We're happy to announce the monthly winners of our Photo of the Day contest for March, 2007. Here's a look at March's winners, along with some comments from the judges:

Portraits aren't always taken face forward. It's often better to shoot a subject in their environment. Here's a terrific shot of a seasoned mechanical repairman at his work. I suppose he could be a writer as well, but something about his pose tells us that he's not looking at the words, but at the keys down inside the typewriter. The lighting is very well done here as well. It could be natural light, but might also be a studio setup. One would imagine a typewriter repair shop would have tools or documents hanging on the walls, but the portrait gray background suggests studio. Either way, the background and even the man's shirt and the body of the typewriter were well chosen to both blend with the scene and help the highlights set the subject off in fine relief. I also like the man's watch, which you can only imagine isn't quartz. I'd expect this photo to appear as an illustration in the Los Angeles Times for a story on the dying art of actually repairing machines instead of throwing them away, or in a coffee table book. An excellent photograph.

Here's a subject that could have come off as contrived or insincere. But there's no doubting the age and sweetness of the woman, nor her appreciation of the cat. Even the cat seems content despite the uncomfortable position in which it's held. The black background is perfect, and the tones work their way in to the dark sweater, then to the cat, then the woman's skin, and finally to the white hair on top. The highlights are not blown out, which would have taken some planning; though the cat's eyes seem to tell of a wonderfully overcast day, perfect for defining the wrinkles while avoiding harsh highlights. This is a fine portrait of a woman well on in years, one who loves her cat. Simple and well executed.

Cobblestone streets, old concrete buildings. There's no telling how many generations have trod these stones. Here are two quite distinct generations looking across a short gap in the road, yet a long gap in time. One can ascribe all kinds of thoughts to the old man: "I remember," being the common theme. You can also imagine the next scene. Perhaps the boy will run to the old man to show him the object he holds in his hand. The photographer "burned in" the outside of the image, vignetting the scene. It's a good technique that better isolates the two subjects and gives the photo a feeling of age, or the sense that you're looking through a telescope. It also amplifies the sense of time's passage: Perhaps the old man is actually looking at himself as a boy. It's a good photo, with as much texture as emotion.

There you have it: 31 superb Photos of the Day, with 3 exceptional ones capturing top honors. - So what are you waiting for? That could be your photo up there this time next month! Dig through your digital shoe boxes, pick your best and join the fun!