Well it was quite a great contest. So many entries and good quality images at that. Now it's time for me to be totally subjective and please some of you and irk others...oh well
The way I judged was by scanning back and forth a couple of times throughout the set and just went with my gut feeling. I only chose top 3 because if I gave out honorable mentions there would be too many.

1st Place/Winner:Mingdie
Quite honestly I would never have guessed I would be choosing a color image for this theme. However, the image was absolutely beautiful,captivating even and did qualify as a blend of light and shadow. Well done!


2nd Place:Axl
Beautiful image Peter. Some drama and mystery in there. It was the guy in shadow that made it for me.



3rd Place: VaughnA
Beautiful blend of shadow and light. The tones were beautiful as was the nice bokeh through the window. Great comp and I'm a sicko too so the de-constructed baby doll works for me.


In order of submission:
rparmar-nice image. I felt it was a better negative space image. Subject a little too dark so chiaroscuro effect not dramatic enough.
Kryosphinx-I absolutely loved this image. Very minimal and geometric.
Mark Morb-another beautiful image. The blown out white of the wall pulled my eye away from the shadow play down below.
Salt Water-I really liked this image. Again it surprised me to like a color image so much. Shadow was a little too light for me in this case.
Ovim-Nice one. Right there in the chiaroscuro sweets pot.
Daacon-Dave it qualified and I liked it. One problem was the bright whiteness of the tree distracted me from the nice shadow it caused on the snow.
RamseyBuckeye-Another color image that fit theme well. I can almost see an eye in the cloud to the left of the ferris wheel watching
jmschrei-nice moody image.
Stratman-nice image. Shadow and light were too distinct. They need to merge at some key point to achieve the effect best.
Wllm-On another day this image might have been in this top 3. Could have easily.
virgilr-beautiful shading and texture. A bit too high key for me on this challenge. Nice image.
Tamia-excellent comp and geometry. Nicely done. I like how it's 2 worlds-one inside of shadow and another one in light.
JHeu-Who ya gonna call? Nice ectoplasm effect on your daughter
Voytech-beautiful image I'd classify as more of silhouette.
ArJay-Very interesting image. A little painterly.
Casil403-Lisa quite a beautiful image-excellent symmetry.
Bramela-excellent photo Bruce. I really like it. Great for relaxing to.
Woof-another beauty that could have easily won if the competition wasn't as good as it was. Nicely done.
smf-nice assymetry and geometry.
xs400-nice image Frank. Can feel some whimsy in it.
clou-Michael-love this one. Great image. The compo is a little busy which probably distracted my focus from the chiaroscuro portion. Still very strong photo.
spongefingers-damn brilliant and also almost made it in top 3.
robjmitchell-very strong mate. Was up there. Nicely done.
xhatnos-nice shot. Good lighting
Rense-another tough one to skip over. Very pretty.
mattb123-Matt loved it when I saw it a few weeks ago-still do.
sam1989-love the iron man surviving vat of acid thingie...

Folks really great challenge and so many fine images-well done. Mingdie please choose a topic and start the next one.

[wllm]

Mark you did a hell of a job, judging this challenge, thanks for that, very well done.
All winners congrats, you deserved it.
I believe that the quality of the submitted images was very high.

[ovim]

Thanks Mark for judging and congrats to Mingdie Axl and VaughnA!

[woof]

Congrats to the winners, and thanks Mark for the subject/judging - well done ALL!

woof!

[casil403]

Mark I didn't envy you for having to judge this...some of the very best entries I've ever seen in one of these challenges! Consistent top shelf photography everybody.
Thanks for doing a fabulous job and congrats to the top 3.

[Tamia]

Thanks for a great competition, Mark, and an excellent job judging -- glad it wasn't me! I concur with Wllm and Lisa, that the quality of entries was super. Congratulations to the winners!

[virgilr]

Kudos to the winners- a tough one to judge, Mark!

[mingdie]

Wow thank you bbluesman and congrats to the other winners. That came as a surprice with so many good entries. I will come back with a new theme in a day.

In relation to my entry. I am lucky to have spent a couple of weeks working in Tahiti and if there ever was a paradise on earth thats it. If you ever get a chans to visit don't hesitate.

[Clou]

Congratulations to the winners!

Mark, thanks for judging. Your choice is spot on in a difficult competition.

[Iris]

Great contest, with great pictures.
I enjoyed it very much
Good judging Mark, congratulations to the winners.

[Rense]

Congrats to the winners!
Good job judging Mark!

[ramseybuckeye]

Mark, tough job, but you came through!

Nice job Mingdie, very pretty photo!

[jmschrei]

Thanks for an excellent challenge Mark and congratulations to all the winners! Lots of inspiration to try new approaches to exposure in this thread.
-Joe

[VaughnA]

Thanks for the great challenge and excellent job judging. And a big congrats to Mingdie for a great shot.

[smf]

Congratulations to all. Mark, thanks for judging.