First and foremost the voting for your favourite picture is now closed and the winners of the additional 5 SBD each will also be announced at the bottom of this mail.

_{For those of you who were wondering, this was my eventual shortlist after a lot of internal debating (@rwedegis, @auminda, @deeviras, @doctorcro, @koenigsnadja & @lindiry)}

This is the post you’ve all been waiting for, especially those of you who submitted right at the moment when I started the competition more than a week. As I have mentioned in my update posts I truly feel overwhelmed by all your fantastic entries and responses. I know it has not been easy for everyone and on a few instances I had to ask you to amend your posts either because I didn’t understand what you’d written or you’d posted multiple pictures and you all made terrific efforts.

When I started this competition I had a fantastic 362 followers, at this moment I have 663!!! That’s a massive +300 new friends in just over a week. I am really touched by the love and attention you guys have given me and I will continue to give back to you guys. This is also why I did this spontaneous chance to win another 5 SBD yesterday.

the Winner

You guys have made it really hard for me, I have read heart-warming stories about memories, lost friendships, love, dreams come true, achieving lifetime goals, taking inspiration out of everyday situations, fantastic landscapes. I have read them all, all 127 submissions. Of those 127 submissions 112 entries qualified to enter the competition. I spent an approximate 28 hours over the last week reading, answering, commenting and replying to your posts and questions.

After I did an initial filtering of poor argued submissions, I was left with 64 entries. Here I started looking at originality, sincerity, a deeper meaning or artistic value, for that reasons I’m afraid to say all the animal submissions did not make the final cut … to put it crudely, despite receiving really stunning pictures.

I’m a sucker for beautiful sceneries and this is why some of them made it through my filtering selection, but again I had to be strict with myself, so this reduced my selection even more. Now I was left with my final selection as you saw in yesterday’s post.

From these last pictures I have tried to match the stories with the picture and also started looking at what lies at heart for me. So without any more waiting, the winner of the is …

ME

No, I’m just kidding. I am already a winner for getting so many new friends and you guys opening up your hearts to me and share some precious and wonderful moments like you have. The winner of the Photography Competition and the grand prize of 20 SBD is:

@auminda

This picture touched me from the first moment that I saw it. To me it portrays a natural love we should have for one another. The baby has never met it’s sister before, yet it grabs her and holds on to her for its life. Now we’re afraid of strangers and avoid talking to someone we don’t know. This picture, to me symbolizes that we should be less afraid of strangers and also that we should love one another unconditionally. Life is short and precious, let’s make our time together here on earth filled with joy and happiness!

the second place and 10 SBD prize money go to:

@doctorcro

This picture reminds me as well where I came from and what has made me to the person I am today. I spent a lot of time in my early years at my grandparents home. After my grandfather died, my grandmother (who turns 90 next month) moved closer to us in Amsterdam, but the house, the memories and the stories never fade! Never forget where you came from, it has helped you become the person you are today!

the third place and 5 SBD prize money go to:

@lindiry

We all have goals in our lives and we all need to take time to unwind as well. To me, this picture expresses all of that and has a beautiful setting sun on the background. Have goals, go for it, but don’t forget to live and enjoy life, what else will you think back off when you’re old, grey and in an old citizens-home … all the hours you spent at work, all the business contacts you’ve made, all the millions you’ve made and earned … not going to help you in the long run! So go out there and enjoy life as well, it’s short and precious and it has so much to offer if you let it.

the Winners of the public vote and 5 SBD prize money:

@levinvillas

A fantastic picture and like the one I choose for third place it reminds us to take a break and re-organise ourselves. Enjoy the surroundings. You guys have made an excellent choice, well done to @levinvillas

The winner of the random selection of everyone who voted today is @shimster, congratulations!!! You have also won 5 SBD

All the winners should have their prize money in their accounts already:

Finally please give all the participants an upvote on their last own post, like I said in my original post, let’s grow together and show each other some love, here they are in alphabetical order:

@ablaire @ahmedelakehal @allesia @alx.magentio @amaliatul @anatolianwishdom @aniangel @apsu @archeothot @asfuriah @assetgainz @auminda @avinashvfx @avosep @benychen @biffybirdcam @cafeconleche @camilus @carmenma @chalil05 @crypto4iso @daniteror @darkworld @darnuss06 @davidblackwell @deeviras @deliberator @doctorcro @domioanna @eddithmartinez @elizmaestre @elnazry @emiliorussian @enzo3785 @ervin-lemark @euguma @explorernations @ezinwakelvin @faisalazmi @farahmarissa @fazielsy @fishyculture @garycortesia @gcaynila @gonrgh @hellene8 @hetty-rowan @hql2016 @hugenewz @huslein.slash @ichsanabbas @icybc @isabelpena @jakesdewet @jodiegolier @justdentist @katerinaramm @kayya.muleeya @kgs-training @kkroto80 @kneelyrac @koenigsnadja @laliga @laxmikadariya @levinvillas @lexyflexy @linchybaby @lindiry @lynncoyle1 @mahotcarmz @marglys @mariossap @mavel @mcface @memebibiboboo @mickzzz @moonsailor @n8ggo @nesis @nickstudies @nwjordan @obvious @omardcam @oneboredhero @pbv @peterkkim96 @philosophizer @poeticsnake @pope1995 @potatosauce @princeanthonys @riezalzulfa @rijal10 @rinkashica @roadstories @robart @rodgamag @rwedegis @samueld2010 @smb14 @smeralda @snerdey @sohailahmad2525 @spikezon @stadex @starlost @sustainablyyours @SWedegis @talique @tarmotammik @teukurahmatakbar @the.artist-98 @theessential @troutmusic @unicornvomit @victary @virus95 @wandrnrose7 @waniphotography @wendie @willsbengs @wincee @woutersbit @wremetil @yungbe @zach-charczynski @zangmore

I can’t say what my next competition is about or when I’m going to post it, but it will be round about 3 weeks from now. Thank you all for your involvement and enthusiasm!

Doron