Last year, I did a pretty in-depth analysis of how to shoot Horsetail Fall in Yosemite. Since I’m interested in going back to shoot the falls again in 2011, I re-ran my dates analysis to come up with the best dates for 2011. This year’s optimal dates are pretty much the same as last year’s, with the best viewing times coming between February 15 and February 28, 2011.

2011 Solar Data

First, the Navy’s solar azimuth/altitude calculator moved on the web. It’s now located here. Using the same data I used last year for latitude (37°43’53″N), longitude (119°37’36″W), and time zone (GMT -8), I was able to predict the best time to view Horsetail Falls:

If you’re looking for more information about how I came up with these numbers, check out my original blog post from 2010 (linked above). I hope everyone gets great shots this year, and I’ll post further updates when I (hopefully) get back from shooting in late February!

Now that the holidays are over, I’ve had some time to look back over my body of work from 2010. I had initially planned on doing a top ten list, but had too many favorites to pick just ten. I did have five that really stood out to me though, so I decided to save myself the headache and just present those images as my favorites of 2010. Without further delay, here they are:

The Big Chill - Ann Arbor, MI

Hockey is so much more fun when it’s played outdoors. The NHL now plays at least one game per season outdoors. The NCAA also took notice, and has periodically held outdoor games. In 2001, Michigan State hosted The University of Michigan for the largest outdoor hockey game in history (74,000+), called The Cold War. Nine years later, it was UM’s chance to host MSU at their massive football stadium. Over 110,000 fans showed up to watch Michigan walk all over Michigan State.

Banner Peak – Ansel Adams Wilderness

I grabbed this picture halfway through a 60 mile backpacking trip through Yosemite and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. A heavy and long winter kept snow levels down to about 9500′ and I spent the better part of 3 days in the snow, in July! Afternoon thunderstorms kept me under my tarp tent for about an hour, but the skies cleared in time for sunset, allowing me to capture this image of the last bit of light of the day.

Horsetail Falls – Yosemite National Park

There’s not much to say about this picture that I haven’t already said here. It won me awards, made people “ooh” and “aah”, and is a pretty cool looking picture (despite the fact that this picture is in no way unique – Horsetail shots seem to be almost as popular as Tunnel View pictures these days!)

Silver Lake – Rehoboth Beach, DE

After attending a work conference in the DC area, I met my girlfriend and family at our beach house in Dewey Beach, DE. We had perfect beach weather, with the exception of the day that I took this picture (down the street from our place) – cloudy, cool, and a light drizzle.

Scripps Pier – La Jolla, CA

I bought a 10-stop ND filter because I love how moving water looks in long-exposure photography. I live not far from this pier, and used to surf here all the time. One of the few cold and cloudy days in San Diego!

So there it is – my favorites of 2010. It was a great year, and I’m looking forward to all that 2011 holds!

Updated the look and feel of my website and blog today. Still have a few minor formatting issues to sort out (can’t figure out why the blog is shifted slightly from my main site – must have a rogue div luring somewhere).

Also have plenty of pics from my summer travels to Yosemite and the Ansel Adams wilderness to post.

Blogging: Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.