You can see how loyal a friend I am, even to bloggy “friends” whom I’ve never met. Robin and I have both entered some photos in a photo contest by Nikon for a chance at winning this really awesome camera. I told Robin about it, and then I entered some as well.

Now we both have a handful of photos in the gallery.

• You can see one of my photos here, and then you can go from there to each of my other submissions: No Looking Back

• You will find one of Robin’s photos here (and then find the rest of her photos, too): When Stephen learned how to fly

Technically, the voting stage hasn’t begun yet. I’m a little fuzzy on how it all works and whether or not it matters how many views each photo gets during the submission stage. But as far as I can tell, between July 21st and July 24th, the judges will select 120 finalists for the public to vote on beginning July 25th. It’s possible the popularity of a photo may influence the judges. (Just in case it wouldn’t hurt to run over and make a bunch of clicks. ) Definitely, if either one of us makes the finalists it will be a matter of popular votes.

If either one of us makes the finalists,… I will let you know!

Now, if you feel the urge to share this with your friends, now or later if we make the cut, then by all means.. Go Ahead! You have my full permission - and Robin’s too! (Ok, I didn’t ask her but I KNOW she won’t mind based on what she wrote in her post.)

I will be flattered, excited, and otherwise Giddy if you consider this share-worthy.

I will be excited, giddy, and jittery if one of my photos makes it as a finalist.

I will be flat out UN-CON-TAIN-ABLE if I win!! I’ll be bouncing off the walls. Like a two year old hopped up on sugar and caffeine.

So check them out now, and I’ll let y’all know whether either one of us makes the finalists or not.

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In the meantime, you may be asking yourself.. “Self, now isn’t this the same person who doesn’t post pictures of her kids on her blog??”

Why yes, it is.

So now you’re asking yourself. “Self, what’s the difference between this and that?”

Well, now, lemme ’splain.

People can do really CRAZY stuff with Photoshop. You can make a pretty girl look like a guy, and vice versa, and make anybody look like a pin-up model.. imagine what the sickos could do with a picture of a pretty little girl.

That being said, I’m not comfortable posting pictures of my children online. I don’t berate or judge anyone else who does, I’ve just decided (along with my husband) not to do it myself. I also use a photo-sharing website that doesn’t share my photos with search engines. Maybe I’m paranoid. Maybe I’m not.

But when it comes to pictures displayed with Flash (like they are for the Nikon contest) - well, you’ll notice there’s no “right click, save as” for Flash. Meaning, no download and save to some sickos computer.

So now you know.

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Now as I was saying: Get over there and check out our pictures already. Enough chit chat.

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