More than 120 residents sent in beautiful images of flowers, critters and gardens to admire. We saw tulips, hummingbirds, camelias, poppies and cherry blossoms sent in from residents all over the valley, including Aumsville, Sheridan, Stayton, Jefferson and Salem.

It was difficult, but Real Living, with help from Al's Garden Center, narrowed the entries down to 14 finalists and encouraged readers to vote for their favorites.

More than 700 readers heeded the call and picked Mark Epperly's shot of purple Osteospermum daisies for the top prize, a $150 gift certificate from Al's Garden Center. Tony Bowen's shot of tulips on High Street took second, earning $100, and Verna J. Johnson took third, earning $50.

Once again, Real Living is inviting readers to send in their best spring garden shot for a chance to win prizes. Up for grabs are gift certificates to Al's Garden Center, but this year the purses are bigger with $200 for first, $125 for second and $75 for third. The remaining seven finalists will receive $25 gift certificates.

And this year, a panel of professional photographers will pick nine finalists with one wild card selected by the Real Living staff. The contest only is open to amateur photographers to make sure everyone has a fair chance.

You have until May 31 to send in a photo taken in 2007 and stored on a CD or sent via e-mail. No prints accepted, but you can get prints placed on a CD at most photo-processing sites.

Ten finalists will appear in Real Living on June 15. Readers will then select the winners by voting online or by mail from June 15 through June 25. Remember only one vote per person. The winners will be featured in Real Living on June 29.

Don't worry if you haven't snapped that award-winning photo yet. You still have almost two months of blooms just waiting to have their picture taken. Read our top garden photo tips from retired Statesman Journal photographer Ron Cooper. He helped us compile this list last year before a lecture on garden photography.

Add a little architecture to the scene. When you're trying to capture a gardenscape, include details such as gates, decorative pots, paths or hardscapes. Just flowers and foliage can be boring.

The early bird gets the shot. The light is soft and forgiving in the morning, and there is little movement from the wind. The best time is 30 minutes to an hour after sunrise. The second best option is late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. Overcast days also provide good light all day.

Consider movement. If you want sharp detail, keep the camera and the scene as still as possible. Shoot when there's little wind to reduce movement and keep the camera still by setting it on a tripod or other platform. Another trick is to use the automatic timer. Photographers often move the camera when they press the shutter button.

Go wide. You can use Photoshop to stitch together several images creating one panoramic view. To get the look, shoot the scene in up to five sections from one side to the other, overlapping each section, then the software combines the images.

Fill the frame. Move in as close as your lens and your feet will allow, filling the frame with your subject, which eliminates wasted space. You don't have to include the whole flower either. Sometimes, the most beautiful parts are just tiny sections such as the very center. Some digital cameras have close-up functions. Otherwise, check the camera's view finder to see how close you can get while still in focus.

See the light. Outdoor light comes from one source and one direction. This light often illuminates one part of the flower, such as the top, and leaves the rest in dark shadow, which can reduce the detail in the photograph. Reflectors, which can be made from cardboard and foil, capture the sun's rays and reflect them back on to the subject. Position the reflector low to the ground so it lights the underside of the flower and foliage that are in deep shade.

Soften the light. Overcast days provide natural light diffusion. You can make your own diffuser out of household materials to soften the light. Position the diffuser between the light and the subject. You can use a reflector and a diffuser at the same time with some assistance.

Follow the bees and butterflies. Little critters often make an average photo extraordinary, but it takes patience, sometimes measured in hours. But the challenge adds to the reward. It's difficult to adjust the lighting when shooting these critters, so shoot a practice shot with and without flash to see which one works best under the existing conditions. Flash, Cooper said, isn't just for low light. It helps reduce contrast and shadows on sunny days, too.

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