© Brad Mangas

I’ve started seeing (with envy) a few 2010 top 10 lists on other photographers blogs and I know it’s somewhat of a popular thing to publish at years end. I thought about it yesterday and decided I would see what I could come up with, I quickly realized I’m not very good at picking out the “top” 10 photos of the year. I debate on the best one on any particular day but the whole year, wow! I realized I may be looking at this all wrong, so instead of picking out the “best” photos of the year I decided to pick out photos that in some way inspired me or I connected with more than others so my list is a little different than what one might expect a “Top 10” list to be. Taking this approach I realized what I connected with most over the last year was not necessarily “the best” images but ones from my year long Daily Photograph project. You know something, I kind of miss it already. Not the need to post a photo everyday but more the challenge of just doing it. I learned much from this project such as patience and awareness. I believe I can say I succeeded in my goal of making photography a very important part of my everyday life as it will remain even as I move forward past the Daily Photograph postings. I also learned one must challenge themselves if they really want to grow in anything, simply setting back and letting whatever happens happen accomplishes nothing. Take control and make it happen is the only way to get results.

OK, so back to the top 10. Once I realized the Daily Photograph was for the most part what provided inspiration this past year I started looking through the 300 plus images I had categorized as such. Some images ended up part of this group just because I thought they would make for a good post while others were truly daily photographs, meaning I had no preconceived plans when the day started they simply happened because number 1, I had my camera with me and number 2, I was aware of my surroundings and looked for something that either inspired or intrigued me. These were the types of images that I started choosing, quickly pulling them aside I finally stopped when I had just over 30 chosen, there were more I could have picked but I needed this to become 10 and there was no reason to nit pick over this one or that one. Then to come up with 10 from this group I started ShapeCollage which needed me to chose the photos for the collage. I then randomly clicked on 10 of the 30+ images, with only the file name showing I didn’t know which ones I would end up with but it didn’t matter to me, any one was as worthy as the other in my opinion. These are the ones that I share with you now as my personal 10 picks of 2010. And of course they are in no particular order.

© Brad Mangas

This photo was taken while attending a family reunion back in October. I took my little G11 along (like I always do) not necessarily to photograph people (my lovely young bride had that covered, plus it was her side of the family ;) but just in case I could slip away for a walk before dark. The reunion was being held at a shelter house in Shunga Park so a walk would be good after the meal. This is a the bark of a large poplar tree along the walking trail, I knew walking under this large limb that I had to get a picture for a Daily Photograph. I loved the colors and abstract nature of such natural things. This will make it onto the gallery site with a little more refinement of processing. Taken with the Canon G11 (the swivel screen came in very handy for this shot above my head).

© Brad Mangas

An old stone church nestled in the wooded areas of the flint hills. I knew I wanted this shot as a daily photograph and also wanted a reminder to return during fall to see how it could be captured with fall colors. My timing was off during  fall of 2010 so I will try again in 2011. Taken with a Nikon P80 point and shoot.

© Brad Mangas

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An image taken at the annual Christmas Party for American Family Insurance of Shawnee Co., (were my lovely young bride works). I thought the shot turned out really nice and very Christmas like. Something very different than what I would normally think of taking a picture of, one of the many benefits of the Daily Photograph project.

© Brad Mangas

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I passed over these train tracks one night while on a country road and the thought occurred to me hey, wonder what these would look like photographed with the flash on. So out of the truck I came, stood on the tracks and made this image. The spots are actually from a light sprinkle that had just started coming down and lite up by the flash. This is the type of stuff the Daily Photograph made me do. Try something just for the fun and pure enjoyment of photography. Taken with the Nikon P80.
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© Brad Mangas

Taken during one of my morning walks with Lexi. When I would have my small camera with me which at the first part of the year was a Nikon P80 and later replaced by a Canon G11 I found myself slowing down when out in nature. It was one of these times while standing in the shade of another big poplar tree during the autumn months that this images literally appeared before my eyes, the wasp had just landed. I can remember thinking how cool to find something so small and fleeting in this vast open area of outdoors. The wind was blowing slightly but didn’t give up until I had taken a few shots in hopes of sharing on the Daily Photograph. Taken with the Canon G11.

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© Brad Mangas

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This shot was taken back in January of 2010. After a good snow the night before I grabbed my camera bag and headed out to explore once more the big park across from home. As I ventured off the walking path and passed this maple I couldn’t help but notice not the tree, but the wonderful shadows it cast on the fallen snow. Up until that time I probably wouldn’t have thought to take a picture of shadows on the snow, but wanting to exploring all options photography offers I knew the play on light and shadow could create something unique. I wouldn’t compare this shot to many of the wonderful similar images I have seen from talented photographers but I knew I was given an opportunity for this brief moment to practice some of the things I had seen and read. The need for personal growth during this time was the reason this shot was made. Taken with a Canon 400D dslr.
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© Brad Mangas

Out driving and exploring new areas in the flint hills I always come across something unique, a barn, a stone fence post, a sign, in this case a sheep farm and particularly this wooden sheep farm sign. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to stop and take a picture, what a neat entry for the Daily Photograph. And as an added personal bonus as the name on the sign implies, I went to school with some of the Ebert kids! This was taken in my home county of Kansas, Pottawatomie. It was nice to see some of them hadn’t moved far. I had to chuckle that some had become sheep farmers. Thank goodness for the hard working people that chose to do the work that others rely on. Taken with the Canon G11 from the seat of my truck.

© Brad Mangas

This is a rather unique shot for me and of me. I was in Emporia visiting my youngest son early in the year. Snow was on the ground and it was cold outside. As I got ready to make the hour drive back home I decided to stop in a local Antique Mall and have a look around, wow what photo opportunities places like this have! I asked the owner if it was alright to walk around and take some pictures, maybe thinking I was a little odd he thought it was neat that I wanted to. As I walked the crowed isles with shelves packed from floor to ceiling I turned the corner to see what appeared to be just stuff scattered everywhere, but what caught my attention was the mirror on the wall with yours truly showing up almost hidden by the mass of old stuff (I mean antiques). This obviously has some photoshop work done. I had purchased the Topaz plugin bundle not long before and found I loved the way shots from this antique mall full of old treasured looked worked up with one of the Adjust 4 presets. Again rather different for someone who concentrates on nature photography. What was the Daily Photograph project turning me into! Taken with the Nikon P80.

© Brad Mangas

The mystery shot. This is a closeup of  blooms of a crabapple tree. I was playing around with macro shots and minimum depth of field particularly focused on the stamen of a single bloom. The image turned out fine, but then my mind kicked in and I thought, could I make this look different? So into Topaz Adjust I took it and applied some filtering and this was the result. The single part of focus remained lighter than the out of focus parts and I knew I had to share it on the daily photograph. Having fun with your chosen craft, doesn’t get much better than that. Canon 400D slr.

© Brad Mangas

Many of the Daily Photographs were taken while out on walks with our faithful companion Lexi, it always amazed me how she would know when the camera came out it was time to sit and wait (maybe she was just saying, oh brother here he goes again with that picture taken thing). This was the case when I started paying close attention to a group of cypress trees one morning. Colors of autumn had just begun to start and some of the first happened to be on the trunk of one of these trees. Looking from a distance or casually walking by nothing looked particularly special about the creeper (or possibly poison ivy, some leaf groups had 3 and some 5) growing up the trunk, but in true fashion of the Daily Photograph I decided to snap some shots in hopes of exposing the beauty that must be present if I would only pay attention long enough to see it. Taken with the G11.

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OK, how can anyone pick the top 10 out of thousands or even hundreds of photos, it becomes very subjective at least for me. With the Daily Photograph the subject was more growth and vision than final image. Are these 10 that I shared the very “best” photos? I will be the first to admit they are not. But they represent more than just what a typical “top” photograph represents. They represent what I work on each time the camera is in my hands, the willingness to look a little closer, look a little longer, to pay more attention to the world I live in. To have presence of mind and to understand a photograph is what I chose to create from my interpretation of the surroundings. To create something that first and foremost has meaning to me, only then can I begin to make better photographs, only then will an image captured on this mechanical electronic device called a camera become more than a picture. The Daily Photograph is, to this point the best project I have undertaken for growth and development of photography on a personal level. One that may be revisited one day, but always remain a positive stepping stone for better things.

May the new year be filled with the utmost of joy and happiness for you and all your loved ones.

Brad