Friday, December 28, 2012

12 Favs for 2012

A couple of my favorite landscape photographers recently posted their 12 favorite images of 2012 (Richard Bernabe and Jack Brauer).  What a great idea!  While my images pale by comparison, it was still fun to take a look back at all the places I had photographed this year.

After spending most of the past 8 months at home, I was actually surprised at how many different places I was able to see.  But yet, I tend to only pull the camera out when I’m traveling, so in 2013 I really hope to push myself to “see” and photograph more where ever I might happen to be.

Hope you all have a very happy new year! 

Now, on to the 12 favorite images…

Pair of Sandhill Cranes

These sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico were my favorites for 2012.  If you enjoy seeing thousands of migratory birds, a winter stop at Bosque is an absolute must!

Arizona Four Wheelin

I didn’t get to do as much off-roading in my wonderful little yellow Tracker in 2012 as I had in 2011, but I drove a couple a fun trails in Arizona last winter around Quartzsite, Ajo, Patagonia, and Sedona.  This one was at the Kofa NWR just south of Quartzsite.

Mohave Evening Blooms

While living in Arizona the first three months of 2012, my mom decided to come out for a visit so we could take a quick vacation out to southern California to see friends.  On our way back, we happened to stop near the Mohave Desert Lily Sanctuary just as the sun was setting to this spectacular display of desert wildflowers!

Tucson Lights

Before leaving Tucson, I finally took a drive up Mt. Lemmon on the Catalina Highway.  What a spectacular way to see the sunset (and a great way to cool off too if the temps in Tucson get too warm!).

Sedona Evening

Our final week in Arizona was spent around the Sedona area. The drive between Oak Creek Village and Sedona was particularly stunning as the sun was setting on the brilliant red rocks.

Shamrock Conoco

I stopped at a few Route 66 attractions in the Texas panhandle on my drive back home, including this wonderfully restored Conoco gas station in Shamrock, Texas.

Springtime at Alley Spring Mill

One of my favorite “little known” national parks is the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in southeast Missouri with their amazing natural springs.  This is my favorite, Alley Spring, with it’s beautiful red mill.

Night at Cunard Lake

I spent a few weeks this summer revisiting a few of my favorite campgrounds up in northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan.  This was my nighttime view from the banks of Cunard Lake in Wisconsin.  Loved listening to the loons sing us to sleep at night!

The Mushroom Trail

This lovely mushroom trail in the U.P. had not been so lovely just a few minutes before when it poured rain on Millie and me.  But I’d always prefer photographing a damp and misty forest than one that’s bone-dry!

Storm over Imp Lake 
The mushroom trail was near my all-time favorite campground, lovely Imp Lake, in the U.P.  I loved paddling around it’s little island, listening to the loons, and watching the sunsets from our large and peaceful lakefront campsite—heaven on earth!

Superior Cruise

This summer, I finally took the cruise of Lake Superior’s Pictured Rocks National Seashore near Munising, Michigan.  What a delightful “3-hour cruise” (and quite reasonably-priced too!).

Plaza Christmas Lights 
And finally, 2012 wrapped up with a visit to my hometown, Kansas City, to see the Christmas lights at Country Club Plaza.

What amazing places did you discover in 2012?  Leave a comment below and give us all some ideas for future travels!  Better yet, post a link to some of your favorite pics of 2012!

21 comments:

  1. You got some great photos this year. Hope you get to travel more in the new year.

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  2. The Conoco station is my favorite and will be looking forward to seeing your 2013 photographs.

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    1. Thanks Ev, i'm looking forward to more pretty Mexico shots from you!

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  3. What beautiful photos! You take some lovely captures and it looks like you had a great year.

    Anything on Route 66 is always fun and we especially love Colorado and the Southwest. So many sights to see!

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  4. All of your photos are memorable! I hope to do a pictorial recap next week.

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    1. I'll look forward to that-- you got some great shots this year at the NWRs!

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  5. We plan to go to U.P. in late September 2013 to see fall colors, waterfalls and cruise Lake Superior's Pictured Rocks. Your trip blogs on the U.P. were an inspiration to us.

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    1. My very first trip to the UP was in late Sept 10 years ago to the Porcupine Mtns (western UP on Lake Superior)-- the colors were breathtaking (and at their peak), and saw some gorgeous waterfalls on that side of the UP too. Have a great trip!

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  6. Liar, liar, pants on fire! If your pix pale by comparison then mine may as well be left in a dark room. ;)

    I love the year end photo highlights idea. Keep up the great work, and Happy 2013!

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    1. Heck no, Bob, I've been enjoying your Death Valley pics and "Dances with Coyote" adventures quite a bit! Happy 2013 to you too!

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    2. I'm glad you're enjoying them. We'll have to compare notes some day. :)

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  7. Beautiful pictures. My personal favorite is the one of the pink and white flowers. God sure knew what He was doing when He made the desert.

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    1. Yes, that was an amazing little patch of Mohave desert. Miles and miles of typical browns and then suddenly these purple and white flowers everywhere! Just loved drinking it all in!

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  8. Lovely pictures, Lynne! I am in AZ now and also want to go to Sedona and Quartszite. Nice to know where to find the loons next summer!
    Wishing you the best for the New Year as well!

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    1. Oh Sunny, I'm so envious! Have a great time in Quartzsite-- is this your first time there? I had a great time there the past 2 years and REALLY miss not getting to go there this winter and rally with everyone. I love the whole area between Sedona and Prescott as well, but it seemed best during the "shoulder" months of winter due to it's higher elevation than Phoenix, Tucson, or Q and Yuma. Have a great time!!!

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  9. WOW! That is some AMAZING Photography!! And Fun Adventures. More places I want to go.

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    1. Ha! Well, thanks for the nice words! Hope you're out traveling to fun new places soon!

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  10. Beautiful photos for sure. You definitely captured the essence of the beauty of the Southwest! Cunard lake (and the stars!) look amazing. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Suzie, yes the wide open spaces out West are such a treat after the "strip mall panoramas" of Chicago. The north woods of Wisconsin, the UP, and Minnesota are fantastic in the summertime with literally thousands of little lakes -- so serene to watch the stars and listen to the loons echoing across the lake.

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