Thanks Laura, for starting this great thread. All of you have been an inspiration to me and have certainly helped me greatly to improve my photography. This one is special to me because it comes from a long time dream to visit the bears of Katmai and it represents nuch sacrifice to get there.
I had a hard time chosing but think these are my favorites because of the innocence of the little fawn as it came out of the woods as I was sitting on my deck. It just looked at me then its sibling came out and they started playing like I wasn't even around. Got a couple shots off with my D200 and 18-200 before they ran back into the woods. Maybe these weren't my best captures of the year, but they are my favorite. Thanks for looking!
vernoinferno wrote:
Awesome shot Laura. There are so many great shots here I'm not sure I belong. I don't think this is my best, but its my favorite. This mother Sparrow was bringing food back to its young one over and over again, in scorching heat, and at the time, I thought it was sick, and felt so sorry for it, but later found out it was probably just molting. Anyway, I think this just exemplifies what mothers do, no matter what the species. Vern
Vern - don't think I have seen this shot of yours before. What a SUPERB image!!! It's so unique, different but lovely at the same time.
This community has helped inspire and educate me tremendously in the last year. Thank you all. It's been a while since I've posted anything, but I guess this is one of my best shots of the year, taken North of Santa Cruz, California.
This photo means a lot to me and is probably my favorite because these creatures are now almost extinct. I was so fortunate to be able to see this panda and get this shot.
Here are mine, I picked 2 (sorry Tony) because I shoot birds and mammels so I picked the best from each. I picked 2 shots from Alaska. It was the first time my wife and I have been and it was just an amazing place.
So glad that others have broken the single shot rule, because I've been agonizing for days about what to post and was just spinning my wheels! But then I asked myself, "why do I take pictures?" and realized there are three reasons: 1) to tell a story about animals and their environment; 2) to document experiences that are special to me; and 3) to try and express myself artistically. So, with apologies for posting three shots rather than one:
1. Telling stories about animals and their environment: cheetah hunting
This is not my best technically, but has so much sentimental value. I spent so many hours this past winter watching and photographing this owl family. It was the experience of a lifetime. This shot was taken shortly before the mother owl swooped down on me and whacked me in the back of the head as I was walking to my car. Point taken.... stay away from my babies. And lesson learned... owls only attack when you are looking in the opposite direction. The opportunity for this shot came when the baby while trying to fly fell to the ground. I was so close to him at the time, I couldn't resist taking some shots of him. I was fascinated at how whenever I crouched for a shot, he would puff himself up to look like this. Then as I would go to take the shot, he would relax. It was rather frustrating trying to get the picture of this behavior. And I figured since he was relaxed, I was no threat. But his mother thought otherwise.
A group of us started tracking ospreys in mid of 2005. Mainly it was Ken (fwyflyr), Dan (riokid), Jun, and myself. We spent many long hours at SJWS (San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary) waiting for the ospreys to come by. We took turn to do the "osprey-watch".
It was then that Ken came up with challenge for us - the challenge was to photograph an osprey coming out of the water with a fish in its talons breaking the water surface. The challenge was near impossible, hence the name - the Holy Grail shot! None of us was able to meet that challenge until the following season in September 2006. From here on out, the Holy Grail Society was born. By year end, the HG Society has grown to about 10 members.
Along with the osprey theme, MY FAVORITE of 2006...
Laura, thanks for getting this started and thanks to you and everyone for all the support.
Here is one from this Spring - Piping Plover during mating season - and it was a good season for the small colony here in Maine - Bob Malbon
Thanks Laura, for starting this thread.
Even though I have some nice bird images from this year ( much improved over last year--thanks to this forum) my favorite image of this year is of a dog---and I guess that is appropriate for me. And since we only post one image--this is it.
I have got a lot of pleasure from this image (and so has the owner of the dog).
Taken a sheepdog trial--this dog was heading off an escaping sheep.
I want to post two images in the worst way. Not because I have two that are stellar, but because I want to show you all how far you've all brought me. This forum, and you people, are more valuable than a library full of photography books. Plus, you're a great crowd to get to know as well. Thank you.
I've taken very little N&W photography this year. Most of my images have been of my new baby girl or my pets. Therefore I didn't have a lot to select from. But, in the spirit of friendship that is part of this forum, I opted to give my vote for the best Skoutas N&W of 2006 to MaggieBee. I like the shot she selected: http://home.earthlink.net/~sskoutas/images/FMStuff/ImagePosts/SSkoutas-20060811-0009-best.jpg
The opportunity for this shot came when the baby while trying to fly fell to the ground. I was so close to him at the time, I couldn't resist taking some shots of him. I was fascinated at how whenever I crouched for a shot, he would puff himself up to look like this. Then as I would go to take the shot, he would relax. It was rather frustrating trying to get the picture of this behavior. And I figured since he was relaxed, I was no threat. But his mother thought otherwise. 
