It’s that time of year again, time to dust off all of the photos I took this year and choose my 10 favorites. Before I do that though, let me wish everyone out there a Happy New Year! Let’s hope that 2010 is a hell of a lot better for all of us.

This year’s top 10 images are a pretty diverse group that really show how my photography has changed in the last few years. Once again I’ve chosen these photos not because they are the best of the year, though some of them are, but because they are the most memorable to me. Hope you enjoy them.

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#10: Kewaunee South Pierhead Lighthouse, Kewaunee WI, Shot 6/16/09

This image is a perfect example of not giving up on a photo. The lighting on the day I shot this was horrible. It was hazy, the sky was washed out and the light was very harsh. The only reason I took the picture was to have an image for the lighthouse collection. Once I began working on the black and white version though, magical things started happening and a nostalgic feel came to the picture.  I love the feeling of this image. It’s as if it could have been shot a hundred years ago.  It also brings the question to mind, “Wonder how the fishin’ is?”

#9: Bald Eagle at Starved Rock State Park, IL, Shot 1/31/09

What an awesome day this was. There were over 50 Bald Eagles along the Illinois River that day and I got some amazing photos of them. Of the hundreds of photos I took that day though, this one has always stood out in my mind. To me this image shows the whole experience of being there. Not only is there the eagle, but there’s also the natural beauty of the river and the woods along it.

#8: Hyde’s Mill, Hyde WI, Shot 10/4/09

Before I had even seen Hyde’s Mill in person, I had this image in my mind. I had seen pictures of the mill and knew that I wanted a sepia image of it. Luckily the conditions were right when we got to the mill and I was able to get my image. A lot of post processing went into this image, including the removal of two signs on the building. I removed them to help create the old-time feeling of the image.

#7: Unnamed Eastern Sierra Peak, Eastern Sierra CA, Shot 5/3/09

This shot comes from our trip last spring to my former home in Bishop CA. It was taken in the Buttermilk Hills while shooting the sunrise with our friend Kahlee. Once I saw the image on the computer I knew it would make a great black and white. Of all the black and white images I made this past year, this may be my favorite.

#6: Chapel in the Woods, Waupaca WI, Shot 10/10/09

Finding this hidden treasure in the woods was one of the great highlights of the year. Not only is the location beautiful, with a river and a covered bridge nearby, but finding it when the trees were at their autumn peak was awesome. I think Lynne and I could have spent all day here, but there were two weddings that day so we had to leave.

#5: Shelf Cloud, Kenosha WI, Shot 8/9/09

Ever since I saw my first shelf cloud in the summer of 2008 I wanted a picture of one. I finally got it on this day. I had tracked these thunderstorms all day and as they moved into our area I was ready with the camera. Standing on our balcony I captured shot after shot of the cloud moving in. In this image it is directly above me. A few minutes after this image was taken, all hell broke loose as 50 mph winds and a huge downpour pounded us.  I was back in the house by then.

#4: Lake Michigan Fisherman at Sunrise, Kenosha Wi, Shot 9/18/09

At the end of August and through the autumn months, fishermen line up along the shore of Lake Michigan trying to catch the Chinook Salmon that have moved in where the Pike River flows into the lake. I had a few ideas for pictures of the fishermen and this was one of them. I love this image for many reasons,  but mostly I love it because it reminds me of my dad. I can’t tell you how many times I saw dad mess with his fly or bait standing just like the fisherman in the photo.

#3: Burro in My Window, Custer State Park, South Dakota, Shot 5/7/09

The memories that this friendly burro left us with will never vanish. Lynne, Mom and I were laughing so hard at this guy that it’s amazing we even got a picture. Looking at this photo brings it all back and I have a huge smile on my face right now. We still joke about the burro rangers checking to make sure you paid your entrance fee
To see another view of this guy, here’s Lynne’s picture taken from the passenger seat at the same time I took this one: Lynne’s Photo

#2 Backlit Rose, Shot 9/20/09

I would consider this one of my top five photos ever. My mother in law gave me this rose to photograph and it was Lynne’s idea to put a flashlight behind it and light it up. I think we played with this rose and the flashlights for a couple hours. This is my favorite image from the shoot.

#1 Wildflowers and Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Shot 6/13/09

There’s one reason why this image in number one, it was shot on the day Lynne and I were married and my new bride was standing at my side when I shot it

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There you have it, my top 10 images for 2009. Once again Happy New Year to everyone and thanks for supporting me and SierraVisions for another year. You guys are what keeps me going.