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

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!