Post THE 2013 Shot that means the most to you.

[Colin Southern]

Some people might wonder about what we're doing in this thread. But for many us, perhaps, it's been something quite important in which to take part. And, again, for some of us, maybe we're the sorts who are able and willing to let our emotions be a bit exposed and feel okay about that. Maybe that's what brings out the best in our photography.

Anyway, thanks Colin for having the idea.

You're welcome Donald. I think it's serving as a timely reminder that as a collective bunch, we're a lot more than just photographers who produce the images.

[Colin Southern]

Ditto...here's mine



Couldn't do any PP cause the original went away with a corrupted HD.

No PP required -- looks great just the way it is!

[MajaMolly]

You have all posted some beautiful images that tell stories of your lives. Blessings to you all.

[chauncey]

No PP required -- looks great just the way it is

Thank you Colin.

[flashback]

This is my 8 1/2 month old Goldendoodle. Last Saturday night she started to get sick. She hadn't eaten since Saturday afternoon, vomiting and diarrhea since then. She's been at the Vet's since Tuesday and has been on IV for fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds. Yesterday she had exploratory surgery to definitively rule out an intestinal obstruction (it was neg). The vets (all 5 of them) were worried because she wasn't responding to the supportive care. Today she turned around. Two IV's, a cone, a 12 inch sutured incision on her belly and, when she heard my voice she dragged the Vet Tech down the hall to where I was waiting. This is my best pic of 2013.

[mknittle]

This is my 8 1/2 month old Goldendoodle. Last Saturday night she started to get sick. She hadn't eaten since Saturday afternoon, vomiting and diarrhea since then. She's been at the Vet's since Tuesday and has been on IV for fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds. Yesterday she had exploratory surgery to definitively rule out an intestinal obstruction (it was neg). The vets (all 5 of them) were worried because she wasn't responding to the supportive care. Today she turned around. Two IV's, a cone, a 12 inch sutured incision on her belly and, when she heard my voice she dragged the Vet Tech down the hall to where I was waiting. This is my best pic of 2013.

That is a good sign. hoping for a full recovery soon.

[geoz]

It was the last day of our vacation in Krakow. We were walking through the market square and happened on this girl feeding pigeons. Of all the pictures I've taken this year, this one makes me feel the best. (Except for the ones of my sweetheart. )

[rtbaum]

I may have taken better photos. This one is memorable because I had rounded the corner of the house, in a rush to cleanup the lawn before mowing, and found this Yellowthroat perched on the hose reel. It had clearly collided with window above and was clearly knocked silly. I coaxed onto my finger and placed it on a branch with the plan to run and setup my 400mm on a tripod and shoot, just for once, an uncropped image of a bird. The bird had other ideas, and flew from branch, landing on my shoulder. This presented a slight problem.........how to enter the dining room, retrieve my kit, and setup with a damn warbler on my shoulder!! We finally entered into a compromise and he found the lilac more to his liking; I retrieved my kit, setup the tripod, mounted the lens, framed, readjusted back a few feet, reframed, tightened it all down, mirror up, took a series of shots. The model decided that was enough payback for my concern for its well-being and left never to be seen again.

[dmtimagery]

Not too much photos for me as a beginner, But I think this one would be my one of my favorite shots, This was taken during Eid holiday here in Doha, Qatar wherein one of the locals pastime is having fun on sand dune area, Here, They challenged themselves as well as the power of their vehicle to climb up on the desert mountains terrains and steep slopes, well some made it just as they been driving on the asphalt but some are having hard time as they crawling and stuck halfway and literally buried their vehicle wheels on the tricky desert.

[NorthernFocus]

I had to think about this topic a bit and while I was doing so, some of the photos and associated stories that were posted were quite humbling. This thread I believe demonstrates the unique nature of CIC in that people feel comfortable sharing the things that they share here. After considering the challenges some of you have/are dealing with, I feel quite blessed to have had a fairly tranquil year in 2013. This was an excellent thread in that it made me reflect on that.

Ultimately, this is the image that I came up with. And the story is nothing dramatic. My wife and I (and our pup, Grace) spend several weekends each summer out on Prince William Sound in a small boat. It is a great way to see some remote parts of Alaska, to marvel at the natural beauty, and to partake of the abundant natural resources offered by the sea. That's where I make most of my eagle and all of the sea otter captures that I post here. But I have a tendency to keep a long lens on the camera all the time for those opportunities and have very few images of the sound itself where we've spent so many significant moments of our lives and our time in Alaska. During a trip this past summer, we were anchored in a particularly lovely spot and it was absolutely stunning weather (not so common in coastal AK). Paige commented several time over the course of the evening about how beautiful and peaceful it was. I woke up before her to a perfectly still morning with the alpenglow on the distant mountaintops. I captured the following image. Paige had me print it as a reasonably large canvas print and it now hangs in our home on walls where, believe it or not, we don't hang that much photography. For some reason this particular shot really touches her and I frequently catch her looking at it or once in a while she'll make a comment about it and how blessed we are to be able to live in Alaska and experience it as we do.

So this is the one for me from the past year. Simply because the love of my life enjoys it.

[Bobobird]

I need to think about this....

Btw - Happy birthday Mr and Mrs Mike.

[Downrigger]

This is my 8 1/2 month old Goldendoodle. Last Saturday night she started to get sick. She hadn't eaten since Saturday afternoon, vomiting and diarrhea since then. She's been at the Vet's since Tuesday and has been on IV for fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds. Yesterday she had exploratory surgery to definitively rule out an intestinal obstruction (it was neg). The vets (all 5 of them) were worried because she wasn't responding to the supportive care. Today she turned around. Two IV's, a cone, a 12 inch sutured incision on her belly and, when she heard my voice she dragged the Vet Tech down the hall to where I was waiting. This is my best pic of 2013.

Hoping for full recovery, Jack.
Reminds me of my all-time favorite New Yorker cartoon:

http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/It..._i8474679_.htm

[Downrigger]

Family- spouse/kids/grandkids. Had some health headwind this year but was back to smooth cruising in time for the annual gather.

[chauncey]

Mark...even taking off my shoes, I couldn't count that high.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thank you all for sharing these photos and stories - all beautiful.

My highlight of my year was to see my son married. After getting over the shock of the announcement - not that he was getting married, rather that I have a son old enough to get married and that I did indeed feel old - we helped him and his bride through the turbulence from the rest of the family of their decision to make it a small affair and the day they wanted rather than what the world told them to have.

The wedding took place on a deserted beach in Zanzibar and all along I had this picture in mind - not the best of photos (I had to be quick) but it says what they day was - theirs - and it was my privilege to share it with them. And Colin (thank you) didn't ask for our best shot, so here is my shot that means the most.

[Downrigger]

Ultimately, this is the image that I came up with. And the story is nothing dramatic.

And it's a charmer - I see why she likes it. It prompted me to visit your website and I was very impressed with your great collection of work there.

[purplehaze]

I hope I'm forgiven for posting two images. They go hand-in-hand.

I absolutely love the forest image, Donald. I don't presume to know all that it means to you, but I can guess some at least. Am very sorry to hear of Sheila's news, but am glad you shared it. You know there are many of us in this community who have been there and I don't imagine there is one of us who would not be prepared to provide you with support if you should need it. Wishing you both all the best.

[Colin Southern]

It was the last day of our vacation in Krakow. We were walking through the market square and happened on this girl feeding pigeons. Of all the pictures I've taken this year, this one makes me feel the best. (Except for the ones of my sweetheart. )

If I was that girl, I think I'd be scared of something "spooking" the birds -- I hate to think of the "coating" she'd receive in that situation!

Nice shot!

[Colin Southern]

I may have taken better photos. This one is memorable because I had rounded the corner of the house, in a rush to cleanup the lawn before mowing, and found this Yellowthroat perched on the hose reel. It had clearly collided with window above and was clearly knocked silly. I coaxed onto my finger and placed it on a branch with the plan to run and setup my 400mm on a tripod and shoot, just for once, an uncropped image of a bird. The bird had other ideas, and flew from branch, landing on my shoulder. This presented a slight problem.........how to enter the dining room, retrieve my kit, and setup with a damn warbler on my shoulder!! We finally entered into a compromise and he found the lilac more to his liking; I retrieved my kit, setup the tripod, mounted the lens, framed, readjusted back a few feet, reframed, tightened it all down, mirror up, took a series of shots. The model decided that was enough payback for my concern for its well-being and left never to be seen again.

Well done Randy - it reminds me of a time when I saw a bird sitting on a wooden fence as I walked by. I expected it to fly away as I got closer, so I thought I'd see how close I could get - and was very surprised that it let me touch it before flying off. Very unusual.

[Polar01]

Well I am going to take up Colin's suggestion and post the image that did not make it by a month and a few days. This one I called "Fire on the Mountain", it was taken along the road leading to Titus Canyon just opposite Leadville. What happen was I had just rounded a switch back and the hill was spread out in front of me, so I got out and set up my gear after a couple of shots I noticed that where I really needed to be was down there, way down there on the canyon floor. So I broke down my gear, racing down the canyon track until I got to the spot I wanted. Got there just as the sun broke through the cloud base and the top of the canyon ridge just throwing this beautiful light across the hill side, in less than 3 minutes total it was gone as the sun had sunk below the top ridge of the canyon. So to me it was the chase and capturing the light as it shone those few minutes on that hill side, I got my vision of reality at that moment in time knowing that it will never happen again and I was luck enough to be there.

Cheers: Allan