Best pictures of 2011

<p>Here's an opportunity to put up your favourite pictures takne in 2011 - up tp 3 each. Personally, I find it a useful exercise to look back and evaluate what I've been doing. It was interesting to see Sanford and Anthea saying that they value their last session the most; the optimist in me also thinks like that, but I'm all too often disappointed by what I had high hopes for when I took it. Conversely, some pictures just grow in the mind with time, even if I'd not been keen originally. So let's see what has come to the top of your 2011 favourites.<br>

My first is one that grew; it jsut sums up so much of Scotland for me.</p><div></div>

<p>And the second has ambiguity - I hope!</p><div></div>

<p>And the third - very simple straight shot in wonderful evening light</p><div></div>

<p>Waiting for something interesting to happen at the beach.</p><div></div>

<p>Carmel Mission</p><div></div>

<p>ponte delle guglie, venice, italy - march, 2011 [olympus trip 35]:</p><div></div>

<p>sunset, yorkshire, uk - august, 2011 [olympus trip 35]:</p><div></div>

<p>fpp meet-up, london, uk - july, 2011 [olympus trip 35]:</p><div></div>

<p>E5 and 50-200 SWD..</p>

<p><img src="http://gmchappell.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Five-Best/i-PktLhbx/0/XL/P4307623-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>E5 and 12-60 SWD..</p>

<p><img src="http://gmchappell.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Five-Best/i-fDSLLZ5/0/XL/White-Sands-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>E-PL1 and 20mm f1.7 Panasonic..</p>

<p><img src="http://gmchappell.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Dallas-Museum-of-Art/P9121723/1004891321_NBsvv-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Ok, its taken me a while, but I've found a few that stand out from my shots this year. The first raised some comments about the composition - a couple of people thought I should have cropped it square to make it more balanced.</p><div></div>

<p>The second one I really like because it pretty much came out as I imagined or conceptualised - and that's fairly rare!</p><div></div>

<p>The third one I was pleased with because I took a risk and it paid off. I often travel by train, and have always wanted to be brave enough to take a shot when the carriage ahead starts to go around the bend, but I was always concered that other people on the train would feel their privacy had been violated and get mad with me. This day there weren't that many people so I whipped out and grabbed a few shots. No-one batted an eyelid!</p><div></div>

<p>A small boy helps his mother in making flower garlands. In his left hand is the long needle which can hold many flowers at a time. The product is bought to be put on one or other divinity (as in the background). Flower garlands also often decorate doorways.</p><div></div>

<p>All GF1 & 20/1.7</p>

<p><a title="girl in hammock by ko-knia, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6001/5911667672_f4768c09bf_z.jpg" alt="girl in hammock" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>

<p><a title="katoey (กะเทย) by ko-knia, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5104/5594065636_93d610bf90_z.jpg" alt="katoey (กะเทย)" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>

<p><a title="cousins by ko-knia, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6202/6081093215_4b159a9d7b_z.jpg" alt="cousins" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>

<p>Well, I got this one</p><div></div>

<p>This is one of my favourites from 2011.  It is a self portrait using the Olympus E-P2 and 40-150mm lens.<br><br><br>

<a title="Sitting around in Egypt by Patrick E Porter, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6054/6265552013_7987bd7445_z.jpg" alt="Sitting around in Egypt" width="640" height="486" /></a></p>