this photo is incredible. i love the story it tells. good work molly

What a great picture!

Absolutly Beautifull!!

you are already a winner in my book sistah souljah! i love you!! x0x0x0...

Thanks for commenting on my photo. I've been drugged up the past few days after having some surgery done and have not been on the computer. You are the first person to ever accuse me of any kind of cheating, so that must say something about the quality of my work. I've not voted for my own work, because I don't feel that it is as good as other work on this site. If I had been, my pet photos would have been at the top as well as my self portrait. Judging by the comments left on all of my photos that have as many votes as they do, people seem to like them. I also have a following in my business as well as have posted bulletins on myspace, as well as everyone else on this site. As for having friends and family vote me...speak for yourself...judging by just about every comment left for you this far, yours has been the only photos that they have voted on. For example.... theshotspot.com/contests/byuser/7014, theshotspot.com/contests/byuser/6423.As far as a critique on your own photo, I like the concept, but find the photo to be too grainy, lighting dark and the line thru the forehead to be distracting. Just my opinion of course. I prefer your other black and white over this one.

No problem, I understand and agree with your concern.. yet yours had just as many in the same amount of time.....

This image has a very rugged and artistic feel to it. It has a very personal aura, and conveys a great sense of intimacy. Thanx so much for the sweet comment on my image. As for Cherokee coming on your page and desperately trying to defend herself about how her photos have mysteriously made it to the top 5 after only a day and a half- that is quite unprofessional and ridiculous. She admits that she's drugged up- hmmm, maybe that's not something people really want to know about. And it's interesting how she's a finalist in nearly every other category. Something VERY fishy is going on- and it's a shame that such cheating has deprived real artists the opportunity to showcase their work, and be recognized for their true talent. Cheating is not a talent- it is only a desperate attempt to be recognized when it is clearly obvious that the person lacks in honesty, true craftsmanship and artistic ability. Either way, best of luck with your photographic endeavors, fellow PA female photographer!!!

Again, i state I was drugged up... because I just had SURGERY done. Thats fine though. And I have not been a finalist in every other catergory. I was a finalist in Architecture, a finalist in kids and a finalist in Still Life. I was not a finalist in Sky, in people, in pets, in abstract or in the self portrait categories that I also competed in. Take a closer look at the categories. There are other names that come up a number of times more than mine has, as you see my name only 6 times in all of the contests that are open to date. Others can be seen 5 or 6 times in every single category in the top 12 images alone. Look at sky, for example. 2 people have 2 images in the top 5 alone. As I stated on my photo, I have more to lose than to gain by participating in these contests or by cheating. I run an online photo business and sell my photos as prints, card and calendars. I cannot afford to give up my rights to any of my images that I have placed on these sites, especially my best sellers, as it is my primary source of income until I have recovered from surgery and my injuries. Nor can I afford the bad advertisement as a 'cheater'. I decided to place them here in hopes of critiques on how to make me a better photographer. I've not cheated. The only thing I have done is post on my site about needing support, sending bulletins on myspace and posting in numerous forums. I'm encouraging people to come and vote, as the rules state is allowed. Molly, I apologize for posting this here, but yes, I am going to come and defend my work, because I do believe in it, otherwise it would not be here. Why have I been the only one attacked? The images in first and second jumped 50 votes apiece whenever one would pass the other. The image in 4th appeared from nowhere in the last day. The image in 5th came up from somewhere by 400+ votes as well. And the image in 6th? It was deleted and then reuploaded a day later and came up 600+ votes in a matter of hours. I'm sure they all received legit votes, and certainly hope that I have as well. Maybe I just had supporters that believed my work should be there, as other photographers had their supporters. I don't know. The only thing I do know, is that I did not put my image to the top and in fact have voted on the Pittsburgh photograph. In kids, I voted for the storybook photo and sincerely hoped that it would win. Anyways, I'm done. I'm not competing in other categories, because as I said, I can't afford the negativity or to give up rights to any more of my work, as I've already done so to my best sellers.

great shot. you have my vote

Very nice image! The photo has a very strong personal feel to it- and I would have liked to see it at the top. But you should put a stop to Cherokee coming on your page and yapping about nothing. Why is she here defending herself to you? This is a page for people to view YOUR work and give positive critiques to your style- not to keep repeating that they're on drugs, and that they didn't vote themselves to the top when, well, it's obvious she did. Anyway, it would have been nice to see this image in 3rd place, rather than the one that's there now.