In the review of my photography from this past year to put together this ‘Top Ten Blog,’ I began to realize that my favorite images from the past year were also some of the most peaceful, quiet and serene moments that I personally experienced. Twenty twelve was a chaotic year, with disasters and tragedy that hit far too close to home, and my time spent ‘working’ on my photography provided a opportunity for balance, contemplation and perhaps temporary escape.

It’s my sincere hope that some of the peace and serenity that I felt while capturing these images is conveyed to you when viewing my images.

The Top Ten of 2012, in Chronological Order…

#1: Frigid Bridge…North Conway, NH
After shooting sunrise from an overlook a few miles away, I moved down to the river, where mist was rising thick that morning. Temperatures hovered in the negative single digits, but the sun adds a warm glow to this otherwise cold scene.

#2: Sunset From Owls Head…Jefferson, NH
I was initially disappointed that my second sunset hike up to Owls Head in less than a month ended without alpenglow on the distant ranges, but the light after sunset really lit up the sky above the Presidential Range. This remains one of my favorite views of the western slopes of Washington.

#3: Mount Washington Hotel at Dusk…Bretton Woods, NH
I had set up my camera to capture a panorama from Bethlehem, NH, but the light never came. This vantage from Bretton Woods was plan ‘B’ for the evening, but turned out to be the far best option, and some great conditions during blue hour!

#4: Pile of Tired Kits…Connecticut River Valley, NH
I was fortunate to spend an entire day at a fox den this spring, observing the behavior of the kits as they played, wrestled and slept. Mostly slept. It’s the first time I enjoyed watching ‘fox snooze’…

5: First Stretch…Undisclosed Lake, Southern NH
I grow less and less fond of the summer heat every year, and have put aside my love of hiking for some time in the kayak the past few summers. The loons in New England have been having decreasing success fledging chicks, but this family was successful this year with BOTH!

#6: Summer at Portland Head…Cape Elizabeth, ME
The forecast for a departing storm, high tide and large waves drew me to this New England iconic location in late June. The sun rises far enough north on the horizon to light up ‘the other side’ of the view from the classic shots here…and I really liked hot the sun lit up the cliff face!

#7: Into the Northern Light…Chocorua, NH
Originally, I preferred another shot from this special night mid summer when the Aurora danced overhead, but this shot of the car heading towards the light grew on me. I wonder if they even knew…

#8: Sugarloaf Reflection…Zealand, NH
Nothing better than a cool misty morning in autumn, watching the color light up on distant peaks. Perhaps my favorite morning of the year…

9: Iron Mountain Autumn Pano…Jackson, NH
A light snowfall coated the highest peaks of the White Mountains, while peak foliage blazed below. I used to live at the other end of this road, and had long dreamed of conditions like this…I was thrilled that they all came together this morning.

10: Christmas in New Hampshire…Stark, NH
I’ve learned that Christmas Lights look their best both when it’s snowing, and during blue hour, which is a misnomer, as the blue light really only lasts for about 20 minutes. Nonetheless, everything came together for me a few days ago at one of the most quintessential New England villages. Capturing this made the 250 mile round trip in the storm more than worth it!

Thanks for following along with me this year, and I’m very much looking forward to new work and new experiences in twenty thirteen!

Happy New Year!

_______________
Note: Higher resolution images can be found on my Facebook page…

The influx of owls has been well documented both around New England, and around the nation, and these birds have been garnering a ton of attention. I was fortunate to get some shots of the birds at Hampton Beach before they became an attraction, as getting a shot going forward is going to become increasingly difficult due to the crowds of observers.

Owl on a Distant Rooftop from Hampton Beach

Wildlife photography is a touchy thing. It required a large amount of time, a great deal of patience, and some rather specialized equipment. The less specialized your equipment, the more time and patience you need to get the shot. You have to slowly earn an animals trust, and move slowly in until you get the shot, being careful never to cause the animal any stress. I’ve been putting in the time for sure, probably gaining about two dozen trips to see the owls, and witnessing some great behavior…hunting, resting, flying and once witnessed two owls sparring mid air.

However, with other folks around, I generally consider it rude to slide in towards the owl while others are enjoying the sight of it, or getting their shots with far more specialized glass. This has limited my ability to get shots, and has honestly changed my mindset when visiting the birds, back to the purest form of being a naturalist. I’ve been observing, watching, asking questions, and getting great answers from the more experienced birders in the state, who are there every weekend.

Watching and experiencing nature is why I became a photographer, as I wanted to share and inspire and protect. Some experiences are tough to share, but are the type of experiences that have been instrumental and formative in my desire to photograph. Perhaps, it’s important for everyone to know that as well as my photographs convey an approximate reality, there’s nothing like being there yourself!

Here’s the truth to these classic New England scenes. They aren’t ever truly perfect. Photography in winter, like any season, is finding the best conditions possible, and making them work for the scene.

When you arrive at your nearly perfect scene, the challenge becomes not screwing it up while scouting it. It’s different than in summer, in summer you can walk almost anywhere without leaving much of a trace. Winter records your every move. Move into a scene too fast, want to move back, your shot has a trace of you in it. It’s no longer pristine. No longer perfect.

I tend to work a winter scene in large arcs. Finding every distant angle for a shot before exploring in closer. I make sure that everyone else in my party is done with a scene before moving in, just as a courtesy. I creep inwards methodically, exploring any opportunity for a composition. Winter shooting takes patience. There is no eraser. And when I’m done, all to often, so is the perfect scene. Winter’s beauty is fleeting…

And thus I present this morning’s scene in three acts. The wide scouting arc. The scene. The aftermath.

Scouting the Scene on the Riverbank...

The Scene...Hoar Frost on the Lamprey River

The Aftermath...