Better late than never

Well I know that I am a little late in posting this but I wanted to share a list of my top shots from 2011. Last year was a great year in photography for me; in January I started blogging everyday as well as launched a print purchase website, in May I bought my own domain and started my own website but most importantly I grew in my photography in so many ways throughout the year. I met so many great people, went to a bunch of new places and with each passing day I learned more and more.  I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for me but it’s sure to be an exciting year no matter what!  I also want to thank all of you who have been so supportive along the way…it makes blogging and photography so much fun and I really enjoying following all of you! I tried to narrow it down to 11 in ’11, but I just couldn’t pare it all the way down!  So here is my top 11 of 2011, with one bonus one as well! With that being said, here we go!

12.  Reflections at Kennywood – I took this one back in June at Kennywood Park, the local amusement park in Pittsburgh.  It was somewhat of a stormy night, but the pond in the center of the park was so still, it offered up some great reflections.   11.  Mike Rupp in the spotlight – This was probably one of the luckiest shots that I’ve ever got.  Taken at a Penguins/Devils game towards the end of last season, all the players were just coming on the ice and I happened to catch the spot light perfectly over Mike Rupp as he skated on the ice.  Even got him to sign a big copy!   10.  Brooklyn Bridge from the South Street Seaport – A classic shot of a classic subject, I knew that I had to recapture the Brooklyn Bridge from the South Street Seaport with my D700, as the last time I was there I had my old D40X.   9.  Mark, lead guitarist of Act of Pardon – This is a shot from the first concert that I shot, a show by Act of Pardon at Peter’s Pub in Oakland, which is on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.  To capture this I turned off the flash, dialed the 70-200 down to 2.8 and captured lead guitarist Mark during a solo.   8.  The Boardwalk at Ocean City, Maryland – Having gone to Ocean City, Maryland so many times as a kid, I was excited to get there as an adult this summer.  This is shot from the far end of the Boardwalk early in the morning.   7.  Joel Hanrahan(s) of the Pittsburgh Pirates – One of our work outings this year was to a Pittsburgh Pirate game where they played the Baltimore Orioles.  I had been trying to get this shot on a couple of other occasions, but was never able to get the right angle.  Well, I finally got it this day, and this is a composite shot of Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan.   6.  Bench on the North Shore – One of my favorite places to shoot in Pittsburgh is the North Shore, along the Allegheny River, especially at dawn and dusk.  I took this on a stormy morning, with the Andy Warhol Bridge reflecting in the wet boardwalk.   5.  Sidney Crosby in his return to the ice – I couldn’t have a top shot list of 2011 and not include one of Sidney Crosby.  I was one of many fans crammed against the glass to get shots of Sid during his first game back from a concussion.  He has since been reinjured, but we are all hoping for a speedy recovery!   4.  Tiger cubs fighting at the zoo – I don’t get to the zoo very often, but on this particular occasion I was in the right place and the right time.  THe two tiger cubs were having a little wrestling match with the one on the left having the upper hand, at least for the moment!   3. View from 7 World Trade Center – I had the great opportunity to make it up into 7 World Trade during the summer, where my brother was interning, to get this amazing view of lower Manhattan, with the Empire State Building being a speck in the distance.   2.  Cowboys Stadium – For our one year wedding anniversary, my wife got me a vacation to Texas to see the Dallas Cowboys battle the Seattle Seahawks, a game which Dallas was victorious in.  We had an awesome time visiting Ft. Worth, Dallas and staying in Arlington and I got so many great shots, including this one of the “House that Jerry Built”, Cowboys Stadium. And here it is, my favorite picture of 2011, and to be honest, one of my all time favorites… 1.  Manhattan from the Top of the Rock – A few spots ago I shared one of lower Manhattan from 7 World Trade Center, but for #1 we head closer to midtown and the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center.  I loved the way that the Empire State Building lit up the skyline and how you can see the clouds streaking across the night sky.  New York is such an amazing city! Well, that’s it for my top shots of 2011.  Here’s to many more in 2012!  Thanks for stopping by today guys, see you all tomorrow.