First off, I want to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year. I hope that 2009 is good to all of us.

Now down to business. Do you know how hard it is to pick the top 10 images of the year when you’ve shot thousands? I narrowed it down to 27, then picked the top 10. Even then, numbers 9 and 10 were tough to pick. It could have been any of them.

I picked these images not necessarily because they are the best of the year, but because they are the one’s that are the most memorable to me. These images have stuck in my head and remained special through the whole year.  So here we go, my top ten images of 2008. Some of them may surprise you.

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#10: Fish Tug coming back into Kenosha Harbor, Shot 3/9/08

I shot this on my first weekend in Kenosha. I was truly amazed when I saw this boat coming through the ice towards me. I quickly changed to my telephoto lens and fired off three shots. I just love the way the trail fades back into the ice. It really makes you wonder where they had been and what they’d been doing.

#9: The Stealth Bomber and the Tall Ship “Windy”, Shot 8/16/08

Shot at the Chicago Air Show, I really love this image. To me it shows how far we’ve have come in this world. From the tall ships of centuries ago, to the modern technology of today.

#8: Fall Colors in Humbolt Park, Milwaukee, Shot 10/18/08

Of all the beautiful fall pictures I took this year, this one stands out in my mind the most. Maybe because the day had been so disappointing up until we drove by this park and this is the scene I saw from the truck. Or maybe because this one shot screams out “Autumn in Wisconsin” more than any of the others.

#7: Ice Tree on the Kitchen Window, Shot 12/7/08

This one is simple, I’ve never seen anything like it before. And it’s never happened again.  It’s truly one of a kind.

#6: Stormy Lake Michigan, Shot 4/13/08

Shot out at the Wind Point Lighthouse in Racine, this image has so much mood and feeling in it. When I look at this image I once again feel the bite of the cold and wind that was tearing across the lake that day.

#5: The Blue Angels and Old Glory, Shot 8/16/08

The Chicago Air Show was such a blast. I loved shooting all of the jets that appeared that day. But shooting the Blue Angels was a real treat. I had tried this shot a number of times and was finally successful on this one. This shot says it all, America Rules!!

#4: Kenosha Pierhead Lighthouse at Dusk, Shot 12/18/08

Of all the shots I have of the Pierhead Lighthouse, this is my favorite. I had scouted out the location earlier in the day and knew the shots I wanted when I got there.  It was cold, I was froze, but man it was worth it. The star on the light was an unexpected surprise.

#3: Canada Geese Coming in for a Landing, Shot 11/1/08

This was shot at the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Illinois. It’s my first ever action nature shot. Lynne saw the geese coming in. I quickly changed to the telephoto lens and fired away. Thankfully this image came out sharp and well framed. None of the others did.

#2: Winter Reflections in the Pike River, Shot 12/3/08

As you guys know, I consider this one of my finest images ever. It’s number two on my all time best of list, behind my Sierra Wave over Mt Tom image. There’s nothing else I can say about it that I haven’t already said. It’s magical, peaceful, and amazingly beautiful. I still get chills when I look at it.

#1: Covered Bridge near Fort Atkinson, Shot 2/23/08

This shot is number one for one reason only, it was shot on the first day Lynne and I spent together. A day that returned happiness and love to my life.

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There you have it guys. My Top 10 Images of 2008.
I want to thank all of you for everything you’ve given me during this year of change in my life. Thanks for all the encouragement and support as I packed up SierraVisions and moved it to Wisconsin. And thanks for your continued support of my photography, SierraVisions, and my life.

Happy New Year!!

Two days ago we had a lot of snow cover here in south-eastern Wisconsin. In fact, the average snow depth was 12 inches.  Yesterday we got around an inch of rain and had temps in the low 50′s. Today the snow is about 80% gone. The rivers and creeks are flooding and there is a lot of standing water everywhere.

The satellite pictures from today and Christmas Day, (Our last clear day before today.) really tell the story.

Here’s the Christmas Day image. Though there is some cloud cover, you can still make out how much snow is on the ground.

Now here is today’s image.

It’s pretty amazing how fast the snow melted.

Today,
50 degrees, foggy, raining, wet.
Thunder possible later.
There’s even Tornado Watches in Illinois.

The snow is melting…..

Fast!!
And check it out,

The grass is still green.

Scout’s happy, he got to poop in his yard.
I’m sure that folks that live along the rivers aren’t happy though.
The rivers might be flooding.

Tonight,
Winter returns.
Chance of snow, green grass turns white again.

But hey,
It’s late December in Wisconsin and it’s a long ways till April.
This little touch of Spring feels good.

 

Way back in April I started thinking about and anticipating my first winter living next to Lake Michigan. I sure got some strange looks from people when I’d tell them how much I was looking forward to this winter. But I was looking forward to it ’cause I knew the pictures I’d be taking. Well winter is here and I tell you what, Lake Michigan hasn’t disappointed at all. In fact, I’m even more impressed by her.

Every day is unique and changes happen constanly. The ice is always on the move, one day it’ll be right at shore the next it’s miles out. The ice shelf along the shore is being built and torn down on a daily basis. Then there’s the fact that one day the lake will be calm and beautiful, the next day all hell will be breaking loose out there. I am truly in awe of this amazing lake.

These pictures were taken on Christmas day and the Friday after.

These first two were taken in Racine.

 

These next shots were taken in Kenosha about a quarter of a mile south from where I shot last week’s video.  The lake was totally calm and had a layer of ice on it. Notice the colors reflecting off the ice. They were almost iridescent. It was so beautiful.

     

   

   

This next group was taken yesterday out at the Wind Point Lighthouse. We went out to shoot the light in the fog. But the lamp wasn’t lit and my shots of the lighthouse aren’t that great because of it. While we were there we walked to the shore and found these beautiful formations. But what impressed us the most was the sound of the waves breaking on the ice. The edge of the shelf is where the mounds are at the top of the pictures. The waves breaking on the ice created a roar that sounded like a jet engine. I’ve never heard anything like it in nature before. A couple times it was so loud that you swore a fighter jet was going to appear out of the fog. Wild nature at it’s most awesome.

   

We found this guy in downtown Racine.