By the dawn's early light

[Nancy Bell]

Nothing fancy here but a simple flag against the elements. Pixel Bender oil paint on the flag and trees. A new cloud bkgd added that I had taken at another time.

I am back home and although my house was spared from the flames of the Colorado fire, I ironically suffered a huge amount of damage from water. While I was evacuated all the power was turned off. When the power was restored it caused a surge in my well pump which sent a surge of water into the house, exploding the water tubing that attaches to the refrigerator for the ice maker. Water pored from that tubing into the house for several days flooding the first floor. I now have to have all the wood flooring torn up in my living & dining room and kitchen. Because the water seeped under the kitchen cabinets they also have to be torn out, including all the counters and attached backsplash. Unfortunately this area was all beautifully remodeled just before we purchased the house 5 years ago. They tell me I should expect to live in remodeling chaos for the rest of the summer. Guess I'll retreat to my camera & computer!

[John Storjohann]

Nancy, glad to hear your home was spared...sorry to hear about the damage, and can't imagine your disappointment, but it could have been much worse! Welcome back! Fitting image for the week of the 4th...love the lighting...if it were mine, I might tighten the crop a bit...a bit off the LHS, a bit off the top...and maybe add some tonal contrast to dramatize the clouds a bit. Take care...hope the fires have now moved away from you!

[Anita Bower]

Oh my, so much unexpected damage. So sad.
This is a great image for the current theme. I like how the flag stand out from the rest of the image due to brightness and colors. Crop seems fine to me, but I might clone the light area in lower right corner. The hint of light on the trees is perfect.

[Mitch Carucci]

Nancy,

How ironic for you to be spared from the fires, and then inundated with water! Better by far than the fires, and yet it somehow seems so unfair... Water damage can be a real mess, as you are unfortunately finding out.

Like what you did with the flag in what appears to be a high wind. Good background.

M.

[PhilCook]

Very sorry to hear about your misfortunes with fires...and water it seems, we are no strangers to this kind of disaster here in Australia either, a terrible thing !

Interesting effect on the pine trees and the light is portrayed softly, not sure about the tatty flag though { possibly sacrilegious, not meaning to offend with that statement } but I guess it portrays well what you must be feeling right now

[Nancy Bell]

It seems that most of us have faced a house crisis of some sort and fortunately a new day always dawns!

John, I played with the crop and think it can go a variety of ways. Anita, I agree cloning over that bit of blue in the lower right corner. Thanks for pointing it out. Mitch, our high winds eventually pushed the flag pole over. We have clocked near 100 mph up here!

[Hazel Grant]

fires, floods and high winds......what a summer! Glad you are safe, though torn up with remodel. Keep your camera handy for "release" in the tense times.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Nancy, I'm so glad that you are safe. It is an irony that you escape the fire but not the "flood". But the main thing is that you're back and well. I love the image for the theme and it conveys a sense of high drama that you must still be feeling. Take care

[Kerry Perkins]

Nancy, the important thing is that you are ok and have been spared the fate of so many... I like what Clean has done with the flag, and the unique perspective from the swirling wind.

[Dave Woeller]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the water, but glad that you are all safe and well. I lived at the Academy for 8 years and can't imagine the loss in the surrounding area. Your image is wonderful and I like the effects that you have achieved.

[Nancy Bell]

Thank you all for your concern. And for your comments on my image. I didn't realize it when I worked on this image, but when I read Cheryl's comment of "conveys a sense of high drama" that I must still be feeling, she hit it right on the head.

[denise ippolito]

Nancy, Sorry to hear about the damage but I am glad that you are ok. Beautiful light on the flag. There is a sense of drama to the image. Nicely done.