St. wrote:
> Jim, fantastic modeling in your image. Especially your chimp! Your 
> close-up is superb! Overall, and in MY opinion, your image should have 
> been notched up some. For me, it captured the true 'inquisitive' nature 
> of the 'simple' beast, which you managed to do with a panache only you 
> can design.
> 
>  Be proud, keep it up, nice work.
> 
>  ~Steve~
> 
> 
> 
> 
Thanks Steve. A little support goes a long way.  My entry was a 
calculated risk all along. I came to the concept rather late. 
Never-the-less, even though I expected it, I was feeling a little 
bruised that I couldn't make the top 1/4 in the judging.

Chris Cason made a point of noting that the ranking outside the winner's 
circle was just approximate, an attitude I wholehearted support.  If 
anyone remembers, I have been quite vocal on that subject in the past 
and believe that a detailed ranking makes little sense in the context of 
artmaking and expecially so when you enter the middle ranks.  To me it 
is simply an artifact born of the need to find a winner.

Whatever my need to whine, I must confess that this contest forced me to 
intensify my thinking about the themes I want to pursue.  And that is a 
good thing.