Swiss Alpine Meadow In Winter Time
From my blog: http://www.niophoto.com/swiss-alpine-meadow-in-winter-time/

Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius. ~ Pietro Aretino

I have been enjoying the Winter season with family and friends in the past few weeks and spent a lot of time outdoors for shooting as well. Been doing that on snow shoes a lot: a terrific way to get to places you would otherwise not discover!

Here's an image I shot during a hike near Villars-Sur-Ollon in Switzerland. It features an alpine meadow in winter time with snow-covered pine trees and two typical Swiss barns. In the background you see a mountain called the Grand Muveran (3051m). Ain't Winter beautiful? Hope you like it!

#breakfastClub, #PlusPhotoExtract by +Jarek Klimek

YAGGBP

Yet another golden gate bridge picture...

Honestly, I did not go down here to today to shoot pictures of the bridge. I have lots of them already. For a few minutes though, the sky got nice and the sun punched enough of a hole in the clouds offshore to send a little warm light this direction. So I turned around and shot a few this direction, before getting back to my regularly-scheduled program.

Here is the previous shot from here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100968313568314999910/posts/Q16y9UxAbKh

That shot allowed me to really bury my tripod legs in the sand for the next wave, which really helps steady the camera. Another reason to use Carbon legs at the ocean. Aluminum legs may work a few times, but that saltwater will eat them up pretty quickly. And I always put my tripod in the shower for a full rinse when done with these locations. Tripods need love too!
~joe

Tech: 20mm, f/14, 2.5 seconds, ISO 50

My Rural Landscape

One thing my great province of Ontaro has no shortage of is country roads and tree lined driveways. Each one very unique. Yet underlying each one is the vision a homeowner, most often a farmer had, to leave a beautiful legacy for generations that would follow in his footsteps.

I am submitting this image to the Best of 2011 - G+ Photography Book by +Ivan Makarov
Photography book created by Google+ community for charity
#PlusOneCollection

You can see the original post here
https://plus.google.com/103072807246388063461/posts

Tree Lined Drive

"Primeval" - Big Sur, California

This is the image I have chosen for the +Best of 2011 - G+ Photography Book being put together by +Ivan Makarov. This image is one of my favorites of the year for a few reasons. The first reason being that I was trying to come up with an original composition for a frequently photographed area. The light shinning through the arch at Pfeiffier Beach in Big Sur is amazing to see in person and I've seen so many great images from this spot. This is the one location that you actually hope for clear skies so that the sun can shine through the keyhole shaped passage in the rocks. It was clear on this day but I noticed the ominous clouds off to the right. I adjusted my composition to include the clouds and light shinning on the rocks in the distance and the second I saw my screen I know I had captured the novel image that I had in mind.

The main reason this is my favorite shot is that it was taken on a road trip in honor of my little brother that had passed away exactly 9 years ago to the day. Some of you may have heard me tell bits of the story on Flickr or other places but Patrick was pulled into the ocean in Maui on December 15th in 2002. I was standing only two feet away from him when it happened and it was the worst day of my life. I usually dread the anniversary of this day each year but this year I grabbed three of my best friends and we headed up Highway 1. Two of the guys had recently lost their fathers so the road trip turned into a tribute to loved ones that we had lost. For some strange reason the ocean makes me feel close to my little brother. He had a personality that would light up a room so this image really makes me smile and think of him.

#PlusOneCollection #tribute #bigsur +Best of 2011 - G+ Photography Book

Aiguilles du Peutérey and Mont Blanc


#WideWednesdayPanorama by +Charles Lupica
#TravelPanoWednesday by +Rolf Hicker
I've posted an intense sunrise photo of Mont Blanc a time ago. This panorama was taken later as we already had more light - time to switch off headlamps.

A difficult ascend to Mont Blanc leads over the ridge Peutérey, from left to right: Aiguille Noire de Peutérey, Grand Pilier d’Angle, Mont Blanc de Courmayeur, Mont Blanc Summit. This ridge is perfectly visible from this point of view.

***

We had some pretty epic storms go through just inland from where I live, I headed out that way to get some photos.. didn't really catch up with the storm though (it's the glow in the background).. did find this dead tree though and loved the clouds behind it.

http://paulpichugin.com

Under a Starry Sky

Here is my contribution to #waterfallwednesday curated by +Eric Leslie.
I have posted a wide angle view of North Clear Creek Falls previously. This is a detail shot of just the falls taken on a rainy day the year before.

Les oubliés
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cococarrigan/6716365527/

Hot Air Balloons - Warren County Farmers Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival, 2010