In the Forest (in colour)

There were many wonderful photos in this contest, however this one takes my breath away. In the forest, lighting can make or break a photo and this lighting is amazing. The diffused light in only one part of the scene is soft and subtle, not at all harsh, and highlights the deer, which is seen in beautiful detail. The ferns around the deer are bright and focused as well, while the light fades to the edges of the scene. The photographer noted that they had only a short time to capture this and they did it! Well done, and congratulations!

The bamboo forests of Japan are amazing, and at night they become something very special. This photo captures that uniqueness with the light highlighting the rings of the bamboo canes. The red umbrellas are perfectly placed and draw the eye immediately. Lovely photo and congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

This spring time in the forest scene is so lovely and inviting. The bluebell carpet and emerging spring green leaves from the nearby tree along with a bit of mist make for a very peaceful scene, so aesthetic and well done. Congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

Another very popular entry was a misty or foggy forest. I love this one with the towering trees and the two people walking along the path to give it scale. The muted colors of autumn set the tone for a peaceful setting at this colorful time of year. Well done, and congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

Streams at a slow shutter speed was an extremely popular subject in this contest. This photo does it perfectly, with large and small waterfalls that have beautifully blurred water flowing. The rest of the image is pin sharp, so a tripod was a must. I love the autumn colors with the leaves both on the trees and all over the rocks. The fences give a thought that a hiking trail is nearby. I would love to hike through this environment but will instead enjoy this photo. Congratulations on you Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

Light rays in the forest was a very popular entry, and this photo does it so well. The rays cover the entire composition with the warmth of the light giving it a lovely autumn color cast over the bright leaves. With the tree in the center, this is so lovely and certainly frame worthy. Congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

What a charming tawny owl! This lovely composition is set perfectly with the green background highlighting the browns and beiges of the owl. I love that the owl is perfectly sharp with the wide aperature softening the background. Good catch and congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

Winter in the forest can be a challenging environment with trying to keep both yourself and your equipment functioning. In this case, it was well worth it as we see the forest and stream, as well as the landscape of the forest beyond. The blue color cast highlights the cold and gives the viewer a sense of how it was to be there. Lovely photo and congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!

In Colorado, autumn is the time of the elk rut and the best time to see these amazing animals. This magnificent bull is framed beautifully by the glowing yellow aspen trees and we get the sense he is looking for his harem. The bull and trees are pin sharp, making this an excellent piece for framing. Congratulations on your Top 10 in "In the Forest"!