Shot of the Year-- The Badlands

My original post from back in September: This shot is a composite of 18 separate shots that I took and therefore it was a huge file and difficult to load to Blogger and Facebook. I think it might be my shot of the year as the colors and landscape in the Badlands was spectacular at this location. You have some yellow from the Yellow Mounds and some red above that with grassland mixed in under a blue sky. Wonderfully fun shot to take. I shot a strip of 3 HDR shots (dark, average and light) across 6 vertical panoramic slices, all handheld and then stitched together in Lightroom. Anyway, enough technical stuff. It is a beautiful landscape and right now is my shot of the year candidate.

New comment: This is my shot of the year although I don't have any one shot that I really, really think is better than all the others. It certainty took work as this is a composite of 18 separate shots. It still is difficult to upload as it is such a big file, even through I am degrading it to make a smaller file. Hard to give an impression of the Badlands that meet the view that you have there in person. A 360 view of that horizon is amazing. This shot is the closest I can come. Hope you enjoy.

Top Shot #14

Top Shot #14 is from a summer shoot near the museum campus, although it looks like I was on a boat. Not the case. From the edge of the campus area you get a nice view of the city and a bit of a soft, painterly look adds to the beauty of the city, I think.

Top Shots #12 and 13--Flag and Firepower

Another favorite shot was from a summer concert in downtown Naperville.  I saw this young kid waving the American Flag in a spot of nice light. Had to take the shot and it goes down as one of my top shots for the year. This concert had the Naperville Municipal Band play patriotic songs in a picnic setting with hundreds attending. After 20+ years here in Naperville, first time I attended one of Naperville's summer concerts. Glad I did. Hope to bring more of the family out next year!!!

During one of the songs, some Civil War reinactors shot off their cannons timed to the music. Very cool view.

Top Shot #11 Red Rocks Ride

The Red Rocks area near Las Vegas is a favorite place to shoot. It is always good for a couple of winning shots. One of these days, I will go with a plan to ride this road by bike as this is an amazing 12 mile or so loop road with lots of hills, as you can see here. I'm not sure which would take your breath away more--the hills or the view--ok, probably the hills (and the wind, which seems to be always blowing hard at the Red Rocks). Not a trip to be planned mid-day in the summer either. So, on the bucket list but a pretty view nonetheless.

Top Shot #10 --11 Heads a Talking

Top shot #10 has 11 heads in it. These statutes were made by the owner and manager of a bed and breakfast in Old San Juan Puerto Rico. I stayed there on a trip several years ago. Glad to see the facility survive the hurricanes that hit PR last year.

Top Shot #9--Western Prairie Grassland of South Dakota

This is a tough "best of" choice as it is a little plain. But for some reason I love this shot of a field of prairie grass. It just gives a feeling of open spaces you don't get in the places that I travel for work. So, it makes the best of list for 2018. I might choose to downgrade the shot later, but for now it is in my "5 star" grouping.

Christmas Morning and the annual Christmas pj shot

I've learned, over the years to build up to the Christmas pj shot so everything is set up and ready to go when the family is ready to take the shot. Worst thing you can do as a photographer is to fiddle with the camera and settings when groups are ready for their shots. In these instances, it is good to have grandkids at hand to sit in to get the lighting and focus all checked out. Then you have two shots for the price of one. Just love these grandkids beyond words. Once we are all set, the family comes in and bang!!! Got the shot in a few takes. After several years of doing this, everyone knows their role. Nina's wedding photographer commented on how well we naturally fall into a family group shot. She didn't have to repose us at all. That is because we practice at least once a year, if not more. You want to be good at posing? Takes practice. Love this family and love to all. 

Waiting for Christmas Morning

Waiting for Christmas morning. These two, Clio and Eckhart, can't wait for their cousin, Lili, to come over so that they all can play.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours....

Hope you will have a happy holiday season. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. 

Top Shot #8-- Number 4 for the win!!!

Top Shot number 8 is from a summer trip to Arlington with the extended family.  I like this shot, especially as I had number 4 for the win!!! Ok, maybe not, but that is how I remember it today. Like this spacing within this shot and number 4 did win as the finish line is just outside the frame.

Top Shot #7--Mount Washington, Bend Oregon

I was able to take one of the best car rides in my life over a late afternoon near Bend, Oregon. This is a shot of Mount Washington but the scenic drive took you to the summit of the McKenzie Pass at an elevation of 5325 feet. At the summit you are able to see at least 7 peaks, depending on the very changeable weather, including the Three Sisters and Mount Jefferson, among others. Along the ground is the remains of one of the last lava flows in the continental United States, having ended only 2 or 3 thousand years ago. I highly recommend Bend for its craft beers and wonderful outdoor culture. Great place to visit.

Top Shot #6--Model Shoot

Top shot number 6 is from a model shoot that I did this summer with top LA and international wedding photographer, Michael Anthony. He is known for his dramatic shots using a bride's long train or veil. On this shot the goal was to get low and shoot up into the sun, overpowering it to light the bride with my Profoto A1 flash. Lots of fun if you have the time to do it on a wedding day.

Top Shots of 2018--#5 Fireworks

Top Shot number 5 of 2018 is a composite of fireworks from a summer display in downtown Chicago. Since you can never have enough fireworks in one shot, this is a composite of at least 2 dozen shots. Always fun to shoot fireworks in the summertime.

Top Shots of 2018---#4 Yellow Mustang in the Badlands

My 4th top shot of the year is a lucky capture of what looks like a yellow Ford Mustang with the top down traveling in the Badlands National Park. Couldn't have set it up better if I tried. The Badlands is a great place to shoot and I have a number of top shots from that trip.

Top Shot #3 from Bend, Oregon

A beautiful view out of my hotel window in Bend Oregon. Nice to see a city view with no air pollution as the atmosphere looks very sharp.

Top Shots of 2018--#2 Caldar Flamingo #1

Chicago's Caldar Flamingo sculpture takes a spot on the top shots of 2018. The luck here was shooting at near sunset when the sky and lights tend to warm up and balance out. This is one of 2 top shots that include the Calder Flamingo. The other will also be on the list later this month.

Tops Shots 2018--Red Rocks, Las Vegas

To close out the year, I thought I would showcase my top shots of 2018. This one is from the Red Rocks area near Las Vegas. With the sun facing the rocks late in the day, you get some nice lighting. The mix of colors is because the reddish rocks are younger and have been mixed to be on top of the older, grayer rock layers. Makes for some nice pictures.

Bryant Park Pop Up Christmas Shops

Each winter dozens of pop up shops set up in Bryant Park in NYC attracting tourists and locals alike. Food, drink and lots of interesting items to add to the holiday spirit. This was by far the most colorful shop. Selling some sort of balls of colored lights.

Washington Square Park Christmas Tree

Beautiful night for a walk in New York City last night so I walked from the World Trade area in downtown to Bryant Park in mid-town--a distance of 3.5 miles. I did stop for dinner along the way and that helped break up the walk. New York is an excellent walking city.  This is a shot of the famous arch in Washington Park, which had lots of New Yorkers (and tourists, I suppose) also out and about.

Mom, I got this......

I have been going through my favorite family pictures from 2018 and this has always been a funny shot to me. We visited Door County this summer and enjoyed walking along the beach. I don't know what Echo was saying but I think it was, "Mom, step back. I got this."

Looking Down the Chicago River

Got to use some Marriott points back in the fall to stay at the Marriott along the Chicago River. Great views of the city from our hotel room. That square building in the distance, the old Equitable Building, was the first office building that I worked at back in 1981, when I worked for Banca National del Lavoro, an Italian bank. That's a distant memory!!!

A little photo fun on a famous Chicago landmark

A little fisheye fun on a famous Chicago landmark. Clio was born in one of those units, by the way. Anthony has a rental property up there somewhere. So, for us, Marina Towers holds important family history.

Nudie's Honky Tonk

Another Nashville hot spot (although not that hot at 8pm on a Wednesday night in November) with a famous name and an Cadillac El Dorado hanging on the wall above the stage. I figured that Nudie's must have been a strip club at some point but not the case. The bar was owned by Nudie Cohen, a Ukrainian tailor who dressed the stars from Elvis on down with rhinestones and fringes and also designed outlandish cars for the stars. Quite a bit of history on Broadway in Nashville.

Jack's BBQ, Nashville

I finally made it to Jack's BBQ on Broadway in Nashville. I have passed the place a dozen times but it was always too crowded, especially in the summer months, to make a visit. In November however, different story. Just walk right in an order. The BBQ was amazing. Probably the best I ever had so the lines that are usually out the door are understandable. However, as you can see, the joint is a bit past its prime. It has character and you can't be unhappy with that! Definitely, recommend a visit, if you can get there at an off-hour, away from the tourist season. The beef brisket was amazing. 

Honky Tonk Women

Legends Corner Bar in Nashville. A great band and a cold beer. Not a bad night.

Bright Colors!!! It's Shopping Time!!!

Bergdorf Goodman in New York City went for bright colors in their Christmas display window this year. I helped pop the colors a bit but this is one colorful scene to start with. My mom would love to shop this place!!!

Weight of the world

Had to put a spin on this classic pose statue shot from Central Park in NYC. Seems like this model has the weight of the world on him, or at least a lot of pigeons.

Do you have the time?

Time's up.

A Choir in full voice

A puppet choir in New York City.

Radio City Christmas Tree

Just a little color to start the season off right.

Lots to be thankful for....especially a weekend of happy faces....

It's been a weekend of happy faces at the Davern household. This is a happy hot chocolate face, but we have had a variety of other faces. See the collection at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdavern2001/.

Flag Presentation at Dad's Interment Service

The VA does a wonderful ceremony for retired veterans and other fallen warriors. This is one from my dad's service on Monday. Nicely done. A great final send off for my dad.

Well, the birds seem to like it

Art lovers are a fickle bunch. These birds seem to like these statues. From near Columbus Circle in Central Park, New York.

Three Shots for a winner

Got to see the women pros play at the IRT Women's Pro Stop held during the Glass Court Turkey Shoot in Lombard this past weekend. Seeing these women play at the top of their game was amazing. Tremendous power, control and quickness. In this shot, number one in the world, Paola Longoria from Mexico, chases down a past ball and shoots it off the back wall right under 4th seed, Maria Jose Vargas of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paola won that match and the tournament. She is a great player and a tremendous asset to the sport.

Fall Colors in NYC

An unexpected extra day in New York City gave me some time to check out the fall colors. My favorite shot is this one in Central Park. Snow storms in mid November will tend to do this. I got caught in a horrible traffic and an airport nightmare that caused me to come back to the city after failing to get out by plane back home. It was a 10 hour travel day that didn't go anywhere. But the next morning, on my run, got to see the city covered in snow (less than an inch of snow from my reckoning, but it was enough to shut everything down). Remember, when looking for good pictures, look up and look down. You never know where you will find your next shot.

Strange Car Window

Well, this must be a fairly happy, optimistic and positive person. Might not be all that safe, however.

Benito Juarez on my run

I kept seeing this statue on my lunchtime run from the East Bank Club. Looking it up, this is Benito Juarez, the president of Mexico from 1858 to 1872. It is located in the courtyard next to the old Chicago Sun-Times Building. I thought it had a very dictator-like stance, like one you would see in a Soviet bloc country. Yet, he established the rule of law in Mexico and supported Mexican nationalism in a time when the US and the European powers were trying to solidify spheres of influence. Anyway, now I know who to say hi to on my way back from my weekly runs.

Repurposing Old Buildings

This building is likely to have been many, many things over its lifetime. Today, in Georgetown, Texas, it is a bar, restaurant and outdoor active wear clothing store, all in one. Pretty interesting combination.  Have a drink. Have a bite to eat and do some shopping. All in the same building.

Didn't Vote?

Didn't vote? Well, you are going to have to deal with this guy......

Get the Vote Out

After all the yelling and screaming, it is time to get out and vote. Hope you make it to the polls. For me, as much as I want this to be about Trump, I am voting to help change Illinois politics, rather than as some sort of national statement. Trump isn't on the ballot, and I see little that will change national politics on the Illinois ballot. Illinois has a deep fiscal problem that needs to be immediately addressed. I am sorry to say that Illinois taxes are gong to go up no matter who is elected. The only question is if labor will contribute to the pot or if we just are going to pay. In every industry, workers have had to give up some portion of their defined benefit plan to move towards a 401k. Not the government worker. They still get defined benefits with cost of living increases in retirement, far in excess to what is given in the private sector. They deserve their promised benefits, but we have also had to give up distant promises. The state is on a collision course with the math. Just not enough in the coffers to pay everything that has been promised yet the state courts have made the promises unbreakable. This situation is untenable. We will have to pay more but the other side should be willing to give up some future benefits to get a more solid promise to pay. This has nothing to do with national politics. For me, it is just about the budget....and I get to post some pretty pictures from past trips to Washington.