Goodbye 2009 - The End of the Decade
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Can you believe it folks? Another year has passed. As I wrote my end of year message last year, this day seemed so far away. Yet today, last year seemed like only yesterday.
2008 was a very bad year as a result of the deaths of my good friend and my mom, even though photographically it was a good year.
How about 2009? 2009 was indeed a year of change; some for the better and some for the worse. 2009 for me was the start of a new chapter in my life; a turning point towards accentuating the positive and purging the negative from my life. It was a tremendous year photographically. I finally got to see he Grand Canyon, not just once, but twice. I fell in love with a place called Sedona. I was there only one day; but those red rocks are calling me back.
2009 took my back to the Southwest three times. In February, I finally fulfilled my dream of seeing and photographing Arches and Canyonlands National Park and coming face to face with the mighty Colorado River. I had the privilege of having Moab nature photographer Bret Edge as my photo guide out there. I cannot forget my jaw dropping as I drove in on the scenic drive into Moab and saw the Fisher Towers or my seeing Delicate Arch after a brutal 1.5 mile climb. Arches is calling me back as well.
I even had the pleasure of meeting up again with the world famous photographer Mike Jones at Coal Mine Canyon, Az and I finally got to meet his foil, Jill's Junk. Poor Jill has had to witness Jones soil national monuments in at least 7 states. I hope to meet up with them again soon.
As in previous years, I had the privilege of shooting throughout the state of Florida with fraggle red (many times just by running into each other - we shot in the Glades, Dania Beach, Jupiter, 4th of July, Alligator Farm, Sanibel, and who knows where else) and because of her and Rachelle Vance, we started the Conch Shell club. As you can see through out photo streams, the conch shells came out in force in 2009. [Doh! I forgot to bring Mr. Conch here to Fort DeSoto].
I also had the pleasure of shooting with Carlos and Ivan. Those shoots at Jupiter Rocks were an experience. I also got to shoot with Ian this year. Dude, we need to get out some more in 2010.
I also got to make some new friends in 2009 such as Michele Eve; she's quite a talent and is quickly making a name for herself and even had one of her pics published in Time Magazine. Way to go M and thanks for your help in 2009 with your photography for the Tribute concert for my mom we put on in May.
What a year 2009 has been photographically. I got to shoot several swimsuit models which was a blast. I got to shoot in New York, Philly, Washington DC, and one of my new favorite places, Shenandoah National Park.
Last, but not least, i had the privilege of shooting with Claudia Shutterbug (aka Senora Shutterbug) in 2009. She's been a great friend and has helped me tremendously this year; she helped me with 2 websites and an online store; facebook fan pages; translations; and she provided me with tons of laughter and great photography and friendship along the way. In fact, she took on the role of Mussolini and motivated me to go to the gym. I am now ending the year close to 50 lbs lighter than how I started it. Thanks again Shutterbug. You're tops in my book. The site is www.michaelpancierphotography.com. Check it out.
So this is the end of the decade of the 00's? This past decade started with a whimper and ended with a bang I must say. I'm looking forward to 2010 and the start of the new decade with nothing but positives. I'm not sure where I'll end up in 2010. I will be back here in St. Pete in spring for the spoonies and will be back in St. Augustine in May for the annual Alligator Farm bird breeding frenzy. My hope is to make it o Yosemite this year. This past year I got acquainted with the writings of John Muir through the Ken Burn's National Park series. So as John Muir put it, "the mountains are calling and I must go." I hear that call and hope to be there this year.
I know I'm starting to ramble like Mike Jones, so I guess I'd tell you that this pic is of the Gulf Pier at Fort DeSoto.
Happy New Year everyone. Stay safe and I hope to see you all out in the field real soon.
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Uploaded on Dec 31, 2009
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Is 2009 Over Yet?
Everglades National Park - Sunset at Pine Glades Lake.
I'm off to finish the year at Fort De Soto. Hope the birds are waiting for me. See you in the field folks and I hope Senora Shutterbug gets warm weather and Fraggle Red gets some landscape shots before 2010.
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Photo Stats: 5d Mark II + 70-200 2.8L at 145mm; f/14 at 1/120; ISO 100
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Uploaded on Dec 30, 2009
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My Pink Muse
People ask me what got me into avian photography? Well besides Art Morris' book, it was the roseate spoonbill. For years, this was my nemises bird. I finally saw one on my 40th birthday and since then, spoonies have been my obsession.
I usually only get to see them on the west coast of Florida, but lately, I've seen some here on the east side. But nothing like when I hit Tampa Bay with Capt. Shadle or what I saw at Ding on Sunday .... 18 spoons all waiting for me ....
As I mentioned yesterday...got up at 4:30am to get to Ding Darling NWR by 7:15am and there they were.
It's all about the pink birds my friends. The other birds, are nice; but they don't hold a candle to the spoonies.
You have to get up early to catch a spoon. It's worth it.
In this image, I thought of the classical 3 muses image from Greek mythology. Well, here are the 3 pink muses from avian photography.
Enjoy ....
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Uploaded on Dec 28, 2009
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It's a Pink World After All
Drove 150 miles at the butt crack of dawn yesterday to make it to Ding Darling NWR to see pink and I was rewarded.
18 Spoons out by the main lagoon. They hung out for about 30 minutes, then just like that, they were gone.
Enjoy the end of 2009. I can't wait for 2010.
(Reposted to clean up dust spot)
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Uploaded on Dec 28, 2009
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Olga's Sunset
The sunset in the Everglades today was amazing. I can't think of a better image to dedicate to my mom who left the earth one year ago to play and sing for the angels.
Image taken at Pine Glades Lake. Amazing sky today. This is a 3 image HDR.
“When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator” - Ghandi
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Uploaded on Dec 27, 2009
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