The Best of 2006 (according to me)

Some of my online photog friends are taking part in a blog challenge to post their favorite images from 2006. (those of you who are laughing that I have "online friends" please take a moment to collect yoursleves...okay...now we can continue) I tried and tried to overthink this and hem and haw over which were more technically correct, which had the correct white balance, blah, blah, blah. I finally threw all of that out the window and the chose the images that really mean something to me. So here they are, with some explanations...

First, my sweet little Pigbear in an almost-too-tight hat. This was the first time that I had the "oh my goodness I am going to LOVE these" experience AS I was pushing the shutter button. I barely had time to pull Sarah down from the dresser she was perched on before I was racing to the room next door to upload them. I also adore this photo because it was the one that first connected me to Wendy who knows more about photography than I will ever know about anything. And being mentored by her is the thing that has single-handedly changed my photography for ever. No joke. Not to mention she's just a cool girl. I would link her blog here but she would kill me. So I'll abstain.

Next, my first neice. I adore the way she's looking at me with sweet baby eyes and raising her hand as if to say that yes, she really is the cutest newborn on the planet. And God bless her mama who said to me the other day that the reason she thinks my subjects always look so much older than they really are is because I capture their souls. So, here you go big sis...Charlotte's soul.



Then, Sweet Caroline. (commence singing, you know you want to...go ahead, bug the guy in the cube next to you). Her eyes just pull me in. And the thing I love about this image is how Caroline seems to have been captured in such a quiet baby-with-a-book moment. In reality it was SO not that way (remember, Sam?) She was really past done with the photo shoot by this point and was squirming all over the chair until Samantha threw the book into her hands, just long enough to get this shot. But isn't that what the art of photography is about sometimes? Capturing the ideal. Even if it is only for a fleeting moment.



Next, the pouty Pigbear. I love how her hair and the hat frame her face. Again, it's all about the eyes. It was our first fall day and barely cool enough for a hat but there was no way I was missing this chance...and I'm so glad I didn't!



Finally, does this shot really need an explanation? Besides the fact that I love it more in b/w. I just do. So there.



There you have 'em folks. My faves from '06.