Now this looks photoshopped. So please, if you don't mind revealing your secrets, how did you do this?

Well I thank you for thinking that I'm that skilled in photoshop but I'm not. I can assure you there is no photoshopping done here. If the mods want to see the original Raw files I will show them but I will not reveal the secret. I'm sorry if that makes me look like a jerk but I take my craft and it's secrets very seriously. I can't tell from looking at type weather or not your accusing me of cheating but I hope that isn't the case I had to take over 30 shots to get one where the flame looked the way I wanted it and also disguised the secret!

I wasn't accusing you of cheating. I was just curious to how you did this for it looks photoshopped. If you don't want to reveal your secrets, fair enough. I'm not a mod and couldn't care less. I was just curious and was hoping you might share.

Ok cool, it's so hard to tell anymore on here, that's why I asked before freaking out

Yeah I know there's a lot of dooshbags (and I do spell douchebag, "dooshbag" intentionally" for I feel it's funnier this way) that have a tenancy to question someone's skills. You my friend, have the skills I wish I could acquire. It's funny because I want to give up every week after I find out how much I loose but yet, I still try. Even with such phenomenal entries as your own and artists who will more than likely beat me everytime.

amazing..just amazing! fmo, if you can make a real picture look fake (photography) or a fake picture look real (photoshoped), it means you are really good!

I felt the same way last week, jawshoewhah, and my buddy called me names and berated me until I stopped it. Even if you know you will lose, always try.

And FYI I really enjoy your work (both Jawshoewhah and the author).

Wise words Steve, your friend sounds smart! Josh if you only saw all of the terrible shots I've taken you'd probably feel a LOT better about your work! Hang in there, instead of trying to compete with everyone else compete with yourself, that's what I do.

Thanks for the advice.

As always this author excels ... yet again well done

to me it just looks like you dropped the card and after many many shots, it fell the right way this time. great job! The only thing though is that maybe you should change your shirt more often because your identity is given away alot by what you wear. well, your style and talent gives it away too

Thanks everyone, @ k5683 that is a good guess but no that would be far to frustrating to try it that way, and it would have taken way more than 30 shots! As far as the shirt goes I wasn't planning on having my arms in the shot, I just wanted black but it turned out that I liked it this way. I had thought about it but I figured that as you said everyone would know who it was anyway

well, you get a higher vote from me then

Congrats for your first place, Locksmagic!

Congrats on the first place.

Congrats on first and second Locksmagic, they're both awesome shots

Congrats for 1st place Adam ! Excellent entry