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.
Story Behind the Photo: Niagara Falls
I have recently found that I need to be in Buffalo, NY, in July and plan to visit Niagara Falls when I am in town. I’ve been twice, once on the American side of the falls and once on the Canadian side. My first visit to see the falls was a few years ago when my husband and I ventured into Canada. Friends in Buffalo mentioned that the views were spectacular from the Canadian side, and they were absolutely right! I remember being simply amazed at the color of the water in the midday light. My visit last year to Niagara Falls State Park in Niagara Falls, NY, was at dusk to capture the sunset and the illumination of the falls. I’m not sure which side I’ll be visiting this July, but know that either will produce some great photographs. This photo is a view of Horseshoe Falls from Victoria Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
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
Story Behind the Photo: Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America. Along the Niagara River the forms the border between the state of New York and Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls is comprised of the individual waterfalls. According to the New York State Parks Department, 3160 tons of water flows over the falls each second – 75,750 gallons over the American and Bridal Veil Falls and an amazing 681,750 gallons over Horseshoe Falls. This enormous volume of water falls at a rate of 32 feet per second. As a natural power source, Niagara Falls is capable of producing over 4 million kilowatts of power that is shared by the United States and Canada.
Story Behind the Photo: Genesee River
The Genesee River flows through Letchworth State Park located about 35 miles southwest of Rochester, NY. Carving a gorge through the park, the rock walls climb up to 550 feet in some locations, hence the nickname the “Grand Canyon of the East”. There are three large waterfalls in the park, named only for their locations: Upper, Middle and Lower Falls. All o f the falls are located in the southern section of the park, known as Portage Canyon. This photo is of the Middle Falls, located in the most narrow section of the gorge where only 400 feet separates the two rock walls.
Story Behind the Photo: Niagara Falls
The Niagara River forms the border between New York state and Canada, and is technically a ‘strait’ that connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The most famous feature of the river is the Niagara Falls which is actually comprised of three separate waterfalls. The American and Bridal Veil Falls are on the US side and Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side. To view the falls from the US, you’ll visit the Niagara Falls State Park, established in 1885 making it the oldest state park in the country . Each evening, the falls are illuminated by a changing combination of white and colored lights that give Niagara an entirely different look. This photo was taken from the Niagara Falls State Park in New York with a view of the American Falls, a portion of Horseshoe Falls in the distance, and the skyline of the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada.
