My Favorite Images from 2012

January 18th, 2013

I am finally pulling together my favorite photographs from 2012.  It is always helpful to take the occasional assessment of our own creative progress. The annual ritual of posting a “best of” has gone viral.  You might be interested in reading an essay I wrote on the subject several years ago in my On Landscape column for Outdoor Photographer on this subject.  I am pleased with the selection, which includes new Impressions of Light images, iPhone images, studio macro setups as well  landscapes taken around my home and in nearby Yosemite.  Since I started teaching private workshop sessions in Yosemite, I’ve been visiting Yosemite Valley much more often so you will see a batch of new Yosemite images taken this past fall and winter.

This year I have numbered each image, which will make it easier for your to let me know which ones are your favorites.  It will be fun and helpful for me to have your feedback.  I will value a list of favs, or general thoughts on what work you respond to the most.  After I assess your feedback, I will then make a final edit of 10-15 that are my top selects of the year.  If you have your own list of top images for 2012, please add your link in your comments below.

Regarding my private Yosemite sessions, you might enjoy seeing the Flickr group that I started for my students to share their photographs with each other:  William Neill Private Yosemite Workshops.

I look forward to your comments and favorites for my 2012 portfolio.

Happy New Year,  Bill

Best Of The Year:  An annual review of your images can point you in new directions of creativity

1. Sunrise, Santa Monica State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


2. Sandpiper at sunrise, Santa Monica State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


3. Oaks and sunbeams, sunrise, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/60 second at f/11, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


4. Poppies and Lupine. Merced River Canyon, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/32, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


5. Redbud, Merced River Canyon, 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


6. Lilies, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


7. Nautilus Shell Detail, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
15 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


8. Nautilus Shell, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
20.00 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


9. Stones, 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
3 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


10. Ceiling at The Tech Museum, San Jose, California 2012
iPhone,
1/120 second at f/2.4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


11. Sunbeams and Fog, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/750 second at f/8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


12. Sunbeams through Fog, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2000 second at f/2.8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


13. Rock Formations, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


14. Hostas, New Boston, New Hampshire 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/120 second at f/2.4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


15. Ferns, New Boston, New Hampshire 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/20 second at f/2.4, ISO 80
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


16. Elderberry Leaves #5, Ahwahnee, California 2012, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


17. Pine and Clouds, Sierra Nevada, California 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/640 second at f/2.4, ISO 50
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


18. Half Dome at sunrise, Leidig Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


19. Gulls at sunrise, Natural Bridges State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
8 second at f/27, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


20. Yellow Maple Leaves, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/125 second at f/4.5, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


21. Yellow Maple Leave Impressions, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/5.6, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


22. Oak and Pine, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/90 second at f/4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


23. Backlit Black Oaks, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/15 second at f/22, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


24. Bigleaf Maple and Merced River, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
6 second at f/27, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


25. Maple Leaves, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/9.5, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


26. Black Oaks in afternoon backlight, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


27. Merced River reflections, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


28. Oak reflections and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/2 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


29. Oak reflections, El Capitan and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


30. Willow Leaves, autumn, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1 second at f/4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


31. Oak Forest in Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/6 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


32. Oaks and Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/3 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


33. Oaks at sunrise, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L,
1/10 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


34. Winter Sunrise over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/3 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


35. Sunrise clouds over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


36. Ice Pattern, Merced River, Yosemite National Park 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.50 second at f/32, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


37. Winter Sunset on Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


38. Winter Moonrise over Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1 second at f/11, ISO 800
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

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Posted in Apple iPhone, Impressions of Light, Inspiration, iPhoneography, Landscape Photography, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park | 66 Comments »

Happy Holidays!

December 24th, 2012

 

Falling snow and forest, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington, 1996

Falling snow and forest,
Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington, 199

 

Greetings from the Sierra Nevada foothills.
It is Christmas Eve, and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
I am reminded how grateful I am for my family, friends,
and the beauty I see around me everyday.

Peace on Earth

Bill

Posted in Landscape Photography, National Parks, Nature | 2 Comments »

Oaks and Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012

December 6th, 2012


Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__0.3 sec at f / 22__ISO 100

 

On Monday morning, after a strong series of rain storms came the the Sierra, there was heavy fog in the Oakhurst/Ahwahnee area. I photographed this quiet grove of oaks. Here is one new image, made from three horizontal frames stitched together in PS6.

Enjoy! And let me know what you think!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

The Zen of Seeing

December 5th, 2012

Willow Leaves, autumn, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__1.0 sec at f / 4.0__ISO 100

Last night, I had a flash of memory about an early influence in my photography – the book The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck. I picked it up at a used book store during my college years at CU Boulder. The book discusses the concept of seeing and in the author’s case drawing, as a discipline by which the world may be rediscovered, a way of experiencing Zen. I realized how engrained this practice is in my life for the past 30+ years. Now I’ll have to dig though my office to find it, and read it again!My photograph here was made across the street from my home. It is a small piece of woods that I can see from here and watch every day. During this autumn, I’ve watched these willows slow turn color and thin out as leaves fall. Saturday morning, I noticed that just a few leaves were left, and NOW was the time to capture their beauty. They hung gracefully, looking like bamboo. I exposed dozens of frames, playing with shutter speeds and camera motion. I have many favs, but like this the most…

Enjoy !  And let me know what books have inspired your photography!

www.amazon.com

A Dutch artist offers his concept of seeing and drawing as a discipline by which the world may be rediscovered, a way of experiencing Zen.

Posted in Fine Art Photographs, Fine Art Prints, Impressions of Light, Inspiration, Landscape Photography, Nature, Nature's Design, photography, Sierra Nevada | 3 Comments »

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 22nd, 2012

 


Black oak forest, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful for all of my friends and family. I have so much love from my wife Sadhna and my two children Tara and Ravi.  The support and encouragement I received from them, and the rest of my family and friends, is a true blessing.

I am also thankful for having the great opportunity to share my photographs, and teach others what I’ve learned, and make a good living at what I love to do.  In 1984, I made a decision to pursue my dream of becoming a landscape photographer, and 28 years later I am still living that dream.

To all of you who have taken classes from me, who follow my photography online, thank you so much!  Your encouragement and support keeps me going, keeps me pushing myself creatively, learning and seeing deeply everyday.

Enjoy your holiday with family and friends.  And take a moment to truly seeing the beauty of the world that surrounds us everyday.

Peace,  Bill

PS.  I have included two new images from my new Yosemite Autumn series.  Please feel free to add your comments or share links to your images from this autumn. Enjoy!


Backlit oak leaves, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/15 second at f/22, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

Posted in Fine Art Photographs, Fine Art Prints, Landscape Photography, Morning Light, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, workshop, Yosemite National Park | Leave a comment »

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