Your Favourite Shot 2010

[casil403]

Okay time to post up! :goodvibes
Post your favourite image you took over the past year and please describe a few lines telling us why it is your favourite shot. :)
I look forward to seeing what you think is your best of the year! :highfive:

It can be your best for several reasons...your best technically or best just because it has special meaning to you...whatever the reason, it would be great to see our Ph.ca Member's bests of 2010!

[Marko]

GREAT thread Casil, I'll likely blog it once people put up their images.
Thx - Marko

[Wicked Dark]

Funny, I've been trying to hone down to an even dozen and that's hard enough. Not sure I'll be able to choose just one.

[Kawarthabob]

Ok here's mine. I noticed the heron from my bedroom window. I know from experiance that they will take flight soon as you are even seen by them. It was mid august and had been raining off and on all day. I crawled on my hands and knees across my back lawn towards the lake's edge and lay in a puddle before making my way onto a houseboat that was docked off of my property. I must have taken a good half hour shots of him/her walking all over the island. Shot wide open 300mm lens. It finally had enough and flew away after getting this

[casil403]

Wow Bob..that is pretty fantastic! :highfive:
Sometimes it is so worth getting on your belly and crawling around for shots!!!

[casil403]

Okay here's mine...It's pretty recent but when I saw it I thought it pretty much sums up the last 2 years I've had making a few major life changes, (starting and finishing school with an A+ average and a 4.0 GPA), getting past a big break-up, and accomplishing the goals I have set for myself over the last year. I am in a place where I am finally feeling confident and comfortable with myself....feels pretty good. But it was not without some Pereverance on my part which is what I call this photo:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5212594177_99c6523351_b.jpg

Nice thing of it is that I like it just as much in landscape orientation as I do in portrait orientation...thanks for that Iggy!
Btw...on the last day of my practicum at the hospital...I asked my supervising therapist if I could give a small framed version of this shot to a young man who suffered a severe brain injury from a car accident. I had been watching him put his life back together, learning how to walk, talk, write and dress independently again over the last 5 weeks. Such a kind and courageous young person.. who was having a difficult time being away from his family and friends. I figured this would give him a little inspiration when he was struggling...I put it on the ledge by his bed one morning and told him to stay strong. :)

[Iguanasan]

Bob! Awesome! Quite a story.

casil. What a wonderful story to go along with that image. :) You're welcome :grouphug:

Here's mine for 2010. It was hard to choose only one as there was definitely more than one meaningful photography moment this year. Passing By, however, was a particularly freeing moment. I described it my blog (http://eulothg.blogspot.com/2010/12/passing-by.html) and subsequent comment thanks to Bambi's nosiness ;)

I had gone to my photo club meeting and someone shared a video of Jay Maisel whom I had heard of but didn't really know anything about. I found it fascinating that I did many of the same things as he did when he was shooting. So, I adopted a couple more of his thoughts in my next photo walk. Bumped up the ISO to 1600 on my Rebel XSi which I would NEVER have done otherwise as I was always afraid of ruining the shot from a technical level, however, Jay's theory was that the moment was much more important. The result of freeing myself from that restriction is below.

10627

[casil403]

I really love this one Iggy...brilliant! And a definite favourite amongst your collection for sure!

[Marko]

BEAUTIFUL start to this thread. Hope more people join in!
Iggy love the story - Wicked good shot and Jay Maisel rocks. Just as an FYI because i speak French, Aigle means eagle. Some of Jay's words of wisdom include the fact that if you include a word in a shot people WILL read it no matter what, so make sure it counts and make sure it has something to do with the composition (as it clearly does in Iggy's shot).

I have no idea what i will upload....but i will upload something.

Looking forward to seeing more shots, whose next?

[Bambi]

here's mine:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4602488348_9c6b825021_z.jpg
there are a few reasons:
1. it was from a wonderful trip and including meeting Casil and spending a wonderful day and half with her
2. this shot was the first HDR I was truly happy with.
3. I just love this shot. when I look at it I feel restful

[Wicked Dark]

I agree, this is a good start. I've been whittling, sifting and I have it down to 12, basically and from that I'll try to pick one. The process has thrown out a few blog posts though, and so those will have to come into it somewhere.

[casil403]

Ahhhhhh....Lorette Ponds ....I remember that day. It was fun to meet you as well B and get a chance to show you around the hood.
I too love this shot...the water is so clear and green and you captured it so very well! :)

[Iguanasan]

Thanks, casil. Thanks, Marko.

I really loved that shot of yours too, Bambi. It seemed (to me) to be a turning point for you in your photography. It seems like everything coming out of your camera was better after that shot.

[Bambi]

aw thanks C and Iggy:grouphug:

I love yours as well. I think that whatever causes a shift in thinking leads to better photography- whether it's a trip, career change or lecture.

Bob- I love your photo and the story that goes with it. I can picture you.

[casil403]

Would love to see more stories and images so bring it on folks!! :D

[mbrager]

Lisa, thanks for suggesting this. Made me look back over the year and realize it's a whole year since I bought my 50D. I am annoyed about all the years I considered buying one and didn't go ahead, because now I can't imagine not having it. It has also been a pleasure to participate in the forum where I have learned so much.
This photo was shot on a lovely magical evening in July when I rode down to the reservoir and was hanging around the boat dock when two people came along and walked to the end of the dock to watch the sunset. Just fitting the figures in between the dock and the far shore pleased me enormously. I also love it that I can go back 6 months later and reconsider all my processing choices and re-edit any photograph, over and over again.
The best is yet to come I think. Mike

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5271871397_8e386e4d58_b.jpg

[casil403]

Love the leading lines and composition of this shot Mike. The reflections are pretty sweet as well. A beauty for certain. :)

[Marko]

Great choices bambi and mbrager!

[Wicked Dark]

well after much sifting and critical evaluation, I've come up with my favorite of the year. Not necessarily the best photo I took, but my favorite.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/5125288891_b224e8b433_b.jpg

It wins because it's technically good - well exposed and composed (I hunted quite a bit to get the right foreground elements for this one) and sharp as hell. Just look at how those birch trunks pop. The colors are deep, saturated and harmonious. I was feeling at ease and good with the camera, not bound up and blocked which sometimes happens to me. All around I think it's pretty stunning divorced from what went into it.

Also it wins because of the fact that I could take it at all. See, this year I was diagnosed with cancer and thought my autumn would be a complete washout due to recovery from surgery and/or chemo and radiation. It made a depressing situation even worse, but in the end I didn't need chemo or radiation and my surgery recovery was short and I was able to actively shoot in 4 weeks. The day I took this picture was on the way back from my first post-op appointment with my oncologist. One of many I'll have to endure for the next 5 years until I'm "cured". The doc gave me no reason to worry and there was a huge weight lifted off me. The day I shot this I felt exhilarated, happy and serene. The day was perfect and I was alive and well to experience it.

[Marko]

An awesome image and post to go with it! SO glad you are doing better WD :goodvibes

[Iguanasan]

Hey, WD! Love the image and absolutely love to hear that you are doing better! Good luck that you stay on the mend! :)

[casil403]

YaY Wicked! :highfive:
1. for posting a fantastic image...this is what I envision when I think of Autumn in the east...stunningly beautiful.
2. For the fantastic news regarding your illness. Great to hear and am glad your recovery is in full swing. :)

[Wicked Dark]

thanks guys. I'm not normally this much of a sharer, but I'm getting a little choked up.

[Richard]

I found it pretty hard to select my all time favourite shot of 2010.

In the end I settled on a portrait of my son, I guess its one of my shots that I will hang onto forever.
10660

[casil403]

Love the expression on your son's face Richard...a keeper for sure.

[casil403]

Bump!

[Bambi]

nice choice WD. I love how we chose pictures not just based on their technical merit but also for what they mean to us personally. I think it undelines the art of photography.

and I am so happy that you were able to emerge from that dark cloud so quickly! :highfive:

[Bambi]

Richard - those children of yours are adorable! such a great portrait that captured his personality!

[Richard]

Thanks Bambi and Casil.

[Wicked Dark]

thanks Bambi. I am glad, too.

[taffy]

This is my favourite..........

1. A place I love
2. I think I managed to capture the emotion of the moment if that makes sense.
3. The advice I got from the critique forum helped produce a better final image as my first attempt was not as strong an image, so I learnt something new

It now hangs as a large canvas print on our kitchen wall.

Taffy:)

[Iguanasan]

It is such a wonderful image, Taffy. Great addition to the thread. Cheers and Happy Holidays.

[JAS_Photo]

http://www.photography.ca/Forums/members/jas_photo/albums/one-camera-one-lens-one-photo-per-day-september/9340-day-4.jpg

[Bambi]

Jas this is a lovely shot- I love the detail, composition and background!

[Marko]

Love that shot taffy - what an amazing mood.
Jas - awesome sharpness and colour on the bird!

[Hillbillygirl]

Amazing work from all who have contributed to this thread so far.
I, myself have not had much time other than to pop in and take a quick glance here and there.

[Marko]

There's no way I can pick THE fave. But one of my faves is the ice disk shot that I took in November in Preacher's point in Banff national park.

http://www.photography.ca/Forums/attachments/f11/10499d1290840857-alberta-rockies-batch-2-dsc_1691-bw-embed3.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Cool idea! And very interesting to see what people are choosing as their favs for this too.

This is mine. Chosen because I really enjoyed taking this shot. I took loads of exposures for this one shot with the intention of blending them together but when I got home this one exposure was all I needed. Very satisfying.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4291954314_9c9483f477_o.jpg

[casil403]

Beautiful image MA...I thought it was pretty fantastic when I saw it the first time and again in this thread as well. :)

Marko...I was hoping you would pick that one as I think it is my fave of yours as well. I think it is bloody brilliant!

[jude01]

I don't think this is my best shot, it still needs some work, but its my favorite. I got back into Sidney late one night after dropping my daughter off at her dads. It was pouring rain out, and nearing midnight. I never have a chance to do night photography cause my daughter is still young. So I layered up, tried to wrap the camera in a Ziploc and headed out. All my shots wernt turning out and I was drenched, Frustrated I took a short cut home and found some statues. I huddled under a overhang got out the tripod and got this...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l189/selenaxrt123/Selena%20Rhodes%20Scofield%20Photography/statueface.jpg

[Iguanasan]

Very cool story, Jude and a really interesting capture... I love the light on this one. I can see why it's a favourite.

[casil403]

Very cool story, Jude and a really interesting capture... I love the light on this one. I can see why it's a favourite.

I could not agree more! :)

[jude01]

Thanks guys :)

[Donna]

Great shots everyone!!.... and so interesting to read why they were picked as your faves for the year .

[Michaelaw]

This was my fav from 2010. I loved the mood in the sky, the location I found the machine almost on the beach and the colours and tones I managed to get without using an HDR program. I also liked how I saw it for months before shooting, definitely procrastinated on this one. It was gone the day after I finally shot it, guess someone remembered where they left it? :laughing:


http://www.redzonefilms.com/pics3/earth mover2.jpg

[AcadieLibre]

Really nice shots and can see why people have picked them as their favourites of their own work. I will see what I have shot and if I can pick out one I like more than the others, although very slim pickin's from the past year. Great idea though Casil.

[Dusty]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5492910479_dbd7904e74_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60121534@N02/5492910479/)

I didn't take many shots in 2010 as I had just recieved my first dslr. Anyways, I thought this shot turned out really well for me barely knowing how to hold a camera :)

[Lizardqing]

This one would have to be my favorite from 2010 because I finally got to where I was understanding how to get some settings right to get the look I was wanting and it was a great camping trip with just my youngest son along the stream. Plus it really pops out of the black frame I have a print in, so much that friends thought it was on one of the lcd frames.

11476

[Gremlich]

My most favourite of my pictures from 2010 is the daytime London shot done in sepia, which you can see further down the page at this link (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f33/london-looking-towards-big-ben-night-13647.html)

With the exception of the little white car almost in the middle of the image, you can almost imagine it a scene from the Edwardian period.