When I think about my top ten shots from 2011, I first think about my landscape work. That is what I enjoy the most and what I devote the most time to learning. However, you really can’t neglect people, so here are my top ten people shots from 2011.

10. I shot my first wedding this year, my nephew’s. Lindsey, the bride,  really only cared about one shot and this was it. I am glad I caught it because it is not an easy shot to get right and we only had a couple of takes. I practiced this once before from across the street of a wedding party at South Park. I realized the whole jumping shot is something everyone gets asked to do at some point in his or her life. It helps to have done it before.

9. This is my oldest brother, Scott, his wife, Nina, and youngest child, Hannah. We spent the afternoon out driving along the Hudson Valley and made a last minute stop at Bear Mountain State Park in NY. The view was spectactular and the company great.

8. It is so rewarding when you capture someone’s personality in a shot. My college friend, Leanne was married in October and this shot was as she and her new husband, Dave, exited the church. It is classic Leanne.

7. Lindsey, with a more relaxed expression.

6. Benjamin posing for me. Sometimes I almost feel like my 50mm f/1.4 is too much lens for me but when it blurs out the background like this I realize it’s a keeper.

5. This is what they call the “money shot”. It’s the shot you have to get at a wedding.

4. Another Benjamin against the backdrop of the Roberto Clemente Bridge on our way to a Pirate game.

3. Good advice from a friend who is a professional photographer helped me plan this shot. thanks, Amy!

2. William seemed enthralled with his new baby sister.

1. This was just one of those happy moments. it is hard to get a pre-schooler to act naturally in front of a camera, but Lily was so overcome with being a big sister she was not even paying attention to me.

Check out Anna Harvey’s new blog.  Anna is blogging about her upcoming short-term mission trip with Providence Church in conjunction with Covenant Mercies.

The team from Providence Church will help build a school for the orphange supported by Covenant Mercies.

This may be the funniest picture I have ever taken.

Yesterday marked the birthdays of several friends and family members on on one day! 

• Rochelle
• Kim D.
• Iva Mae
• Marsha
• Kim Grover

It was the “big 4-0″ for Rochelle and we celebrated in traditional Providence fashion with a surprise party.

Notice how Rochelle and her mom have the same expression in this photo.

I have been practicing taking pictures.  Monday was a discouraging night at the car show because the sun was so bright I had difficulty seeing what was in focus/not in focus.  I should have just used autofoocus.  I was pleasantly surprised to have a good one of Baby Jack appear among the duds, though.

I had the unexpected pleasure of reconnecting with college friends this week.  Jenn and I sang in the same group in college and attended church together at LOLC.  Andy joined us, as well, pretty often on his weekend trips down to Edinboro and would often stay with Chuck.  IT was a total blast to catch up with the,

I rode over with Iva and Ella to visit Baby Jack, Jill, & Bill tonight.  Ella was quite taken with her baby brother.  She sang to him, kissed him, was upset when he cried and said “love you” to him as she said goodbye (unprompted).  She was very sweet with him.

I have uploaded pictures to Flickr and you can view them here.  I also have some video clips and am processing those and the pictures into a slide show which should be available later tonight.

Jack Timothy Nelson was born this morning weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 oz and sporting strawberry blond hair.

More pictures will be forthcoming.