Weekly Photo Challenge: Our 2012 in Pictures

Posted on December 28, 2012 by | 74 Comments

By Vladimir Brezina

The last weekly Photo Challenge of 2012 is—My 2012 in Pictures!

It’s been impossible to select the best photos. There are just too many photos to look through—I’ve posted more than 2,000 on this blog in 2012—and it takes more resolution than I am capable of at the moment to cull them severely. It’s like killing your children…

So here are, by no means the best photos of 2012, but just 12—one for each month—that in future years may remind Johna and me of some of the memorable stories of 2012—

January: An aborted kayak trip turns into an unexpected adventure on the streets of Red Hook, Brooklyn
February: Brown pelicans perform a pas de deux near St. Petersburg, Florida
March: Early crocuses and insects in NYC’s Central Park
April: We visit the 9/11 Memorial, Manhattan
May: Johna’s open-water kayak training in Rhode Island (photo by John Ozard)
June: Manhattan Island Marathon Swim
July: We land on the North Shore of Long Island during our kayak circumnavigation of the island
August: Sunrise over the ocean in Key Biscayne, Florida
September: Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition in New York Harbor
October: Even rats drowned during Hurricane Sandy
November: Fall colors in NYC’s Central Park
December: Conch emerges from its shell on St. Petersburg Beach, Florida

.
The stories and more photos are here:

We hope that 2013 will turn out to be equally memorable and picturesque!

This entry was posted in Photography and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

74 responses to “Weekly Photo Challenge: Our 2012 in Pictures”

  1. vastlycurious.com | December 28, 2012 at 5:02 pm | Reply

    Hard to choose a favorite!! Lovely year you both had!

    Like

  2. Frank Winters | December 28, 2012 at 5:06 pm | Reply

    Great great great!!! — You guys circumnavigated Long Island? What’s it – 120 miles long (island)? Must have taken a while — where did you stay — or better yet I’ll read the blog entry the blog entry. The conch is cool — I’ve never seen one in that state. I look forward to following your adventures in 2013.

    Like

    • Vladimir Brezina | December 28, 2012 at 10:26 pm | Reply

      The Long Island circumnavigation was our big adventure this past summer. 285 (land) miles, 10 days. Take a look at the detailed writeup with photos, in (so far) 11 parts, starting here!

      Hope to have you with us in 2013! Happy New Year, Frank!

      Like

      • Frank Winters | December 28, 2012 at 11:09 pm | Reply

        Of course! I’ll follow you adventures. BTW I spent my teen years on Long Island — Huntington Station — except for a couple of fishing trips not much boating tho. You seem to travel on water where I’ve been on land — sorta.

        Like

        • Vladimir Brezina | December 28, 2012 at 11:17 pm |

          Yes, very much so! By now I know the Long Island shoreline (and that of Connecticut, and the Hudson River) pretty intimately from the water side, but often I would be hard pushed to tell you what was in the same spot on land. Just as nautical charts show fine detail of the watery regions but not much of the land, the exact converse of land maps…

          Like

        • Frank Winters | December 28, 2012 at 11:21 pm |

          Another BTW — BTW — the 120 miles is the length of the island, I believe. So not surprised to read its 285 around. Did you stop at Shelter Island? My wife and I spent a lovely long weekend there early in our relationship (over 30 years ago). We biked and took ferries (of course) visited Sag Harbor and thought about Steinbeck who had history there. Once you get past the nearly endless suburbs the island has lots to offer. (I will read your bloggy history)

          Like

        • Vladimir Brezina | December 28, 2012 at 11:30 pm |

          We stayed one night in Greenport, just next to the Shelter Island ferry… so we saw Shelter Island from close up, but we never actually set foot on it. We did hear a lot of good things about Shelter Island. And in general we did not have quite as much time to explore the region between the forks as we would have liked to have—that’s a part of Long Island that we definitely want to go back to!

          Like

  3. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Photos | Alastair's Blog

  4. Out Walking the Dog | December 28, 2012 at 5:15 pm | Reply

    Fascinating year with Wind Against Current – I look forward to more adventures.

    Like

  5. travelgardeneat | December 28, 2012 at 5:30 pm | Reply

    Great choices to reflect back on the year! We just enjoyed a few days in your fine city and I thought of the “Wind Against Current” as we took the Statue Cruises harbor cruise and drifted by the skyline and Lady Liberty. ~ Kat

    Like

    • Vladimir Brezina | December 28, 2012 at 10:17 pm | Reply

      I hope you had a good time, Kat! You might well have seen us on the water during your harbor cruise, except that the dock that we launch from to go to the Battery and the Statue of Liberty is still out of commission after Hurricane Sandy, and so we have to launch elsewhere…

      Happy 2013!

      Like

  7. Amy | December 28, 2012 at 5:53 pm | Reply

    Great choices! Happy New Year!

    Like

  8. Angeline M | December 28, 2012 at 5:55 pm | Reply

    It looks like a busy 2012! Great photos.
    Happy New Year!

    Like

  9. Angelina Carrera | December 28, 2012 at 6:07 pm | Reply

    Beautiful shots! I LOVE the one of the pelicans. I’ve never seen birds do that before and pelicans are among my favorites! Thanks for ‘liking’ my blog — I might never have found yours and those adorable pelicans!! You must have had a long lens……..

    Like

  10. mmmuncy | December 28, 2012 at 6:21 pm | Reply

    You weren’t upstate kayaking the Lower Moose River at the end of September, were you? :p I nearly included a shot of a pair of kayakers going over a ten foot drop in my Photo Challenge post! On a more serious note, your blog is fantastic! Great storytelling, and I love the photography. Hopefully next year is just as productive, and if you ever make a trip way, way, upstate (we have some great kayaking!), look me up.

    Like

    • Vladimir Brezina | December 28, 2012 at 10:30 pm | Reply

      It wasn’t us—we’ve done no river kayaking to speak of. But we’ve talked about getting more into it, and if we come upstate, we’ll certainly look you up! Thanks so much for the kind offer :-)

      And of course Happy 2013!

      Like

  11. Moni | December 28, 2012 at 7:30 pm | Reply

    I loved your gallery! I remember reading you post about the aborted kayak trip way back in January and really enjoying it. It kind of made me think a little about learning to Kayak. maybe I will in 2013! :)

    Like

  12. bluebrightly | December 28, 2012 at 8:48 pm | Reply

    Killing your children – really! With your amazing photos and stories I have to agree. I need to read the Red Hook story – and I love the crocus with bee and the tug races. Best new Year to you both and many more happy adventures.

    Like

  13. gregorychankins | December 29, 2012 at 12:12 am | Reply

    Fabulous shots you two! I agree, it’s hard to choose, but it’s a good representation of all the great photos you’ve posted.

    Happy New Year, from our coast to yours!

    Like

  14. ailsapm | December 29, 2012 at 2:29 am | Reply

    Oh those crocuses! xxx

    Like

  15. Jennifer Triplett | December 29, 2012 at 8:26 am | Reply

    I have been enjoying following your kayak adventures…looking forward to seeing what next year will bring!

    Like

  16. Shaanthz | December 29, 2012 at 9:24 am | Reply

    Thanks for a great year of showing us the waters around the city many of us call home….your blog postings were truly out of this world – both with beautiful pictures and narrative. Wishing you both a very Happy 2013 with more kayaking and pictures for us :) Stay well!

    Like

  17. LY | December 29, 2012 at 11:31 am | Reply

    Beautiful shot of the pelicans.

    Like

  18. eof737 | December 29, 2012 at 5:54 pm | Reply

    Love those pelicans… ;-)
    ¸.•*¨*•.♪♫♫♪Happy New Year to You & Yours!.♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ♥
    ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜” Have a restful weekend!
    Eliz

    Like

  19. dearrosie | December 29, 2012 at 6:01 pm | Reply

    wow re the last picture!

    Like

  20. missmarlaneely | December 29, 2012 at 7:32 pm | Reply

    beautiful photos.. you’ve got a great eye!

    Like

  21. annetjiesepoems | December 29, 2012 at 10:55 pm | Reply

    Very cool!

    Like

  22. Nature on the Edge | December 30, 2012 at 1:34 am | Reply

    What a year, many adventurous tales. Have enjoyed travelling along through your wonderful blog. Best wishes for 2013!

    Like

  23. Yen-Yens-Passions | December 30, 2012 at 2:40 am | Reply

    The year of fun and sad tears!

    Have a Blissful Happy New Year.:)
    YenYen

    Like

  24. Max510 | December 30, 2012 at 3:37 am | Reply

    Vladi, we’ve got wonderful shots all year long!
    keep it up !
    Happy new year

    Like

  25. The Palladian Traveler | December 30, 2012 at 5:18 am | Reply

    Great look back on 2012, Vladi. Best wishes to you and your kayak for twenty-thirteen.

    Like

  26. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Pictures | Mike Hardisty Photography

  27. BobR | December 30, 2012 at 12:18 pm | Reply

    Really nice selection. Happy 2013! :)

    Like

  28. vintagefrenchchic | December 30, 2012 at 4:21 pm | Reply

    Very nice! I had to go with the one a month idea too. It was fun looking through all of my photos again as I chose.

    I understand your sentiment…”like killing your children”…it is impossible for me to choose which to get rid of. Thankfully, I recently spent the better part of a day transferring my 2012 photo onto an external hard drive so I don’t lose them should my ancient laptop decide to bow out.

    Like

    • Vladimir Brezina | December 30, 2012 at 4:25 pm | Reply

      Yes, definitely back up, preferably multiple times. You’ll be glad you did. Of course, then you have to maintain those backups and make sure that they remain readable as the technology changes… and all that just gets worse as you take more photographs ;-)

      Happy New Year!

      Like

  29. OceanPhoenix | January 3, 2013 at 10:12 am | Reply

    Happy New Year to you and your family :)

    It’s so difficult to choose among all those memorable moments of 2012, isn’t it? But you’ve chosen so great pictures ..thanks for sharing all of this with us!

    Like

  30. mflahertyphoto | January 4, 2013 at 2:44 pm | Reply

    Nice shots Vladimir, and you blog in a very organized way (makes me feel lame). Happy New Year!

    Like

    • Vladimir Brezina | January 4, 2013 at 9:45 pm | Reply

      Organization is overrated ;-) It’s just a matter of putting things in the right slots as you go along, and not falling behind. You make up for it by having such beautiful photos! Happy New Year!

      Like

  31. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: my 2012 in pictures « What's (in) the picture?

  32. billyeats | January 9, 2013 at 11:18 am | Reply

    Love, love, love your blog! Thank you for sharing. When people combine and intermix their passions, it seems to me that great things can emerge. I will be following this interaction on your page closely. billyeats.com

    Like

  33. burnettfreelanceimagery | January 11, 2013 at 10:26 pm | Reply

    You have some wonderful images throughout your blog, I look forward to seeing more in the coming year. Thanks too for liking so much of my blog, I hope you will continue to enjoy future posts as I work to increase my postings in the coming year. Thanks again for visiting my blog!

    Like

  34. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Pictures | Nature's Walk Photography

  35. pattisj | January 16, 2013 at 2:36 am | Reply

    You have some interesting shots in your gallery. So that is what a conch looks like! Wonderful pelican pose.

    Like

Comments are most welcome!