the laanba blog

Favorites of 2011

The fact that this year end round up is 3 weeks late is a perfect metaphor for my photography in 2011.  I would think about subjects and have grand plans for photo projects, but in the end I just kind of wandered through the year without much direction.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I feel a lot more relaxed about my photography than I have in a long time.  I don't feel like I need to "keep up with the joneses" because I have accepted that I am just not going to be one of those star photographers or photobloggers. 2011 was a lot more about getting back to me.  

The biggest sign of that was the change from Photine back to laanba on my photoblog, personal blog, Twitter account and just about anywhere I am online.  When I took on the name Photine it was an effort to try to have a brand, to set my photography apart from myself as its own entity and give it its own life.  In the end it never really set well with me even though I went down that road for years.  I feel much more myself now that I'm back to laanba (the first two letters of my first, middle and last name and the first handle I went by in my early social media days).  Laanba is me and my photos are an extension of me.  Nothing grandiose or earth shattering.  Just me. 

This is my 6th photo round up (!!!).  Every time I put these together and look at my work from past years I always feel like my best work was years ago, but time passes and I grow to appreciate my collection over time.  I am sure it will be the same for my 2011 choices.   I went through all the photos posted to my photoblog in the calendar year of 2011, picked my favorites and elminated until I was down to 10.  Clicking on the photo will take you to the individual entry.  Photos are presented in the order they appeared on the photoblog. 

Year in Review: 2006,  2007,  2008, 2009, 2010

1.) A Southern Fall

This is the only photo that is from 2010 and it was taken in late December of that year.  I'm not completely sure why it made it into the favorites list.  I kept trying to eliminate it and it kept coming back.  It feels personal to me in part because I actually have my hand in the photo and I remember the moment when I took it: pulling over to a colorful area, finding a leaf to photograph and then trying to balance and focus the camera (a manual film camera) and frame the shot.  

2.) Mural Tomatoes

This was one of my failed projects for 2011.  I had plans on focusing on a new color each month and over the course of the year creating a portfolio of color shots.  I failed pretty spectacularly.  For example when I was looking for red, I would instead would find great yellow or green subjects, but since it wasn't what I was looking for I didn't take the shot.  I still like the idea of a color project and may bring it back in a revised form.  Thankfully I did get some shots I liked while struggling through and this is one of them.  This is a close up of a mural that was in downtown Houston.  The mural was covered up in the middle of last year because the wall it was on had to be repaired.  

3.) Forbidden Gardens

This photo subject is also now gone.  This scene is from the Forbidden Gardens museum that was located in Katy, TX.  It had a model of the Forbidden City as well as this replica of the TerraCotta Army of Emperor Qin.  The museum closed because a highway will soon be coming through its location.  The pieces of the museum were dismantled and sold off to the public.  Weeks after the museum closed I saw a guy selling some of these figures on the side of the road in my neighborhood.  A sad end to such a unique space.  As for this photo I think the black and white is what draws me into this photo.  I am very big in the color camp but I can see why people love black and white.

4.) The Rodeo

There are some recurring subjects on my photoblog and the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo Carnival is one of them.  Even though I have a signature photo that is of this exact same subject, I love this one too.  I love the lights and the colors of the carnival rides and I love being there when the sky changes from afternoon to dusk to evening.  I will never tire of it.  

5.) 10

Another rodeo photo.  I love the warm light and the clouds and the instant I framed it the number 10 popped into my head.  I am terrible at naming photos so I revel in the few instances when I am creative. 

6.) On Watch

This sculpture is between my apartment and downtown Houston.  I remember going out to photograph the area.  It had been a long time since I had gone to get photos at a location just because and not because it was an assignment for my photo group or a festival or event I was attending.  I miss the days of just wandering around a location with my camera for no other reason than to wander and photograph and I hope to do more of it this year. 

7.) Have a Seat

My first steps into Carribbean Waters.  A beautiful hour spent at a private bay near the city of Portobelo Panama.  It was sunny and warm, but not hot, there was a perfect breeze, the water was as warm as a bath and the sound of the waves and the smell of the salt air made this one of the best hours of my life and definitely of 2011.

8.) Peanuts

One of those happy accidents that happens when you put a film camera into the hands of an amateur like me.  This was taken with an Olympus XA2 and I love it.  I have so much fun with film. 

9.) September 11th

I wanted to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on my photoblog so I went out in search of US flags.  I didn't feel particularly inspired while taking the photo but this one came to life for me while I was editing it in Lightroom.  My favorite part of this photo is the flag flying on top of city hall.  It wasn't a particularly windy day so capturing the flag in motion was luck.  Happy to have luck on my side at times.

10.) Goodtime Gal

Another recurring theme on my photoblog is airshow photos.  I love the airshow a great deal but usually my airshow photos do not include people.  When I walked around the corner of this plane and saw this guy sitting in this pose, with that uniform on, I just knew exactly what I wanted this photo to look like.  I only use Lightroom on my photos but I got it pretty close to what I wanted and this has immediately become one of my favorites.

So that's it for 2011.  An interesting, if not focused, year.  Onward 2012!

Photine 2010

I have always chosen my photos for the photoblog year in review (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) in terms of what was posted to the blog for that calendar year.  This year 8 out of the 12 photo finalists were actually taken in 2009.  

I had many photos from big trips in 2009 to share and I had a photoblogging system that made sharing those photos take weeks and weeks.  Because I had such a backlog waiting to make an appearance on the photoblog, I wasn't interested in getting out there and taking new photos. I feel like my photography suffered in 2010 because of this.  Halfway through the year I changed my "photo a day/theme a week" system to posting multiple photos in a single day.  It still took a few months to catch up but now photos are posted on a more timely basis.  So even though this is a look back at 2010, it is really a look back at photos posted but not necessarily taken in 2010.

I found it interesting that the four photos from 2010 were all taken with film cameras.  I'm not sure if they made the finals because I am still enamored with the look of film or if it is because they really are good photos, but either way I'm happy they are there.  I hope to do even more film work in 2011.  Some photos here appeared as part of a multiple photo post, but I was strictly choosing based on individual photographs.  Can you believe this is my fifth year to do a photoblog wrap up?  Wow!  Photos are in order of appearance on the photoblog.  Clicking on the image will take you to the individual photo post.  Here we go with a look back at the best photos that appeared on Photine.net in 2010.  

Glenwood Cemetery

I was looking through the archives of the Photine Chronicles category and I saw that I didn't add the fact that Glenwood Cemetery is using my photo on their main page.  I love this cemetery and am so proud for my work to be displayed on their refreshed website.  The lady that was my main contact at Glenwood passed away a few months ago from cancer and I still tear up about it.  She was so nice to me and such a supporter of my photography and is the first one who brought this photo into the folds of Glenwood.  

Here is Houston Cover

 

One of my photos was used on the cover of Here is Houston magazine, a publication by the Greater Houston Partnership.  My first cover! 

Year in Review 2009

2006. 2007. 2008. I'm not sure what to think about my 2009 work.  I have felt like I'm taking good photographs, but that was all.  Just good.  There was no big stellar, wow, knock your socks off photo this year.  I don't even really have a favorite among them.  They are all just good.  But seeing them all together makes me feel a little better about the year that was. 

I looked through all the photos posted to Photine.net and selected what I considered my best ones. From there I eliminated and eliminated until I was left with the final 10. Photos appear in the order they were posted to the website. Clicking on the photo will take you to the individual entry page. 

1.) Foggy Nights

I have always loved those fog in the city shots and never seemed to have the opportunity to take them. Usually the best fog is an early morning thing, but in this case I happened to be out with my camera very late at night and had the chance to take this photo. 

2.) I've got my eye on you

The zoo is so much more fun when you have a long telephoto lens.  I happened to get just such a lens through an interesting set of circumstances about a month before this zoo meet-up.  A cold front was coming in so the animals were actually awake.  I like this one because Jonathan, king of the jungle, is looking at me the same way my cat does.  

3.) The Magnolia Ballroom

2009 was the year that I got to add wedding photographer to my portfolio.  It makes me laugh to say that because I am so NOT a wedding photographer.  The right set of circumstances came up though and I was able to help out the wonderful Slight Clutter.  My major reward for this work was to finally get a chance to go into the magnificent Magnolia Ballroom. This photo reminds me of a special moment in 2009 and as a fan of architecture and history the space is just down right beautiful.

4.) San Jacinto Monument

I guess if I had to pick a favorite from this group it would be this one.  I even have it as my desktop image at work.  

5.) Willie Nelson

This was taken backstage at the House of Blues: Houston.  I love the light and the mood the smoke creates.

6.) Moon Shell

If you have been following along with me this year you know that 2009 was the year of trips.  I took big trips around the US and even out of the country and smaller trips around Texas.  This is from a spur of the moment drive down to Quintana Beach.  I practically had the beach to myself and had a wonderful afternoon just listening to the waves, feeling the sand in my toes and enjoying the break from the everyday. 

7.) The Hobby Center

What can I say? It is one of my favorite buildings in Houston, not just for the architecture but because it is home to our resident musical theater company and the Broadway touring shows.  Seeing this building just makes me happy.

8.) Impressionist Tree

This was my first real chance to take pictures in the rain and I am happy with the result.  Rain photography is its own special challenge and I hope to have more opportunities in the future.

9.) A Rest

I originally took this photo when I thought I was going to do a 52 weeks self portrait project. Ha!  I never make it more than a few weeks for those things.  I have no problem taking a picture of myself in a reflected surface, but straight up self portraits are another matter entirely. 

10.) Amen

A quick photo for an assignment that has grown on me the longer I am with it.  It is possibly a sign of things to come in my photography.  I definitely have some new style goals in the new year.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

Onward 2010.

Flickr Blog Again!

One of my photos, Whirl, made the year end Flickr Blog round up!

2008 Favorites

Here we are at my third year end review of Photine.net. You can also see the 2006 version and the 2007 version. It has been a year of personal metamorphosis in terms of my photography. I have had to step back and examine how I share my photos online and what I hope to get out of it. It has been a long journey, but I feel better than I ever have about where I am and what my future holds. The term "finding myself" seems so cliche, but sometimes the cliche is what fits best.

So on we go with a look back at the year that was 2008. I looked through all the photos posted in 2008 and selected my favorites. From there I eliminated and eliminated until I was left with the final 10. Photos appear in the order they were posted to the website. Clicking on the photo will take you to the individual entry page.

Mirror Project

This was published the very first day of 2008 and has been a dominant force in my photography this year. I have mirror project entries on my personal blog, on Flickr and they have now become a regular feature on the photoblog. This photo is a perfect example of what I like about mirror project shots. The "mirror" and the surrounding subject area is just as important as the self portrait.

 

The Folklorico Dancer

When I look at this photo, it reminds me of how much I like Lightroom. It really has the ability to help me shape the mood of my photographs. I love the color tones and as soon as I hovered over this preset I knew it was a winner. I also love photographing in shops and I wish I had the courage to do it more. This was taken at Casa Ramirez in the Heights.

Wood Grain

This was taken at Lambert Hall, home of Opera in the Heights. Thanks to Assigment: Houston I have had the opportunity to photograph not only this beautiful building (unfortunately seriously damaged by Hurricane Ike), but numerous dress rehearsals of the opera company. They even used one of my photographs in their advertising. I love going to Opera in the Heights, getting the chance to photograph people (which is a challenge for me) and discovering a genre of music that until recently has been far down my playlist.

Pink Hydrangeas

I will admit an affinity for photographing flowers, especially those I come across out in the world. This was part of a series of photos that I took at the annual Azalea Trail and I love each one of the photographs, but this one is my favorite. This was also the first outing with my new Tamron 17-50mm/f2.8 lens. I love that lens and it is on my camera 85% of the time.

The Rodeo Carnival

Not a lot to say about this that regular visitors haven't heard a thousand times. I love night shots and love carnivals. I especially love night shots of carnivals. Maybe one day I'll actually drag my tripod out there, but I doubt it. I hate being tied down to it, especially in a busy walking environment like this. I may be getting a wide angle lens in the near future and can't wait to head back to the carnival to give it a whirl. Maybe then I won't have to practically stand in one of the game tents to get the whole wheel in the frame.

Mist Tree

Here we come to a location that I imagine will be visited quite frequently in the coming year (and once more in this list) and that is Discovery Green. I love this new downtown park. It has such a wonderful vibrancy to it and the park managers have such a great vision for its future. When I first took this photo I wasn't sure if the odd framing was going to really work, but it has grown on me the longer I have spent with it.

The Boardwalk

This is a photo of the Kemah Boardwalk taken with my Holga 120S. It is one of my all time favorite photos. I love the way the sky and the water blend together at the horizon line. I like the dreamy look of this photograph. In other places I have called this photo Dreamy Kemah and after Hurricane Ike, Dreams of Kemah. This area was hit very hard in the hurricane. It is slowly coming back, but it will be a long time before things are back to normal.

 

Whirl, Twirl and Change

This photo has been the biggest surprise of 2008 and I would say it is my best photo of 2008. A surprise because it didn't originally make the cut to the photoblog when I posted my rodeo carnival photos. I put it on Flickr, where I put my B roll photos, and it was an instant hit. In fact, I was a little overwhelmed with all of the attention. It has grown on me and I used it as my first photo when I made the move to Pixyblog. Pixyblog has been one of the best things to happen to my photography this year. Every aspect of the service is so well thought out, well polished and well designed. The community features are very helpful in promoting my work and I enjoy watching the community grow.

The Gulf Building

I'm kind of surprised this photo is here, but every time I was going through the selection process it kept coming back and hanging around. I like the angle of the photo, the pop of color from the flag and the glimpse of the chandelier at the bottom of the photograph. I also like that you never know what photo from an outing is going to speak to you. This was a quick off hand shot as I was walking out. Now it is one of my favorites.

Ornaments on the Promenade

This is another surprise considering it was only posted a few days ago, but it always held a firm place in my favorites list. Another shot from Discovery Green with its holiday decorations in place. It feels like a very "me" photograph, although dozens of Houston photographers have taken the same photograph over the last few weeks. I still love it.

 

So there is 2008. Onward and upward to 2009.

Photoblog Refresh

Photine.net has a new look and a new home. Starting in September the photoblog began hosting with Pixyblog. Pixyblog is a hosted photoblog management system. It is highly customizable and very polished. I am excited about the future.

Favorites of 2007

Last year I titled the year in review post Best of 2006 and I felt strongly that I was presenting the best images I had taken in 2006. When I look at this batch I'm not sure what to think. I looked at each image from the past year and eliminated until I couldn't eliminate anymore this time ending up with 10. I'm not sure in the end however that these are my best shots. I *AM* sure that they represent my journey through 2007 in some way. Photos are in order that they appeared on Photine.net. Clicking on the photo will take you to its individual entry.

1.) Blue Night


I took this photo while standing in the parking lot talking to fellow photographer Christine. This was a handheld shot and I remember being surprised how blue the sky was in the shot when I was looking at a black night sky. I love this color blue and I will be doing a lot more night photography this year to capture more moments like this spontaneous moment.

2.)Pushhh


This was one of my favorites shots early on and it has remained so the whole year. The funny thing is that I have walked by this door since this photo and it is nowhere near this blue. I think it must be a reflection of the sky. No matter, I love it.

3.) The Birds


Pushhh and The Birds were posted back to back on the photoblog. It really drives home to me that I like big bold colors, especially since they both made it here to the end of year list. This photo was taken with a Canon A540 which I purchased to replace my beloved Canon S45 which died this year. I now use a Fuji F20 for my compact camera. They are both fine cameras, but I dearly miss my S45.

4.) Sir


This is the surprise hit of the year (it even made it onto the Flickr Blog). I don't take many people pictures and this one was taken on the sly. This is Huey Long of the '60s singing groups the Ink Spots. In the end I would have to pick this photo as my best photo of the year.

5.) Sam Houston Azaleas


This year I ventured from digital to film with my purchase of a Holga. I absolutely love it and will be venturing even further into film next year. Toy cameras suit me very well because I have a hard time with the technical aspect of photography. While I will be working on that next year, it is nice to have a camera that you can just have fun with. That's my darling Holga.

6.) Following in the Footsteps


We've talked already about bright, bold colors right? Yeah.

7.) Pathways


I like this photo for several reasons. It is of one of my favorite places in Houston, Glenwood Cemetery. I think it gives the sense of peace that you get when you walk the tree lined pathways. It is also the first set of pictures where I really saw the advantage of RAW. I was able to adjust the white balance until the photo suddenly had a life of its own.

8.) Preston Station


My lovely Holga again, this time with black and white. Last year I commented that I was surprised a black and white photo made my end of year list. This year, I have several black and white shots in the final collection. This photo is of Houston's Main Street and with the soft focus of the Holga it looks like it could have been taken 50 years ago.

9.) Flying the Flag


This was a close runner-up as my best photo of 2007. It certainly holds the crown as my favorite photo of 2007. I love everything about this photo. I love airshows, love planes, love bold colors, love that near perfect flag flying in the sky and the new addition of Lightroom helped me pull all those elements together to share my vision.

10.) Spouts


This photo is growing on me the longer I am with it. This was an impromptu photo shoot without a tripod and I'm not sure that I would have gotten anything any better with all the planning in the world.

Honorable Mention: Nose Dive / Circular Text

  

No matter how many times I tried to eliminate these two photos they still hung around the finalists. I couldn't quite bring myself to knock them out of the running. They deserve a mention just for getting under my skin as I look back at 2007.

Last year there was a lot of uncertainty as I struggled with how I wanted to share photos in various online spaces. I feel like I have finally settled on a routine. I'm not sure what the future will bring, but I have a good feeling about 2008.

Flickr Blog

One of my photos, Sir, is on the Flickr blog as they look at 2007 in review. You can read the post here and see the photo here.