Ten Favorite Photos of 2011
Now that 2012 is underway, it’s time to take a look back at a few favorite photos from 2011. The highlights of my year included two trips with my husband, one to the Southwestern US and one to Puerto Rico. Both were new experiences for us, and both left us wanting more. My favorite photos from the Southwest are by far those from Antelope Canyon. While not the most serene to actually visit thanks to the many tourists and photographers, the photos from that visit amaze me every time I look at them. The expanse of the Grand Canyon was breathtaking, and I was really surprised by all of the trees and the surrounding forest. I’d always imagined the surrounding area to be desolate.
While the Grand Canyon was on my bucket list, I must say that I fell in love with Bryce Canyon. The intense colors of the hoodoos against the blue sky was simply beautiful, but the most memorable was the quiet serenity of our day there. We’ll be back for sure with much more time to explore. On a completely different note, Puerto Rico was a fantastic getaway, and surprisingly easy to get to. The ability to be in 2500 feet of crystal clear water in only a 20-minute boat ride was amazing! My favorite spots were the rain forest at El Yunque and streets of Old San Juan with the beautiful architecture and brilliant colors.
As usual, it was hard to narrow my favorite photos down to only ten this year. There isn’t really any rhyme or reason for why these photos are my favorites, but there is something about each one that I love. Enjoy the photos and have a wonderful 2012!
Upper Antelope Canyon, near Page AZ.
Kolob Canyon at Zion National Park, UT.
La Coca Falls, El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
Upper Antelope Canyon, near Page, AZ.
Ponderosa Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT.
"Garita' along the city wall of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Powell Point. Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ.
Agua Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Spanish Colonial Architecture in Old San Juan. San Juan, Puerto Rico
Upper Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ.
News: Photo Featured in Museum Magazine
Anyone out there speak Afrikaans?
About six weeks ago, I was contacted by the Editor of Culna – Magazine of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa, about the use of one of my photos for the magazine. Yes, South Africa, as in the other side of the world from me in about every way.
Culna is published annually in November and is distributed free to all schools and libraries in the Free State Province of South Africa, all museum patrons and is also featured on the museum website. All articles are written by museum staff members and the content relates to current exhibits at the museum.
My photo, “Scallop Shells” was used to help illustrate an article entitled “Skulp - onbewoonde huise van die natuur” by Ancilia van Staden. The article touches on the importance of shells in history and promotes the museum’s shell exhibit. As the article is written in Afrikaans, I only know this because I was able to harness the power of Google Translate to read it!
News: Now Appearing on Google+
Google+ is the hotest thing to hit social media in quite some time. Have no idea what Google+ is? You aren’t alone. The tech world has been talking about it for a while, but currently, Google+ is open on an invitation only basis. This apparently lets the brain trust at Google work through the details while keeping the new social network relatively small so that when it is officially launched to the public all goes smoothly.
I was lucky enough to be invited by fellow photographer Nick Chill, and have liked what I’ve seen so far. There are many similarities to Facebook in how things like photos and videos are shared. Like Twitter, you can follow anyone on Google+, even if they are a rock star. So with those observations, how is Google+ different and why should you care?
There are actually a lot of differences that make Google+ unique, but I have two favorites so far. First, on Google+ you are connected to people in circles. Just like we all have our social circles in life that might include friends from college, work and the PTA at school, you group your connections on Google+. When talking to college friends you may want to relive the days of your youth, but maybe not share all of those stories with the crowd from work or the PTA. On Google+, you can do just that. Thanks to the Circles feature, you have the ability to share and view content with different groups of people based on what circle they are in.
Second, the photo viewing and sharing features are awesome! Photographers especially are loving the ability to share photos and interact with others in different ways than other social networks currently offer. I’m still getting used to how to use Google+ and finding people to add to my circles, but really do like it so far. If you are already a Google+ user, I’d love to add you to one of my circles! Check out my profile here. If you are curious and would like to check it out, comment below or send me an email with your email address and I’ll be happy to send you an invite!
News: Final Photo Featured as ‘Photo of the Day’ Online ~ Pacific Sea Nettles
Today the final photo of four recently selected is a Photo of the Day for Light and Composition Magazine. The latest photo, “Pacific Sea Nettles” is featured on Friday, May 27, 2011.
This photo was featured on March 23, 2011, here in the PhotoBlog. ”Pacific Sea Nettles” is also now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for May 2011. You may vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, ‘liking’ on StumbleUpon or by making a comment.
Photo of the Day | May 27, 2011 | Pacific Sea Nettles by Elizabeth Brown
News: Another Photo Featured as ‘Photo of the Day’ Online ~ The Lone Cypress
As I mentioned recently, several of my photos have been selected as a Photo of the Day for Light and Composition Magazine. See the latest photo, “The Lone Cypress” featured on Saturday, May 17, 2011.
This photo was featured on May 4, 2011, here in the PhotoBlog. ”The Lone Cypress” is also now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for May 2011. You may vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, ‘liking’ on StumbleUpon or by making a comment.
Photo of the Day | May 17, 2011 | The Lone Cypress by Elizabeth Brown
News: Latest Photo Featured as ‘Photo of the Day’ Online ~ Goldstripe Maroon Clownfish and Anemone
As I mentioned last week, several of my photos have been selected as a Photo of the Day for Light and Composition Magazine. See the latest photo, “Goldstripe Maroon Clownfish and Anemone” featured on Saturday, May 7, 2011.
This photo was featured just last week on May 2, 2011, here in the PhotoBlog. ”Goldstripe Maroon Clownfish and Anemone” is also now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for May 2011. You may vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, ‘liking’ on StumbleUpon or by making a comment.
Photo of the Day | May 7, 2011 | Goldstripe Maroon Clownfish and Anemone by Elizabeth Brown
News: New Photo Featured as ‘Photo of the Day’ Online ~ Pigeon Point Light Station
Last fall I was honored to have several of my photos selected as a Photo of the Day for Light and Composition Magazine. I am excited to announce that several additional photos have been selected to appear in the coming weeks. See the first of these new photos, “Pigeon Point Light Station” featured on Monday, May 2, 2011.
This photo was previously featured on March 11, 2011, here in the PhotoBlog. ”Pigeon Point Light Station” is also now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for May 2011. You may vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, ‘liking’ on StumbleUpon or by making a comment.
Photo of the Day | May 2, 2011 | Pigeon Point Light Station by Elizabeth Brown
News: Photo featured at Reflections by the Sea
I am excited to announce that one of my photos of an Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly is currently featured in this week’s inspirational message at Reflections by the Sea.
Reflections by the Sea is a unique weekly devotional that incorporates coastal photography in its message. Reflections by the Sea is published in a local newspaper in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and can viewed online by clicking the link below.
News: Best Photos of JMG-Galleries Blog Readers
Each year photographer Jim M. Goldstein invites the readers of his photography blog to submit their best photos from the previous year. An amazing photographer himself, Jim does a lot for the photography community by helping to support other photographers through his annual list.
For 2010, the photographs submitted covered a wide variety of subjects, and many are truly fantastic. I am honored to be number 74 on the list of 160 participants, and hope that you will take the opportunity to check out the other photographers listed to see some really great photos.
See the complete list here and enjoy the photos:
JMG Galleries | Best Photos of 2010 by JMG Galleries Blog Readers
Ten Favorite Photos of 2010
As 2010 comes to a close, I took a look back at some of my favorite photos from this year. The highlight of the year by far was the trip my husband and I took in the spring to California. In a week we drove from Napa to Los Angeles, and I would have loved to have had more time. The scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway was simply stunning, so it’s no surprise that several of my favorites are from that trip. It was hard to narrow it down to only ten, and there isn’t really any rhyme or reason for why these photos are my favorites. There is something about each one that I love, so I hope you enjoy them all and have a wonderful 2011!
Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens, Santa Barbara, California
Sea Nettle, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California
Big Sur Coastline, California
Carmel Mission Museum, Carmel, California
Ice Plants near Pigeon Point Light Station, Pescadero, California
Harlequin Macaw, Sarasota Jungle Garden, Sarasota, Florida
Big Sur Coastline, California
Little Blue Heron, Palm Harbor, Florida
American Falls, Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, New York
Blue and Yellow Macaw, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Sarasota, Florida
News: Third Photo Featured as “Photo of the Day” Online ~ Ice Plants on the California Coast
A third and final photo has been featured online this month by Light and Composition Magazine. The photo entitled “Ice Plants on the California Coast”, has been selected and featured online as a Photo of the Day for Sunday, November 28, 2010. ”Ice Plants on the California Coast” is also now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for December 2010. You can vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, or by making a comment.
I want to thank all of those who have already voted for my previously featured photos this month, Turret Shells on November 14, and Scallop Shells on November 21, and thank you in advance for your support for Ice Plants on the California Coast.
Photo of the Day | November 28 | Ice Plants on the California Coast by Elizabeth Brown
News: Another Photo Featured as ‘Photo of the Day’ Online ~ Scallop Shells
When it rains, it pours! Another of my photos, “Scallop Shells”, has been selected and featured online as a Photo of the Day by Light and Composition Magazine. This photo was previously featured on October 24, 2010 here in the PhotoBlog. ”Scallop Shells” is also now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for December 2010. You can vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, or by making a comment.
I want to thank all of those who have already voted for this month for Turret Shells and thank you in advance for your support for Scallop Shells!
Photo of the Day | November 21 | Scallop Shells by Elizabeth Brown
News: Photo Featured as ‘Photo of the Day’ Online ~ Turret Shells
One of my photos has been featured online as a Photo of the Day by Light and Composition Magazine. Ironically, the photo entitled “Turret Shells” was just featured earlier this week here in the PhotoBlog! This photo is now entered as a contestant for Photo of the Month for December 2010. You can vote for it by visiting the link below and ‘liking’ through Facebook, ‘retweeting’ through Twitter, or by making a comment.
Thanks in advance for your support!
Photo of the Day | November 14 | Turret Shells by Elizabeth Brown
