A picture is worth a thousand words, and in the case of photography it is usually something or someplace real until manipulations or alterations have their crafty hands at play. This one is for Alpha, and it's a virgin shot of one very beautiful and peaceful place in our world. I dedicate this to Alpha because Alpha has impressed me more than once with wisdom and kindness upon this Renderosity Forum. Cheers to you Alpha, I know it's not the real thing for you to bask in the sunshine and swim in the ocean and enjoy the fruits of paradise in the real sense, but it was at that very instantanious moment that I took this photo, and if you let your imagination go, it can be a wonderful thing, much as the things we say at times that touch or teach us all in some special way. Enjoy the paradise, for all the "moment" of it's worth ;-)

Just noticed I spelled the name Alpha wrong in the heading,...having a bad spelling day today, please pardon my err ;-)

While not trying to deflect from the thoughtful, and deserving comments to Alpha, I noticed a horizontal line through the top palm tree where the contrast seems to be the right amount above the line, but not enough below it. It would look better if the lower contrast matched the top. Also, it that the real sky? If not, Id be interested in seeing how the real sky looked. If theres a beach near those palm trees, then that place would be most peoples dream world paradise!

This picture was a might HUGE, and when scanning it in on a flatbed I had to do it in five parts and then stitch it together in Photoshop. The picture also came out a might "dark" due to the setbacks of the scanner which meant that I had to not only lighten it, but alter the hue somewhat as well, which most likely is where that flaw you mention comes to play. I don't see it, but that don't mean it isn't there. I will have to take an even closer look. As well, once this was lightened it appeared to have NO sky at all which made it look rather bland which meant once more playing around with the hue only in the sky sections so that it would look as near to pleasantry as the actual picture of reality. So, I suppose this now makes this Paradise Place somewhat less virginal in the sense of the word "pure" since there has been some minor alterations for visual appeal. Let me make an adjustment and see if I can't upload this picture without the tranquility of blue peace. As for the beach, it is there, unfortunatly I did not carry a wide angle lens, hehe ;-) On the left was a beach, on the right a volcano, I wish I could have captured both for aesthetic contraversy.

Even though I couldn't see the beach, I could almost hear and smell the surf! So where exactly is this paradise?

Woohoo, I think I made some headway...some slight adjustments, only thing is, I still find the very top one more peaceful, and as I recall it being; must have been a cloudy day I don't remember, I thought it was always nice and blue there the whole time, hehe. Well, I must have also been tired when I did the top, it was late morning and somehow I thought it looked better, (on a peaceful level), than this, now I am wondering why myself, hahaha. As for where it is, gee, I was hoping someone would recognize it cause it is a popular place as far as island paradises go, probably one of, if not the most popular. See if someone guesses, if not, I will follow up ;-) I have plenty more pics too, some of the BEACHES, yay, LOL!!

Whatever prompted me to re-upload it so small?? I must be having a shy day...;-)

It was a sincere intentional "good feeling" I was trying to send your way Alpha, unfortunatly I kind of botched it up, hehe, oh well, I think you understand, that is all that matters ;-) As for where this place is,....it is the tropical island paradise of St. Lucia.

where exactly is St. Lucia?

...caribbean...(spelling?)...

Didn't Elvis sing about it?!? (",) (The King Lives)