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4-Your-Top-50-Photos > BistiArt  > Awards > Awards
Over time, our images won a magazine cover and became part of several competitions. During the year, we work with a single judge processing camera club digital entries. At the end of each ELCC Club year, Members choose prints and digital images in several categories. In the summer, printed entries are entered in a juried competition at State Fair level.
When selected images receive judge’s critical acclaim, they appear briefly in our Awards Category.

In the past, our website has been an early indication of individual image popularity and critical acclaim. Much of this acclaim comes from Smugmug and its band of happy photographers! To celebrate that acclaim, we share our Awards…

Bisti Badlands was our first image to become Worthy Of Merit. Cover - New Mexico Magazine, January, 2006, with the inscription
“From more than 1000 entrants, we selected Albuquerque entrant Joe Bridwell’s shot of the Bisti Badlands for this month’s cover!”
Gallery pages:  1  
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BistiArt > Bisti Badlands One autumn mid-afternoon, my path branched and I began a new road. As I look back now, it's very reminiscent of Robert Frost's immortal lines, "Two roads diverged in the woods, And I, I took the one less traveled by, And that ...has made all the difference!" A point-and-shoot camera, mid-afternoon, a gorgeous Bisti Badlands hoodoo, and the luck of the Irish ~ these components would make such a tremendous difference. A hoodoo is created when erosion removes a soft shale underpinning from a delicate, yet stronger sandstone cap. At first, with an eye level near 6 feet, I could only see the hoodoo and the faraway background, just not together. I moved around it several times, staring at it, wondering, "What's the best way to shoot this thing?" Finally, I realized, "Why don't you just lie down and shoot that delicate Hoodoo's tip above those incredibly dramatic Red Dog Hills in the background?" So, shot number 0890 zipped to the flash card... A year later, I would enter this JPEG image in the 5th Annual Photo Contest for the New Mexico Magazine. One day, a friend walked in with the most recent New Mexico Magazine and pitched it on the table. "Look at this...!" I picked up the magazine, looked at the cover, then thought "I've seen this picture before." Seeing my uncomprehending look, excitement rampant in her voice, she said, "It's your picture!" Dumbfounded, I looked on page 3. It said something to the effect 'Out of a thousand photos submitted to the contest, they chose Bisti Badlands for their January, 2006, Cover...' The Bisti Badlands is a small, hidden jewel inset in the Four Corners Country, land of the ancient Anasazi, south of Farmington, NM. Once site for shoreline of an inland sea, dinosaurs and rain forests inhabited this country millions of years ago. Now, the Bisti is a wilderness, capturing various surreal art forms from the Creator's imaginative hand. One out of every five visitors is international. A superb photographer, recently trekking with me in the Bisti, said, "There's just no way I could've found everything you've shown me, if I were by myself here for just three days!" The Bisti became my photographic laboratory. Starting from a point-and-shoot with hand-held shots, I'm now in a professional 14 bit DSLR with better lenses and a panoramic head on a tripod. Instead of shooting just daytime shots, I've graduated to much more complicated Moonrise shots at sundown, with Bisti Hoodoos carving spectacular epitaphs in difficult, multiple f-stop, bracketed images, and High Dynamic Range (HDR). And I've move onward from Photoshop Elements 3 to CS3. And, on another road... I'm now leading sponsored tours for digital photographers into the ancient Anasazi ruins of the Four Corners area, SW United States. You learn how to shoot, whats the best CS3 workflow, and allow your imagination to run with HDR... Check out the Anasazi Adventures section at BistiArt.smugmug.com. So, I think you can now more clearly see Frost's paraphrased immortal lines "I took the road less traveled, And that ...has made all the difference!" ©2004-2008, Images and Text, Chopawamsic LLC, All Rights Reserved
BistiArt > Anasazi Pleasure
BistiArt > 1st Place Members Choice Award - LANDSCAPE 2006-2007 Enchanted Lens Camera Club People’s Choice Award – LANDSCAPE - Adult Amateur New Mexico State Fair, 2007 Majestic Blessing was awarded 1st Place - Members Choice for Landscapes from 43 images submitted at the Annual Banquet of Enchanted Lens Camera Club, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 23rd, 2007. With some 40&#43; voting members present, this final, prestigious award given in a special category completes the club year for my image capture, digital processing, and growth as a digital photographer. Majestic Blessing then won People’s Choice – Landscapes, Adult Amateur Division, New Mexico State Fair, 2007 Majestic Blessing Majestic Blessing is only one of a quartet of images captured within a 24-hour period and posted at www.BistiArt.Smugmug.com under Dare to Be Blessed. On the southern tip of Island in the Sky, Canyonlands, near Moab, Utah, gorgeous thunderheads were building late one afternoon over Red Rock Country. An exhausting day of climbing and photography in ancient Anasazi terrain found me lounging; camera pack in the trunk, ankle-length boots off of tired feet, untied tennis shoes without socks leading exhausted feet breathe freely - suddenly, the most incredible rainbow appeared ahead. It was time to jump out of the car, dash across mud and slick rock, realize "Dummy, if you don't tie these danged truly dangerous shoes, you're going to kill yourself or bust up your beloved camera..." then, safe, finally race forward to the canyon's edge, hoping for a good shot. Puffing hard, at the canyon's edge, the enchanting, far-flung beauty had a deeply magical, surreal quality. Falling away 1000 feet below to Colorado River breaks lay Monument Basin, a portion of White Rim Trail, and, faintly distant, the Colorado... Although the rainbow had a second, fainter partner, it was light's God-like focus which poignantly captured my emotions. Inside the rainbow's gorgeous arc, it seemed God managed this cameras eye, challenging it to diligently capture soft greens of far-flung mesa tops, white rim of sandstone sharply marking a cliff break into the Colorado River bottom, and literally focusing on faint blue shimmering waters below. The rainbow's magnificent blend of brilliantly enhanced full color spectrum, the Sun's gorgeous reflection on vibrant cliff faces, the enchantment of light literally dancing along the beckoning white rim, and the peek-a-boo view of distant clouds hovering over the La Sal mountains near Moab ~ all created a once-in-a-lifetime permanently alluring image. No Man Is an Island... John Donne, 17th Century England Much of this growth has been signaled by avid participation of several exemplary club members: Jack Houser, Eric Jones, and Jennifer Dillard. Each, in their own unique way, has shown me exceptional digital ways forward and upward... A lifelong teacher, Jack is a gifted photographer, often winning first place, a Photoshop master, and most of all, a man whose subtle eye graces images with evocative, yet subtle color nuances. Jack's patience, in-depth knowledge, devotion to tutorial creation about clever Photoshop processes, and teaching style is simply legend. When he showed me CS3's new Photomerge, I simply had to have it! And now, much the better am I and Majestic Blessing... Eric is a gifted photographer as well, oft competing with Jack for first place, a Photoshop Mac beta tester, and a man whose painter's instinct is growing into superb, diligently-processed, provocative images. Eric's deep care for humanity, provocative photographic and development style, almost singular devotion to use of blending modes, sharpening, and color balance, creates evocative interplay when discussing an image. When he told me, "Joe, your images are flat...", little did I know he would lead me into the magnificently subtle world of blending modes and Wacom tablets... Jennifer, of magnificent eye and discerning spirit, balances thoughtful images with a creative verbal ability to encompass an image in deep feelings with timely, perceptive words. Jen's potential for award-winning style and combination of Biblical verse evoked by a particular image is noted in several recent art shows. Jen's sense of color and proportion, in association with deeply held conviction and compassion, affect all of her world. As one can often find, perhaps Shakespeare's evocative elegance is best "Who ever loved ~ that loved not at first sight?" As You like It, Act III My Thanks... It was not immediately obvious to me the gallant reception this image would finally achieve. There is a quality to thoughtful members of this distinctive camera club. Abiding knowledge, deep perception, and a pervasive desire to share - all contributed to capture, digital processing, then eventually, members final expression of pleasure for our Majestic Blessing. ©2007, Chopawamsic LC, All Rights Reserved
BistiArt > God&#8217;s Hand An early autumn morning begins the next epoch, nearly 2 years later. New Mexico's summer had been unusually rainy. We were to have autumn in a calmer mode. Yet, filmy, first tendrils of an incoming storm riveted my eye! Knowing the clouds might not last very long, I scrambled among Hoodoos, seeking precarious foothold, camera angle, and dramatic expression. Indeed, I only had time for a few precious images with such a delicate central cloud beckoning upward in an evocative, alluring manner. I've been shooting the Bisti now for several years. I've learned you return for light changes, mood changes, and superbly enhanced drama. I've learned to return often to hone my photographic skills. I've learned not to carry a point-and-shoot in one hand, but to carry a heavy pack with camera, lenses, batteries, food, GPS, etc., safely stored, always at the ready! In ways, shootin' the Bisti has become a digital pilgrimage, a land in which I try out new, additional photographic learning skills! Bisti Hoodoos, water carved images from the Creator's hands, by themselves, can be rather spectacular. But, when you can combine them with startling clouds, delicate sunrise or sunset, or surreal Moonrise, they become stunning backdrops. As fast as the clouds were moving, I scrambled just to find a hand-held position. Click, one image in the bag. Quick examination; in my haste, the shutter speed was wrong ~ the image was blurred. Hurry! Click, and this fantastic image literally sprang onto the flash card. In that literal instant between shutter-clack and green-light card flash, I knew the name for this image "God's Hand...!" The new photo gallery BistiArt.smugmug.com, has a facility where viewers can click on a Green Thumbs UP to show their individual approval for an image, placing it in the Most Popular Photo category. For the past 30 days, God's Hand has received high marks, typically being in the top number chosen. So I thought, "Let's submit God's hand to a camera club digital image judging contest!" On Thursday, January 18, 2007, God's Hand received a judge's vote for 2nd Place in the digital image contest! But, that's not all! During development of BistiArt, an interested bystander decided to add it to her collection of black-and-white prints. So, it would seem the public likes it whether in dramatic color or startling black-and-white! And, on another road... Robert Frost's paraphrased immortal lines I took the road less traveled, And that ...has made all the difference!" I'm now leading sponsored tours for photographers into the Bisti Badlands. Check out the Bisti Tours section at BistiArt.smugmug.com. So, come to the Bist and 'make all the difference!' ©2004-2007, Images and Text, Chopawamsic LLC, All Rights Reserved
BistiArt > Fajada Moon Fajada Butte is a famous Anasazi landmark at the south entrance to Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Chaco Canyon was a site of ceremonial Pueblo development and is now Chaco Cultural National Historical Park, a World Heritage Site. Habitation ranged from 850-1200 AD. Recent discovery and interpretation of solar and lunar light projections on spiral petroglyph's on Fajada Butte have led to an interesting interpretation for celestial influence on building orientations at Chaco. The Solstice Project has shown equinox, solstice, and lunar minor standstills contribute to observations of regional building orientations. These complex relations are noted in numerous publications about the Sun Dagger; the famous Fajada petroglyph. Galen Rowell is noted for his remarkable photography at the top of our world. As he observed rapidly changing light at Magic Hour, the phrase 'Edge of Light' was coined. The Edge of Light is that distinct band of color change between direct sunlight, which is pink, and indirect sunlight, which is blue. The subtlety of such changes can truly be remarkable. This Fajada Butte image was taken slightly after sunset one day before full moon in the spring. Several features are of keen interest; the Edge of Light is clearly apparent North of the Butte, Fajada stands in bas relief relative to Chaco Mesa (background), and the moon, moving rapidly, is delicately balanced in the upper right-hand corner. The composition is simple, yet elegant! There was just enough sun left to enhance Fajada. The Edge of Light can be noted near the top of the vertical cliff on Fajada's North face. The upper portion of Fajada is outlined by faint, pink direct light. Fajada's base, called the dip slope, is outlined by indirect violet light to the North and darker Chaco Mesa to the East and South. The Sun Dagger is at the very top of Fajada on the back side of this shot. Noted photographer Efrain Padro awarded Fajada Moon 3rd-place in a judged digital photo competition at Enchanted Lands Camera Club recently.
BistiArt > God's Applause
BistiArt > Sleepin’ Ute Sunset At first, your glimpse of a low, seemingly innocuous mountain range west of Cortez, Colorado, is not nearly as impressive as towering rockies north of Durango. Yet, one can see Sleeping Ute Mountain from a radius of 50 miles. Sleeping Ute Mountain surveys lands inhabited between 600-1300 A.D. by some 200,000 Anasazi. These Anasazi were part of what's been called the Mesa Verde culture. One view of Sleeping Ute Mountain is the center of this award discussion - Sleepin' Ute Sunset was captured in Mesa Verde National Park one evening coming out of the park where the road begins to wind back down to the valley. The day had been cold and blustery, with high winds. A stray glance in the rearview mirror showed us the incredible sunset which seemed to highlight ancient Anasazi spirits literally dancing around Sleeping Ute Mountain. Quickly jumping out of the car, opening the trunk where camera gear was packed, retrieving the camera, bracing the camera against the open, buffeting rear deck lid, we captured this gorgeous panorama. During judging, Sleepin’ Ute Sunset scored at 12/15 for 2nd place. The principal critique was 'I like the layered effect. Ideally, you should have a third foreground layer. Again, darken the image...' Later, he talked of cropping the upper sky.
BistiArt > Restin'... A soft winter’s dusk is gracious host to a solitary bird, perched against a glowing sky. The tree's graceful arch, from cold, icy water to sweep over faint, distant mountains, focuses your eye to a reed patch near the tree. The tree, reed patch, and distant mountains create a second image within Restin’. The tree's graceful arch, distant mountain's subtle shape, and shoreline reeds are framed between the sky's soft glow and windblown water. Faintly, perhaps subtly, thin saffron clouds seemed to reflect the far shore line with its golden accent of reeds. Could our lone tenant not feel a sweet, deep peace in such enchanting light? Restin’ received a 2nd - Place Tie in digital competition from Andrew Neighbour at ELCC, April 17, 2008!
BistiArt > Dawn's Early Light Driving north before dawn, departing storm clouds began to break up. Scrambling up the slope of Wilson arch, near Moab, Utah, I was excited to see the first sun's golden rays clearly grace distant southern mountains. Excitement reached a new peak as I precariously balanced on the steep slope to quickly shoot two hand-held, raw images. Original raw images appeared flat, with relatively subdued colors. Initial digital processing used Pixel Genius Photokit Sharpener to capture sharpen with a medium brush using Photoshop CS3. A creative sharpening brush was then used at an opacity of 30% to outline the rocks. The quick selection tool easily captured just the sky to create a mask where color burn used an opacity of 26%. Final processing included a channel mixer action to create lustrous rock colors at an opacity of 33%. Dawn's Early Light received a 1st-place, Enchanted Lens Camera Club, May 15, 2008, from Phyllis Crossley.
BistiArt > Tranquility Sunset's allure can add soft drama to a peaceful scene. It's nightfall at Bosque del Apache. Although the sun has just dropped below the horizon, direct rays in the clear atmosphere are reflected into golden ripples of water. A jet contrail forms a hook in the sky. The soft breeze across the pond creates a ripple effect which nicely dissipates the contrail's reflection. The combined effect is that of the frame tending to capture the eye where ducks tranquilly feed. Digital imaging included levels with Photoshop CS3, capture sharpening with Pixel Genius Photokit Sharpener, some sharpening of the dark land mass, quick selecting and masking the sky, then channel mixing to create a Velvia touch of land and water below the sky mask. Tranquility received an Honorable Mention, Enchanted Lens Camera Club, May 15, 2008, from Phyllis Crossley.
BistiArt > Lavender Dawn Pre-dawn light can be some of the softest, most enticing light on earth. A barchan dune field at White Sands, New Mexico, has been swept clean by wind. Wind’s action created a gorgeous sweep of sand. The dune's horns point in the direction of wind motion ~ from the northeast. The sun has not topped mountains east of Alamogordo. Yet, its reflection off the downwind dune face is a slightly lighter pink. The upwind face, part of the sky, and the region embraced by the horns is a darker, almost lavender color. The clouds capture direct light adding a lively golden warmth to this image. I really love the pastel subtlety as light's tone varies while softly coloring White Sands and the sky mauves and lavenders. It's almost as if someone dipped a cosmic spoon into a bowl of the most tasty ice cream... one can even see little raisin-like remnants for the next bite. Lavender Dawn received 2nd Place, Story/Mood, Member's Choice, Enchanted Lens Camera Club, Annual Banquet, June 21, 2008.
BistiArt > Anasazi Moon Fine Art Photography results from skillful use of a number of tools; a subject, light, a camera, and digital imaging software. Our subject consists of hoodoos - water carved sandstone caps covering softer eroded shale's. Natural light transitions quickly after sunset; when the sky is clear, direct light is reflected off particles in air, turning the sky pink. Indirect light turns the sky blue. An Edge of Light exists, but is diffuse. I stood in the Bisti that evening, watching the hoodoo still retain a little bit of the gold from sunset. When the light combination of hoodoo and edge of light was just right, I shot an image. Later, with a telephoto lens, I captured a moon whose lustrous mares gave strong character. I wanted the moon to dominate, yet be a trusted companion, giving a surreal nature to the distinct other-world hoodoo landscape. It's software marriage of the two which creates this truly amazing fine art opus... Evening hoodoos still retained a little bit of sunset’s gold while the sky behind was tinged by a diffuse edge of light. As pink light rose and blue deepened, when the light was right, I shot the hoodoos. Hoodoos are water carved sandstone caps covering softer, eroded shale. Light changes quickly after sunset; with clear sky, direct light is reflected off particles in air, turning the sky pink and blue. A diffuse Edge of Light moves upward. Wandering the Four Corners, seeing how the moons orientation affected how Anasazi dwellings were constructed, I wondered, "Did ancient Anasazi view the moon in secret kivas as a larger-than-life figure giving nature a surreal sense?" Finally, searching for Rowell's dynamic landscapes, I shot a full moon. This image combines alluring hoodoos, a diffuse edge of life, and an ancient Anasazi's moon. Anasazi Moon received 1st Place, Outdoors, Member's Choice, Enchanted Lens Camera Club, Annual Banquet, June 21, 2008.
1st Place
Members Choice Award - LANDSCAPE
2006-2007
Enchanted Lens Camera Club

People’s Choice Award – LANDSCAPE - Adult Amateur
New Mexico State Fair, 2007

Majestic Blessing was awarded 1st Place - Members Choice for Landscapes from 43 images submitted at the Annual Banquet of Enchanted Lens Camera Club, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 23rd, 2007. With some 40+ voting members present, this final, prestigious award given in a special category completes the club year for my image capture, digital processing, and growth as a digital photographer.

Majestic Blessing then won People’s Choice – Landscapes, Adult Amateur Division, New Mexico State Fair, 2007

Majestic Blessing
Majestic Blessing is only one of a quartet of images captured within a 24-hour period and posted at http://www.BistiArt.Smugmug.com under Dare to Be Blessed. On the southern tip of Island in the Sky, Canyonlands, near Moab, Utah, gorgeous thunderheads were building late one afternoon over Red Rock Country. An exhausting day of climbing and photography in ancient Anasazi terrain found me lounging; camera pack in the trunk, ankle-length boots off of tired feet, untied tennis shoes without socks leading exhausted feet breathe freely - suddenly, the most incredible rainbow appeared ahead. It was time to jump out of the car, dash across mud and slick rock, realize
"Dummy, if you don't tie these danged truly dangerous shoes, you're going to kill yourself or bust up your beloved camera..."
then, safe, finally race forward to the canyon's edge, hoping for a good shot.
Puffing hard, at the canyon's edge, the enchanting, far-flung beauty had a deeply magical, surreal quality. Falling away 1000 feet below to Colorado River breaks lay Monument Basin, a portion of White Rim Trail, and, faintly distant, the Colorado...
Although the rainbow had a second, fainter partner, it was light's God-like focus which poignantly captured my emotions. Inside the rainbow's gorgeous arc, it seemed God managed this cameras eye, challenging it to diligently capture soft greens of far-flung mesa tops, white rim of sandstone sharply marking a cliff break into the Colorado River bottom, and literally focusing on faint blue shimmering waters below. The rainbow's magnificent blend of brilliantly enhanced full color spectrum, the Sun's gorgeous reflection on vibrant cliff faces, the enchantment of light literally dancing along the beckoning white rim, and the peek-a-boo view of distant clouds hovering over the La Sal mountains near Moab ~ all created a once-in-a-lifetime permanently alluring image.

No Man Is an Island... John Donne, 17th Century England
Much of this growth has been signaled by avid participation of several exemplary club members: Jack Houser, Eric Jones, and Jennifer Dillard. Each, in their own unique way, has shown me exceptional digital ways forward and upward...
A lifelong teacher, Jack is a gifted photographer, often winning first place, a Photoshop master, and most of all, a man whose subtle eye graces images with evocative, yet subtle color nuances. Jack's patience, in-depth knowledge, devotion to tutorial creation about clever Photoshop processes, and teaching style is simply legend. When he showed me CS3's new Photomerge, I simply had to have it! And now, much the better am I and Majestic Blessing...
Eric is a gifted photographer as well, oft competing with Jack for first place, a Photoshop Mac beta tester, and a man whose painter's instinct is growing into superb, diligently-processed, provocative images. Eric's deep care for humanity, provocative photographic and development style, almost singular devotion to use of blending modes, sharpening, and color balance, creates evocative interplay when discussing an image. When he told me, "Joe, your images are flat...", little did I know he would lead me into the magnificently subtle world of blending modes and Wacom tablets...
Jennifer, of magnificent eye and discerning spirit, balances thoughtful images with a creative verbal ability to encompass an image in deep feelings with timely, perceptive words. Jen's potential for award-winning style and combination of Biblical verse evoked by a particular image is noted in several recent art shows. Jen's sense of color and proportion, in association with deeply held conviction and compassion, affect all of her world.

As one can often find, perhaps Shakespeare's evocative elegance is best
"Who ever loved ~ that loved not at first sight?"
As You like It, Act III

My Thanks...
It was not immediately obvious to me the gallant reception this image would finally achieve. There is a quality to thoughtful members of this distinctive camera club. Abiding knowledge, deep perception, and a pervasive desire to share - all contributed to capture, digital processing, then eventually, members final expression of pleasure for our Majestic Blessing.

©2007, Chopawamsic LC, All Rights Reserved
BistiArt > 1st Place Members Choice Award - LANDSCAPE 2006-2007 Enchanted Lens Camera Club People’s Choice Award – LANDSCAPE - Adult Amateur New Mexico State Fair, 2007 Majestic Blessing was awarded 1st Place - Members Choice for Landscapes from 43 images submitted at the Annual Banquet of Enchanted Lens Camera Club, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 23rd, 2007. With some 40&#43; voting members present, this final, prestigious award given in a special category completes the club year for my image capture, digital processing, and growth as a digital photographer. Majestic Blessing then won People’s Choice – Landscapes, Adult Amateur Division, New Mexico State Fair, 2007 Majestic Blessing Majestic Blessing is only one of a quartet of images captured within a 24-hour period and posted at www.BistiArt.Smugmug.com under Dare to Be Blessed. On the southern tip of Island in the Sky, Canyonlands, near Moab, Utah, gorgeous thunderheads were building late one afternoon over Red Rock Country. An exhausting day of climbing and photography in ancient Anasazi terrain found me lounging; camera pack in the trunk, ankle-length boots off of tired feet, untied tennis shoes without socks leading exhausted feet breathe freely - suddenly, the most incredible rainbow appeared ahead. It was time to jump out of the car, dash across mud and slick rock, realize "Dummy, if you don't tie these danged truly dangerous shoes, you're going to kill yourself or bust up your beloved camera..." then, safe, finally race forward to the canyon's edge, hoping for a good shot. Puffing hard, at the canyon's edge, the enchanting, far-flung beauty had a deeply magical, surreal quality. Falling away 1000 feet below to Colorado River breaks lay Monument Basin, a portion of White Rim Trail, and, faintly distant, the Colorado... Although the rainbow had a second, fainter partner, it was light's God-like focus which poignantly captured my emotions. Inside the rainbow's gorgeous arc, it seemed God managed this cameras eye, challenging it to diligently capture soft greens of far-flung mesa tops, white rim of sandstone sharply marking a cliff break into the Colorado River bottom, and literally focusing on faint blue shimmering waters below. The rainbow's magnificent blend of brilliantly enhanced full color spectrum, the Sun's gorgeous reflection on vibrant cliff faces, the enchantment of light literally dancing along the beckoning white rim, and the peek-a-boo view of distant clouds hovering over the La Sal mountains near Moab ~ all created a once-in-a-lifetime permanently alluring image. No Man Is an Island... John Donne, 17th Century England Much of this growth has been signaled by avid participation of several exemplary club members: Jack Houser, Eric Jones, and Jennifer Dillard. Each, in their own unique way, has shown me exceptional digital ways forward and upward... A lifelong teacher, Jack is a gifted photographer, often winning first place, a Photoshop master, and most of all, a man whose subtle eye graces images with evocative, yet subtle color nuances. Jack's patience, in-depth knowledge, devotion to tutorial creation about clever Photoshop processes, and teaching style is simply legend. When he showed me CS3's new Photomerge, I simply had to have it! And now, much the better am I and Majestic Blessing... Eric is a gifted photographer as well, oft competing with Jack for first place, a Photoshop Mac beta tester, and a man whose painter's instinct is growing into superb, diligently-processed, provocative images. Eric's deep care for humanity, provocative photographic and development style, almost singular devotion to use of blending modes, sharpening, and color balance, creates evocative interplay when discussing an image. When he told me, "Joe, your images are flat...", little did I know he would lead me into the magnificently subtle world of blending modes and Wacom tablets... Jennifer, of magnificent eye and discerning spirit, balances thoughtful images with a creative verbal ability to encompass an image in deep feelings with timely, perceptive words. Jen's potential for award-winning style and combination of Biblical verse evoked by a particular image is noted in several recent art shows. Jen's sense of color and proportion, in association with deeply held conviction and compassion, affect all of her world. As one can often find, perhaps Shakespeare's evocative elegance is best "Who ever loved ~ that loved not at first sight?" As You like It, Act III My Thanks... It was not immediately obvious to me the gallant reception this image would finally achieve. There is a quality to thoughtful members of this distinctive camera club. Abiding knowledge, deep perception, and a pervasive desire to share - all contributed to capture, digital processing, then eventually, members final expression of pleasure for our Majestic Blessing. ©2007, Chopawamsic LC, All Rights Reserved
1st Place
Members Choice Award - LANDSCAPE
2006-2007
Enchanted Lens Camera Club

People’s Choice Award – LANDSCAPE - Adult Amateur
New Mexico State Fair, 2007

Majestic Blessing was awarded 1st Place - Members Choice for Landscapes from 43 images submitted at the Annual Banquet of Enchanted Lens Camera Club, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 23rd, 2007. With some 40+ voting members present, this final, prestigious award given in a special category completes the club year for my image capture, digital processing, and growth as a digital photographer.

Majestic Blessing then won People’s Choice – Landscapes, Adult Amateur Division, New Mexico State Fair, 2007

Majestic Blessing
Majestic Blessing is only one of a quartet of images captured within a 24-hour period and posted at http://www.BistiArt.Smugmug.com under Dare to Be Blessed. On the southern tip of Island in the Sky, Canyonlands, near Moab, Utah, gorgeous thunderheads were building late one afternoon over Red Rock Country. An exhausting day of climbing and photography in ancient Anasazi terrain found me lounging; camera pack in the trunk, ankle-length boots off of tired feet, untied tennis shoes without socks leading exhausted feet breathe freely - suddenly, the most incredible rainbow appeared ahead. It was time to jump out of the car, dash across mud and slick rock, realize
"Dummy, if you don't tie these danged truly dangerous shoes, you're going to kill yourself or bust up your beloved camera..."
then, safe, finally race forward to the canyon's edge, hoping for a good shot.
Puffing hard, at the canyon's edge, the enchanting, far-flung beauty had a deeply magical, surreal quality. Falling away 1000 feet below to Colorado River breaks lay Monument Basin, a portion of White Rim Trail, and, faintly distant, the Colorado...
Although the rainbow had a second, fainter partner, it was light's God-like focus which poignantly captured my emotions. Inside the rainbow's gorgeous arc, it seemed God managed this cameras eye, challenging it to diligently capture soft greens of far-flung mesa tops, white rim of sandstone sharply marking a cliff break into the Colorado River bottom, and literally focusing on faint blue shimmering waters below. The rainbow's magnificent blend of brilliantly enhanced full color spectrum, the Sun's gorgeous reflection on vibrant cliff faces, the enchantment of light literally dancing along the beckoning white rim, and the peek-a-boo view of distant clouds hovering over the La Sal mountains near Moab ~ all created a once-in-a-lifetime permanently alluring image.

No Man Is an Island... John Donne, 17th Century England
Much of this growth has been signaled by avid participation of several exemplary club members: Jack Houser, Eric Jones, and Jennifer Dillard. Each, in their own unique way, has shown me exceptional digital ways forward and upward...
A lifelong teacher, Jack is a gifted photographer, often winning first place, a Photoshop master, and most of all, a man whose subtle eye graces images with evocative, yet subtle color nuances. Jack's patience, in-depth knowledge, devotion to tutorial creation about clever Photoshop processes, and teaching style is simply legend. When he showed me CS3's new Photomerge, I simply had to have it! And now, much the better am I and Majestic Blessing...
Eric is a gifted photographer as well, oft competing with Jack for first place, a Photoshop Mac beta tester, and a man whose painter's instinct is growing into superb, diligently-processed, provocative images. Eric's deep care for humanity, provocative photographic and development style, almost singular devotion to use of blending modes, sharpening, and color balance, creates evocative interplay when discussing an image. When he told me, "Joe, your images are flat...", little did I know he would lead me into the magnificently subtle world of blending modes and Wacom tablets...
Jennifer, of magnificent eye and discerning spirit, balances thoughtful images with a creative verbal ability to encompass an image in deep feelings with timely, perceptive words. Jen's potential for award-winning style and combination of Biblical verse evoked by a particular image is noted in several recent art shows. Jen's sense of color and proportion, in association with deeply held conviction and compassion, affect all of her world.

As one can often find, perhaps Shakespeare's evocative elegance is best
"Who ever loved ~ that loved not at first sight?"
As You like It, Act III

My Thanks...
It was not immediately obvious to me the gallant reception this image would finally achieve. There is a quality to thoughtful members of this distinctive camera club. Abiding knowledge, deep perception, and a pervasive desire to share - all contributed to capture, digital processing, then eventually, members final expression of pleasure for our Majestic Blessing.

©2007, Chopawamsic LC, All Rights Reserved
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Keywords: arches canyonlands moab arches national park canyonlands national park green river arches np island in the sky colorado plateau the needles canyonlands np green river overlook mesa arch buck canyon overlook grandview point aztec butte moab utah moab country the maze white rim overlook musselman arch lathrop trail white rim road upheaval dome shaffer canyon overlook shafer canyon overlook red sea flat shafer trail mineral bottom road colorado rivers
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