I am finally pulling together my favorite photographs from 2012.  It is always helpful to take the occasional assessment of our own creative progress. The annual ritual of posting a “best of” has gone viral.  You might be interested in reading an essay I wrote on the subject several years ago in my On Landscape column for Outdoor Photographer on this subject.  I am pleased with the selection, which includes new Impressions of Light images, iPhone images, studio macro setups as well  as landscapes taken around my home and in nearby Yosemite.  Since I started teaching private workshop sessions in Yosemite, I’ve been visiting Yosemite Valley much more often so you will see a batch of new Yosemite images taken this past fall and winter.

This year I have numbered each image, which will make it easier for your to let me know which ones are your favorites.  It will be fun and helpful for me to have your feedback.  I will value a list of favs, or general thoughts on what work you respond to the most.  After I assess your feedback, I will then make a final edit of 10-15 that are my top selects of the year.  If you have your own list of top images for 2012, please add your link in your comments below.

Regarding my private Yosemite sessions, you might enjoy seeing the Flickr group that I started for my students to share their photographs with each other:  William Neill Private Yosemite Workshops.

I look forward to your comments and favorites for my 2012 portfolio.

Happy New Year,  Bill

Best Of The Year:  An annual review of your images can point you in new directions of creativity

1. Sunrise, Santa Monica State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


2. Sandpiper at sunrise, Santa Monica State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


3. Oaks and sunbeams, sunrise, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/60 second at f/11, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


4. Poppies and Lupine. Merced River Canyon, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/32, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


5. Redbud, Merced River Canyon, 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


6. Lilies, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


7. Nautilus Shell Detail, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
15 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


8. Nautilus Shell, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
20.00 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


9. Stones, 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
3 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


10. Ceiling at The Tech Museum, San Jose, California 2012
iPhone,
1/120 second at f/2.4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


11. Sunbeams and Fog, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/750 second at f/8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


12. Sunbeams through Fog, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2000 second at f/2.8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


13. Rock Formations, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


14. Hostas, New Boston, New Hampshire 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/120 second at f/2.4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


15. Ferns, New Boston, New Hampshire 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/20 second at f/2.4, ISO 80
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


16. Elderberry Leaves #5, Ahwahnee, California 2012, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


17. Pine and Clouds, Sierra Nevada, California 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/640 second at f/2.4, ISO 50
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


18. Half Dome at sunrise, Leidig Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


19. Gulls at sunrise, Natural Bridges State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
8 second at f/27, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


20. Yellow Maple Leaves, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/125 second at f/4.5, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


21. Yellow Maple Leave Impressions, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/5.6, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


22. Oak and Pine, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/90 second at f/4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


23. Backlit Black Oaks, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/15 second at f/22, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


24. Bigleaf Maple and Merced River, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
6 second at f/27, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


25. Maple Leaves, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/9.5, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


26. Black Oaks in afternoon backlight, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


27. Merced River reflections, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


28. Oak reflections and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/2 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


29. Oak reflections, El Capitan and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


30. Willow Leaves, autumn, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1 second at f/4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


31. Oak Forest in Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/6 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


32. Oaks and Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/3 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


33. Oaks at sunrise, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L,
1/10 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


34. Winter Sunrise over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/3 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


35. Sunrise clouds over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


36. Ice Pattern, Merced River, Yosemite National Park 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.50 second at f/32, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


37. Winter Sunset on Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


38. Winter Moonrise over Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1 second at f/11, ISO 800
Copyright © 2012 William Neill