This is a picture of my husband -- out on a winters walk. It was taken in Germany near Gummersbach, my hometown. I think I captured the beauty of nature in this season, but also a moment of solitude and sense of loneliness. Photo taken by Ilona Wellmann (Germany) - Nature

My family went to the circus and we saw this clown who seemed to be sad & tired! Photo taken by Fred J. Maurer (United States) - Humor

I saw the light coming in the window. The teacups made a beautiful shadow. Photo taken by Heather Jacks (United States) - Artistic/Creative

False -- just a picture of a woman looking out the window. :-) Photo taken by Ermanno Radice (Italy) - Artistic/Creative

You don't catch birds using a mirror every day - especially with such a funny expression! That's what makes this picture special to me. It was taken in April 2004, using a digital camera with Aperture f/4, Shutter 1/250, and ISO 100. Photo taken by Jean Spector (Israel) - Animals/Pets

This is a typical November scene for the part of Austria where I live in. The fog was drizzling from the trees, and I had to be careful not to get the camera electronics wet. I chose this angle to lead the eye towards the light of a new (and perhaps brighter) day. Photo taken by Wolfgang Dolak (Austria) - Nature

The photo was taken in Heidelberg, Germany. I like the bright colours of the photo and the way the duck turned its head to look at me. Photo taken by Guido A. Paliot Jr. (Germany) - Animals/Pets

This picture is special to me, because I travel frequently in Rajasthan, and work on a photo story about this Bhopa family (Nomads of Rajasthan.) I took the picture in September 2004, in Rajasthan, India. Photo taken by Mirjam Letsch (Netherlands) - People/Family/Friends

This picture was taken in late November. Once again -- winter begins! I liked the picture because of the composition and creative angles. Photo taken by Zenonas Meskauskas (Lithuania) - Artistic/Creative

At Larz Anderson Skating Rink in Brookline, MA, there is a separate rink just for little kids to learn how to skate. I sat on a low stone bench and spent a happy hour taking pictures of them on a late December afternoon. Photo taken by John Ruttenberg (United States) - People/Family/Friends

Another water polo season is over -- all's quiet at the pool. Photo taken by William Domino (United States) - Artistic/Creative

This Bristlecone Pine may be 1500 years old. It is located near the continental divide at 12,000 feet elevation. It is the lone survivor of a long ago forest fire. This image was captured on November 30, 2004 above Hoosier Pass. It was a 90 minute snowshoe hike to reach the mountain ridge. This tree represents the resiliency of growing plants to withstand the harsh environmental conditions in the mountains. Photo taken by Richard H. Hahn (United States) - Nature

This picture is special to me because it captures the essence of my grandaughter Zoe. Zoe lives in Manhattan and is in Central Park nearly every day. She is always having fun in Central Park! Photo taken by David Ravera (United States) - People/Family/Friends

This photo is a combination of people, color, and nature. It was taken at Tel Aviv Beach, Israel, in 2003. Photo taken by Samuel Glass (Israel) - Nature

The local American Legion did this project for Veterans Day. There were over 700 flags -- it was a sight to behold on this "field of dreams." Photo taken by Jan Wetherbee (United States) - Holidays/Events

A New Year Hyacinth. Photo taken by Evy Johansen (Denmark) - Artistic/Creative

I shot this photo in November 2004, when we had our honey moon in Hoi An, Viet nam. This old woman was so happy after I had bought her some bananas. I love her very much, she reminds me of my grandmother! Photo taken by Trung Dung Nguyen Khac (Vietnam) - People/Family/Friends

Here is a picture from the Fiesta Ware series I shot in December. An excercise in color, lighting, form, and composition. Photo taken by Rob Bishop (United States) - Artistic/Creative

A family friend and a handsome young man. Photo taken by David S. April (United States) - People/Family/Friends

These are some rusty old disc blades off a plow in the iron pile! They caught my attention with the colors and designs they formed. It always amazes me how much beauty can be found through the camera lens! Photo taken by Tina Schmitt (United States) - Artistic/Creative

Taken in August 2004, this is our Puppy Bella on her first trip to the local Fire house In Oaklyn, New Jersey. God Bless the USA. Photo taken by Robert Schwartz (United States) - Animals/Pets

I came across this guy in a fishing port in southern Puerto Rico in March 2004. He seemed to be a character and let me take his photo. To obtain this effect I oversharpened it and then applied a diffuse filter to it -- and really like the way his face and beard looked like a painting. Photo taken by Donna Cuic (United States) - People/Family/Friends

Its a bit more crunchier than I remember as a kid. Just having some fun with these beads. Photo taken by Donna Cuic (United States) - Artistic/Creative

I have loved this image from the moment I snapped the shutter. It's simplicity and vibrant colors facinate me. It was taken in a wildlife refuge near New Orleans while on a photography trip with my brother whom I rarly see. It depicts a wild frog in it's natural habitat. Photo taken by Brian Dehm (United States) - Nature

...chaotic office. This is my father, Dr. Goong Chen, a professor at Texas A&M University. Ironically, he always insisted that I keep my room clean when I was younger! Photo taken by Nancy Grace Chen (United States) - People/Family/Friends

This is one of the first pictures I took with my DX6490. I was experimenting with my new camera and new puppy. She was sleeping until the Red Eye flash went off -- she opened her eyes just in time for the photo. Photo taken by James Girard (United States) - Animals/Pets

This is my favorite image of my children. They were dancing on a sand dune at Jockeys Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Even though it was taken this summer, it still warms us up every time we look at it. Photo taken by Skip Rowland (United States) - Travel/Vacation