[Rondec]

Thanks to Rondec for starting this thread, and congrats on the new baby girl! I always enjoy seeing other's yearly favorite shots, and lots of great work has already been posted.

For myself, I think I shot less last year than any other year since I started getting into photography. On the one hand, there just seemed to be so few Odonatas (dragonflies and damselflies, my favorite subjects) around last summer, and on the other hand I've been spending more and more time on my bike, so fewer photo outings. Also, it seems to be getting harder and harder to get a shot that is interesting and not simply a repeat of a shot I took before... Yet, I still think I took some pretty OK pictures, and here are my nine favorites.

First a couple of springtime bee shots. I find bees that are actively pollinating to be very difficult subjects, because they are so active and constantly moving around that it's super hard to nail focus, get decent framing and nice subject pose. But I think this one fits the bill (though it's "just" a common honey bee).




Then also sometimes you find a bee that is taking a break. This one only allowed a few frames before flying off. Much smaller than a honey bee. I just think it looks great with its thick mustache.





For this one, I would have liked to have a bit more magnification, but the tiny spider was moving around and I would have simply lost it from sight if I'd changed my lens setup, so I just shot with what I had. What is great about this shot is that the spider captured a collembola and in the shot where I nailed focus, you can still clearly recognize the super tiny critter hanging upside down in the spider's mouth. A moment later the collembola was just an unrecognizable blob of matter. (BTW, that was pretty much pure luck, as I didn't even see the collembola until I looked at the shots once back home.) I don't think there are that many shots of jumping spider predation of collembola out there...





These are pretty much the tiniest hoverflies in my neck of the woods, and it's always nice to get a (ahem) behavioral shot. (Note also the strategically situated wing obscuring the background!) This one is also a focus stack - the wind made it really hard to shoot, but this couple were super cooperative.




This one is just a common fly, but really my type of shot.




Conversely here, this is more or less just a documentary photo, but of a species I'd never seen before. And it turns out to be the only sighting of this species in Quebec reported on Bugguide!




And another hoverfly I really like:




We planted milkweed in the front yard. Didn't spot any monarchs this year, but I did see and photograph this Red Milkweed Beetle. Tough to get both halves of the split eye in focus!





Finally, I think this is one of my favorite flake shots ever (though I'm sometimes tempted to redo the post on it to make it pop a bit more)...

I'm glad you posted some images, Pascal. As always, I am in awe of your technique and amazing captures. I struggle to capture macro images of flowers on a still day using a tripod. I can't imagine doing what you do.

[Doundounba]

I'm glad you posted some images, Pascal. As always, I am in awe of your technique and amazing captures. I struggle to capture macro images of flowers on a still day using a tripod. I can't imagine doing what you do.

Thank you! I admire your ability to work the landscape and the light to produce gorgeous pastel dawn landscapes. I'm surely nowhere near as good as you at working on shadow details in post on a backlit sunrise shot. I think we all develop the skillsets that match what we love shooting...

I'm also surprised there aren't more people posting yearly retrospectives here.

Since I "only" posted nine images, I'll allow myself one more, as I've been feeling guilty for not including the shot below in my previous list. I remember being super excited when I shot it because it's rare that I find these super small jumping spiders in a place where I can get a nice head-on portrait stack and in a mood to collaborate with me actually shooting one... I'm fairly happy with the result, but now I want a shot with even more magnification. I guess "More magnification!" is kind of the call to arms of the macro photographer.

[paulh]

From May, just a walkaround phone snap, but I like it.

[Fluegel]

I like it too!
Well done.

[paulh]

I like it too!
Well done.

Thanks!

[baro-nite]

Now that I've finished posting my usual set of 10 for the year, I'll try again. Note that links go to a Flickr album containing the set, if you'd prefer to scroll through them that way.

Part 1, first 5 of 10:

A cold snap in January:


Local woodland in March:


From an April trip to Yosemite:


Later in the same trip, Palm Springs:


North Carolina mountains in June:

[baro-nite]

Part 2, 6 through 10

England, July


My usual stomping grounds, October


Eastern North Carolina, one of the Carolina Bays, in December


Nearby on the same day


Santa Rosa Mountains (Palm Springs, California), New Year's Eve

[Des]

Now that I've finished posting my usual set of 10 for the year, I'll try again

These are masterful Jeff: eye, composition and technique. Every one is excellent (the ones with the IR-converted K-5 are fascinating), but I think my absolute favourites are the first and last. I'd suggest people view the album on Flickr for the full effect.

@iheiramo @jacamar @MossyRocks @Aaron28 @Doundounba
Each an awesome set. Great work and thanks for sharing. Steve, I don't know how you confined yourself to one from the South Atlantic trip - you could have picked 10 from that set alone.

[Fluegel]

I am beginning to feel humble with so many great shots.

Special thanks to Baro-nite for the picture he shot in England, July.

I also liked the other monochromes.

[baro-nite]

Thanks so much Des!

Special thanks to Baro-nite for the picture he shot in England, July.

My pleasure! This was at Fountains Abbey, an amazing place.

[normhead]

Working backwards for this year....

Dec. 28
K-1 and DA 28-105 @53mm
ƒ8, 200 ISO, 1/80s


Nov.3
Pentax -1 and DA 18-135
ƒ5.6, 24mm, 1/400


Oct. 31
XG-1 @4.3mm
ƒ2.8, ISO 200, 1/58



Sept. 19
K-1 and DFA 100 macro
ƒ8, ISO 200, 1/200s


Aug. 13
K-1 and DFA 28-105 @105mm
ƒ8, ISO 400, 1/100s


July 22
K-3 and DA* 60-250 @250mm
ƒ5.6, ISO 400, 1/125s


June 29
K-1 and DFA 100 macro
ƒ9, 100 ISO, 1/200s


ƒ8, ISO 250, 1/200s


June 11
K-3 and Tamron 300 2.8 with HD DA 1.4 TC (420mm)
ƒ4, ISO 400, 1/500



May 17
K-3- unknown lens
ƒ5, ISO 400, 1/250


April 10
K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM @300mm
ƒ6.3 ISO 100, 1/1000s


April 6
K-3 and DA 55-300 PLM @135mm
ƒ11, ISO 100, 1/50s



10 isn't even 1 per month, sorry can't do it.

[paulh]

Part 2, 6 through 10

Wonderful images, Jeff, esp like the first one in the first set - well seen.

edit: Fantastic series from you as well, @normhead!

A fave snap from July:

[jacamar]

I don't know how you confined yourself to one from the South Atlantic trip - you could have picked 10 from that set alone.

Thanks Des - I have a Falklands album on flickr if anyone wants to see more, but most were already posted here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/134704249@N02/

[Fluegel]

Thanks Normhead for your colorful images.

Again I am amazed with the power from monochromes in this thread.