Top 11 Photos of 2011…Part 1
At the end of each year, I take time to reflect upon the annual additions to my portfolio, and the growth I’ve made towards my photographic goals. Without fail, I always come back to an Ansel Adams quote during this reflection. An icon of landscape and nature photography, and possibly his own harshest critic, he once stated that “twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.”
Has that twelve image standard changed? Ansel worked in a time before digital photography, a medium that allows immediate feedback, and continuous opportunities to perfect a shot of the scene in front of you. Gone are the days of spending weeks in the field without any reasonable feedback about what you’ve captured. Perhaps it’s therefore easier, and thus expected that you should make more than twelve significant shots each year.
Beyond the number, I long dwell on the most important word in the phrase…significant. What does it take to make a significant photograph in a world where there’s so much cliche, where everything’s been photographed so many times over. To me, significant photographs capture a moment that others would desire to experience, and a photograph that brings the viewer into that moment. It’s what motivates me to be in the field as much as I can. It’s what my goals center around, and it’s what I believe my top ll photos this year capture.
It was a good year for me photographically, and for my psyche surrounding my art. I have recognized that I can’t be in the field as much as I’d like, and that I must maximize every time I get out. I’m thrilled with the quiet moments on a mountaintop or lakeshore where all that I pre-visualized unfolds before me. And I cherish the unexpected that can bring a shot over the top. Most importantly, I’ve grown to accept that not every time I go out with my camera will yield a significant shot, but that doesn’t mean I’ve personally had an unfulfilling experience. Any day spent in the outdoors is a day to be cherished, and if I can bring back a shot worth sharing, all the better.
With all that said, here are my top 11 shots of 2011…in chronological order!
#1: Spring Snow…Tucker Brook Falls
I had some great winter shoots this past year, but didn’t manage to capture the iconic winter shots I’d hoped for. So it wasn’t until spring that I captured what I consider one of my most significant shots. A freak April Fools Day snow allowed for the rare combination of open water and fresh snowfall. The snow in the trees was gone by mid morning, but I was thrilled to capture this shot of Tucker Brook Falls before it melted!
Spring Snow at Tucker Brook Falls
#2: Nodding Trillium…Epping, NH
This photograph, perhaps more than any this year, represents growth and learning within the natural environment. I had long wondered why the trillium on the Lamprey floodplain, near my home in Southeast New Hampshire, never bloom. Turns out I was looking in the wrong place, and wasn’t even aware what species I was looking at. A new species for me, the nodding trillium, was a hidden, unassuming flowers beneath the leaves. They were a challenge to capture, and I loved the results when I found an angle that worked!
Nodding Trillium - Lamprey River Floodplain
#3: Swirls Below the Pulpit
One of my goals in the past year was to carve out smaller blocks of time nearer to my house for photography. I simply can’t get away on a big adventure every weekend, and now try to do those at select times in Autumn, Winter and Spring. Exploring around my commute was essential to growing between big trips. I work in Bedford, NH and Pulpit Rock is just a few miles from the punch clock. It looked great after this spring’s incessant rains, and I was happy to explore the landscape routinely, even if just for a few minutes at a time!
Pulpit Brook - Pulpit Rock Reservation, Bedford, NH
#4: Alpine Flowers on Monroe
There are certain ecological events that I try not to miss any year. Instances like flower blooms and peak leaves might last only a few days though…and uncooperative weather or personal calendar can easily make for an sequence of unfortunate annual misses. I’ve not been up to see the alpine flowers on New Hampshire’s highest peaks in a few years, and made it a priority this year. The weather cooperated perfectly, and I was able to capture a broad landscape with the fleeting flowers prominently displayed.
Alpine Flowers on Mount Monroe, Overlooking Mount Washington
#5: Lupine Magic
This photo reminds me of the importance to take risks. The forecast was terrible, with rain projected overnight and through the morning. The lupine festival is not to be missed though, and I spent a restless rainy night in the car to find myself alone in a field usually filled with photographers at dawn to capture this special moment!
Magic Happens - Rainbow Over Lupines in Sugar Hill, NH
#6 – Nap on the Back
Another of my goals this past year was to make better use of my summers. It’s a season where I have lots of time, but little inspiration from the natural world. The sun rises early and fast, typically without much color or atmosphere. The sun sets late, and the days are usually hazy and without appeal. Plus, I HATE warm weather! To reach my goal, I needed a different subject from my usual broad landscapes. This year, I spent a week kayaking with a local loon family in early July, and they became quite comfortable with my presence. I love the connection of the loon and its mother in this shot!
Nap on the Back - Loon and Sleeping Chick
Five more shots to post for 2011…but we’ll save them for tomorrow! Then it’s time for some goal setting in 2012!
