Best Photos of Twenty Ten

To close out the year, I thought I’d take you through what I think are my highlights from the past 12 months, followed by the location, comments and shooting info.

April 26 – Vermillion Lakes, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Sherri and I were staying in Canmore while I attended the Snap Photo Seminar. This was taken on the Bonus Morning Photo Shoot.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 24-70mm @ 70mm, f/8, 1/50 sec, ISO 200, Gitzo tripod

 

April 27 – Abraham Lake, Bighorn Wild Lands, Alberta, Canada

After leaving Canmore, we went up to Aurum Lodge on Abraham Lake for a few days R&R and photography. I found the remnants of the ice a nice contrast to the deep green of the lake.

Nikon D300s, Tokina 80-400mm @ 240mm, f/16, 1/100 sec, ISO 200, Gitzo Tripod

May 21 – Bow River, Cochrane, Alberta Canada

We had been out and about for the day and were coming through Cochrane. I decided to go for a walk along the river when I came across some interesting foliage. With the half moon in the background, I blurred the leaves by putting them out of focus.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 70-200mm @ 200mm, f/8, 1/400 sec, ISO 400, Gitzo tripod

June 17 – St. John’s School, Leader, Saskatchewan Canada

I was on Darwin Wiggett’s Extreme Saskatchewan Photo Tour with Samantha Chrysanthou and Branimir Gjetvaj. During record rainfalls, we spent every usable hour shooting where and what we could.  We arrived early morning to this site and were really working it. Darwin light painted the interior while I shot in the rain from outside.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 24 – 70mm @ 24mm, f/16, 15 sec, ISO 200, Gitzo tripod, Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo, Nik Color Efex 3.0 for Capture NX2

June 18 – near Fox Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada

This beautiful little mom fox rushed her kits down the burrow and presented herself for a photo session. We were parked on the side of the road, just banging away on the shutters.

Nikon D300s, Tokina 80-400mm @ 400mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 800, hand held

June 19 – Farmyard, near Sceptre, Saskatchewan Canada

Our last night shoot on Extreme Saskatchewan. I framed the wagon with the moon in the b/g and Catherine Byram light painted the foreground. With the high rainfall, the grass was a brilliant green

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/8, 15 sec, ISO 200, Gitzo tripod, Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo

July 24 – Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, Longview, Alberta Canada

We are back out with Darwin Wiggett and Samantha Chrysanthou, this time on Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk. The Bar U is an excellent subject and we had a great time there.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 24 – 70mm @ 32mm, f/2.8, 1/80 sec, ISO 200, Gitzo tripod, Nik Color Efex 3.0 for Capture NX2

August 22 – near Carstairs, Alberta Canada

One of those evening drives in the country when things just go right. The light was fantastic, the clouds and scene were interesting. All of this, only fifteen minutes from home.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 24-70mm @ 45mm, f/13, ISO 200, Gitzo tripod, 3 image HDR set

October 3 – Sheepeater Cliffs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming USA

I spent nearly an hour watching this little Pika gathering his grasses and storing them for the winter.  No wonder that they are called the Little Haymaker. I kept low tension on the ballhead and followed the little guy around in the rocks.

Nikon D300s, Tokina 80-400mm @ 400mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1600, Gitzo Tripod

October 3 – Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming USA

This was one of the features in the park that i really wanted to see. I think that you don’t really get the full impact of being there in this image, but it’s a start. I already have ideas for shooting the spring on my next visit.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/4, 1/640 sec, ISO 200, hand held

 

October 16 – Sockeye Salmon Spawning Run, Adams River, British Columbia Canada

My only Coolpix shot in this group! I was out with Kelly Funk on a tributary of the Adams River taking pictures of the salmon. It was a truly amazing event. My P6000 is safe inside of an Ewa-Marine Splashix housing while I stand in the creek and hold the camera under water for the shot.

Nikon P6000, 6mm, f/2.7, 1/130 sec, ISO 1447

October 17 – Adams River, British Columbia Canada

I was up before the dawn (I have to be pretty inspired to do that) and was on the lakeshore before first light. The mist was rising off of Shuswap Lake and I saw this guy go by in his kayak just as the light touched the surface of the water.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 70-200mm @ 200mm, f/4, 1/8000 sec, ISO 1250, Gitzo tripod