Yes, it's back, the Family and Friends Photo Contest.

How you all doing? 
This contest is partly to sharpen our photography skills and mostly to connect with family and friends. So if you're reading this, you're special to us.

In this holiday iteration we're going for multiple contests. 

I figured I could catch every one with a little extra time and maybe a feeling for connecting to family during this holiday season.

So grab a glass of whatever you use to celebrate and connect by judging and commenting on our photos. Relax, have fun. 

I was very impressed when photographers started submitting their pics. Proud even.  Missy, Lila,  Alyce, Colin and I have all submitted photographs and your gift to us during this holiday is simply to vote on which photo you think is best in each category. If you are feeling really generous we'd love comments - even if that's just one word or phrase about each photo.

Judging/voting options: 

1) In the "comments" below vote for whatever photo you think is best in each contest.

or

2) Get a piece of paper and go around to everyone at your gathering (if you don't have anyone at your gathering, come to ours) and write down their answers and comments. Show  the photos on your phone, tablet, laptop or (best) even your TV. You could transcribe that info into the "comments." Or take a photo of your list with your phone and text (808-223-0309) or email (kozhawaii@gmail.com) it to me. 

Be creative. 

Just get it back to me before the end of the year. On New Years Day check back and you'll learn who took what photos and who won best in each category

Thank you for the gift and Happy Holidays.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR A LARGER VIEW

Winter

Holidays

City at Night

Recent Getaway.

Coffee or Tea

Colin is the Serenity winner.  Good work Colin, that's two in a row.

This weeks topic is Coffee or Tea. Photos below and judges -  you know what to do.

Some changes in the coming weeks and months. We're only doing a contest here quarterly.  If any photographers want to post with some photos and maybe ask for help or advice, that's what we will mostly be doing. I like getting feedback on my pics so I'll be trying to get some feedback here weekly. So if you want to see our pics or get advice and/or feedback, check back weekly.

I'm only sending out emails for the quarterly contests. Next pic due to me December 15 with the holiday theme topic. You have lots of time. Should be exciting!

When it comes to photography I'm mostly entering the Viewbug contests. Really exciting site if you want to improve your photography.

Photo A

Photo B

Photo C

SERENITY

Colin won the THREE photo contest with his photo of some crazy old structure in Oakland Harbor. Good job Colin! What the heck is it?

Now it's time for some SERENITY - the topic for this weeks contest.

Judges please make any comments below and vote on the right.
Photographers you can vote, too.  Try not to vote for your own pic but if you really sincerely believe it to be the best, vote for your own but you better explain in the comments below.

Photographers, if you have any photos for the sidebar or would just like to be specially featured - just send them to me. Next weeks topic is : Coffee or Tea?

All us photographers would like some constructive comments. You like the photo? Why? You don't, Why not? 


Here they are:  Vote on SERENITY on sidebar to the right. Comment below.

Photo A Colin WINNER!

Photo B Krista

Photo C Jeff

Photo D Missy.

THREE

Last week with the topic "Tree"  we had a tie. Missy (B) with that tall tree viewed from the bottom and her mom with the close up of the Birch Tree (E) are our winners for this week. If they get as competitive as Colin and I did that could be exciting. Congratulations!
We still need more judges, so please ask friends and family.
I think we'll try letting photographers vote too. So if you submit a pic, you need to vote too. 

This weeks topic from Alyce is "Three." Vote in sidebar to right.

Next weeks topic due by Sunday, August 30.  "SERENITY"

Photo A Missy

Photo B Alyce

Photo C Colin  - Winner

Photo D Krista

Photo E Jeff

Tree

I've noticed there is no correlation between how much I like a photo and what everyone else thinks but this time I won with a photo I really liked. So much that I'm going to try to get more like this. This was from our trip to Glacier National Park. It was way past sunset but there was still color in the sky. I took a pic of the reflection on the water (and you can see through the reflection to the rocks at the lake bottom). When I was playing around with the pic with my editing software (PaintShop Pro) I got the idea to flip it. Then I lightened it a bit and . . .This weeks winning pic.


Missy picked "Tree" for this weeks topic.

Judges: HELP! Our goal is at least 10 votes this week. So please pass the link around to friends and family.

Vote on the right. Click on photos for full size.

This weeks pics by me, Colin, Alyce, Missy and Krista: TREE

Alyce

Missy

Jeff

Colin

Krista

Summer 2015

This time we're all serious about doing this again weekly, right?

Summer. I remember way back when I really felt it. Now I live the endless summer and while I really love it I sometimes miss really appreciating summer - like after a long cold sunless winter and finally life sunshine renewal and another chance to check off a very adventurous to do list.

Four photographers having fun and learning about their camera have submitted photos with the topic "Summer 2015."

Judges. Vote on the right sidebar or in comments below. Please don't do both, it messes up the score. Click on photos to view full size.

This week photos submitted by me, Missy, Alyce and Colin. 

Next weeks topic picked by Missy: Tree.

And the following week Alyce wants:    Photo of threes

Could be three separate photos, one photo w/ three things, three chronological photos, three..three..three.. 

So, the 17th of Aug, Tree and the 24th Three. Got that photographers?

Here they are judges, thanks for voting.

Photo A  - Missy

Photo B - Jeff  WINNER!

Photo C - Colin

Photo D - Aylce

Koko Crater Hike

Back by popular demand! The Koz photo contest. We've been gone a while but we're ready for the next level. For this round Colin and Alyce were visiting Oahu and the three of us went on a hike on the rim of Koko Crater. And that is this weeks topic. Photos from that hike.

Photo A Alyce

Photo B Colin 

Photo C Jeff

Please vote on the sidebar on the right or below in the Comments. Please don't do both. Thank you judges. It looks like we're back to weekly from now on so be prepared to exercise your judging skills.
For whoever wants to join the contest: next topis is "Poverty."  Due this Monday.