Since I started Photo Friday I’ve had some stunning entries, so I thought it would be great to show my appreciation by creating a GOLD PHOTO AWARD. I’m awarding it to the outstanding entries that I’ve liked the most in different categories. It was hard selecting because all of the entries have been fantastic in their own way and all have had different worthy merits. I am also aware that photos are subjective, as different images will appeal to different people. It was a hard task but I have selected the photos that leaped off the blog page as soon as I saw them, and which I would happily hang on the wall of my own home.

Ideally the Award should be placed in the sidebar and linked to your own winning entry so that bloggers can take a look at your winning photo at anytime in the future, by just pressing that link.

So in no particular order of merit:

I offer the award to Tina of Sky Windows for a really innovative and fabulous recreation of Edvard Munch’s  “The Scream” in the category It’s life imitating high art. She says she is going to have it enlarged for her home and I can understand why – it’s brilliant. A worthy winner. I like it so much I’m going to have a go at doing one myself. I liked the way her daughter has been captured with exactly the right facial expression to mimic the painting – and because she is a teenager the idea of a scream seems so appropriate. The second image she did for the same category is equally brilliant. Her daughter has captured the right look (an actress in the making!) and is wearing a near carbon copy of the outfit, and her son has captured the exact pose. Wonderful.

I offer the award to Lou of BlahBlah Blog for a superb photograph in the Black and White category, a Jackson Pollack painting, with a twist. I liked this image from the first time I saw it. The original photo was great anyway, but the digital manipulation created something really special. I know the programmes available today make digital manipulation seem relatively easy – but the actual photo chosen and what you do with it, are very important. The combination of this interesting image of the weed, combined with the choice of black and white, really is superb. I love it. It wouldn’t look out of place in a posh art gallery. I’d buy it if I had a fabulous modern New York loft apartment to hang it in.

I offer the award to CuriousC of Idea Jump! for a stunning digital maniplation of some Begonias in the category of Photographic Art. I liked both these photos from the start, but the second image reached out to me. I love the kaliedoscope effect and the fabulous colour. Quite lovely. Framed it would look stunning on a wall in any modern home. The photograph made me look at the plant differently; it enabled me to see a real artisitic beauty in it. I guess that’s what Art is all about; making you look at things in a different way.

I offer the award to Julie of Just for Fun for a captivating photograph of her boyfriend Adam (click on the image for an enlarged view) in the category Portrait. This was Julie’s very first entry and although I’ve loved all of her entries so far – this particular image is wonderful. It’s not easy taking a good portrait – in fact it’s very difficult getting just the right pose and just the right expression to make a photo interesting. Most people feel self conscious when a camera lens is pointed at them and this makes them react and can often spoils the picture. I’m not sure whether Adam was aware this photo was being taken, but whatever – it is brilliant. You could take pictures all day and fail to get a portrait this good. I like Adam’s thoughtful expression, the pose, the pipe, the hat & gloves, the weather – I just like it a lot! It’s great.

Worthy winners all of them. Enjoy! Anybody that would like to join in Photo Friday should press the link below for further information and guidelines:

PS: A huge THANK YOU to Tina of Sky Windows who also nominated me for this award for my entry entitled: The view through my window - I sure appreciate it!

PPS: Another huge THANK YOU to CordieB at Looking in the mirror who nominated me for this award for my self portrait, which she thought was really cool!

PPS: CordieB  of looking in the Mirror has been awarded the Gold Photo Award for the stunning motivational poster she created of her handsome son for the theme title Religion - I like the background Bible and the fact that her son is also reading a Bible (emphasising the importance of The Word) – and also her motivational quote about wisdom. Clever!