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!

It’s getting more and more difficult to narrow this list down to just a few great blog posts.  So much great content out there!  Here are a few I’d like to share with you this week.

Ranger Brody Young Critically Wounded in Shootout
This isn’t photo related but it’s important.  Brody Young is a Utah State Parks Law Enforcement Ranger and a personal friend.  He was critically wounded in a shootout with a suspect who remains at large.  He and his family need your thoughts and prayers while he fights to recover from at least 6 gunshot wounds.  Please also consider making a donation to assist his family.

10 Critical Tips for Landscape Photographers – G. Dan Mitchell
Dan injects a little humor into the classic “top 10″ list with this one.  Actually, he injects a lot of humor.  Read for some good natured advice on how to reach your maximum potential as a landscape photographer.

I Have A Blog But No Photography Clients: Now What? – Virtual Photography Studio
Here’s an excellent primer on how to use social media to benefit your photography business.  It’s short, simple and offers solid advice.

More Stuff to Click On – Carl Donohue
Carl just started compiling these monthly “best of” links but I’m already hooked.  Tons of interesting and useful stuff to keep you busy, or keep you from being busy doing whatever it is you should be doing.

6 Great Tripods for Landscape Photography – Dan Bailey
If you’re in the market for a new tripod I’d start by reading Dan’s review of several popular tripods before making any purchase decisions.

Finally, a guest post on my blog from the way back machine: Stock Photography Pricing Resources by Richard Durnan

There you have it, folks.  I hope you have an awesome weekend.  And, if you’ve got a favorite recent blog post, feel free to link to it in the comments section below.

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!”