Happy New Year with all good wishes that 2009 will bring some stability to our country and beyond.

Last week, I celebrated 2008 with a photograph from each of the first six months. This week, I share some from the second half of the year. Some you’ve seen before; some you have not. These are some of my favorites…

July: We went to a summer celebration of tomatoes near where we live. It was a festive day, with rows of a wide variety of Heirloom tomatoes laid out on long tables waiting to be sampled. After tasting, I wandered over to an old tobacco shed across from their studio. They had hung this old iron hub as a decorative touch. I liked the way it was suspended, looking like a star against a dark sky.

August: As some of you have read, we headed out a couple of days early for an assignment in Phoenix. I got up quite early one hot summer morning to catch the sunrise, but because the climb up the hillside was quite steep, I left my tripod in the car. When I crested the saddle, I saw this panorama, so hand held, I captured the makings of one of my first HDR panoramas.

September: The Southwest is one of my favorite places to photograph. We visited this location with our students, and while a couple who were with me were waiting for their shots, I saw the makings of what I hoped would be a stunning image. I had my tripod this time, so it was easier to compose the makings of another HDR panorama.

October: Arnie had gone off to another spot with most of our students, while I stayed behind with a couple who were still working on shots. After I helped them strengthen their compositions, I saw the potential for a great shot. Then everyone arrived! I did the shot, of course, then another when everyone left. As it turned out, I much prefer the one with people.

November: I always love photographing in this area of the Outer Banks. The skies are large and magnificent, and this old shack, perhaps a duck blind, tends to add a nice element to any of my compositions. I liked the simplicity of the scene and the subtle colors. The patch of grasses in the foreground added just that little something that set off the rest of the scene.

December: This was a month to catch up, not to photograph. It was rather a grizzly-gray month, and the weather wasn’t particularly cooperative for taking out the camera. There were the holidays, gatherings with friends, packages to mail, phone calls to catch up with dear friends, and folders of images waiting to be processed. I did, however, manage take back ownership of my office. It had run wild during our travels, so it’s a good feeling to have it organized and tidy, and an excellent way to start out the new year for me!

We hope to see many of you at our workshops this year. We already have quite a few sign-ups, including a good number of our alumni/ae. There are several discounts available. For more information, go to our Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures website, and if you are considering joining us, do as others have already done … make your room reservations. You can always cancel later if necessary!

We really look forward to getting comments from you (please post below). Remember, you don’t need to be a Google member to do so. Just click on the “comments” link below and post anonymously.

If you wish to get notices when new articles are posted, look below this article and click on/in the appropriate box. Even if you choose not to do that, please share this blog and our website with your friends and relatives who love photography.