I didn't see any numbers, but #4, Celebrating Summer at the Lake. I stared at it for a long time wondering if this could be a real shot. If real, it is absolutely fascinating, if the dancer was added, I vote for it anyhow, for composition, color, combination of subjects.

#1, the girl sitting on the rocks.

#3, Seems like the perfect MN summer fun

Nummer 3 gets my vote. It is perfect.

I am going with #4 again. I think the shot is not only beautiful, but also creative and shows the subject's talent.

Nice job on all the pics!!

Number 3. The epitome of a summer vacation.

#3, it just says Minnesota.

#3 Perfect summer evening

#1 love the mystery

#1 Beautiful !

#1 of girl on the rocks. What a great place to get some relaxation!

I love # 1 with the girl on the rocks as I've btdt and had no fear. Now I'm older, my heart fears for her as if she was my own daughter. "You're too close!" "Make sure you stay still so you don't slide!"

I vote for # 1 (Girl on the rocks) .....

I vote for photo #1 (girl on the rock)

I vote for photo #1. (girl on a rock)

#1 a beautiful picture!

#1 Girl on the Rock.

OMG how can I decide! The colors in #2 are magnificent, but photo doesn't relect contest subject as well as others, so I must vote for #3 as a perfect picture and perfect "summer vacation" subject.

Number 1 - shows a beautiful MN with beautiful Minnesotan on vacation! The pictures with someone in it will hold a greater meaning as the years go by.

No. 1, Girl on the Rock, very magical and serene, great place to do some deep thinking, just be very careful where you step!

#1. On the rocks.

#2 The photo is done in a "painterly style". It does sum up for me the feeling I get when I leave the mountains after my vacation, being oh, so alone and away from the closeness I felt in the hills with our creator. But wait, there is beauty here, too! Thank you, thank you.

#4, the lake, the sunset and the joy of summer all summed up in one photo :)

#4 it's a real shot! Not photoshopped at all!

It's hard to choose, they are all so perfect. But I think I have to go with #2, since the topic is a summer vacation. I don't think that we can own this country, if we don't explore it. We need to leave the state for that.

#4. Absolutely stunning. And 100% real, no photoshop!

#4

#4 such a beautiful dancer and Minnesota sunset!

#1 Girl on the Rock

#4 amazing shot of a very talented girl and a lovely sunset!

#4 amazing

#4 It doesn't get anymore beautiful then that!

I love them all, but #4 (with the dancer) gets my final vote. I love the composition and that the photo has so much movement. I really love the barn photo, too, but #4 just has that extra oomph.

Sheila-Marie Untiedt
#3- The photo is a quintessential Minnesota view. The image is both familiar to viewers and evokes a sweet and melancholy sense but is also somewhat mysterious and dreamlike.

I vote for # 1

Tough decision but i love # 1.

#4

#2, but 1 was a very close second!

#3, love the color.

#4

3- great composition

#3-great composition

#4. The beauty of dance on a glorious Minnesota nite!

Donna
It doesn't have many votes but to be truthful---No. 3 is the reason why I see so many cars going north from Iowa for vacation. This is your states money maker. You need to back it. We love the many lakes your blessed with..

#4 - Summer Dancer Style. I love #1 and 2 also but it is the vibrancy of movement suspended in the summer scenery and foliage framing that make me enjoy this shot.

I vote for #1 - Girl on the rocks.

I vote for #3, the scene with the fishermen.

They are all so good that it is hard to choose. I am going with #4, mostly because to capture the dancer in mid air is so incredible! The picture gives a sense of freedom and openness.

#4

I vote for #3. It brings back memories of sunsets at the lake with my family.

#4 such a beautiful shot.

I really like all of the them. The dancer one is amazing, but going to go with #3 for the MN feel.

#4...beautiful!

#3

Number 1 beautiful picture

#3 - Absolutely love that photo! Makes me want to be there!

I have enjoyed this segment on the Patch immensely Corey. I’ve enjoyed the local shots as well as ‘the trip’ across the country. I have not been able to keep up with all of the photographs but remember Mr. Grotte’s submissions well – so pleasing to look at. All four finalists deserve to be recognized. Thanks for the good idea Patch, and to all for sharing your craft.

#2 the barn. That is one that I would purchase and hang in my house. So colorful and the scenery is beautiful.

Corey, if you are able to keep it going on any scale, I'd be one who'd be most grateful. So, my vote is to keep it going. When my eyes have gone bonkers from reading the comments of need and trouble, it is very desirous to skip and go to the photographs. I hope readers will write in and let you know too that the photographers' gifts are highly regarded. Perhaps folks will make you do it. Ha! Thanks Corey for asking!!

#3

#4 (Celebrating Summer at the Lake)
shows great artistry of color and form. Takes great timing and photographic talent to get the leap just right and in the right space when the lighting is just right - very lovely composition.

#1 -- AMAZING PICTURE!

#1

I really like #1.

I vote for #3. This best represents MN, land of 10,000 lakes!

#4 Celebrating Summer at the Lake. Beautiful!

#1 is awesome - it makes me think she is waiting to meet the gods.

#3

Definitely #3!

I am going to have to vote for photo 2 because for me it is a real memory. This country has so much beauty to offer and if others can't get out there to see it I love to share it with them through the lens of my Nikon. It is what keeps me going and contests like this are always fun to enter no matter how well I do. Thank you, Margaret Wachholz, for your comments on my photos!

I love the mountains for a summer vacation - so I vote for #1. Great photo!

I vote for #2. Absolutely breathtaking.

i vote for # 2 bc it reminds me of living out in the country in peace and quiet..

Number #2

#2 is beautiful! I vote #2

#2 is just so rustic and beautiful. I love old barns and how the sky pops.

I think number 2 looks like the best summer vacation photo

They are all nice, but #4 gets my vote!

#1 is an amazing photo and gets my vote.

#3 is my favorite summer vacation photo!!!

Tough decision but my vote goes for #1.

#1 is a great shot!

#2 Jeff Grotte's Photo is stunning... I love the colors and peacefullness..

I select #4 for it's creativity, unique concept and perfect lighting for the silhouette.

#2 is amazing - you can just tell that the photographer is very talented!

#2 gets my vote. Stunning!

#1 is my favorite. Looks like a beautiful peaceful spot to sit and think

#2

#1

I vote for #3.
It makes me wish I was there on vacation

They really all are exquisite, but my vote is for #2. I think you can see every color & hue of the rainbow in that photo. Beautiful job capturing that moment.

I love #1

Picture #1 is awesome.

#2! The colors are so vibrant! Gorgeous! A delightful capture of summer!

#1 definetly looks like a place i would want to go on a summer vacation. #1 gets my vote.

#2

I vote for number 2 because I went there.

One or two contests a year would make each one special and worthwhile.
Too many contests would water down the exceptional.

Number 2 is just beautiful.

#2 This is so beautiful. Great Job!!

I vote for #1. Beautiful.

#1...beautiful!

Picture # 1 is my favorite!

# 1

# 1 is beautiful

I vote for #1

Beautiful pictures! my vote goes to #1

#1 - Love it!

#2 does it for me. Beautiful!

#3 - Best reflects the contest photo topic

#2...you're on vacation, a time to decompress, and unfortunately not everyone stops to smell the roses even then. He captured the "roses" in all its glory! Love it!

#4 :)

My vote is for #1. It's very peaceful.

Definitely #4

#1 - the girl on the rocks. Awesome picture!

#2 It's perfect!

I like #3 the most--a family or a group of friends sharing a relaxing time in a beautiful setting. To me, that's what summer vacation is all about.

#4

#4 - beautiful photo!

#1 is stunning

# 3

I'm picking #2. I think that from a photography perspective, that photo is the best of the four. The colors are all very vivid and draw your eyes to the most important part of the frame. The exposure is great and I like that you can see clearly from the foreground all the way back to the mountains. Plus, it's a picture that is clearly taken on a summer vacation. There aren't any mountains in Minnesota!

#1 It truly captures the essense and feeling of being on a relaxing vacation.

Love #1.

#4 gets my vote. All the finalist pics are great, but this one to me says MN summer fun and also whimsey.

I pick Number 2, the photo is exceptional... I wish I was there now.

I think they are all amazing but my final pick is #2. It is pictures like this that started my curiosity of traveling and experiencing places even if they don't seem like the best vacation spots. Sometimes it's the places along the way in our travels that bring us the most beauty instead of where we wanted to go and I this picture shows that for me!

#2...it's mesmarizing and truly had a vacation feel vs "up north for the weekend" feel.

#2 amazing!

#2.

I choose 2.

Number 2

#2, perfect! :0)

#2

#2

My vote is #2, I love the colors! They are all great photos :)

#2 it's SUPER!

#2 for sure! It's beautiful!

#2 is amazing!

#2

I vote for #2, It is a fantastic photo!

I vote for #2

I vote for #2! It is amazing!

Def #2. Amazing.

#1

2 is the best

Number 2 is an awesome Photo!

#2 awesome coloring!

I choose #1

#2 Please

My vote is for #1

#2

I vote for #2

love all the pics but i vote for #1

#1 - What a zen moment!

#2 amazing!!!!

#2

I like #1 the best....she looks so peacefull

#2

#2 please

#2

#2!

I am going to go with Number 2! WOW!!!

#2 Beautiful!

#2 Captures my soul!

#2

#2

#1

#2

Im picking photo #1

2. It seems like one you can put on your wall.

#2 Fantastic, love the colors,very unique!

Jennie

#2 is stunning!

#1 gets my vote

#2.... Beautiful!!!

# 1

#2!!!!!!!!!

2 - Great pic!

vote for photo 1

#2

I vote for Photo #2.

Voting for #1 Awesome!!

voting for number 1

i vote for number 1

I vote #1 - breathtaking!!

I really like photo number 2. It gets my vote.

Vote for photo #1-wonderful :)

I vote for photo #1

#2 Perfect composition.

I love #2!!!

I like photo #1 - what a view!

I vote for Photo #1 of the mountainview. Beautiful.

#1

I vote for photo #1.

My favorite pic and vote goes to #1

I vote for photo #1--really original!!

I vote for #2...gorgeous.

Love love love #1.

i think photo 1 looks like a great summer vacation spot!! So my vote is for # 1

Go #1. Beatiful pic.

# 2 - awesome!

I am diggin #2

2

#2 is the best! It should win for sure

2

I think Mr. Grotte's photo of the barn is breath taking... The exceptional colors are such a rare thing to capture on film. Well done! Number 2 for me.

I vote for #1 ~ fantastic photo.

Wow - I vote for #1. I'd love to be up there!

I like #1.

Number 1 has my vote!!

#1 !!!!

#1 is my vote!! Great shot.......

Great photos.. I'm voting for #1.

I think #1 should win. Very pretty picture.

#1

#2 The difference in color is illuminating.

#2. Beautiful shot.

Number 1 has my vote!!

#1 is breath taking.

I like #1. A place of peace and relaxation

Photo 1

I go with #2

#2 :)

#1 looks like a summer vacation i would love to have.

#1

what a fun contest. I think all the pictures are great. But if i had to chose a vacation spot i would pick photo number #1. I've never been to the mountains so that picture intrigues me. Nice job.

Definitely #1!!!!!!!

Number 2! Colors are gorgeous! And I love barns :)

#1 is my vote

voting for 1

voting for 2...fab

#1 is my pick.

I choose #1.

#2 The chances of capturing that moment, as the sun is setting behind the mountains and lighting the sky with those colors is true artistry!

#2

#2 The sunset behind the barn is so beautiful

#2 absolutely stunning!

My vote is for picture number 2 it is very beautiful!

#2 love the colors

voting for 1

#1

Wow... Photo 1 : )

Definitally I vote # 2

Yay #2!

#1 is awesome!!

Oh wow - I vote for #1

Vote for #1

All are beautiful. But, numbers 1 and 4 look more like high school senior shots. Two and three are more on point - I pick # 3.

Vote for #1 - what a great photo!!

#2

#2

#2

I vote for #1

I vote for #1

#2

# 2

I vote for one as that looks like a great spot to visit on a summer vacation!

i vote for photo # 1

number 2

#2

#2

2

#1

#2 is my vote! beautiful picture!

2,

#1.

I really like #2

Two. I love this photo.

I have seen Jeffs work before. Good job. #2 has my vote.

#2

#2 Jeff Grotte for sure.

2!

# 1 for the win!

Jen,

#1 has my vote. This is a cool picture, but more importantly it is because of all the other neat pictures I've seen you do over time. I know you have a true passion for photography and want you to know that is why my vote goes your way. Pictures can capture a thousand words, but they do not always say the million things they do in real life. I’m sure a million things were going through your head as you sat on the edge looking into whatever it may have been!

All the other pictures are great as well (no doubt about it), but I'm all in on #1!

Good luck & keep snapping away ; )

Andy Schlievert

#1

I think #1 should win

LOVE 1!!!

love the peacefulness of #1 : )

#1

I vote for #1 - very beautiful!

Go #1 - you deserve to win!!

My vote goes for #1. Love the mountains for a vacation spot.

I vote for Jen's photo, #1 - I'd love to see the mountains.

Photo #1 - awesome!

Whoa. I am getting email notifications and i see the EXACT comments coming through with different names. Then, the comments are deleted from the post and replaced with other ones. What exactly is going on here?

I choose #1!! Go Jen go!!

#1 has my vote! What an incredible picture...

#1 seems most real and yet surreal. Vote #1

#1!!

I vote #1

I would be inclined to believe that.... Except i went back and saw that even Kirby Puckett voted for her. Oh really?

I vote for #1

My vote is for #1.

Mick Schlievert votes #1 - good luck!

my vote go is to #2. The best one no doubt about it.

#1