Did I really write "tomorrow" on Wednesday meaning that this post would be up on Thursday? Surely I meant "day after tomorrow" knowing that an oatmeal stout or two would get in the way. Whatever has happened, here we are with the beer portraiture category. Consider these:

Let's think about these for a bit and observe what makes for good beer portraiture. First, I like sharpness in a beer portrait. You are looking to explain or capture something about the beer. Look at the middle row, right. Everything is sacrificed to that lingering lace of foam. The same applies to the Magic Hat #9 photo - even though it is not straight. Then, there is use of the light. The New Glarus gueuze photo at the middle centre-right is almost faded, almost as misty as the hot spa waters of it's neighbour, the Viking beer photo from Iceland middle centre-left.

More thinking...

Then, you have composition. the photo needs to be well balanced. To my eye, the upper left and the lower right achieve the right balance, use light creatively and have achieved the technical skill of well placed focal point and focus depth. Lars Marius Garshol of Norway did not provide a capture for his image of two beers on a pub table near a window. Rick Sellers described his entry in this way: " Firestone Walker 12 - at the blending table for FSW 13 at Firestone Walker brewery." He has also captured an event that few of use would ever see. I react to each photo differently. The one from Norway hits me at an emotional level while the blending table picture interests me intellectually. I am going with the Norwegian. I want that beer. I want to sit at that table. Well done, Lars.

As with the other categories, the prize will be awarded as part of the final announcement prize-a-rama. Tomorrow? Beer and place. Definitely tomorrow. Trust me.