My "Photo of the Year, 2008"

<p>Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have a POW thread. I don't always take the time to post in it but I always enjoy scrolling through. I thought it might be interesting to try and select your one favorite photo for the year of 2008.<br>

It is difficult to narrow a year's worth of photography down to just one image. As you can see I did not select my picture because it is technically or radiantly flawless. It is just a wonderful reminder of a great afternoon with friends.<br>

So let's see those pics... <br>

Peace and best wishes to ALL in the coming year.</p><div></div>

<p>She's too cute...and wonderfully captured. I'm sure her parents will cherish this photo the rest of their lives. You should be proud, Dave.</p>

Dave what a wonderful capture, I think technically this photo has many elements the diagonal lines in the back ground, blonde highlights in the hair, soft lighting. Many in portrait photography work a live time to capture such a candid and inviting photo.

<p>I was out last evening trying to get some good photo time in before I have to go back to work. From a distance I spotted this Ruffed Grouse. Working my way to the bird taking my time snapping photos here and there allowing him to get use to my presences. I was finally close enough and in the right place to capture this image. Very few of my wildlife photos get me gitty and excited to get back home and view them on the computer as this one did and that is why this is my favorite photo of the year</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/photo/8451168&size=lg</p>

<p>Wonderful idea for p.o.y. and a lovely capture! My choice isn't even a picture I took.. My friend took it with my camera though! I just did the minor touchup. :-)<br>

I chose this photo because it captures my wife mothering our daughter whom we adopted from China earlier that month (May), and reflects our daughter Hope receiving that mothering. She was found abandoned by a bridge with no information in June of 2006 in Qianjiang China sometime during her first year of life. She spent almost 2 years from that time in orphanages and then we got her. The two weeks we spent with her in China in May and the two weeks up to the time this photo were taken were some of the hardest days of our lives, but also some of the most meaningful.<br>

<br /> Recent news: Hope was blind when she was found (detached retinas from early unknown trauma). The Chinese doctors couldn't do anything for her and determined that surgery wouldn't help. We got her to a specialist here in the states who decided it was worthwhile to remove scar tissue to see if the retinas could reattach. Her right eye seems to have been rescued in the process, while the other eye is technically dead and didn't benefit from surgery. The doctor evaluated her healing process in August and was shocked to discover remarkable healing unlike he has ever seen or ever thought possible. Originally he thought she might gain some vision, like light and shadow perception, but found that her retina had completely reattached and is "normal". He sent us to an optometrist and had her fitted with glasses. The glasses have taken three weeks to make because they are so thick and specialized, but we get to go pick them up on Friday! The doctor said it may take some time for her brain to program the eye, but that she should gain fully usable "normal" vision out of her right eye!</p><div></div>

<p>Ian, that is an insanely awesome capture! Obviously super-giddifying! wow</p>

<p>Todd,<br>

That is a remarkable story, thanks for sharing it. Mazel Tov for Hope, your wife, and you. I am sure you will be seeing 2009 through new eyes yourself.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>Dave, I have no idea what my fav photo is, but my fav for today is this one. Gave his mom a heart attack.. lol<br>

<img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/family%20pics/daniel1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Todd, that is wonderful news: congratulations and best wishes! <br>

Terrific photo, Javier!<br>

In keeping with the theme, here's my grandson, Sid.</p>

<div></div>

<p>Todd beautiful story. All I can do it tip my hat to you and your wonderful wife for the love and care you have put into rescuing this little girl. I wish you all the best and hope she does well.</p>

<p>Javier, that shot is a laugh! Love it. I had to show my wife this and we both had a chuckle. Great!</p>

<p>As for my choice. I don't know that I can follow these excellent shots with much but will give it some consideration and see what I can find.</p>

<p>Great contributions everyone.<br>

Well, since I use my K10D mostly outdoors while hiking or fishing, I guess I will go with that theme and since Justin and a few others liked this shot best from National Parks Trip this past summer I guess I will go with this shot.</p><div></div>

<p>Well, here's my favorite from the year. I LOVE all the above. Todd, that is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing, good luck to your little girl. Happy New Year to all!</p><div></div>

<p>well, a quick look through all the photos I took this year (filtered by ones i flagged as picks in lightroom), and i came up with this one as my favorite:</p><div></div>

<p>Not easy, but a healthy exercise to do:<br>

<img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/257568689_Wb8T7-XL.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="685" /><br>

ME</p>

<p><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=4509288">Michael Elenko</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" title="Frequent poster" /> </a> I was not going to comment until there where more images, but.......<br>

<img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/bravo_thumb.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/fantastico.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>oh wonderful images everyone! Nice to see what images are making the list, and here is my image:<br>

<a title="Imported Photos 00545 by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Imported Photos 00545 by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2573524083_ab5251915f.jpg" alt="Imported Photos 00545" width="334" height="500" /> </a><br>

taken in with the kitten lens!<br>

let's see more!</p>

<p>Photo of the year. That's tough. I think mine would have to be something from the Cayman Brac dive trip. This one does not reproduce well as a small web image. But here is sunrise on Cayman Brac back in Septembe '08. </p><div></div>

<p>Michael, I agree with Javier! Can you tell us something about this photo please?</p>

<p>Since I made lots of completly different photos I choose a portrait of one of the many friendly animals that crossed my ways last year :-)</p><div></div>

<p>This is my favorite photo of the year I shot with a Pentax. Im photographing in a prison and the photo never worked for me until I went B&W and added some roughness to it to portray the harshness of the place. Ohio Pen</p><div></div>

<p>I will definitely pick as my p.o.y. this photo of my mom while on vacation, during a walk at the seashore. It was taken about 3 months ago. She is 94 years old.</p><div></div>

<p>Javier and Peter B.--Thank you for your kind words. Everything pretty much came together for this picture of downtown Seattle. It was taken in February during my commute to work. I was taking an alternate ferry to my usual one. The lighting and cloud layers were just right. Taken with a K10D, FA 50mm, f9.5 @ 1/250, ISO 400. The RAW post-processing was done in Lighroom. I adapt variants on the Dragon process, lowering shadows and dark tones while increasing contrast and brightness. The color actually I didn't mess too much with, our Seattle winters are a greyscale lifestyle.<br>

Javier, I like the shot of your son. You are inspiring me to do the same, but I'm debating the consequences of my wife's reaction.<br>

Somanna, I'd like some background about your shot. It is engaging.<br>

Ronny, Wow, that is one powerful photograph. The background and associated artifacts really make the shot. Plus the B&W decision was smart.<br>

Michael K., I'm happy for your Mom and you. She looks great. It almost looks like she is standing in front of a set.</p>

<p>ME</p>

 

<p>Thanks Michael, I should have remembered, you are the very lucky bloke who gets to ride a ferry to work. I love the way that glowing cloud layer seems to be just touching the tops of the tall buildings.</p>

<p>It's maybe not my best shot but certainly one of my favourites for this year. Taken with a then new to me 1000mm f10 Meade SC lens. I took about 30 frames and the gulls were flying around . In only one, I captured a gull with the right exposure. Some wonderful stuff everyone. I'll post some comments shortly.<br>

<a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp2857signedze5.jpg" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img src="http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4054/imgp2857signedze5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a></p>

<p>Michael, the photo was taken in the southern part of India, a region called Coorg which is actually known for its coffee. However, a small area is sutiable for tea growing due to exceptionally high rainfall. This photo was taken there during the drive through the area. I had stopped the truck to walk along the road and came across her and chatted for a little bit. Hence I got the smile from her!</p>