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…

This year, I set out some goals at the beginning of the year for myself, and for the most part, I’m pretty happy about how those goals have been achieved.  I spent a lot of time in bogs and with orchids, and got golden hour shots from Wildcat and Pierce.  I got my Chocorua shot, and refocused on the Isreal River lupines.  Of recent, autumn and early winter have allowed me minimal time to shoot, but I’m hoping that will change as we embark into 2011. 

And with that, I present my Top 10 in chronological order!

Carter Notch Fox:
Early in the year, I led the high school outing club to Carter Notch Hut for a winter overnight.  We awoke to find this guy rooting around the bunkhouses for scraps.  A bit of crawling around at a low angle eventually yielded this opportunity.  If shot a number of foxes over the years, and this is definitely among my favorite experiences and shots!

Carter Notch Fox

Observing the Undercast:
My photographic life came full circle this winter when I was afforded an assignment gig with the Mount Washington Observatory, where I started my professional interest in photography.  The conditions on the day I arrived were perfect, and I was fortunate enough to catch this classic shot of an observer looking towards Lakes of the Clouds Hut.  I will be teaching a workshop at the summit in March, I’ll post details here soon.

Observing the Undercast

 Spring at the Heath:
The remainder of winter, I made some nice sunrise hikes, but most I want to repeat this winter to improve the shots.  The next shot that really strikes me from the year was this rainy day at Saco Heath in Maine.  What a treasure of a landscape this area is.  The rhodora was perfect in bloom, and the weather ideal for a spring shot.  Might go back here this spring on a clear, misty morning, but I love the feel of this one!

Spring at the Heath

Presidential Lupines:
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of shooting the Lupines in Northern NH.  The main area for shooting them is in Franconia, but there are fields of them everywhere north of the notches, and I found this one in Jefferson.  I had just about packed in for the night, and was driving back when the sun found away to light up the highest of clouds.  In my next post, I’ll highlight some goals for 2011, but I want to continue a personal project of views of Mount Washington.  Scenes like this are why that range inspires me so much!

Presidential Lupines

Dew on Grass Pink Orchid:
This is the second year in a row I’ve included a Grass Pink in my “Best Of” collection.  Simply, it’s a beautiful flower that grows in places that are so incredibly unique, that I cherish the opportunity to shoot them every year.  This was in the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog in New London, on a calm, still morning with a bit of mist hanging in the air.  The breeze of course picked up soon after, limiting opportunity, but I don’t think this one was to be topped anyway!

Dew on Grass Pink Orchid

 Sunrise in Prescott Park:
I don’t shoot many cultivated landscapes, but the gardens at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH is one spectacular place for gardens.  I had this week circled for a while, as it was the week when the sun shone right into the park, and was fortunate enough to come away with this shot with the sun rising over the water!

Sunrise in Prescott Park

Lafayette Pair:
I had a great overnight stay at Greenleaf Hut in August, and ran up to the summit for sunrise.  The color and tone of the sky about 20 minutes before dawn was really striking, and the ridges between the Franconia Ridge and Mount Washington had a beautiful warm/cool contrast in their gradient in color.  I feel that the peace of the calm morning that I experienced on the ridge comes through in the first shot.  The dramatic shot came an hour later at breakfast, when the warm coffee hit the cold air of the hut, and sun streamed in the window during breakfast.  Brings me right back to all the great moments I’ve had in the backcountry of the Whites!

Washington from Lafayette

Godrays in Greenleaf

 Hurricane Earl at Portland Head:
A dramatic shot of LARGE breakers coming into Portland Head Lighthouse is on my must shoot list every year, and yet it still eludes me.  This storm was no exception, as the waves generated by Earl just lacked the punch we expected upon arrival.  Fortunately, with a bunch of photographers there that morning, we found mutual inspiration, and I slowed down the exposure to capture this neat frame.  I like that it looks and conveys a feeling of power…without actually being all that powerful!

Hurricane Earl at Portland Head

Chocurua Lake:
One of the most photographed scenes in New England, and I don’t have a decent autumn shot of it.  And not for a lack of trying…I’ve been to the lake well over a dozen times, in all conditions, trying for the perfect shot.  And every time I went there, it wasn’t a place I could shoot elsewhere…so I was getting rather frustrated.  Finally, this October, all the conditions came together!  My Chocorua Shot!

Chocorua Lake

Thanks for taking this journey through the year in pictures with me!  To a safe, happy and beautiful 2011!

Sneaking out of an AMC hut is a bit science, a bit art, and still not the least silent. The hut is creaky, and through hikers sleep in the main dining area right next to the door. Outside thought, the world was silent, the wind had died overnight as Orion rose over the silhouette of the mountain I had to finish climbing. One false summit had me doubting myself in the race with the sun, but I arrived as an orange predawn glow was back-lighting Mount Washington to the east.

Predawn Glow Behind Mount Washington

As the sun rose, the ridge line to the south acted as a division of color between the warmth of the sunlight and the cool blues in the shadow. To the north fog filled the valleys…though none filled the Pemigewasset Wilderness spread out before me as I had hoped. Reason to return, but not to tarnish the moments of spectacular beauty as I watched the shadows retreat in the valleys.

Alpenglow on the Franconia Ridge, Looking South

Back at the hut for breakfast, I was greeted by eager hikers and hearty smells, and went back to work in the kitchen while the guests ate. I could continue on and on about how much I always enjoy my experience in the huts with the croo, but a last morning shot, through the coffee steam, should replace the words.  A fantastic morning!

Godrays in Greenleaf