I was hoping Laura Hughes would pop up and start the annual "Best of 2009" thread this year but she's running late so I'm going to get it started this year.
So, per our FM tradition I'd like to start this thread to showcase everyone's favorite shot of 2009! Please explain a little bit about the image and why it is special to you.
As hard as it might be to choose just a single favorite out the many you've taken this year please start off with just one. It's also a challenge to try and single out one shot that represents the best of 2009. Once the tread starts to wind down we can open it up to your 2nd and 3rd best shots of the year.
I'll start with mine:
During my recent visit to Bosque del Apache I was treated to a 30 minute exhibition by Harriet the Northern Harrier. I was special to me as I have never had so many opportunities to get ground level shots like this.
For me, it's probably this one. Ospreys have been on my bucket list for a long time and this year I added quite a few osprey shots to my little collection. I like this particular one because of the light, the background, the look and the headless fish.
Sri Lanka is a very small country but defeats conventional wisdom in that it has Asia's largest population of the worlds largest mammal! Heavy poaching over the past 100 years has decimated the population of tuskers and wild tuskers are quite rare....
This young tusker with quite an "attitude" was spotted at Kaudulla NP, during the "Gathering of Elephants 2009"
can only pick one!?!? Tough choice as I believe we have had a very good year for nature/wildlife photography here in Southern California. Personally, I was very fortunate to have several "first" captures. Even though this shot was not one of those but it is my favorite for 2009.
OK, this photo may not be technically the best, but it is one that I like a lot. To me, getting two mature bald eagles in flight and soaring straight towards me is special. Usually, I get excited and blow the shot.
Ken came up to Seattle on a whirlwind tour and tops on his list was a Bald Eagle.
My good friends Tim K and Bonnie joined in for what turned out to be a magical morning in the kayaks. We hadn't been on the water more than 15 minutes when this magnificent one flew in and landed right in front of the boats. One of those special times in the field when everything comes together. Light, subject, environment and great company. Good times my friends
For me I had to go way back to January to pick my personal favorite, Chad and I went to Iowa to the Mississippi to photograph eagles. It was -10 that day and we stayed out all day long with a lot of action. Lucky for us it had gotten so cold the eagles feed a lot. Hope to make it back there again.
Tom, I'm glad you posted that Eagle shot because it was the best one taken that day. I almost posted one if it perched and decided to go with Harriet in stead.
Ron, another fantastic BE capture for the thread. Your timing and processing on that one are incredible!
I will see what I can come up with.
