Another week, another batch of awesomeness all over the web.  Let’s get started…

Click This – Carl Donohue
Here’s Carl’s first compilation of 2011 filled with useful, fun, interesting and not-all-photo-related content from around the world wide web.  My favorite?  An interview with Doug Peacock, one of my favorite authors and a staunch advocate of my favorite animal, the grizzly bear.

Canon Announces EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens
This new lens from Canon has an integrated 1.4x extender – something never before seen in a lens.  Could it be a game changer?

Building a Better Online Portfolio (Video) – Photoshelter
Very insightful webinar with Stella Kramer, a Pulitzer prize-winning photo editor, speaking about how to make your online portfolio a success.  I’ve listened to this three times now and I get something new out of it each time.

Why Fitness Matters to Outdoor Photographers – Robert Rodriguez Jr.
Excellent post on a topic not often discussed with regard to photography. Robert offers a compelling argument for getting out from behind your desk to get some exercise a few days a week.

Loktah – Organic Packaging Materials for Photographers
I haven’t yet figured out how to use these amazingly cool products but I’ve got a few marketing ideas floating around in my head. Check ‘em out and see what you can come up with.

Photography Tips: Merging Two Exposures in Photoshop – Jay Goodrich
Just what it says. Throw away your GND’s and learn how to manually combine exposures to increase dynamic range.

North Cascades Disappearing Grizzlies – Backpacker
Didn’t know there are still a few grizzly bears in Washington, huh? Yep, there are – but not many and not for long if support for a reintroduction plan doesn’t materialize.

A Couple of My Older Images on Flickr

Aspens at Sunset in Winter, Utah

Smokies Spring Foliage, Tennessee

Lately I’ve been reading more about business and marketing and less about the art of photography.  I’m learning that there is a certain “art” behind reaching the right audience and convincing them to do business with you.  You may have noticed that many of the blog posts and articles I’ve shared of late reflect this trend.  I hope you’re finding value in these links, too.

Finding an Audience for Your Photos – Harold Davis
Wondering how to get started marketing your photography using all of today’s digital media and social sharing options?  Harold shares some great starter advice and will be writing more on the topic in the future. Definitely stay tuned…

The Benefits of Negative Thinking – Anne McKinnel guest post on Dan Bailey’s Blog
Say what?  Yeah, you read that right.  Anne makes a good case for being realistic, even negative, as you contemplate a career as a professional photographer.  Slightly off-topic, but I’ll be doing a Q&A with Anne right here on my blog in the coming weeks.  Don’t miss it!

The Sickest e-Newsletter You’re Ever Going To See – Michael Jay Clark
I’ve been a big fan of Michael Clark’s adventure photography for a long time. I only recently discovered the amazing PDF e-newsletters he publishes quarterly.  Actually, it’s not entirely accurate to classify them as newsletters.  They’re more like mini-magazines.  Check ‘em out and subscribe to receive them quarterly.  You will not be disappointed.

Pecking Seed and Unplugging – Mark Graf
Mark is a very talented photographer who has been in this game for quite a while.  He’s a newbie to twitter though, and in this post he shares some thoughts on using twitter (or not) to engage his audience and find cool new stuff.

Land of Legends (Time-Lapse Compilation) – Mike Cavaroc
This is such a cool and peaceful short compilation of time-lapse videos made entirely within Grand Teton National Park this weekend.  Very, very cool.

Odyssey: A Dream Journey to South America and the South Seas – Michael Anderson
This 11:00 minute video was made by one of the greatest landscape photographers (IMHO) over a period of two years on location in many of the world’s most amazing and remote locations most of us will never visit.  You’ve GOT to see this one.

Dust-Aid Platinum DSLR Sensor Cleaning Kit Giveaway
This one’s easy.  Visit the link to learn how to enter to win one of three Dust-Aid Platinum DSLR sensor cleaning kits.

New Photos on Flickr

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone II, Wyoming

Trees & Fog at Sunrise, Wyoming

So here we are in 2011.  Most of us have made resolutions, set some goals and are excited at the prospect of another fantastic year filled with epic sunsets and glorious sunrises.  I hope you find this first “Favorite Stuff” post of 2011 to be interesting and insightful.  Enjoy!

Immersion Course – William Neill
William discusses the benefits of focusing your creative energy on a single subject for an extended period of time and the often unique images that result from your relationship with that landscape.  A must-read if you’re stuck in a rut – or not.

Your Photography Business Plan for 2011 – Photoshelter
Got a photo business or thinking about starting one?  This article is a great primer on how to write a solid business plan specifically for a photo business.

Best Photos of 2010 by JMG Galleries Blog Readers – Jim Goldstein
This is an awesome collection of “Best of 2010″ blog posts by readers of Jim’s really good blog.  Spend some time checking these out and you’re guaranteed to be inspired by the incredible wealth of talent and photography.

10 Secrets to Successful Online Photo Portfolios – Photoshelter
You may have noticed that many of my favorite posts are on the Photoshelter blog.  That’s because it’s one of the best resources on the web for information relevant to the photography business.  In this post they share 10 tips to designing a useful online photo portfolio that your clients, and more importantly – potential clients – will love.

Marketing for Fine Art Photographers: An Interview with Mary Virginia Swanson – Matt Bailey
Photography is a tough business.  The market is saturated and it’s difficult to get your work noticed.  In this interview, Mary Virginia Swanson reveals several tips to help increase your chances of success when marketing your work to potential clients.

New eBook: Winter in the Canadian Rockies – Darwin Wiggett
Darwin is a hell of a nice guy and a ridiculously talented Canadian landscape photographer.  This eBook, part of the Craft & Vision “The Print and the Process” series, is filled with killer images and tips for landscape photography in cold climates.  Well worth the $5 cost.

My Latest Black and White Photos on Flickr

Mud Patterns, Utah

Steam and Ghost Tree, Wyoming

Winter Aspen Boles, Utah

It Came From the Blog Archive

Taking Pictures Vs. Creating Art

That’s all, folks!  Find something interesting or useful on the web that you’d like to share?  Please do so in the comments section below.

This will be my last “Favorite Stuff” post of 2010 as I’m taking a blogging break until January.  I’ve got a ton of great stuff planned for the blog in 2011 and am looking forward to unleashing it on the world.  Until then, here’s some cool stuff to keep you occupied.

Favorite Photos of 2010/Happy Solstice – Carl Donohue
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m obsessed with bears, grizzlies in particular.  Carl is one of the best wildlife photographers I know and this collection of grizzly photos is guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat.  Enjoy!

Best of 2010: Our Favorite Photo Blog Posts of the Year – Photoshelter
This is the very best collection of links to the very best photo blog posts I’ve seen.  I’ve been sifting through all evening and I’ve got A LOT of reading to do.

Using Manual Mode in Nik Software Dfine – Ron Mart
As you all know by now, I’m a big fan of Nik Software Lightroom & Photoshop plug-ins.  Dfine is a remarkable noise reduction plug-in that does a phenomenal job retaining fine detail while zapping pesky noise.  This blog post is an excellent tutorial on using the manual mode in Dfine to more accurately eliminate noise.  Good stuff. (Save 15% on Nik Software at their store using coupon code “BEDGE”)

The Price of Prints: Part 1: Pricing Practices & Motivating Buyers – Photoshelter
Ever agonized over what to charge for your fine art photographic prints?  I know I have.  This article is the first in a series of 4 that promises to be quite enlightening.

Self-Promo Likes and Pet Peeves…From the People You’re Sending Them To (Part 1 of 3) – Jasmine DeFoore
This is an awesome discussion of what works and what doesn’t when designing a self-promo piece to be mailed to photo editors, potential clients, etc.  If you’re not a talented photographer AND a talented graphic designer (like Mike Cavaroc), you’ll find this series to be very insightful.  Here’s a link to Part 2 and a link to Part 3.

A blog post from my archives:

Unleashing the Mad Scientist Within – This blog post from June of 2010 is all about stepping way out of your comfort zone when processing an image to really get your creative juices flowing.

And a couple of my recent images on flickr:

Buckwheat and Calf Creek Falls, Utah

Reflection on Ice, Utah

That’s it for this week.  I hope ya’ll find something interesting and useful.  Come back Jan. 3 for an exciting trip through the last decade of my photography career as I’ll be posting my top 10 favorite images from 2000 to 2010.  Should be fun!

I decided to change the format a bit here, from “My Favorite Blog Posts” to “My Favorite Stuff on the Web” so I wouldn’t be locked into turning you on to JUST cool blog entries. Now I can also share awesome photos, articles, blogs and other random stuff that’s either useful, insanely cool or flat out interesting. Hope you don’t mind the change. Without further ado, here’s some more great stuff.

Images from a Trek in Patagonia – Colby Brown
Colby has been posting a series of amazing images from a recent trek in the Patagonian mountains.  I already wanted to visit but viewing his photos makes me wish I were leaving tomorrow!

Why Do You Photograph – Jay Goodrich
Thought provoking article about what drives us to get up before dawn, stay out after sunset and travel to the ends of the earth to create photographic images with some fantastic and inspiring responses, including this one by Guy Tal.

Soft Proofing in Lightroom Now Available – Nat Coalson
Soft proofing is part of the workflow to ensure that your print matches what you see on your screen.  Until now, it couldn’t be done from within Lightroom.  My friend & Adobe Certified Expert Nat Coalson shows you how to soft proof within Lightroom using a new plug-in.

Lightroom 3.3 Has Arrived - Adobe
This update doesn’t bring lots of exciting new features but if you’ve been frustrated by a lack of RAW support for your Canon S95 (or other new camera), it’s time to celebrate.
Click here to download the Windows version of Lightroom 3.3
Click here to download the Mac version of Lightroom 3.3

More Stuff to Click On – Carl Donohue
Carl has compiled another great list of interesting and useful stuff found all over the web and it’s not just photo related.  I always enjoy this compilation. 

And from my archives:

New on flickr: Reflection Lake Sunrise at Mt. Rainier National Park
An old photo I re-processed to fulfill a print order from a client that I posted on flickr last week.  Mt. Rainier NP is one of my favorite places and one I’ll likely visit again during wildflower season in 2011.

Quick Tip: Explore Your Options
I share a little tip that works for me when seeking out the most dynamic composition at new location.

That’s all until next week.  Y’all have a great week and weekend!

I love the internet.  There’s so much invaluable information out there just waiting to be consumed that it’s really quite mind boggling.  There’s even more crap, but here we’re focusing on the excellent stuff.  Here’s my picks for the week.

Presenting Work to Fine Art Community – Mary Virginia Swanson
I’m in the midst of building my first ever fine art print portfolio and this article, which came to me from friend and cool dude Michael Gordon, is loaded with killer information on what to do with your art to get noticed.  Just awesome.

Interview with Photographer Quang-Tuan Luong – John Lund
This very candid interview with QT Luong should be read by anyone aspiring to create an income stream through stock image licensing and fine art photo prints.  It may well open your eyes to the reality of the business – for better or worse.

10 Ways to NOT Become a Successful Photographer – Luke Copping
With so many “how to” books and articles available, why not provide a tutorial on how to fail miserably in the photography business?  That’s what Luke has done & it’s an enjoyable and informative read.  My favorite tip? #1 – Be An Asshole.

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Photography Workflow – Dan Bailey
Just what the title says.  It’s a short, easy read and even if you only implement one or two of Dan’s suggestions, you’ll see results.

Legal Links for Copyright, Trademark and Intellectual Property – Gary Crabbe
Got questions about some of the legal mumbo jumbo involved in running a photography business?  This is a fantastic place to start your search.  Thanks, Gary!

The Subway and The Narrows, Zion NP – Scott Bacon
If you’re not in the mood to do much reading but you’d love to see some serious eye candy, this is the post for you.  Scott’s hikes in the Subway and The Narrows led him to some phenomenal photo opportunities, which he is kind enough to share with the rest of us who are deskbound.  Travel well, folks.

Finally, one of mine from the archives: What Do You See?

That’s it for this week.  Please leave a comment if you’ve got other useful or entertaining mostly photography related blog posts you’d like to share.

Lots of great posts last week.  It was hard to narrow it down to just five but I dug deep and managed to pull it off.  Enjoy the articles.

Why Do You Photograph? – Jay Goodrich
Jay discusses his reasons for photographing the natural world and asks readers to share their experience.  I couldn’t help but leave a comment on this one!

15 National Parks You’ve Never Heard Of – Huffington Post
Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about America’s national parks.  This photo essay documents 15 of the least visited parks in the U.S.  I’ve been to five of ‘em.  You?

Sixty Six Ways to Promote Your Blog – Rosh Sillars
Just what the title says.  You probably won’t try all 66 suggestions, but give a few of them a shot and you’re likely to see traffic to your blog increase.  Really good stuff here.

Turning the Commercial Corner: Part 1 – Adam Barker
Thinking about transitioning from photography hobbyist to photography professional?  Adam dispenses some solid, no BS advice in this article that I assume is the first in a series. On another note, if you’ve never heard of Adam Barker I bet you will soon.  Uber-talented landscape, commercial and adventure photographer making a stratospheric rise through the ranks.  Be sure to spend some time salivating over the images in his online galleries.

5 Great Outdoor and Landscape Photographer Blogs – Dan Bailey
Patrick J. Endres in Alaska, Guy Tal in Utah, Jon Cornforth in Washington, Ian Plant in Virgina and…Bret Edge in Utah!  I’m honored to be recognized by Dan and even more honored to be included in such an impressive list of crazy talented photographers.  Thanks, Dan!

As usual, feel free to post a link in the comments section to any blog posts or articles you found useful, insightful, inspiring or just plain fun.

Today I am introducing a new feature right here on my blog.  If you’re reading this, you probably also read other blogs.  I do, too.  I’m a regular at some and I happen upon others by following various links.  Posts run the gamut from being brilliant masterpieces of the written word to short but helpful technique tricks to completely worthless wastes of internet space.  I’ve decided that once a week, I’ll share with you five of my favorite recent blog posts published anywhere but here.  I hope you enjoy them.

No Lesser An Art - Guy Tal
This wonderfully written piece by friend and fellow photographer Guy Tal is an interesting observation on the art, or not, of nature photography.

Here There Be Witches – Greg Russell
A haunting (no pun intended) black and white image of aspen trees and a reminder that we need not rely on brilliant yellow leaves when photographing aspen trees.

Use Jar Openers for Stuck Lens Filters – PetaPixel
If you’ve ever wrestled with a polarizing filter that is seemingly welded on to your lens, you’ll really appreciate this little tip.

Little Jewels – Michael Gordon
Michael shares an interesting observation about an exhibition he attended and some thoughts on how the size of a photographic print may impact the viewer.

Building the Best Website for Photography, Part 3, Social Media – Mike Cavaroc
Whether your photography website and/or blog are new or old, this article will give you some great ideas on how to generate more traffic (and more sales?) to your site using various social media tools.

And here’s a bonus link – just cuz:

Carl Donohue’s “Stuff to Click On, Oct. 2010″
Carl compiled a whole bunch of interesting-ness on his blog.  Great news about photography, environmental issues, quotes and more.  Lots of great stuff to prevent you from actually working.

So, there’s the stuff I found cool, neat, interesting or otherwise worth my time.  If you found a blog post last week that you really dug please leave a link to it in the comments field below.  One caveat: please don’t link to your own blog.  This isn’t intended to be a self-promotion venue and if you try to use it as such, I’ll delete your comment faster than you can say “Oh no he dit’nt!”