OUR TEN FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 2009--

It is difficult to distill a year's worth of photos into 10 favorites. In fact, chances are very good doing this job at another time could result in different choices. Nevertheless, here they are in only somewhat random order. Choices also were made to present a balanced panel of images crossing the wide spectrum of photographic techniques. We hope you enjoy this review as much as we enjoyed the year in which they were created.

--Terry

I like to think of the above picture as an enchanting image with the sun's rays painting this rocky slice of geologic time at Old Man's Cave in the Hocking Hills. Lady friend Sue and I enjoyed the solitude of this moment; reflected nicely by her being a singular, human presence in the composition.

A Great Spangled Fritillary very cooperatively enjoyed breakfast on these Canada Thistles early one morning along the driveway. Much of the sizzle in this picture comes from the critter's being backlit by strong sunlight. Exposure was carefully adjusted to avoid over-exposure which under exposed the background of fairly dark pine needles, rendering them black. Sometimes it really pays to tote the camera along.

This picture was done with a macro lens likely just inches from the water droplet on the leaf. The lens was set to shoot at a distance that made a nice composition then the camera was moved very gently back and forth until super sharp focus was achieved. Note the very shallow depth of field (plane of sharp focus). This is a 100 mm digital lens, very close to the subject with a fairly wide aperture--all of which choices minimize depth of field--a useful creative tool.

This picture succeeds because it pushes the limits. I zoomed the 200 mm digital lens and took a light reading of the spot lit area of the arena. The exposure was done at 1/20th of a second at f/5.6 and an ISO of 800. I panned the camera at precisely the speed the horse was running as the shutter was released. It helped to be witnessing some exquisite horsemanship at a premier horseshow in Columbus.

Just a post-card like view of the Shenandoah Valley from high above along the Appalachian Trail. Anyone with a point and shoot camera could make nice images here. The biggest challenge is getting to the higher elevations with hiking being the principal means of locomotion.

I like caves. This one is in the LuRay Caverns of Virginia and shows how nicely the sense of light and dark can be maintained with the proper exposure without the flash. I hand-held this shot at 1/8th second, f/4.5 and ISO of 1600 by sitting on the floor and solidly supporting the camera on my upright knee--and squeezing the shutter release.

I liked the choreography of the Canada Goose flight juxtaposed over the real violence of the bird's defense of its breeding territory which was actually taking place at the moment. The shutter speed of 1/400th of a second was sufficient to stop the bird but left it's wings a blur suggesting the speed of its flight.

A wise Snowy Owl. He was more concerned about the apparition with the big "eye" staring at him (me) than the nice things his handler was telling the crowd about his habits and habitat. The photo also serves to illustrate the easiest way most photos can be improved. Get up close and crop all extraneous stuff from your composition.

The neon tube was part of a permanent display at the Columbus Museum of Art. I was enjoying its very simple light, shape and color when this fellow crudely stopped in front of me and pondered the display with a p0nderous shake of the head. I could imagine hearing the exclamation "Duh...". Me too, pal! Not the display, rather, his dose of uncivilized behavior.

I included this photo because it takes a peek at the gritty side of life. Those are the hooves of a calf trying to be born. The rope is attached to a winch which itself is secured to a barn post. I'm not sure of the intent of the farmer's phone call. Is he discussing this perplexing challenge with a veterinarian, or, does the photo reflect a certain casualness that some folks might find uncomfortable under the circumstances?