“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Happy 2013 Everyone! A new year means a blank canvas on which to create new friendships, opportunities, and achievements! I hope you each have big dreams in mind, and perhaps even more importantly, I hope you follow them relentlessly and passionately so they all come true for you in the new year. After all, “you can sleep when you’re dead,” right?
Whew, what a year 2012 was for CMS Photography! Last year will go down as our busiest, most successful, and by far the most exciting year to date, with many countless “thank you’s” owed to you, as I could not do what I do without your continued support! I feel truly fortunate to be surrounded by so many inspiring, creative, and enthusiastic people.
Some major highlights for us from last year include (in no particular order):
- Won 7 international book awards for our recently published guidebook, “Wild in Arizona: Photographing Arizona’s Wildflowers”
- Wandered and relaxed (!) during my husband’s two-month sabbatical from his work
- Traveled to Scotland, England, Alberta & British Columbia in Canada, California, Hawai’i, Maine, Montana (twice), Florida, Washington, Utah (multiple times), and to many excellent photogenic locales within Arizona in between!
- Established and participated in the first ever cultural photography exchange and exhibition between Alberta and Arizona for the Through Each Other Eyes non-profit organization (which led to the recent creation of the IRIS Photographic Society of Alberta)
- Served as a Featured/Keynote Speaker at the International Photographic Society of America (PSA) Annual Conference and the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) Institute
- Saw friends and met lots of new people during numerous book signings, camera club presentations, and photography workshops
- Selected as an Artist-in-Residence for Acadia National Park (…for the third time!!)
- Published in the 2013 National Geographic and Arizona Highways calendars
- Donated 100% of the profit from November print sales to Emmy’s Army to help my friend, Emily, beat childhood cancer
- Started this blog!
And just when you think you can’t have any more wild fun, 2013 shows up!
Going into our sixth year as a full-time freelance photographer and writer, I couldn’t be any more pumped for the year to come, not just because of all the travel planned and the new projects we’ll announce throughout the year, but all the great times and awesome learning opportunities we’ll share together, whether that be during our upcoming Workshops and Presentations or simply out in the field sharing some light and good laughs.
But, before we start running down the 2013 street like a bat outta hell, though, I’d like to share my favorite 13 (a lucky number for the new year!) photos in celebration of a joyful 2012. For more inspiration, be sure to also head over to Jim Goldstein’s Blog, hes posted his traditional and ever-growing list of other photographers’ own favorites and best from 2012 for his “Blog Project: Your Best Photos from 2012.”
Here goes:
1. Winter’s Serenade, Death Valley National Park, California (January 2012)

Cottonball Marsh area along Salt Creek in Death Valley National Park, California, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
2. Walk the Line, Death Valley National Park, California (February 2012)

Cracked mud and stones in the Panamint Dry Lake in Death Valley National Park, California, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
3. Sunrise at Boulder Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine (June 2012)
er Beach and the Otter Cliffs, Acadia National Park, Maine, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
4. Bunchberry Dogwood, Acadia National Park, Maine (June 2012)

Bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis) at Acadia National Park, Maine, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
5. The Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona (June 2012)

The Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei rock formations in Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
6. The Colorado River Flexing its Muscle, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona (June 2012)

The sandstone cliffs of Marble Canyon reflect into waves in the Colorado River near Lee’s Ferry, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
7. The RCMP Musical Ride, 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (July 2012)

Abstract view of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Musical Ride during Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
8. Reach for the Sky, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona (August 2012)

Abstract sky pool pattern in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
9. Autumn on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (September 2012)

Gambel oak line the edge of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
10. Autumn Regeneration, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona (September 2012)

Abstract view of a regenerating burned forest during autumn in the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
11. Mother Nature’s Ice Cream, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona (October 2012)

Striated bentonite clay beds in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order)
12. Spell of the Sea, The Big Island, Hawai’i (November 2012)

Waves and volcanic rock along the Puna Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
13. Winter Solstice Eve, Canyonlands National Park, Utah (December 2012)

Viewed from the Green River Overlook, the sun sets over Island in the Sky district in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA (Prints available – click on photo to order!)
Thank you for stopping by the “You Can Sleep When You’re Dead” blog! Let’s all make 2013 a year to remember!
~Colleen
Some really beautiful images…Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Dean! Hope you’re new year is off to a fantastic start!
Stunning work Colleen. It’s great to see your best from 2012. Always impressive!
Thanks so much for your wonderful comments, Jim! I can’t wait to see your final 2012 list on your blog. I spent much time with it in 2011 gaining a ton of inspiration from so many talented photographers like yourself so thank you for your efforts in putting it together.
Congrats on all of your success this year, Colleen. Looks like you had a great year photographically as well. Autumn regeneration is a really cool image!
Happy new year, Richard! I hope 2013 is your best year yet! I really appreciate your uplifting comments about my work. Hoping to get out your way/California this year sometime!
Great work! Looking forward to seeing how you top this in 2013 – although I’m sure you will. Thank you so much for sharing and Happy New Year!
Thanks, Richard! Cheers to a phenomenal 2013 full of success and surprises! I hope you’re cross-country journey is going well for you so far!
Congratulations on your 2012 successes. Thanks for including Canyonlands National Park (hard to resist like all those other scenic places you’ve visited). Hope you make it back in 2013. Maybe all of these photography workshops will inspire you to lead one in Moab’s parks too? http://bit.ly/SVjNt2
Thanks for your comments VisitMoabUtah! After spending time in breathtaking Arches and Canyonlands in December, my head is full of ideas about a photo workshop there in the future…let’s keep in touch! 😀
Colleen, great images. There are many places there we will never see. Hope you have a great 2013 with as much success as 2012. We may miss this year. Gene
Thanks Gene! Happy New Year to you, Peggy, and Kermit! Hopefully we’ll see you again soon? Alstrom Point is no doubt calling, right?!
Congratulations on an incredible 2012, and I hope you 2013 is even better. I love your images. When will I be able to catch up with you? Do you have a schedule of events?
Jeff Williams
Happy new year, Jeff! Thanks for your comments! Here’s my current schedule of events for this year: http://www.cms-photo.com/Workshops/ws_schedule.html. Maybe I’ll see you at one of these?! Hope so!
You are on a roll, Colleen, both in accomplishments and travel. As you can see I’m behind in blog commenting. I like best #1, #7, #10 and #11, but they all are excellent. Looking forward to more in 2013.
Thanks David! It just doesn’t feel like work when you love what you do, you know?! Appreciate your comments. Hopefully you have an equally as productive and enjoyable 2013!
Hey Colleen, happy new year!!! Those are some really fabulous photographs…if 2013 turns out to give the same result as 2012, that will make it a wonderful year! But I am sure your 2013 photographs will be even better 😉
I particularly love the number 3,6 and 7….but the beauty of all is the great diversity you show on the portfolio. It seems you really had a blast this year.
All the best wishes and greatest lights for you on this year Colleen! 😉
rafa
Right back atcha, Rafa! Happy new year to you too! I hope it’s filled with much continued success, exotic travels, and magical light. In other words, have a blast!
And thanks much for picking your favorites. It’s very educational for me to hear which ones strike a cord to which people, and I tremendously respect your opinion. Thank you!
Thanks so much Colleen, you are sweet. Now that you tell me that you respect “tremendously” my opinion, I am scared!!! Too much of a responsibility! 🙂
Great selection again.
[…] Colleen Miniuk-Sperry Photography: Favorite Photos From 2012 – Colleen Miniuk-Sperry/CMS Photography *** […]
Beautiful work on all counts, Colleen! You are a great photographer and teacher.
Guy
Thanks Guy, but I have a long way to go before I ever get close to catching up to you! 😛
Stunning work Colleen!
Thanks Stephen for your kind words and for stopping by my “new”-ish blog. Happy new year to you!
Beautiful collection. I think #8 is my fav, but tough to choose. Happy New Year and best for a great 2013.
Thanks Harley! I just started focusing on photographing skypools and landpools this year after reading more about the phenomenon. I find them mesmerizing since they “dance” and change with every frame…no two are ever the same…
[…] Colleen Miniuk-Sperry Photography: Favorite Photos From 2012 – Colleen Miniuk-Sperry/CMS Photography *** […]
Great work Colleen. My favs are Winter’s Serenade and Spell of the sea. Good luck in 2013. Maybe we’ll finally meet.
– Dan
Here’s hoping our paths cross this year, Dan! Until then, I look forward to keeping up with you and your beautiful work from Colorado on your blog/website. Thanks for leaving your comments and your favs, appreciate your perspective (those two choices may very well also be my fav 2 of the bunch!).
There’s a whole lot to like in this collection, Colleen. It’s really too bad you didn’t have a nice sky for that Death Valley photo at Salt Creek, though. 😉 My favorite is the Bunchberry Dogwood image – just beautiful. I hope our paths cross again in 2013!
Yeah, you’re right, Bret…a clear blue sky would have worked a lot better, huh? 😛 Really appreciate your comments and finally meeting you this past December. Cheers to another phenomenal year for you up there in Moab in 2013!
Wonderful work Colleen! Happy I was there when a few of these spectacular images were being created. I think my favourite is the RCMP musical ride, eh! What a year it’s been for you in so many ways. I know 2013 will be a transformative year and I look forward to following the stories you tell the world with your camera and your writing. Just imagine what your favourites of 2013 will look like! (By the way… first comment left for anyone from the new office! Just hooked everything up 10 minutes ago. Yeah!)
YAY! I couldn’t be more excited that this was the first order of business from your NEW office!! What a way to start off 2013. I just know it’s going to be an amazing and wild ride for you this year, Pete! Thank you for your comments – the RCMP Musical Ride is definitely a special image to me, but what’s even more important to me what the friendships that resulted from such a memorable trip.
Nice collection Colleen. I particularly like the dogwood image, the spell of the sea and reach for the sky. very evocative.
Hi Youssef, thanks so much for your comments and picks. Your thoughts mean a great deal to me!
BEAUTIFUL images, Colleen. My faves are the water shots, the tree abstract, and the bunchberry detail. All have a great artistic feel; natural and soothing. Cheers & have a great 2013.
Really appreciate your comments Gary! Thank you! Hoping to make some acceptable images this year in Northern California, thanks to that spectacular new guide book of yours from which I’ve already gained much knowledge and inspiration. Here’s hoping 2013 is another amazing year for you!
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Very impressive! A beautiful set! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments! All the best to you in 2013!
You’ve had a wonderful year in photography! Such a beautiful collection of images! All the best for the new year!
Thanks, Patricia! Hoping our paths cross in the future! Hopefully your 2013 is even more successful for you than your excellent 2012!
Amazing stuff , all the best for 2013
Thanks Dinesh! Happy 2013 to you too!
Dear Colleen,
Great work on your 2012 highlights. Outstanding.
Don
Thank you Don! Looking forward to seeing you in March!
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