In a year that took me all over the world , I probably took at least 10,000 photos before paring them down to a manageable 3,000 or so.
And some of them stand out more than the others.
Here are my 11 best photos from 2011:
Wolfgang Zee, Austria. This was a stop on my Sound of Music tour and coming over a hill and seeing this lake simply took my breath away. I’d love to go back to Austria and see more of the Salzkammergut region, which is filled with lakes like this.
Doorway in Ubud, Bali. One thing I love about Bali is how much art is incorporated into people’s homes. I was walking down a side street and just happened to get a shot of a random doorway — that happened to be guarded by the Hindu god Ganesh!
Sunset in Fethiye, Turkey. This lovely, summery village was filled with hundreds of sailboats — which made it photogenic at any time of day. I was sitting in a cafe as this was taken, and waited until the sky was its pinkest to take the shot.
Wadi Rum, Jordan, at Sunrise. Probably my coolest shot of the year, this was taken atop a camel in the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan as the sun rose. An experience I will never forget.
Summer nights in Boston, Massachusetts. This is my favorite time of year in Boston — when it’s hot, the sky is indigo, and it feels like you could stay out all night. This was shot on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, dividing the North End and downtown.
Descending Mount Snowdon, Wales. When we climbed Mount Snowdon , we were in a cloud at the top — so when we descended, we were thrust into sunshine again. I love the understated beauty of the British countryside, and it couldn’t have been a more beautiful day.
Chef at Casa Artusi, Forlimpopoli, Italy. My final adventure on the Delicious Emilia-Romagna trip in Italy was learning how to make pasta at Casa Artusi cooking school. As our chef poured our celebratory wine, I took this shot — and immediately knew it had to be in black and white. I love the contrast; I love how she’s posed.
Hoi An, Vietnam, at dusk. Hoi An was such a beautiful town with its yellow buildings and red lanterns — but if you go during twilight, when the sky turns lavender, that brings it to the next level.
Perama Island, Lombok, Indonesia. This was the first stop on my ill-fated cruise to Komodo Island — but what a sunset. This is exactly how a sunset on a deserted beach should look.
Clarke Quay, Singapore. I spent my time at Clarke Quay taking pictures, and this one was a challenge, as I had no tripod. I’m happy with it — it’s such a Singaporean image!
Sunset over Lake Chocorua, New Hampshire. I grew up camping in the White Mountains, but I had never seen Lake Chocorua, just north of our campground, White Lake, in Tamworth. We got there just in time to capture the sun as it slipped behind the mountain.
Which photo do you think is the best?
Like these photos? Check out my 2012 travel calendars , all from my own photography!
