As the new year begins, I once again look back at the past twelve months of photos and experiments and snapshots and splitfilms, seeing which of my photographs have really stood out for the new year. I said goodbye to some cameras and hello to others. Some of my photos picked up silk – others picked up attention.
So once again, I chose what I thought were my ten personal favorites from 2011. Here they are. I hope you enjoy them.
MIDNIGHT AT THE PALACE THEATER
April 24, 2011, Nikon F100 camera, Kiev MIR-24H fisheye lens, Efke 25 35mm film.
More than any other picture, this photo garnered plenty of attention and love. It was also one of three pictures to help break my Altamont Fair photo contest curse.
THE AGFA BRIDGE OVER ANSCO LAKE
June 5, 2010, Agfa Chief, Agfa Vista 200 35mm film, Ansco All-Weather Pan 616 film (circa 1963).
I’ve been experimenting with splitfilm photography – two pictures in one camera – for the better part of a year. This photo of the Washington Park bridge proved I could get it right.
LODGE’S IN POLAROID POLABLUE
June 12, 2011, Nikon F100, 28mm f/2.8 lens, Polaroid PolaBlue 35mm slide film.
I entered this shot as one of six in the New York State Fair. And I never thought it had a chance. Not in a hundred years. And I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor, knowing that it won first place in the non-traditional photography division (Agfa-Ansco picked up second place in the same competition!).
THE CHRISTMAS STAR TRAIL WITH A SHOOTING STAR
December 25, 2011, Nikon D700, 28mm f/2.8 lens
Over sixty different photos, stacked together, created this Christmas Eve star trail at the Great Sacandaga Lake. And yes, that’s a shooting star in the lower left corner. Swank.
THE LAST MOMENTS OF TRINITY CHURCH
July 14, 2011, Nikon D700, 28mm f/2.8 lens
“Do you want to go up in the cherry picker and take a picture of the church as we tear it down?” Yes please…
ROCKY HARDCORE AT “EVE OF DESTRUCTION”
June 28, 2011, Nikon D700, 70-200 f/2.8 lens
Rocky Hardcore actually jumped a fire truck into the air. It was the final event at Lebanon Valley Speedway’s annual “Eve of Destruction” thrill show. A great day for pictures, and a great day of excitement.
THE HAMILTON COLLEGE CHAPEL TOWER ON 50-YEAR-OLD PHOTO STOCK
April 2, 2011, Rolleiflex Automat MX, Kodak Panchromatic 120 film (circa 1951)
This was my test at shooting with film that was older than I was. The pictures came out great. Can’t wait to try this again.
TODD AND STEPHANIE SNYDER
November 12, 2011. Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8.
It wasn’t until after I looked at this picture that I noticed that Stephanie Snyder’s red gloves – when her hands are folded over her knee – form the shape of a heart. Awwwww…
CONGRATULATIONS, MICHELE POOLE!
June 4, 2011. Nikon D700, Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 telephoto lens.
That fist-pump signifies the 20 consecutive Freihofer’s Run for Women races that Michele Pool has competed – and has finished.
FERDINAND’S BLUE STORE
July 31, 2011, Nikon D700, 28mm f/2.8 lens, HDR
Probably my best HDR capture of the year; this store in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood is undergoing renovation. I look forward to seeing it – and photographing it – when it’s completed.
These are some of the photos I’ve enjoyed shooting during calendar year 2011. Of course, one of my new year’s resolutions is to improve on my skills, so that when January 1, 2013 rolls around, I can put up ten photos from 2012 that are superior to the ones I’ve got up in this blog post.
Chuck The Writer 
Very nice, Mr. Chuck – great work! You would have a field day back in the sticks of West Virginia!
I gave an 8×10 enlargement of the “hands/heart” photo to Todd’s grandma for Christmas. She loved it, my hands were actually the first thing she noticed!
Wishing you another year of fantastic photography, and hopefully, no injuries while in the process of capturing those special angles.
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What gorgeous photos, Chuck!! Wow.
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After seeing your last few years’ work, I am very much looking forward to 2012.
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Still love that Palace photo. The glow is so silvery.
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