Pamela, the baseball/sword thing is wonderful, I love it!

Patrick, the Svante looks great; I like seeing it in-hand so I get a better idea of the scale.

Good job everyone!

Today is the last day of the contest, people! Get 'em in!

Christian has posted the finalists. There were a lot of very interesting entries this year. Of all the final photos I think I like Kirk Spencers Homage the best. Given my new status as a grandfather I find it particularly touching.

Wow, I love all the finalists' pictures!!

My top two picks are: James Fitch's Duel and Ben Cooper's The Fool.

Runners-up: Patrick Kelly's Albion Reeve and Kirk Spencer's Homage

Hard to decide as there were no bad submissions and
depending on what criteria used to decide the results
could be very different: I decided to go with totally personal
preferences.

I also did my best to not let " who " is the person submitting
influence the decision: Not just pick friends or not bend over
backwards not picking friends.

Not saying who as I don't want to influence the vote. ( Probably nothing wrong with giving that info: Just my decision. )

Sadly, none of my personal favourites made it to the finals. :(
For me it should also have been Nathans first picture (Albion Regent) and Kirk Spencer's "Work Hardening".

But since not everybody has to share my weird taste: Good luck to the actual finalists! :)

The contest has been so much fun and a wonderful marketing tool. I spent so much time on the web site that even though none of my photos are in the finals I suspect I will be owning a new Christian Fletcher sword sometime in the future. :)

Good luck to all the finalists. I've placed my vote. :cool:

The last thing I submitted to this contest was a photoshoot a friend and I did specifically for the contest. Here are some additional shots from the shoot.

We were going for the "deranged little girl mischievously slays her white bear and is left with a sense of remorse mixed with devilish satisfaction" thing in a gothic cupcake kind of way.

Props include Betsy Johnson party dress, white bear from the Goodwill, Eljay Erickson custom-made Schiavona, and a willing girl.

Thanks for looking.

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Nathan;

Sort of says: " Poor little bear ......... Just couldn't help myself ....... Just had to try out the sword ...... At least it was quick as the sword is nice and sharp ....... girlish giggle giggle. :p :cool: :lol:

Her lawyer recommends the " Twinkie defense " : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie_defense

Nice photos. :cool:

Awesome, Nathan. I'm always impressed with your photography, swords or otherwise.

Nathan

I absolutely love that pic! It was one of my votes. And the entire series is wonderful. Very Lolita Goth... very Angelic Pretty.

Question: is the ink on her left arm her's or did you add it? Either way do you have a close-up?

I still think the standing version of the loligoth would be a best-selling poster in some quarters....Surely there's an annual convention :D

Who actually decapitated the bear, Nathan - you or the girl?