Best of the Northwest 2011

Happy New Year everyone, it's that time of year again! Post your best two or three images taken in 2011 in this thread.

I won't be shy. Here are four from 2011 I like. There are so many more, it was hard to choose. The first one is from Northern California.

This second one is from the Oregon Cascades

This third one is from the Gorge.

This fourth one is one of hundreds I shot in Washington's dahlia fields.

Mid February early morning of part of the Olympic Mtns. :)

Smoky shot of the Olympics caused from the Duckabush area fire.

Sunrays over the Olympics.

late summer-fall at Trillium offered a lot of fog, at least when I was up there with workshops. I know it's an icon to most of you native N Westerners, but every time I go there is so beautiful.--JG

I bet you all know where this was shot!---JG

Who remembers the thunderstorm morning in late August? I had a group out there for an early morning workshop--boy did we luck out!

Heading out of of Charleston Harbor.... We are luck folks to live where we live!
.

jg

Takhlakh Lake and Mt. Adams from October.

Mt. St. Helens from July.

And finally, Dog Mountain and the Columbia River from June.

A favorite from the tulip festival

Observing a Red-tailed Hawk eating his duck

One of two Great Horned Owlets at Ridgefield NWR

On the Turnbull Wildlife refuge near Cheney Washington. In one afternoon I saw a moose, a coyote, some white swans, several species of birds including baby goslings, tons of wild flowers, and of course this sunset at one of the many lakes and ponds. What a great place to shoot.

From the top of Steptoe Butte in Eastern Washington. Dramatic skies that day in June.

Exposed. Along the Freeway in Central Washington. I have been waiting for years to catch a shot of this little barn with a great backdrop. The opportunity finally came last summer on a trip to Leavenworth.

Here's three that I like.

This one is of God beams breaking through the coastal forest at Deception Pass State Park.

This one is of Yakima Peak at sunrise up at Upper Tipsoo Lake...in August! Shouldn't there be a riot of flowers instead of ice?

This last one was taken at a rest stop along the Mt. Hood Highway (hwy# 35) last October.

Here are my favorite three from 2011. I decided to do best landscape, best wildlife, and best macro.

Coyote near the town of Fields, OR

Hoverfly on backyard aster.

Well I'm back living in the Pacific Northwest and can't wait to tear it up again! BTW, what a nice display of photos here so far! Here are a few of my favs from last year. All were taken during my Oregon workshop/tours.

"Fantasy Falls"

"Time Passing at Crater Lake"

"River from Eden"

I'm traveling and on my laptop now but I was told about this thread. Hopefully this file doesn't look too bad (I don't have one calibrated for web right now). This photograph is probably my favorite I have ever taken, and that speaks even more about the place than anything else. This photograph was taken several days on foot into the pure, trailless wilds of the Queets rain forest on a week-long Olympic backpack that took us to the heart of the range and back. It was a spiritual place I will never forget.

This thread has amazing images. I wish I could match the skill level shown here.

Here are 3 from 2011 - 2 floral and 1 landscape. This first image was taken last July at Copalis Beach on the Washington coast.

This is a straight floral image taken in my backyard last May.

This image was an experiment in Nathan Buck's cramming technique. It was taken in my backyard last July.

Sunrise Nanaimo, BC

Humpback whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Takhlakh Lake, Mount Adams and lenticular clouds.

I usually don't shoot too many bird photos, not having any big glass. But this hawk gave me a nice, close by pose last August in Olympic National Park.

Skunk cabbage in the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.

Mount Baker and the Dungeness Spit lighthouse

Here's three of my best shots from last year.
The first is an intimate of the shoreline at Mowich Lake. It didn't get a lot of hits in ESS but remains one of my favorites.

#2 Boise Creeks falls

#3 Frosty meadow at Jones Lake

There are some very impressive images here. Congrats to everyone for a very productive year of photography.
Here are a few of my favorites from 2011.
#1 - Winter Majestic - sunrise alpenglow on Mt Hood from White River, January 2011

#2 - Tranquility Falls - A small cascade on Duncan Creek in the Columbia River Gorge, June 2011.

#3 - The Spirit of Fall - One of my favorite falls in the Columbia River Gorge, October 2011.

Zig Zag River, Zig Zag, OR

La Touelle Falls, Columbia Gorge

Anna's hummingbird

Solomon's seal and stream violet

Pendlund lake at sunrise.

Elemental Mimics...

Southern Oregon Coast.

Gus...

My dog.

Chaotic Serenity...

A huge thanks to everyone who has been able to contribute so far. What an amazing collection!!

Golden hills (Painted Hills, OR)

Pirate isles

Whirlpool (Mt Rainier NP)

Finally got to post few selects from 2011 NW. Hopefully 2012 will bring some NPN outings soon :)