Photo Contest: Hot Pics for February

Subscribers to Dave Johnson's Digital Focus took these shots; read Dave's March 3 column for the Hot Pic of the Month winner.

1 of 8

All Images
Related Articles

Digital Camera Trends 2012: The Post-CES Onslaught
Hang Your Favorite Photos at a Virtual Museum
Wanted: A Camera for Kindle Fire
Real-Time 3D Models Created Using Only a DSLR and Kinect
Is Kodak Smartly Exiting a Dying Business?

Would you recommend this slideshow? YES NO

2/4 Hot Pic: "Sunflower Kiss," by Tyson Chastain, Knoxville, Tennessee

Tyson writes: "A friend asked me to take some pictures of her family. While most of the family was cooperative, this little girl was a challenge. ... Upon grandma's request, the cranky little girl planted her face into this sunflower. Out of about a hundred pictures that I took that day, this was the one-in-a-million shot."

Visit Digital Focus

2/11 Hot Pic: "Swan at the Baltic," by Przemek Krysinski, Kansas City, Missouri

Przemek writes: "I took this photo in the Baltic resort town, Swinoujscie. A storm was approaching from the sea, and couple of swans were leisurely walking around on the beach.... The difference between the setting sun and the darkness of the approaching storm provided a contrasting image. I used a Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T9."

2/18 Hot Pic: "Blue," by Todd Frantz, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Todd writes: "This little scene grabbed my attention because of the way the surface tension of the water bent to meet the flower, and the way the blue color of the flower flows into the blue water around it."

2/25 Hot Pic: "Christmas Angel," by Tom Weber, Wadsworth, Ohio

Tom writes: "I took this photo in a very dark room, with a flashlight positioned directly behind an angel statue that we received for Christmas. I then shot it with a long, 4-second second shutter."

2/4 Runner-Up: "Peaking Through the Clouds," by Kristine Boise, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Kristine writes: "This photograph shows the top of one of New Zealand's numerous snow-capped mountains, peeking through the layer of clouds around it. I took it from a plane going into Christchurch with my Canon Powershot SD450. I later edited it with Adobe Photoshop to increase the contrast."

2/11 Runner-Up: "Cliff House Beach Dawn," by Cynthia Farr-Weinfeld, Portland, Maine

Cynthia writes: "I took this photo with my Pentax K10D on a long exposure just as the sun was rising. I combined it with another, slightly shorter exposure to not only get a silky water effect, but a misty effect by the rocks as well."

2/18 Runner-Up: "Pollination Pleasure," by Debra Ferris, Spring Hill, Tennessee

Debra writes: "I took this photo with a Canon 20D and a Lensbaby 2.0 attachment, using just natural lighting in the late afternoon. This bee was warning me that I was too close for his comfort. I was too close for my own comfort as well--I'm allergic to bees!"

2/25 Runner-Up: "Spirit Interstate on a Full Moon," by Austen Broadbent, Royersford, Pennsylvania

Austen writes: "I took this late at night on my back deck. The moon was full, and patchy clouds were moving very quickly overhead. I set my Canon Digital Rebel XT's shutter to stay open for about 2 minutes, and used a wide angle converter lens for a broad view."