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!

Chasing the Light

I need to stop chasing the light.

"Chasing the Light" a popular phrase in landscape photography, has become too literal to me.

No I'm not giving up photography.
It is in the interest of bettering my photography, that I say this.
No more, leaving the house after the light looks good.
No more driving around like a mad woman hoping the stoplight doesn't change red before I get through it.
No more searching out subject matter that "will do".

No more adjusting my camera settings while I drive.

No waiting for whoever thinks they're going with me.

No jumping from the vehicle, struggling with my tripod, as the sun dips below the horizon.
No more racing up a mountain, trying to be faster than the sun setting behind a different one.

 There will be no more chasing the light.

I will already be there. I will know where "there" is, in advance. I will go by myself. 
I will drive safer. I will be at peace. I will enjoy the experience. 

I WILL be a better photographer.

From this day forward, whenever possible,

I will "Wait for the Light".

A very wet spring

I started this post sometime in May, and today is the day...I SHALL finish it! Beyond that I have set a new goal of blogging at least once a month and it will go on my desk planner. The self imposed rules in my office state..."If it's on the desk planner...it must be done!" Of course there is always the possibility that the boss could over ride the rules...I think I've discovered a glitch in my system.

We have experienced what I would imagine must have been one of the wettest Springs on record here in North Idaho. On a positive note, there were many evenings when the sun would break through just at sunset for some amazing displays of sky color and super saturated landscapes. During April, May and June, I 've visited the Palouse, Hood River Oregon, Bonners Ferry, Chewelah and the remote Northeast corner of Washington. But the majority of my shoots have been right here in my beautiful hometown of Coeur d'Alene.

From my Mothers Day weekend in the Columbia Gorge....

An old camoflauged truck

Canola near Troutdale

Hood River Bridge

Follow me on Facebook for my most up to date image postings, specials and the occasional giveaway.

A few of the local spots I've hit in the last few months......

Post Falls Dam

Pre-storm color on the Spokane River

Evening at Higgins Point

A view over Coeur d'Alene

The following links will take you to pages on Fine Art America where I am participating in a link exchange, for image placement program. Not all of the art there will be mine, but some of them should be. Feel free to take a look around.

There are some great artists represented there.

lake photos    nature photos    reflection photos     landscape photos     sunset photos  

Recently I've been receiving some much appreciated promotion from Blogmaster D.F. Oliveria of Huckleberries Online at the Spokesman Review. If you're not a Berry picker, you should be....lots of thought provoking articles, great images and the most interesting scanner traffic...I had no idea there were so many odd happenings in my town.

The far Northeast corner of Washington state is a rugged and scenic area in which I am hoping to spend some time camping and exploring.

I did some scouting in June and look forward to a return trip.

My Premium 5x7 cards are now available at Terrazzo

1846 Government Way.

Coffee, Pastries and specialty gifts. Stop in for a latte and some great atmosphere!

And at Edena's Gallery of Art

3650 N Government Way

 Or they can be ordered through my website.

One of my favorite images from June

Sunset Journey

This next month will take me to Yellowstone, Billings, and my first ever trip to the state of California. I love Idaho, but I am very much looking forward to exploring some new territory.

My next post will include my July trip to Glacier National Park and the short story of my first,

and hopefully last bear encounter!

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!