January 5th, 2012

2011 A Photographic Retrospective

Another year has come and gone faster than I imagined. As I reflect, there were many more good memories than bad. Most significant of all was marrying my wonderful wife. The rest, however, makes for a good list in any year: a new job at Kiva, the launch of Farmanac – my first iPhone app, a trip to Bali, three visits to British Columbia, and a great year of skiing in Tahoe and surfing at Ocean Beach. With so much of our attention constantly focused forward it’s great to take a minute and look back. Here is a brief recap of my 2011.

A surfer drops in on a wave at Ocean Beach, San Francisco
January and February brought great surf to Ocean Beach. For weeks the surfing was as good as it gets in San Francisco, Never dropping below head high while the winds blew off shore. Lucky me I was living directly across the street.
David Prchal, Will Lavery, John Lavery, and Kenny Carruthers in front of a wall in Nelson, British Columbia
David Prchal, Will Lavery, John Lavery, and Kenny Carruthers after a day of great snow at Whitewater resort in Nelson, British Columbia. We lucked into great snow during a week skiing the interior mountains of BC.
The ski chalet of Baldface with a large snow pack sitting on the roof and snow covering the trees.
For the second year in a row we scored three amazing days of cat skiing at Baldface Resort. There are few memories that can compare to untracked powder runs with friends.
A helicopter lifts off from a snow covered landing space. Overcast skies and snow covered trees in the background.
Weather permitting the trip to and from Baldface lodge is by helicopter. After three days of powder skiing it's bitter sweet to leave but at least it's a fun ride.
Robert Sostak & Sue Hee Sung smiling after their marriage.
Weddings seemed to be a monthly occurrence this year. In early May I was invited to photograph my good friends Robert Sostak & Sue Hee Sung's marriage at San Francisco's City Hall.
Abraham Wallin and Wendy Wallin standing underneath their chuppah after being married at Northstar in Truckee CA
July 9th was an amazing day in Tahoe. Wendy and I were married in the mountains with blue skies and warm weather.
Abraham Wallin and Wendy Wallin smile while giving a speech to guests at their wedding reception.
We ate, drank, hugged and felt overwhelming love from our friends and family on our wedding day.
Juliana Smith in a yellow dress with a light flash going off in the background dances as the crowd looks on with enthusiasm.
The dance floor at our wedding had a celebratory feel. Here my cousin Juliana Smith breaks out her best Michael Jackson impression, which is pretty damn good.
Green padron peppers piled into a metal bowl sitting on a table covered in a flower pattered table cloth.
Food was a major part of the year. Along with cooking many batches of padron peppers I launched a foodie iPhone app. Farmanac is a guide for fruits and vegetables that tells you everything from when produce is in season, to how to store and select it, and even pesticide levels.
The deep blue water of Lake Slocan shimmers as the sun sets behind the series of mountain peaks. In the foreground a wood structure is silhouetted in shadows.
New Denver, British Columbia sits on the shores of Lake Slocan. A remote spot full of mountains, lakes and at least for this weekend a great group of friends. The wedding of Kalah and Ryan brought me back to interior BC for the second time in 2011.
Black and white photo Cody Swansborough and Aaron Krombholz dressed in suits enjoying a laugh and a drink.
Aaron and Cody sporting a very rat pack look in New Denver, BC. The wedding party would continue until the early morning with the last drinks and dancing going on past 3am.
The blue green water on Bingin beach allows visibility down to the reef. With a tall cliff full of lush green jungle it's an stunning setting when viewed from up top.
November brought warm water, fun surf, and a romantic three weeks on the Island of Bali. It seemed that all the beaches in Bali require you to descend hundreds of stairs to reach the Indian Ocean. But the view from the top is usually stunning.
A horse drawn cart driven by a local Indonesian man moves quickly down a dirt street on Gili Trawangan
We only made it to two of the over 10,000 island that make up Indonesia. On Gili Trawangan there are no cars so your transportation choices are walking, biking, and horse drawn cart. But there is no need to worry the beaches are all around you and you've come to dive, surf and relax.
Abraham Wallin surfing at Sloat Ave on San Francisco's Ocean Beach.
Fall and winter in San Francisco brought a professional surfing contest and good surf for the locals. Abraham Wallin surfings an overhead wave at Sloat Ave on Ocean Beach.
Abraham Wallin wearing a white shirt and a mustache.
What year would be complete without a mustache? Abe Wallin growing a 'stache for the kids.
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  1. posted by Katya Miller on January 5, 2012 at 5:31 am

    I hope every year is as good as this year was for you or better! Keep image making. Mom

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