Mounts Tasman and Cook in Lake Matheson

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Mounts Tasman and Cook in Lake Matheson, originally uploaded by Chook with the looks. All Rights Reserved.

Winning the September 2008 Hall of Fame is Chook, from Marlborough, New Zealand (a Kiwi). Wow -- this photo cleaned up in both the qualifying round of Natural Scape/Scene and won a tough fight against our 2nd place winner, posted below. Chook also won the most votes from the Moderation Team!

Tell us a little about what makes you tick:

I have recently brought a Nikon D300, before that a D70, my lenses include, {all nikon} 60mm macro, 70_300mm, 12_24mm, and my main lense, 18_24mm, Manfrotto tripod, and last a very heavy gear bag.

Its my first time in the Brackets and been in PFO since Feb, 08, I'd like to thank Saxon9, as she put me onto PFO.

I take heaps of photos of a subject from different angles, different settings, and different light which means sometimes many visits to the site I wish to photograph until I have a image I'm pleased with. I like photographing scenic/ natural scenes.

Golden Alberta

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Golden Alberta, originally uploaded by Su Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Coming in 2nd this month, in a very hotly contested race, is last month's winner, Jimmy, with another impressive landscape. I think he is the master of light and color and sweeping vistas!

How long have you been into photography?

1 year, 1 month and still going. I bought my first dSLR at the end of July, 2007.

What got you started?

I never really thought much about photography growing up but when 2 of my friends attended my brother's wedding back in 2006 and with them, their fancy cameras, I fell head over heels. A camera never felt so right before that. Now photography is a huge part of my daily life.

What is the story behind your Brackets entry?

I did a photoshoot of a friend in Waterton Lakes National Park, near Montana, USA. As we were leaving and the highway rose into the mountains, that scene caught my eye with the sun setting. I quickly pulled over and embraced the warm beauty nature offered me.

Did you know you had a money shot when you were shooting that photo (#1 in Explore; advancing so far in the Brackets)?

No idea. I think my photography is very mediocre and I thought I uploaded just another shot but when I woke up the morning after I posted that image, I had over 100 comments and over 200 faves. I was really dumbfounded.