Calendar Winners 2014

[F, Calla & Luca]

Everyone is invited to post their Calendar winners here. congratulations to all. I do know how many great photos were not able to fit in. This is the one place in this group where the word calendar is allowed until next year when sometime around August the madness starts again : ) I really prefer, and I am sure you all do too , to hear general comments on photos or specific points, pro and con, rather than " This is a calendar  winner for sure." We know there is no such thing. Or "Save this for the calendar. Anyone who doesn't know a highly praised photo is a possible submission, well need I say more. But we all know we worked hard. All the photos I saw deserved to win and hundreds more did too. We worked hard and the calendars look great. Adina has an impossible task she did well!

Addendum: someone remind us of this next year:

Adina P replied to your discussion "Calendar Winners 2014" in Photography Group on DoodleKisses.com

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If I may add some notes/suggestions for next year:

1) Practice removing leashes with photoshop and have someone check your work before submitting.  Some really nice photos either didn't or almost didn't make the cut because it was very obvious that a leash/collar/harness was erased.

2) Avoid really close crops especially if the crop is a bit tall or a bit wide.  Such crops will lead to the chopping off of heads, chins, tails or feet if they are closely cropped and/or tall or wide.  Cloning to add height or width to the photo can help!

3) Only ONE excellent photo per dog ;-)  Just kidding.  But when discussing photos with a friend of mine who has helped me deliberate year to year, her first comment about this year's photos was about how EVEN BETTER they were than last year.  Made for a tough job.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

OMD When I first saw this, I didn't think she was real!!  Cute!  Cute!  Cute! 

[Adina P]

This is insanely cute.  She submitted another one of this pup sleeping under the covers too...adorable!

[Kyoko]

So cute!!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

One of my absolute favorite! Congrats and Enzo proud to share a page with little Maple.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

She just doesn't look real.  She needs the Beanie Baby tag for her Halloween costume!

[Joy Williams]

Your little Maple is absolutely precious! Almost too cute to even be real!!

[GBK]

Just the CUTEST doodle!!!!  Doesn't even look real, great job, great picture!

[Dee & Chloe]

Oh what a cutie! Congrats!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

What a little Angle! I especially love the background, and those White Paws to which I have a certain fondness for.

Congratulations.

[Serenity Springs Labradoodles]

What a cutie.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'm just going to throw this out there - but take it for what it is worth (probably not much), also I am not a photographer nor did I submit any photos - but I'm finding some of the photos are getting to be "over" touched.  The color is unrealistic, the sky too blue, the clouds to perfect, the grass - well it doesn't look like real grass any longer.  Just my humble opinion.  Regardless - all the Doodles are gorgeous and I know that their owners worked hard - as did many who were not selected. Congratulations to all and well done Adina!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think editing is part of the process now. I also think there are some people who prefer a more natural look and some people who prefer more pop in their photos. Art is so subjective and what makes a good photo for one person, might not for another. We can all look at the same photo and see something different. I like bright and bold. I like it in my house, on my walls, everywhere. Beige is boring to me. My sister and daughter are polar opposites. Less is more for them. More is more for me. I guess art and photography is "to each his own."