Enter our first photo contest!

I am so excited to kick off our first photo contest!  I can't wait to see all the beautiful and interesting photo submissions!  

{How to Enter}

Post your entry to our Raving Real Estate Facebook page!  See the right sidebar to take you directly to this page or click the link above.

{Rules} 

• Anyone can enter- open to all ages!  However, I have to regretfully keep this contest limited to Laramie residents.  In the future, perhaps we can do a nationwide contest.
• Any subject matter will be accepted the only stipulation is that it has to be taken here in or around Laramie: people, landscape, architecture, animal, still life etc...  

{Judging}  

I have decided that Brendan and I will have the great honor and difficulty of deciding the winner.  I have found that sometimes the way of judging by "number of likes" on Facebook can be frustrating and can turn into a popularity contest more than an artistic contest.  I, however welcome comments on any and all submissions.  If there is a photo that moves you to speech- please, please voice your opinion!  Also, when you submit a photo, please feel free to tell us a little about the photo:  When you took the photo.  Where you took the photo.  Who the photo is depicting, if a human being or animal.  And, why you love it!

Here is an example:  There are few photos that I take which I am pleasantly surprised and the one above was such a photo.  I took this photo right in our front yard, depicting the beautiful wild roses growing in the side planter.  I was playing with my new digital camera and fell in love with this photo.  The color, shadow and light, opened and still closed roses along with the blurriness of foreground roses and sharpness of the center bud 
struck me as beautiful. 

Since there will be multiple subject matters among the entries the photos will be judged on not only composition but overall intrigue.  One does not have to be a professional to take an exceptional photo!  I would also like to make note of the following quotes to give you a general idea of what we are looking for:

"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston

"The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial."  - Ansel Adams

{Award} 

The winner of this contest will receive the following: 

• a framed drawing of your home, place of business, ranch, barn, historic building- you name it, I'll draw it! ($200 value!).  

In addition, the winner will also be recognized here, on Facebook and the winning photo will be credited and appear in our Home Guide advertisement for the month of May!

This photo contest will be open until the 15th of April.  At that time I have to submit all material for our Home Guide advertisement and therefore need decide upon the winner.  Winner will be announced here and on Facebook no later than 5:00 pm on April 15th, 2011!  

So excited- start sending in those photos!