2011 Firsts and Favorites

My top twelve (13) of 2011

Linda Lantzy~Idaho Scenic Images

Firsts and Favorites

Every year many photographers do a post on their top images from the previous year.
It's fun to look back on what you've done in the year,
but incredibly hard to narrow down your images to just a few.  These may not be my best images, but as usual, I seem to like the ones that I have a personal connection to.

Photography to me, is very much about exploring new places and having new experiences.

It is mainly those experiences that will elevate an image to make my top list of the year, and so as I've traveled this year, many of my favorites are not just from Idaho locations.

In January, a trip to Bellingham, Washington where I would leave my son to embark on the next stage of his life. Not really knowing what lie ahead, this predawn shot of the Bellingham pier reflects the transition and reflective mood I was feeling at the time.

My first visit to Rowena Dell in Oregon, and even though the flowers were dancing in the wind, I really like this scene.

Representing my favorite season, this autumn trail in Zion National Park was a very slow walk for me, as I had to stop and photograph each new bend in the trail.

Taken the day of the eathquake in Japan, a world away on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, ID. I was thinking a lot about what was going on in Japan. I titled this image "Hope" and donated profits from the sale of this print to The Red Cross relief efforts.

A perfect spring evening that me and my dog sat amongst the lupine on Steptoe Butte,
waiting for Sunset on the Palouse.

 Arriving mid day at this popular photo spot in Grand Teton National Park,
I didn't expect to photograph at all. A steady stream of photographers were leaving as the rain started coming down. I decided to walk out to the ponds anyway, and after a short wait under a tree, it stopped raining and I had the place all to myself.

Standing amongst thousands of daisies in the pink morning light as the sun and mist rose above the Snake River in Island Park, Idaho. An amazingly beautiful place to start a day.

I love places like this. These rain water pools on the Arizona Strip could have entertained me for hours...even though I'd never seen the Grand Canyon only minutes away.

Silver Creek in the Central Cascades of Washington state slides through lush green forests and represents my love of the creeks and trees of the Pacific Northwest.

First time I've attended a balloon festival. Something that has long been on my to do list. Prosser Balloon Rally.

The first time I ever camped by myself. Pre dawn light over a pond on the Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Preserve in Southwest Montana.
I listened to coyotes howl and discovered my own independence.

Frozen frost covered trees along the Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington.
An atmospheric scene of calm and cold.

 A Sandstone puzzle on the rim of the Grand Canyon.

My first visit with some great memories created.

OMGosh that was hard!

Pilings or No Pilings?

~A Photographers Perspective~
As controversy and litigation surround the removal of pilings on Cougar Bay, of Lake Coeur d'Alene; fighting over Osprey habitat and motorboats, of which I thought I had no opinion....my thoughts turn to all the photographs I have taken over the years in our piling filled bays.



Silver Solitude (Cougar Bay)



Wolf Lodge Sunset



Cougar Bay Shallows



How those same pilings have acted as interest elements in my compositions, artistic silhouettes,
leading lines and abstract patterns.



Dusk on Cougar Bay

These are just a few photos of the "soon to be gone" pilings.

Cougar Bay Abstract









Spokane River Twilight




On occasion I've found them annoying too, but not for the same reasons of current controversy.

  

Spokane River Sunset

Ice on Cougar Bay

Yesterday I returned to a favorite photo haunt to discover the absence of my favorite weathered pilings that jutted from the bay.

Remnants of a Bygone Era-Cougar Bay

I'm sure it seems odd that anyone would have favorite pieces of ragged,
protruding wood in a lake, but I did.
They were the ones in the photo below.



Tugboat in the mist hangs as 6 ft. Canvas
in the Kootenai Cancer Center (Post Falls)
and a 3 ft. print in the Federal Building, Cd'A



On a nearby dock stood the CDA press photographer waiting for a ride on a tugboat, to shoot for todays

CDA Press story on the issue.



Twin Silhouettes



As the boat transported him out to the working equipment,
I photographed the tug passing that very spot again and realized in an instant that the whole scene had lost something vital from a photographic standpoint.


 I watched from a distance with a bit of sadness,
the removal process, as equipment pushed over one piling at a time,
and then plucked it from the depths.

Without me even realizing it, these pilings have been a reminder of the history of our region and a
connection to the past.


Silver Dawn- Cougar Bay



They've added character, and intrigue.
Just my little tribute to something I think I am actually going to miss.

Spokane River Pilings

A snowless winter....

Amazingly we have had no snow since I posted last, sometime before Christmas. Had I know then, that one morning at the lake was going to be my only chance at the white stuff....

I'd have worked that scene for a lot longer than I did!

So, in an attempt to make the most of a snowless winter, I have decided to embrace this non-traditional winter shooting. All shooting has been local the last couple of months, but it has been a good opportunity to increase my hometown coverage.

Although I might be able to pass these off as a different season, they do seem to have a different look to them.

Maybe it's the simple fact that there isn't much lake traffic this time of year, or tourists to contend with,

because these shoots have really felt as

quiet and tranquil as the images look.

I am pleased to announce I will soon be represented by a downtown gallery.

A selection of framed prints will be available around the 1st of April.

The gallery has specifically requested that I supply them with identifiable local art landscapes.

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I am happy to report my new, completely designed by me,

website is up and running, (OK it's a template)

Still... I did a lot of work on it. My son is transferring colleges soon and will no longer be able to do updates for me.

It will be good, as I can now update whenever I want.

If you haven't seen it yet, it is here.

With the launch of my website, there are some new products like mousepads and a photo collage of Beautiful North Idaho Scenics.

I realize this will have a limited appeal,

but it looks beautiful in a black frame and would be

great in an office or waiting room.

Here is a quick link to my webstore.
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I am now booking for 2011 senior photos.

If you know a 2011 senior in the greater CD'A area,

who would prefer outdoor, natural light photography...

please share a link from my seniors page.

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I am pleased to announce my new

Scenics for Charity Program

If you are involved with a charity or a local business with a lobby type area, please read about this new offering.

Together I hope we can help out.

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I recently delivered new art brochures to the Coeurd'Alene Visitor Center.

If you've never stopped in, you should check out this beautiful new building.

While your there, pick up a copy of the 2010 Business Directory featuring a photo gallery exclusively by me.

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Here is some of the only snow I've found over the last two months.

Near the top of Fourth of July Pass.

I'm not complaining...as I realize many parts of the country are currently crippled by the stuff. We had record setting snowfall last year. I just miss it a little....and of course this is the year

I finally got snowshoes.

Well I am excited to make a leisurely, albeit brief trip to the Boise area with a night in the McCall area both coming and going. I am delivering my youngest son to the State Capitol to serve for six weeks as a page to the State Legislature.

Hoping for anything but rain!

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Don't forget~~~20 % off prints purchased through my archives. Use coupon code FEB20 through the end of the month!
It will work on any gallery, but if you make your selection from the image of the month gallery...That's some significant savings!

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In support of Fair trade photography- I am providing the following link to a great blog by Chris Barton- at his request to spread the word. Any photographers reading this...be vary aware of these attempts to get free image content by parties who wish to claim all rights to your photography.

Another photography rights grab

Photographers must band together to save our industry from the downward spiral of ever cheapening licensing models or before we know it....no one will pay for quality images. Just say NO to microstock, offers of publicity in exchange for content, and rights grabbing thieves!

Glacier Park, Waterfalls and around North Idaho

I haven't done as much shooting this last half of the summer as I would have liked, but I have been "minding the store" so to speak and have some exciting things happening.

A book publisher has selected a large number of my images for use in a local interest book, and my largest art installation to date, is being hung in the near future. Here are two of the largest pieces.

I wouldn't mind a little feedback on this river rock image. It's probably one of those "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" type of shots. I found it intriguing..in fact I made a set of three images. (I probably just waited so long on the riverbank while Ted was fishing, that the weeds started looking artistic) 
Let me know what you think...good or bad.

Ted and I managed to get away for a weekend in Glacier National Park for which we had some beautiful weather. Not particularly the type of weather I like for photography...so I tried to be a tourist. But still...how could anyone go to Glacier and not get some nice shots.

I wish I could have been at Saint Marys Lake at sunrise, but we were camped on the opposite side of the park, so we bought a annual pass and will plan on that for next year.

Our campground was great though..

near beautiful waterfalls

and trails.

Going to the Sun Road...while under construction...was as creepy as I remembered it and its been about 15 years.

We went out for some waterfalls twice this month...once up the Coeur d'Alene River, and again to Bonners Ferry.

While I've never found waterfall shots to be in high demand...they remain one of my favorite things to shoot.












I'ts been killing me to miss all these great sunsets lately, but I did get out for a few....these on the Rathdrum Prairie,

and these on Lakes Coeur d'Alene...

and Pend Oreille..

The family spent one night way up the St. Joe River, so far in fact... we returned home through the Bitterroots by going over Gold Summit and into Montana.

This shot of the river is a five second exposure with a 4-stop Neutral density filter...to allow for some movement in the water.

The guys picked berries on Gold Summit and I photographed them.

(the berries)

We spent another day looping Lake Pend Oreille.

Ted caved to my whining one moody afternoon

and went with me to Wolf Lodge Bay.

I wasn't planning on getting wet...but I had to for this shot.

It seems I post to facebook quicker than anywhere...If you'd like to follow me on facebook, click here:

Idaho Scenic Images

If you happen to be flying the West Coast skies this September. Check your in-flight magazine for this image.

I will give away a 2010 calendar to the first person who can find it for me.

(The agency that sold it does not disclose client information...and I have had no luck finding it.)

Sold for Aug.-Sept. periodical.
West Coast USA
Travel/Airline industry
Spot (small)
2 million (print run)

I am looking forward to fall, and hope to get out camping one last time this year in the autumn colors.