You have all been super PATIENT while we play major catch up on life after being gone for two weeks. Thank you so much!
The votes were counted and recounted! Finalist #5 “Big Brother’s Love” taken by Michelle is the WINNER!!!
Yeah for Michelle!
I’m sure that winning a photo contest was the furthest thing from Michelle’s mind when she took this photo of her two boys. To even pick up a camera in this painful moment would mean that she had to step out of her pain long enough to become a documenter of her family’s life. This fact alone makes me that much more excited to see that your votes brought her to being the winning photo.
To read the beautiful story behind this photo, and Michelle’s comment, you can click on the finalist post. Get a Kleenex or two!
Michelle, email us at contest@fioria.us with your address, and we’ll ship you your prize of Adobe’s Lightroom software! Yeah! You are going to LOVE Lightroom!
Now for the next winner: the Random Voter!!!
The Random Voter Prize goes to Amy! Her post was #38 and said;
Amy
First i want to say that i love all of the picture! My vote is for #2 Newlyweds with a European Flavor, by Acacia. Being a newlywed myself, I can totally put myself in that moment. The image is so fresh, sugary sweet, i love it! I also love how her legs come forward in the shot, and i love the upward look in her eyes.
congrats to everyone for making the final 5!
Amy, thank you so much for voting for one of the finalists! Not only is it great that you voted, but the feedback you left as a voter was wonderful too! I’m so happy that the random number was 38!
We’d like to send you a copy of DVD 2, Beyond the Green Box!
If you already own DVD 2, then let us know and we will send you credit of the equal value to spend on the Refuse to Say Cheese site toward another product or workshop! Email us your preference at contest@fioria.us.
Congrats to the two wonderful winners today!! So many people emailed and posted comments saying that ALL five of the finalists’ photos were amazing, and they truly were. Thank you to everyone who sent us a photo submission for the contest as well! The number of submissions we received was AMAZING!
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Now for the NEW CONTEST THEME!!!!
The theme is “Darkness and Light”.
With daylight savings this last weekend, and the light around us starting to change, I thought it would be fun to experiment with the lack of light and/or the abundance of light. You can send us any type of photo that fits this theme. If you’ve never tried taking a silhouette photo, they are super fun. You can learn from our Beyond the Green Box dvd how to manipulate your shutter speed to capture a silhouette. They are way easier than you think.
But you don’t have to send us silhouettes. Submit whatever image you’d like that ties in to the theme of “Darkness and Light”. You can also share the story behind the photo, but if you do I may share it on the blog too. 🙂
Send your new photo submissions to contest@fioria.us. The prize will be announced later.
In the meantime, check back tomorrow morning for a special announcement that will bless you or someone you know! Don’t you love the anticipation! 🙂
I love surprises!!! Happy Monday!
Congratulations to Michelle! It truly was a lovely photo! Congrats also to Amy!
I love the new Contest theme. Can’t wait to see the entries for this one!
Well deserved!! I voted for that one 🙂
Also, creative new contest! I love the theme
congrats to both winners! I’m loving the new theme!
WOW! What an honor!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! This has totally made my day – not that it wasn’t a good one to start with, but WOW!
That photos is gorgeous. I love the love your boys share. I must know … is your little one ok know? He is a beautiful little person!!! I have two girls and feel so blessed. You must feel the same!
Congratulations Michelle! That is a photo your boys will treasure.
happy monday…and NOW tuesday!!!!! hahahahah
congrats to all the winners!!!!!!!!! ohyea!
Tahlia and all others that have commented and wondered how my little guy is doing:
He is now 2 months away from his 2nd birthday. He was 5 months old when he had heart surgery and his bronchiolitis hospitalization. He had his cardiology appointment just last Tuesday and thank the Lord, the 1 hole in his heart that they had not repaired closed on its own. Although there are a few other things in his heart that they could not fully repair, there is only a 1% chance that he will ever need surgery again! YEAH!
He is an amazing baby overcoming the obstacles he was born with and pure joy to everyone that meets him. The initial difficulties that came with his Down Syndrome have been shadowed by all the love and joy he has brought into our lives.
Thank you everyone for your heart-touching comments. I had to stop reading them during the contest because I cried every time I read them.
Congrats to Michelle for being the contest winner! Your shot was so touching, empowering and portrayed one of the most important bonds in life. And it so great to hear your little guy is doing well.
Thanks to everyone for the congrats, I was shocked to read my name and comment as the random winner! I’ve never won anything, ever, so this made my week. Thank you Me Ra and Brian! I sent you an email to the address you mentioned 🙂
The new contest sounds like so much fun and a great opportunity to experiment with the camera. Cant wait to give it a shot.
because of your february photo contest, which feature dj and cody,and michelle winning the coveted prize, you have found more fans of this site.
My mom (rose in the comment above) is now an addicted blog reader of this site after it was introduced to her for this contest. That’s how great this blog is! A number of my friends and family check out this blog daily just like me!!
Michelle, I’m so glad you updated about your son. G-d bless all of you and keep taking photos like that.