My own idiosyncratic, incomplete, and totally subjective list…

***Best Multi-Day Photo Trip of 2006

In early April I spent the better part of three days in Death Valley and was rewarded with great photographic opportunities. While Death Valley in April can be merely pleasant, while I was there is was interesting. On my first morning I awoke before dawn at Racetrack Playa and spent several hours on the playa virtually alone in screaming wind with amazing vistas and beautiful clouds. Later that day I returned to the more civilized parts of the park for a brief dust storm followed by some rain and wind… and a beautiful sunset at Zabriskie Point. The next morning I went back to Zabriskie point before dawn and was treated to a beautiful sunrise with a broken cloud cover. I could go on, but you get the idea…

***Best Singe-Day Photo Trip

This is a tough one. In the end I think it would probably have to be a one-day trip in the fall to Yosemite spent mostly in the Valley. At the time I knew that I had gotten some good photographs on this trip, but I’ve continued to discover new keepers among them since that time. On the other hand, I spent another day in Yosemite Valley much earlier in the year, arriving early on a morning after snow the previous night – conditions in the Valley well worth an eight hour round trip drive. Ah, but then there was the spring trip when I spent a few hours at Glacier Point photographing fading light over Mt. Hoffman, North Dome, Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon, and the Sierra crest. Oh, yeah, there were also those several mornings spent walking around San Francisco over the summer. Ah, but how about that early September morning on Mission Peak with crystal clear sky between fog in the valley and mares tail clouds above?

***Photo Expedition That Was a Photographic Bust But Still a Darn Good Trip

My prime aspen season weekend in the eastern Sierra right at the beginning of October was a really fine trip – except that the light was not (with some exceptions) conducive to photography as an early season weather front was passing through. But, darn, those aspens still were stunning!

***Best Development in Digital SLR Photography

Until recently Canon pretty much owned the digital SLR market, having the highest MP count crop-sensor cameras as multiple price points, and having the only full-frame DSLRs including the “affordable” 5D. Other venerable camera companies were failing to compete effectively: Minolta, Pentax, Olympus. Even Nikon was feeling the pressure.

However, in the second half of 2006 the market began to change. While Canon still seems to be way in the lead, there is now very credible competition from several sources. With the exception of their lack of a full frame body (which is a fairly small part of the market still) Nikon became truly competitive with Canon in most market segments. Sony entered the market with rebranded and improved Minolta products, Zeiss optics, and new gear. Pentax introduced a very viable 10MP camera that works with excellent legacy Pentax lenses. All of this competition is much better for photographers than having one giant monopolize the industry.

***Best Photo Web Site

There are so many contenders here, so I think I’ll mention several of them – though I still won’t mention them all. Michael Reichmann’s Luminous Landscape provides relief from statistics-obsessed technical writing that is too common on the web, and provides articles by Reichmann and a bunch of others on a wide variety of topics. Mike Johnston’s The Online Photographer provides a steady stream of compelling articles – I especially like the focus on photographs and photographers. George Barr’s Behind the Lens provides an onging insight into the work and thinking of on one photographer, as does Doug Plummer’s Dispatches. Art & Perception brings together writers from photography and other visual arts.

***Best Canon Camera Announced in 2006

The Canon Rebel XTi (a.k.a. the “400D”) increased pixel count by 25%, added dust reduction features, adopted most of the critical features of the Canon 30D including its AF system – all at a lower price than the 350D that it replaces. All in all, Canon has provided a convincing argument against buying their more expensive crop-sensor 30D. See below for some comments about where I think Canon is headed with this camera.

***2006 Photo Prediction that May Come Back to Haunt Me

Before long I think Canon will position the XTi or its next replacement as the high end crop sensor DSLR. Certainly the feature set of the XTi moves them in this direction. The top-tier prosumer crop-sensor camera body (currently represented by the 30D) will be replaced by a 12 megapixel full-frame body that Canon can sell for under $2000, though it may have a slightly higher list price at first. Canon will sell a ton of these to photographers upgrading from 20D/30D/350D/400D cameras as well as new buyers.

***Best Canon Camera Not Announced in 2006

During the second half of 2006 there was a lot of speculation about a new 1-Series professional Canon SLR body. Many thought it would be introduced in the fall, but that obviously did not happen – many still are confident that an announcement cannot be far away. The general speculation calls for a 22+MP body that may operate at high frame rates with a reduced pixel count, in the manner of a crop-sensor body.

However, from my point of view, an even more interesting introduction might have been – and could still be – an upgraded 5D type camera with the 16 MP sensor that has been used in the current 1-Series camera.

***Best Canon Lens Announced in 2006

No, it isn’t one of the extraordinarily expensive f/1.2 primes. (So far, the reaction to the much anticipated 50mm version seems mixed.) From my point of view, the best introduction was the image stabilized version of the EF 70-200mm f/4 lens. Many people have hoped for this lens for a long time, but few thought that Canon would actually introduce since they already have three zoom lenses in this focal length range. As good as the f/2.8 version is, this lighter and smaller and less-expensive lens should sell like crazy… especially once the initial price drops a bit.

***Best Canon Lens Not Announced in 2006

Any non-L high quality wide-angle primes.

***Most Over-hyped New Canon Lens

I know that opinions will vary a lot on this one, but I think that the 50mm f/1.2 is not going to look like such an amazing thing once they get out on the market and into circulation. Sure, it does provide a little wider aperture but reviews suggest that it does not provide any better overall image quality in most cases, and that the less expensive Canon 50mm lenses can do as well – sometimes better – in many situations. For those who have to own anything with an “L” in its name, need absolute maximum aperture for super low light and/or narrow DOF, this lens may be worth its terribly high cost.

***And now a few fun categories…

***The Most Bizarre Photo.net Rating I Received in 2006

Uh, yes, and that tells me what about the photo? ;-)

***Lamest Forum Thread Subjects At Photo.net, Fred Miranda, etc.:

• “I just ordered a new camera/lens/tripod/battery and I’m really excited…
• I’m trying to decide between which of the four Canon 70-200 L zooms I should get. Which one is sharpest?
• I have $1000. Help me figure out what to spend it on.
• Trying to decide… 24mm f/1.4 L prime or 100-400mm L zoom?
• I’m looking for a really great, wide aperture 28-500mm zoom with no distortion for $200 or less.
• Just wondering…
• Help
• Hi

***Lamest Forum Thread Responses

At Photo.net, Fred Miranda, etc.:

• Stop asking techical questions and go take some pictures! Don’t any of you ever make photographs?
• The first lens for your (crop sensor DSLR) should be the 50mm f/1.8.
• The difference in image quality between the (to pick a random example) 35mm f/2 lens and the 35mm f/1.4 L lens is absolutely astounding – a world of difference in color, contrast, sharpness. If you are serious about your photography, you must have the L. Nothing else will do.
• Oh, no, not another thread about new camera rumors. No one but Canon knows. Boring. What a waste of time.

***And finally…

• An honorable mention goes to 12-line personal signatures listing a half dozen camera bodies, 27 lenses, two tripods, 6 flashes, 5 filters, 4 camera bags and backpacks, the poster’s brand of computer… and which type of flash cards they use.