Happy New Year!!

As 2011 winds down and we look around the corner to 2012 I wish you all the best.  I hope you had a wonderful 2011 full of happiness and love and that 2012 will be even better!!  I managed to completely finish the 2011 365 day challenge and have signed up for the 2012 366 day challenge.  I have learned so much this year and I feel that I have really grown as a photographer.  I took some online photography courses and some Photoshop Elements courses that I will continue into 2012.  Thank you all for taking the time to view my photos and for commenting.  I have made many new friends and touched base with some old ones.  What more could a person ask for!  Happy New Years to you all!!

Free Theme #5

These are the beautiful Rocky Mountains near Jasper, Alberta.  I love the mountains!!  So this post was for December 30th.  1 more to go!!

Tables Theme #296

Oops, that last post was for December 28th.  This one is for December 29th.

These guys were out on some VERY thin ice trying to take some fish home for their tables.  More courageous than me!  I took this out the window while driving (hubby was driving) so not the best capture.

Team Theme #298

Team Trouble!!  Right to left: my son, Aidan, my nephew, Triton, my nephew, Reign and my daughter, Téa.  Love those faces!!

Seafood Theme #254

At least it was seafood for the birds!  Bits of shell, kelp, seaweed, crabs, you name it.  This post was for December 27th.

Free Theme #4

I love this piece of driftwood at the beach.  It was just beautiful.  I used Topaz 5 with the Vibrant collection but I can’t remember the exact filter.  Sorry.  This posting is for December 26th.

Seaside Theme #255

Hi all.  Happy New Year!!  I am home now from my Christmas at my Mom’s.  Since I am so close to the end of completing this challenge I am going to post the last 7 pictures tonight.  This photo was taken from the ferry as we were arriving at Nanaimo, British Columbia.  I used Topaz 5 and applied the HDR Dynamic Brightness filter.  The storm clouds were just lifting and the sun was breaking through.  It was beautiful!!  So this photo was for December 25th.

Slow Theme #270

I love the way the slow decay of old buildings give them a chance to develop such character.  The first building you will recognize as the building across the road from our property.  I used Topaz Adjust 5 on it to add the Detail – Strong filter and then over top of that I added the Winter filter.  It was really dark and dreary here so the filters help bring out the colors and textures.

On this second photo I used PSE9 and Topaz BW effects and applied the Adaptive Diffusion with Color to give it a dreamy effect.  This one is my favourite.  This building in on the property behind us.  It was snowing lightly when I took both pictures.  I think you can see the flakes in the first photo.  Merry  Christmas Eve to you all.

The Office Theme #328

This  is my hubby in his office on the last day of work.  Just wrapping things up before Christmas!

Refreshing Theme #237

My pretty, black June Bug on a breezy, overcast day that must be very refreshing to her in her thick coat after many days of sunny, warm weather.