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William Neill’s Top Forty Images for 2011

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

I have just put together a collection of my favorite photographs from 2011. Usually, I edited this collection more tightly but I think it might be helpful to show the wide range of creative tangents I took this past year.  To read more about my perspective on the importance of annual assessments, I suggest that you read my On Landscape column in Outdoor Photographer: Best Of The Year - An annual review of your images can point you in new directions of creativity

To see my collection of images from 2010, see My Favorite Images of 2010.

Please tell me which photographs of mine from 2011 are your favorites.  It is always interesting to hear this feedback, so select your fav 3-5 images and tell me why you like them!

Thanks, and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.

Bill


Winter Fog and Oaks, Coarsegold, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/6.7, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Calla Leaves, Ahwanhee, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.5000005191107″ second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


White Orchid, Ahwahnee, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro,
1/20 second at f/2.5, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Clearing storm, Foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Madera County, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/3 second at f/8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Foothills and Winter Storm,Table Mountain,California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/6.7, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Almond Trees Blooming, Kern County, California  2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Almond Trees in Bloom, Kern County, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/9.5, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Buckeye, Foothills of the Sierra Nevada, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/3 second at f/19, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Pear Blossoms, Coarsegold, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/4.5, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Pathway and Pear Blossoms, Coarsegold, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/9.5, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Plum Blossoms and snow, Ahwahnee, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/2 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Pond and Fog, Coarsegold,, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/10 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Buckeye and Oaks, Foothills of the Sierra Nevada, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Morning Mist and Pines, Foothills of the Sierra Nevada, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/250 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Spring Oak, Coarsegold, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM,
HDR at f/16, ISO 160
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Roots and Rocks, Merced River at Happy Isles, Yosemite National Park, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
2″ second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Dogwood blossoms and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
3.0000010382213″ second at f/32, ISO 400
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Hosta Leaves, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/15 second at f/16, ISO 400
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Pine and Waterfall, Tioga Road, Yosemite National Park, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Rock, Water and Tree, Cascade Falls, Yosemite National Park, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/27, ISO 320
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Evening Light, Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/22, ISO 400
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Flower Impressions, Pier 39, San Francisco, California 2011
Apple iPhone 3GS,
2″ second
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Waterfall in Morning Light, Sierra Nevada Foothills, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/9.5, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Waterfall and Sunbeam, Sierra Nevada Foothills, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.5 second at f/27, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Sunbeam on waterfall, Sierra Nevada Foothills, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
2″ second at f/16, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Late Summer Meadow, Ahwahnee, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/8 second at f/13, ISO 320
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Maple Leaf, Ahwahnee, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro,
1″ second at f/32, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 

Autumn forest and slickrock wall, Zion National Park, Utah 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/1 second at f/16, ISO 400
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Reflections, Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/8 second at f/19, ISO 400
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Virgin River Reflections, Zion National Park, Utah 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/4 second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


River of Light, Virgin River in the Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM,
second atf/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Sandstone Sculpture, Arizona 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM,
3.0000010382213″ second at f/19, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Canyon Sculpture, Arizona 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM,
1.5000005191107″ second at f/16, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Slot Canyon Sculpture, Arizona 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1.5000005191107″ second at f/22, ISO 200
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Hoodoo, Stud Horse Point, Arizona 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/2 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Eroded Rock, Stud Horse Point, Arizona 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1″ second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Rocks, Stud Horse Point, Arizona 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
3.0000010382213″ second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Morning Fog and Oaks, Ahwanhnee, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
second atf/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Sandhill Cranes landing at sunset, Consumnes River Preserve, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF300mm f/4L USM +2.0x,
1/250 second at f/8, ISO 1250
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

 


Yellow Orchids, 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
2″ second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2011 William Neill

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Posted in Inspiration, Landscape Photography, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Resources, Sierra Nevada, Southwest, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park | 29 Comments »

Happy Holidays!

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

 

We wish you the gifts of Nature, and a future filled with Peace, Harmony and Compassion! 

Thank you all for your interest in my photography,  Bill

Posted in Inspiration, Landscape Photography, National Parks, Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park | 3 Comments »

Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness / Photographs by William Neill

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

 

Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness / Photographs by William Neill

Here is a great gift for the holidays, my Yosemite book which was first published in 1994.  It is now in its third edition.

Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness / Photographs by William Neill

From the book jacket:

This book unites the imagery of photographer William Neill with the insightful and thought-provoking words of Tim Palmer, bringing new attention and focus to Yosemite’s beauty, significance and future. The book includes 70 stunning photographs, a two-part essay, and informative photographic notes.

William Neill’s photographs, from sweeping vistas to intimate studies of natural phenomena, strongly convey Yosemite’s exceptional qualities. The collection is powerful, inspired from eighteen years of Neills’ residing in the park. Tim Palmer’s essay is filled with a deep appreciation for Yosemite and the benefits it offers the human spirit, coupled with a passionate concern for its continued protection and health.

These moving images and eloquent words provide convincing evidence that the preservation of Yosemite should be the foremost goal in our relationship with this astonishing, but small, piece of Earth. Only when that goal is met will we realize the promise of wildness in Yosemite and in our world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Landscape Photography, National Parks, Sierra Nevada, The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite National Park | 1 Comment »

Evening Light, Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2011

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__0.7 sec at f / 22__ISO 400

Later on the same evening that I photographed Rock and Water, Cascade Falls, Yosemite National Park, California 2011, I also spent some time along the roaring Merced River.  There is something magical about standing next to massive amounts of water thundering by so loudly that the rest of the world is drowned out.  The sky reflected beautifully in the rapids.  I made about 80 frames, playing with various shutter speeds and compositions.  I liked this version which shows the strong streaking and jumping of white water.

Enjoy!  Bill

See more of my Yosemite work, my PFD ebooks or new iPad app at my ebook store.  William Neill’s YOSEMITE: VOLUME ONE

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Posted in Landscape Photography, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park | 5 Comments »

Rock and Water, Cascade Falls, Yosemite National Park, California 2011

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

Rock and Water, Cascade Falls, Yosemite National Park, California 2011 / Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__1/2 sec at f / 27__ISO 320

On a recent trip to Yosemite Valley, I spent some time photographing waterfalls.  The water levels are still very high for this time of year, but they are down quite a bit from the highest levels earlier this spring.  I had been stuck in my office for far too long, working for about two weeks straight catching up with orders.  I desperately needed this water therapy!

I had the idea of finding some water details and abstracts here at Cascade Falls.  I wanted to see what variations I might come up with like the detail shown below using a fast shutter speed made in 2005.  I worked with bright sunlight again but doubted I had any worthwhile images, so I did my errands and came back in the evening.

These two image are of the same section of the falls, the smaller 2005 image being a detail within the area of the larger image along the center left edge.  One of the reasons for showing this is to show how vastly different two interpretations can be.  I also want to mention how much I photographed in both these sessions.  My long time friend of 27 years, Michael Frye, posted an excellent comment recently about how many frames he made to find the best combo of texture and pattern in his waterfall image: Why Am I Taking Forty Frames of the Same Thing? It happens that his photograph was of this section of waterfalls on Cascade Creek, but of Lower Cascades Falls just over the cliff from where I made these frames.  He made a critical point about why he makes many variations of one composition, with the same camera settings, to find one frame that stood out above the rest.  Even with the same shutter speed, each of 40 frames was different.  Doing the work paid off for Michael, and it will for you too.

I use the same approach, especially with photographs showing moving water.  Not only do I make many frames with the same settings, I also “bracket” my shutter speeds.  I have been photographing moving water for a long time, but I am never quite sure which shutter speed will give the best effect for a given scene.  I watch the water carefully, looking for prime moments of action, like especially high leaps of spray.  I make a burst of frames, and when I think I’ve caught a good moment, I’ll move on to another shutter speed.  For the Rock and Water image here, I made around 100 frames total using about 6-7 shutter speeds.  When editing my images from this one day, I had 450 frames made at several locations.  For each composition, I had to view each frame, with Lightroom’s Compare View tool, to slowly edit down to the best expression of what I saw and felt.  Each exposure had subtle differences.  The larger image was made with a 1/2 sec exposure, the 2005 image at 1/1000.  My point is that it takes this kind of extra effort to push one’s work to the next level.

One final note: I have made a great effort to avoid photographing icons and cliches in Yosemite for the past 34 years.  When I made this recent image, I was aware that this rock and waterfall combo had been photographed before.  As when photographing Half Dome, I could only hope to add my own creative take to a common subject like Cascade Falls.  Whether or not I have succeeded , I do not know.  In any case, I had a great time in my favorite sanctuary – Yosemite.  Let me know your thoughts, and enjoy!

To see more of my Yosemite work, check out my PFD ebook or new iPad app!  William Neill’s YOSEMITE:
VOLUME ONE

Cascades Falls, 2005

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Posted in Landscape Photography, Nature, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park | 21 Comments »

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