Ansel Adams said: "Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop. "
Show us your 12 most significant photos from 2009. (We'll hold off on 2010 until February or so; there's still time! Also, then you won't need to hold back a "best of 2010" photo)
You made that very difficult -- if you would have said "12 favorite" or "12 best", etc, it would have been much easier.
Significant adds a whole new level to things. (and makes it quite intriguing...)
That's a good question...what does significant mean in this context. I would guess it means having the most impact on you or the world. Which could be interpreted as the ones that give you most pleasure, i.e., our favorites, or more broadly important as photos that had an impact on your or others.
The dictionary:
— adj
1. having or expressing a meaning; indicative
2. having a covert or implied meaning; suggestive
3. important, notable, or momentous
Now the rest of the question is: what was "significant" to Ansel?
It was a fun task. I was just going to post the photos, but I felt compelled to say why they're significant, imo.
- trying something different, exploring new frontiers
- first blue. I didn't think it was possible. It also was a shot that shows me it's worth taking risks. I didn't have the guts to ask the ump if he'd stay after the game, but I kept thinking about it throughout the game. My husband told me to go for it, and I did. I'm so glad I did.
- again, branching out and trying something new.
- just a special photo
- just a favorite photo
- learning to see and appreciate things a little more out of the ordinary
- incredibly special -- made it onto National Geographic's "your best shot" website. 8th in overall voting.
- going after a style that excites me, yet I'd never tried.
- seeing something interesting in the everday world.
- even though my photos are usually strictly chronicles, I found that I can come up with something artistic.
- accidents and grain can be really cool
- the start of the bluebird craze -- before DPC.
- First nature shots (2009) that were exhibited in my town (2010)
- My daughter (3 at the time) colors eggs herself
- My daughter's first year in nursery school
- Captured a special bond between Great Grandma (99) and my daughter
- Took my first wedding photos for a friend
- My first trip to Europe: Freiburg, Germany
- My daughter taught herself how to write a "T"
- First shot with a monopod, and actually thinking about composition
- Just a creative shot
- Use of controlled lighting for a photo recipe
- Made an engagement book for my cousin (left)
- Experimented with available light, no flash
I like the commentary, Wendy - and I find myself a bit surprised at some of your choices. Not all are particularly DPC friendly, which is good to see!
Richard, you've got your calendar shots ready to go - mpix does a good job.
Paul, it's quite nice to see you're growth in skills and ability as the year went along. Also to see what the important things are - your daughter, for instance!
(I don't know that I could find 12. Either to cut it down to 12 or come up to 12. I think I'll just watch for now.)
Thanks Deb. 2010 was even better. But, I still lack the creativeness to hit the mark. :)
Originally posted by Melethia:
Paul, it's quite nice to see you're growth in skills and ability as the year went along. Also to see what the important things are - your daughter, for instance!
Let's see these ones represent an idea that had been in my head for the longest time and I either needed to figure out how to accomplish the vision in my head, conditions needed to be right or I didn't have the necessary elements at the time.
Finally experienced and captured the beauty of NC with snow
I am pleased with these gems:
- Three seperate days driving to the same location in hopes of getting/capturing a perfect moment. These two are a result of the final attempt.
- One of the easiest and best portrait shot of my youngest with use of natural light streaming in through the window.
- Another great portrait shot this time of my eldest - it is a gem for it was recognizing the candid moment while taking a break was far better than any of the posed shots earlier.
Here is mine. They are all significant for me, not necessarily my best work for 2009, but each one captures a moment or is when I was able to light my scene and expanded my skills. 2009 was a big year for me learning to light, so most of these reflect that.
Nice blog post Skip. I definitely want to start doing that...it seems I've taken so many pictures in the last few years, and I haven't found time to sort through and put the best in my master gallery. That was indeed part of the rationale for this post.
Great thread Neil. It was difficult to pick twelve. I realized that 2009 was not the best year for me when it came to images that I wanted to take. Here are the twelve that I came up with:
I learned to create shapes with the body that were interesting and flattering. Great learning session with this woman. Also got me to work out more. :O)
Was published in a National Geographic childrens book
First wedding where I felt very comfortable with off camera flash, and actually enjoyed using it.
Published image....learned to look for lines and curves, without showing any nudity.
Sister works for Getty Images, and highly praised this image for its technical and artistic merit. Felt good to have a great critique from someone who critiques images for a living.
Really enjoyed the lighting I created in the studio.
Makes me still smile today when I look at this image.
Created an entire different mood because of textures. Started to explore textures more.
Got a new puppy last year, she is wonderful.
Picture of my youngest daughter....she never lets me create a photograph with her....but his time she did.
My amazing dad who turned 80 last year.
First time in Hawaii on a fantastic family vacation.
Laurelindórinan (Land of the Valley of Singing Gold) - A beautiful falls, and a serrendepitous Find on my way to Kaaterskill!
Black Pearl - A beautiful falls (Corbett's Glen) in Rochester--it's now a must go for me if I'm in Rochester. I had a number I loved from this session, but I particularly like the point of view and the BW processing on this
Spinning Gold - A beautiful falls, long exposure to capture the swirl captured well despite the sun in the frame! (Also Corbett's Glen)
Lost Souls - I titled this after the strong "supernatural" feeling it gave me...I can imagine a dead soldier on the train to the hereafter. (My imagination of course, its pretty obvious he's not a soldier!) I really love this shot, and I won a nice P&S camera with it too on SOAPhoto.
Blue Petal Diner - An accomplishment for me to get a good bug macro (and of course, I really like it). Won second place at Betterphoto too!
Hurricane Flora - Blurry but with an orgainzed feel
You Never Give Me Your Monet - Blurry with a disoganized feel; with the blur and soft tones, to me it seems very impressionistic.
Main Cast of Charlie Brown - A fun cast shoot that turned out so well I made it the cover of the book of photos (which got raves)
Trails of Time and Space - Another blur...this one doesn't even look like its time/motion blurred, but it is.
High School Musical - A live cast shoot of High School Musical during a dress rehearsal, this was in the Schenectady Gazette!
Autumn Bash - My first time to this beautiful place (Bash Bish Falls); I just love the feel of this, and had a great day of shooting with Scalvert there.
Riverdance - I just love the feel of this. My first time to this beautiful area, with a large falls and rushing water--right in the middle of downtown Troy, NY!
Home......
Simplicity....
Beautiful...
Majestic....
Love this picture....
Rich, deep colors....
Spiritual...
Love the abstract in this....
Surprise...
Tranquility...
My backyard...
Aged and dieing....
In 2009, by participating in side challenges here, I got so far outside my box it felt like an escape. These 2 groups of photos represent the most significant thing about my work in 2009--FUN!
