1st Place Winner to Our Own Bob Blanchard

http://catcheroflight.smugmug.com/ph...5_HSki5-X3.jpg

This is an honor for me to announce:

Bob Blanchard was selected as the first place winner in the Canon Photography in the Parks Photo Contest. Did I say 1st place winner?? :D:D. He didn't get the grand prize but 1st place is a great honor.

Bob is picking a very nice price of a EOS 5D, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM and a PIXMA Pro9500 Photo Printer (approximate retail value of $4,148.00)

I would like to congratulate you for such wonderful work. Your dedication is really paying off my friend. I'm proud of you!

Congrats and good job. From a post on POTN I saw this and casted my vote your way. It's a well deserved award.

Yippee, Bob! Congratulations for the beautiful image!

Big Time Congrats Bob !!! Great win and love the image !!!!!

Bob-Well deserved-Bravo!

Wow.....congrats, Bob. Wonderful image.....and fantastic prize to boot!!!

Bob I know you work very hard getting the photos you share with us, Congratulation on this win. Rod

Thank you all so much for the kind words, and thank you Maxis for sharing this great news with the forum! I'm still a bit on "cloud nine", but realize that my best work definitely is in front of me. No time to rest on this one...birding season is in full swing here in Florida, so it's back to my signature posture of "face down in the mud" for the next few months!

I do want to thank everyone here for the great critiques that make us all better, and a special thanks to Artie for his wonderful instruction. As I mentioned before, this image was captured using techniques I learned in the Spring IPT earlier this year. With the challenging exposure situation in this image, I would bet that the bird would have been blown had I not learned that technique! I'd say that my "Return on Investment" for that IPT was pretty good! This one's for you maestro!

See you all out in the mud!

Wow!
Congratulations Bob!

Great image and well deserved, congratulations, Bob!

Hi Bob,
Congratulations, beautiful image. Looking forward to see you out in the field again.

Adams

Big congrats Bob! "Wonderful" just isn't enough for this image.

Congrats!! Beautiful image!!

Congrats Bob. Way to represent our hometown area. Impressive image.
John

That's wonderful news, Bob! I offer my heartfelt congratulations. Not only is it a great image but you got a pretty sweet prize for making it!

Bob,
Congratulations! Great win!
Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Wow!
Congrats, Bob!!

Well deserved! Fantastic image!

Good for you Bob! Congratulations! Enjoy the great new gear!

Big Congrats Bob !!! Great win and love the image !!!!!
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big congrats, bob!! awesome image!!!!

Beautiful shot, great honor!! Congrats.....

Well deserved.

Super Bob, congratulations, great image!

Congrats! It is a super image!

Way to go Bob!! Your dedication is paying off :-)

Thank you for the kind words everyone! I found out today that were were a little over 20,400 entries for that contest. It's very inspiring to me to know that my image was picked so highly out of that many, and that so many folks that I don't even know voted for it.

This just motivates me to work even harder, and go after much higher goals.

Bob,
Beautiful image. I really liked it the first time I saw it.
Roger

Congratulations Bob...a stunning image...:cool:

Agree hugely with all of the above and a huge congratulations on a very wonderful image.

Bill

A little late Bob, but congratulation on a great photo and for 1st place.

Canon has just "Officially" announced the winners. Here is the link:

http://www.usa.canon.com/parks