1. Related to the theme
2. Had technical merit
3. Showed that the photog. had seen something special, and had captured it with a camera.
4. Had a pictorial quality about them.
All of these photographs are worth a closer look, and the galleries of which they are a part deserve some of your time.
This may not have been your selection, but here is mine:
First, the Special Mentions:

http://www.pbase.com/pinemikey/image/71453826

http://www.pbase.com/atucker/image/55774590

http://www.pbase.com/xbsa/image/55403311

http://www.pbase.com/steve_nelson/image/72951986

http://www.pbase.com/drjaysel/image/63698895

http://www.pbase.com/harvey_wilson/image/85214779

http://www.pbase.com/wienerman/image/82409491

http://www.pbase.com/lambsfeathers/image/64876755

http://www.pbase.com/podroma7/image/84236653

http://www.pbase.com/chasp/image/84422534

http://www.pbase.com/will_d/image/75503925
And the winners:
In Third place:

http://www.pbase.com/ralphandkylie/image/75015059
In Second place:

http://www.pbase.com/terrybowker/image/68442848
And the winner of the 60th. Show and Tell Contest, who now has the pleasure of setting the theme for, and judging the next contest:

http://www.pbase.com/clyne/image/40473744
Thank you once again for taking the time to post entries in this contest. It may not have been quite so much a pleasure to face the task of judging it, but I have enjoyed my moment in the spotlight. And now I return to my former obscurity...