely makes a grown up daughter grateful for her dad! That little girl will feel the same when she looks at that photo years from now.
I vote for #2.
#5 such a face of overwhelming love! Good job!
I love love love #5. The tenderness. The honesty. The heart of being a dad rests on his shoulder.
Me Ra, I’m honored that you chose my photo as a finalist, and your comments alone are enough for me. I blush to be chosen next to the other finalists, so thanks!
My vote is for #4. My hubby is a skater too, and takes our daughter to the skate park with him. She’s waiting to be big enough for the skateboard she’s had since she was 3 months old. And I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the little girl running alongside. Beautiful photo!
I vote for #5.
#1 – happy foot spot – how cute!
I vote for number 1!
Number 1! 🙂
#1 all the way!
#1!
#1 for me.
I have to go with #5.
I love the playfulness in Sarah’s #1, and need more of that in my life. But the intensity and devotion in #5 totally gets me.
I vote for #1. Very playful, great colors.
#1. they were all great pictures and all of them represents the meaning of “father”. it was just a “wow” factor.
#1 is awesome. Like them all, though.
#1 is awesome! Love it!
I vote for Happy Food Spot (and NOT just because I know the photog!) because I love the colors and the words and the pose…
But I also really love #2….just in case I get a runner-up vote!
I vote for #1. I know Sarah and her family and I think it captures their playfulness perfectly. Great picture!
I vote for Sarah’s (1)…because the photo captures Ted and Cadence exactly as they are. And because someday when Cadence is all “grown up”…I have a feeling this is going to be a greatly prized treasure for both Sarah and Ted. And lastly, because she’s family! 🙂
#1…They are all great, but I dig that kid.
I vote for #1. What a great picture!
#5. I’ve never seen a picture that moved me as much as this one. The story just unfolded the mysteries of the picture. It is a powerful picture!
#1 – vibrant, bright, and fun! Doesn’t look posed either – because it’s not perfect. But that does make it perfect just the same.
#1: it has enough whimsy to make it seem like this is what happens in this family every day/nothing is staged.
#1
Wow. I love this photo. It is whimsical and wonderful.
me ra, do we have a tally so far? you’ve got to be keeping track…right?
# 1 for sure. The other ones are either too polished to have any personality, or too normal to have any sort of remarkable feel to them.
My vote is for picture #1 – love the artistic composition and playfulness.
#1 all the way!
I vote for the Happy Food Spot. Unique, happy, wholeness.
I love #1!
-c.
John (4 comments above), I’d have to respectfully disagree. I think all the photos capture the essence of the moment–simply and beautifully.
i vote for #1!
-c.
Of course I love #4 as it is my brother and two nieces! My older niece running behind her dad is classic! I love how my brother spends fun time with his beautiful girls! Great photo, as always, Renee!
#3 For Sure. It made me cry. It reminds me of my wonderful husband who has sacrificed so much and has worked so hard during a difficult season in our lives!
Love It!!!
Sue
i vote for #5
They all touch on the things that make fathers fathers… playmate, protector, provider, and enduring love. They are all amazing!!! But since i have to choose one – I vote for #5 – love always wins out.
Lisa
#1
#5…. the love on Dad’s face is exceptional.
I vote for #5–Having been a military wife for many years I know the dad must cherish this wonderful picture of him and his little girl.
My vote is for #3.
What a great example of hard work for his family!!
I vote for finalist #5. This almost looks like a good bye kiss. Like maybe the father is leaving somewhere and this is their last time together for a while. This artist really caught the the moment just right. This is beautiful
#1 is wonderful!
I love #1.
I love the pop of the green wall.
I love the mirrored positions of father and daughter.
I love the playfulness of the moment.
I love the sign and the perfect way it merges with the scene.
I love how real it seems, right down to the different shades of greens on the wall.
I like #5 the best! You can just see that the daughter is in the in the moment but dad is thinking of when he won’t be able to give her kisses after being deployed. Powerful!
#1 – I love the vibe, the color, and the playfulness. The concentration of both of them makes you want to be on the other side. Love it!
I vote for #1!
I vote for # 1, The Happy Food Spot. It has a great pop of color in the background, a bit of “let’s be silly” and a reality of “the beauty of simplicity”. This is a great candid shot! Great Job Sarah!!!
Love #1…In today’s crazy world full of depressing news and doomsday predictions, sometimes it’s just nice to see an image capturing the love of a father and child and the playfulness they experience. This image is truly timeless…I can see it on greetings cards well into the future! Well done Sarah!!!!!
#1! How very witty and original, Sarah!
#1 What a great shot!
#5….. What a wonderful Father/Daughter moment.
I vote for #1, its a great picture!
I vote for # 5 The black and white close up is timeless. Even without the story this picture is a strong show of a fathers love!
#5 with #1 in a very close seond.
My vote is for #1!
Love #5!
#5 is my vote! Thank you for serving our country!
Great stuff all of them, especially #2 and #5, but my vote is for #1.
#1 Sarah! Way to go!
#5, before i read the description, the picture tugged at my heart, absolutely beautiful.
#1 comes VERY close, love the colors, love the whimsy! i know the family and they are absolutely wonderful.
finalist #1 – it’s great. sarah’s shot.
#5, OMG I’m crying now after reading that!
#5 in a landslide. What emotion and true love from an amazing family!
#1 This picture invokes a sense of childhood playfulness that reminds us of our own childhood happy moments
#1 (happy foods) just makes me happy and and #3 (provider) chokes me up. love them both!! real, raw and reflective.
I am voting for #5 it is absolutely beautiful and there is sooo much love in that photograph. Brought tears to my eyes.
Excellent Photograph Carrie!!!
Oh these photos are SO great! I vote for #3 what a great guy
I am so very moved by all of these photographs. Never having had a meaningful realtionship with my own father I saw what I have always longed for in each of the artists work. #5 however speaks volumes about the love this father has for his child and family. You don’t have to know them to see that. I do however know them and that photo sums up everything Matt stands for. He is such a devoted father and husband. Silly and strong. Protective and loving. He is their everything and they are his. Carrie has captured the most amazing moment of love and devotion I have ever seen. As always, she brought tears to my eyes. I love this family so. There is no other choice. #5 #5 #5!!!!!
#1 I like it!!!!!
#1 is just so sweet and quirky! Love it! 🙂 Nina
I vote #1 by a mile. It is the most original and intriguing. Colors are vibrant. It invokes alot of question. What are they doing? Where is this located? Was this staged? It also speaks volumes about the playful relationship between the father and his daughter. Also I think most people would have cropped out the letters on the top and put the two models on center, but it says alot about the photographer that she left the picture uncropped and it is more brilliant left uncropped.
I am surprised by so many voting for #5. It is Hallmark-ee. I think it is cropped strangely and the towel in between them ruins it for me. Also monochrome is sort of pretentious.
Finalist #3! Love the angles.
Picking ONE choice was so incredibly difficult!
My choice is #5. It moved me the most emotionally.
But I do congratulate all the finalists for their fantastic pictures!
[…] Before I forget, today is the LAST day to vote for your favorite finalist in the Fatherhood Photo Contest!!! Last I checked, we were ONLY 135 votes away from a total of 400 votes!!! That’s amazing and such a blessing to all the finalists! Don’t forget, the 400th voter gets a $20 Starbucks card too!! So cast your vote by midnight PST tonight! The deadline is really and truly midnight tonight! Click to here to vote! […]
I’m voting for number 5. My heart is squeezed by the expression of love I see on daddy’s face for his sweet little girl. As I look at this exquisite picture, it brings tears to my eyes and stirs up emotions in me that I didn’t expect. Just beautiful.
Definately #5 – The expression on his face make’s my heart sing! Love this shot
My voite is for number 1. The photo is poetry captured in a still. I love it.
My vote is for #5.
I love the closeness in the shot and of the shot – does that make sense? – LOL! I just love that photo!!
I love Happy Food Time. The color and contrast of the image is striking and plays well against the fun figures in it. Me likey!
I’m casting my vote for #1 because of the magnificent sense of play that it evokes, and because of the magnificent contrast between father and daughter.
I love that Dad is loosely bent over in jeans and bright red sandals while Daughter is intently hunched in her neat black dress, white hair bow, and black Mary Janes. More than any other image, this one leaves me no choice but to smile.
#5 You can feel the emotion. It reaches through the monitor and grabs you.
I want to cast my vote for pic #5. A picture is worth a thousand words… what an amazing shot of “Love personified”. Great job Carrie, you are a true talent.
#1 Playful and fun and humorous. Really love this pic.
#5 Fabulous!
#5 Awesome work!
easy…#1…the fun, the color, the personality & character
#1 is my favorite! I remember Sarah wrote on her flickr that this photo was taken before Ted went on a tour. To me that is touching, they always seem like such good friends from all the photos she takes of them! Two peas in a pod. 🙂
So hard to choose, they’re all so great. The playfulness, composition and deep green of #1 just resonate with me. I pick #1. Nice work Sarah!
#5…Love this photo!
I vote for #3…
I vote for number 1.
I love the color composition and playfulness. It evokes a true emotional response even without the great Happy Food Spot sign.
I think the other ones are great, but the B&W compositions don’t always work for me. #2 and #4 have to be honorable mentions if they don’t win!
I vote for #1… that is just too cool!
Number 1!!! For it’s vividness – color, spirit of play, and I catch a whiff of a metaphor that this Dad will always be behind his little girl, supporting her in her endeavors.
Don’t get me wrong, I really loved all the photos, especially #3 & #5 – oh, that pulled at the heartstrings. But being a daughter of a rather serious man, #1 is the photo I wished I had with my dad, if he’d just lighten up a little bit.
The photos are all amazing, I am really having a hard time!!!!
While #1 totally describes my DH w/his little Princess, #5 just made me cry. I have seen that look on DH when they snuggle.
My heart tells me to vote #5.
I LOVE the first one from Sarah. The green is gorgeous and the subjects in such a fresh and unexpected position. Excellent lighting and tones. Great shot!
I am crying at the amazing responses to the images – what a lift to our spirits in my family to not only read the wonderful things people are saying about my photo, but also the great response for the other 4 fantastic images.
Great job everyone. I hope someone gets that #400 prize. 🙂
#1! #1! #1! 🙂
#4 Gotta love a man who knows how to hang with the girls!
I vote for #1!! Love the colors.
I’m for number 1… like the color and composition… like the movement.
The first photo by Sarah makes me smile. I like the bright green and the inclusion of “Happy Food Spot.” By the extreme leaning forward, I can imagine the father and daughter playing a game. There’s adventure and playfulness in this image. I like that I can anticipate roaring laughter that might have occurred after this photo was taken. Good job, Sarah.
Very hard to choose…but I’ll go with Finalist #1! What a fun pic! =)
I vote for #2.
Al
I vote for #2 – strong symbolism, love it.
I almost chose #5, but the dad looks too posed. I conclude how his face would be so expressionless in the photo (botox…hee hee). Maybe I missed something.
OK it has been a while since I have posted to the blog, but I could not resist jumping in here to vote for Sara #2. I was at a workshop with Sara and this picture is just so amazing and I think it also captures the quiet and strong spirit that I felt from Sara at the workshop. It is just so perfectly timed, you can feel the excitement and yet need for safety from the little girl in her arms as this water balloon comes near here – just amazing. I also have to say that #5 is incredible and the story behind it is beyond touching. Congratulations to all the finalists ! best of luck to you all 🙂
My vote is for #1. I love the contrast between the man and little girl. Cute.
Im voting for number one. Cant wait to see who wins!
They’re all so wonderful!! I’m voting for #5.
Definitely #1!
I so look forward to the days when all of these pictures can point to something true in my own life… except that I would die on a skateboard alone… much less with a child…
My vote is #1… a smiling little girl playing with her dad nearly brings me to tears…
WOW! What great pictures, it was a tough choice but my vote is #5 – it also brought a tear to my eye.
My vote is for #1. I love how dad mirrors daughter! What an amazing connection they must have! And it also reminds me of the importance of play for both adult and child in our work-centered stressful culture.
I vote for #5, I just love it. All the other photos are great too.
I vote for number two. That’s how a little girl should feel with her daddy. Safe and protected, even when he’s having fun with her!
I love #5!!! My Vote is for #5…I have had the great opportunity of meeting these wonderful individuals and I know what love and devotion he has towards his family. Such a great shot! Great job Carrie!
I can’t believe all the votes. Will we make it to 400?
On a side note, I think that some of the comments that are being left for these wonderful photographers are a little harsh. We come to Me Ra’s site because we are all supporters of each other, women to women, moms to moms, photographers to photographers. We come for inspiration in our life journeys. I am sure that these photographers are open to constructive criticism or they would not have entered the contest. If you want someone passionately to win, then vote for them, but do it without defaming other entries with personal blows, either to their stories or physical look.
Everyone’s style is different. Appreciate the different eye!!
well said “Z”
thank you!
this was a hard choice… they are all so good. but I am going with #1.
I vote for #1, its a funny and clever inversion that that dad copies the girl, instead of her copying him. It is a happy food spot photo, its got distinct personality.
I absolutely vote for #2 the photo says everything…..not words needed!
#5 is my choice
I vote 5.
There is just such emotion captured in this shot. It makes me feel so much all at once.
I’m voting for number one. Love the simplicity, the colors and the fact that dad is being silly with his daughter. Sometimes those little moments are the ones to last a lifetime,
I vote for #2. I love everything about it. What a lucky little girl to have that picture of her and her daddy!
I vote for Number #1 of course!
I vote for #2. I love it!!
Water balloon….what a great shot!
Yep, water balloon for me too!
I vote for #2. Nice job Sara
I wish I had a picture like the water-balloon (#2) of my Dad and I.
It says it all beautifully and simply. Sara has incredible vision and impecable timing, with this she captured one of those timeless, loving, nurturing, intimate moments that mean the most between a parent and a child. What a treasure….maybe the most wonderful thing is that in the second that she caught the image, neither the father or the daugther realized how poigniant their moment was. It just passed them by and they tossed the ballon to the other side….Sara captured this beautiful memory for them which would’ve slipped into nothingness had she not been watching so intuitively. BEAUTIFUL!!!!
I vote for Finalist #3, Lauren. I choose this picture as my favorite because it captures a moment I am able to connect with. This reminds me of my own dad who is Mr. Fix-anything-and-everything. 🙂 My dad commutes to work every day and works hard all day long. Oftentimes after a day of work we call on him to fix something – whether it be a car, a computer, a cd player, the dish washer, the washing machine – you name it, he’s probably fixed it. I don’t know what I’d do without my wonderful dad who I often declare to others can fix anything, even my heart when it’s sad or discouraged. This picture inspires me to take pictures of my genius dad next time he is in action around the house. Great shot Lauren!
i vote for number 1!!!!!!! It is fitting that it is actually #1 =) I just love the green… the photo just makes me smile.
I vote for number 2. I know it is not easy to catch this type of photo at just the right time.
I vote for #1!
I vote for #2!
My godness they are all so wonderful! I’m going to have to go with #5 i was awestruck by it, the expression is amazing and so natural.
#1 so much fun! I just totally smiled and felt happy from that picture! Sooooo cute!
Number 2 is my favorite.
Voting for #1
#5 Is and breath taking image. I love all these photos #2 was my next favorite such strong images! All are all great you should be very proud of yourselves. Can’t wait for the next contest i just might enter.
Come on let’s get to 400!
#3
I think everyone here would have to admit that this photo brought tears to their eyes.
I think photography is so much more than the most ‘interesting’, ‘eye-catching’ shot.
It is the feeling behind the shot.
It’s true that all the other shots are also wonderful. I can see the feeling behind those dad’s eyes. But in #3, I see the feeling behind this particular photographer’s eyes.
This one shot really gets to me.
Congrats to all these photographers!!
So I can’t stay up any longer waiting for 400, and I think you’ll get there! 🙂 My vote goes to #4. For me it really sums up fatherhood cuz I could imagine myself doing that with my kids. The girl running really makes this moment for me as well. And let’s not forget shirtless dad. This photo has it all…way to go Renee!
Such a hard choice i’ve been debating for 3 days now! I’m going to have to go with my heart and say #5 but I have to say all the images and stories were amazing.
Yeah… I’m off to bed.
I already voted for #5, but wanted to say that all the finalists images are awesome. I appreciate each one of you for sharing your photos and stories with us. I know its hard to put yourself out there for the world to comment on. Each one of you shared a special moment in time with us and inspired many people to remember to capture those fleeting moments in time. The fun, joy happiness, hardships and happiness we all find in our own lives.
nite. nite.
Darn your still short of that 400, but you came so close! They’re so many great things to say about all these pictures but it’s late and i’m a man of few words anyhow, so I’ll just got ahead and throw a vote in the hat for #5.
#3
My last minute vote is for #2. Go Sara!!!
I love #5 it is elegant and conveys the beauty and emotion of parenting! Pure love!
WOW. All of these made my heart feel warm. My vote is for #3. What a loving father and husband who will sacrifice for his family!
After a long time pondering between photos, I have finally made a decision!
I vote for #5.
While I was scrolling down through the different photos, I was in amazement at how others have captured their ‘Dads’ being a ‘Dad’, but when I scrolled more and saw this photo. I was struck. I read the story behind it. More struck. And then I remembered seeing this photo before from clickin on blogs to blogs to blogs one day. 😉
I also had the father of my child leave for Iraq…before I was pregnant and any children with him at all. I had been so stressed, worried, sad…a hundred thousand different emotions all at one time. I can only imagine what it would be like if now he was to leave with I and his daughter here.
This photo captures a moment between a father and his child showcasing pure love and adorement they have for one another.
I must say I did have a hard time choosing though, because I kept on going back and thinking with the other ones, these are some awesome photos!
Congratulations to all the Photo takers…you all did a beautiful job!
I loved photo #1, it’s just so cute and playful. But then I saw photo #5 and cried….so, I’d have to say #5 gets my vote. Now I have to go get a Kleenex…
Wow, these are all wonderful, just beautiful. It’s tough to pick just one, especially knowing the stories behind the photos. In the end, #5 gets my vote. But I have to say that #3 also touched my heart. Congratulations to the finalists!
#1 is just too funny and I LOVE the green in the background, really makes the photo POP!!
I vote for #1 because it makes me smile like a crazy lady! I think #5 is beautiful too… I think they are all brilliant!
#5 is absolutely the best! No question about it.
[…] people took time out of their day to share their thoughts and encourage the Five Finalists for the Fatherhood Photo Contest! This number alone is breathtaking! Thank you so much to all 349 voters! You are all wonderful!! […]
My vote is for #2. Way to capture the moment.
i loved all the pictures they are awesome. I really enjoyed #2. It caught the moment perfectly!
All the photos are wonderful, but I love the story and pic of number 3. I vote 3!!
Is it too late? Loved the LOVE in #5. Rarely is it captured in such a real way.
Is it too late? Loved the LOVE in #5. That’s my vote! Rarely is captured in such a real way.
[…] 355 voters and last but not least, the hundreds of people who submitted photos for the contest! The Fatherhood Contest was incredibly moving. It was a honor to be able to see all the submissions sent in and the stories […]
#3
Reminds me of my father. Fixing cars both day and night to take care of us, as a single father. He was so dedicated and driven to take care of us, sleeping wasn’t really something I saw him do.
#3
And reading through many of the wonderful comments…I noticed that some people referred to the tired father as picture number 4???????
[…] in since then making it a total of 487! The most votes we’ve ever had on a photo contest was 356! I’d say we blew that number out of the […]
Wow! Great shots. While following a string of searches for Lightroom I came across these wonderful photos. Congrats to the winner, but stellar job to all.
[…] our last photo contest, we had 356 voters! If we clear 400 votes on this contest, we are going to pick a Random Voter (not necessarily #400, […]
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