This image comes from Cashawnda at http://calyeacl.wordpress.com/. I love how she got looowww for this shot.

Anne at http://worldismycuttlefish.wordpress.com/ sent this one in under the ‘Get Farther Away’ category. I like how the central figure is adrift in this sea of stones.

Linda at http://anaturemom.com/, like us, spends a lot of time outdoors with the kids. I like how the sinuous path leads the eye through the photo, and how the brightly-dressed kids really pop against the broad swathes of green grass.

I love this one from Rossella at http://rossellasphotography.wordpress.com/. The baby is clearly the focal point of attention for the people in the photo, who are themselves literally out of focus, making the absolutely gorgeous subject really stand out. Great stuff.

This one is from Shelley at http://silkspicegirl.com/, and I simply couldn’t resist the photo’s ‘awwww’ factor. A precious shot, without being cloyingly “precious.” Lovely.

Shannon from http://shannonshenanigans.wordpress.com/ sent this one in. What makes it is the matching dresses on the girls, and the matching lollipops stuck in rapt faces. The background clutter detracts from the shot, but the kids are priceless.

I really like the perspective in this shot from Paul at http://aminutewithme.wordpress.com/. The baby’s head is perfectly framed by those receding concentric circles, and the colors are great. Really nice.

Nathan at http://amillercircumstance.wordpress.com/ clearly shot the kids from an unusual angle. It’s a cute, casual, and unposed moment with the kids. Nice.

Keun Hee Oh snapped this little girl who had brought a flower to church for Mother’s Day. I love this shot. It’s clean and classic-looking and captures the girl clearly while the flower is a blur of motion. You can follow Keun Hee at http://chainedscribe.wordpress.com/

Buke sent in this lovely shot of her daughter at a garden party. The blurred background and the lighting help make the shot, but it’s also the contrast of the pastoral setting and the flamenco dress. But with such a beautiful girl, it’s hard to go wrong.

Robin submitted this great shot of her family wandering the sand dunes of the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Check out her blog http://bringingeuropehome.com/ for more beautiful photos.

Tania at http://aboutgivingandreceiving.wordpress.com/ sent in this shot in the “Get Farther Away” category. The ruins soar above the subjects and lead the eye through the image nicely. Well done, Tania.

This is a really hard shot to get, and I bet Shelley at http://silkspicegirl.com/ had to ask her daughter to remain as still as possible for this one. The way she emerges from the dark and is illuminated only by the glowing candles gives an idea of what you can achieve without flash. A gorgeous photo.

This shot also comes from Kevin at http://www.aworldinfocus.com/, who took it among the hill tribes of northern Thailand. Obviously exemplifying the idea of getting closer, the shot evokes much wider images of cultural lifestyles and customs. Incredible colors and patterns here. A wonderful shot.

I absolutely love this shot from Lisa at http://oceanboundsadventures.wordpress.com/. The composition is outstanding, with the sunflower in the foreground echoed in the umbrellas of the two girls in matching outfits. Although you don’t see the girls’ faces, it’s a very evocative shot of a time and place. Really, really nice.

Kathleen at http://wordstobeginby.wordpress.com/ sent in this amazing shot of her nephew yawning. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but Kathleen got close to catch a really captivating image which reveals amazing light, textures and contours. Beautiful.

This photo is compelling in its very simplicity. You may recognize the baby from Rosella’s previous Honorable Mention-winning shot. It’s such a winning picture because of the great light, the cute headgear, and the facial expression. The frame is filled with the face emerging from the darkness, so your attention isn’t distracted by anything extraneous. A stunning shot of a lovely child, simple as that. Congratulations, Rossella. Check out her other work at http://rossellasphotography.wordpress.com/.