A Year In Review, 2012

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For as much as I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I tend to make little lists from time to time throughout the year, and the end of the year tends to be one of those times. I like to reflect on how things are going, if I’m accomplishing any of the goals I had hoped to achieve throughout the year and to strategize how to make those goals actually happen. Some come to fruition, some don’t, but I always feel better with a plan.
This year has brought a lot of changes personally and professionally. We got settled into our new life back here in Chicago, figured out the whole school situation for our kids (no small feat), had some amazing travels (California, Florida (twice, for two very different trips) and a trip I’ve wanted to take for years, Greece! (we celebrated our 10 year anniversary with a trip alone…no kids!)). And best of all we’ve made some really great new friends!
I’ve also met some great local photographers to get together with and share photo related questions and concerns with. A pretty invaluable group! And it seems I’ve figured out my photography goals a bit more and finally feel like there’s somewhat of a style developing with my work….FINALLY! It only took 8+ years!
I feel very lucky to have had my work exhibited and awarded this last year, something I hope to do more of in the next year. Not to say that I haven’t had a number of struggles, setbacks and rejections, believe me, there were plenty of those! But every one of those has been a learning experience and only helps me to improve, it’s certainly given me a thick skin. There’s still plenty to work on personally and professionally, but isn’t there always?!
There’s been much to be grateful for this year; I hope you all had an amazing year as well and I wish you a very Happy New Year!
To close out the year I thought I’d share some of my favorite images from 2012.

One of the first images I made this year while on the first photowalk I went on since moving back to Chicago.
I just thought it was a thought provoking message.

Probably the image I had the most success with this year. It was chosen by 500px editors as one of the 10 Best Abstract Images of 2012 as well as Editors Choice.
It also won Honorable Mention at Starline Gallery’s 4th Fridays.

A wider shot of the above image. Probably one of my favorite shots of Chicago I’ve taken.

This was one of the first images I took in 2012. I love the Agora sculpture in Grant Park, it’s so haunting, I really want to get back down there to shoot this in the fog!
This image is currently hanging outside Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office after being one of 19 images chosen for the Chicago Pix exhibition curated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
It was also featured on National Geographic’s Your Shot Daily Dozen on April 10, 2012

Another early image from 2012. I started a Streetlamp series this year and this is probably my favorite from the series.
It was also chosen for the National Exposure, revisited exhibition at the ARC Gallery this December.

I seemed to be drawn to more architectural, geometric patterns this year. This was one of my favs.

This was another geometric, abstract, architectural shot from late this year.
It was also featured in Explore on Flickr.

This was from my Looking Up series. I had originally displayed it in color but went back and converted it to b&w, I just like the stark contrast a bit better.
The building on the top of the image with the reflection in it is also my husband’s office and the one centered in the bottom of the image is another favorite building of mine in Chicago, great reflections…I have many shots with that building in it.

This was a fun shot that was made out of boredom with shooting the bean. I met up with a group for a photowalk around there and was playing around to come up with a different way of shooting the much photographed Cloud Gate.
This one was also chosen for the ARC Gallery’s National Exposure, revisited exhibition.

This is a view of Lincoln Park shot from the John Hancock Observatory. I hadn’t been up there in years and love aerial photography, well as close to aerial as I’m getting right now.

I also started working on a From the ‘L’ series. This was one of my first shots I took for that series and is still one of my favorites.
This was taken from the back of the brown line.

Another shot from the ‘L’. This one from the green line.

I want to work more on a Taxi series and this is one shot I got this fall that I particularly liked. Definitely a project I’d like to focus a little more on in 2013.
This one was also chosen for the ARC Gallery’s National Exposure, revisited exhibition.

I really love photographing doors, and windows…this door is around the corner from my house and I just find it intriguing. Why the handprints? And the rundown appearance of this place? I have no idea what used to be here, but I would love to find out.

This was taken from the Tribune Tower during the 2012 Worldwide Kelby Photowalk on a very, very rainy day! I actually love the rain and the mood of this image showcasing Chicago from a unique vantage point. If only I had access to these higher locations regularly!

I don’t do a lot of nature photography but went out with a group of photographer friends for a sunrise shoot at the lakefront. I just feel peaceful when I look at this image, hopefully it makes others feel that way too.

I’ve been wanting to do a series of my Hometown for quite sometime. When I was home over Thanksgiving I finally started to make some images for this series. This was one of my favorites, it’s at Riverside Park in Berlin, WI.

The next few images were some of my favorites from our trip to Greece. There are many, many more in my individual posts about Athens, Mykonos and Santorini if you want to check those out.

The Temple of Poseidon outside of Athens. Gorgeous area and views!

A sunset sunburst through a wall by our hotel in Santorini.

I don’t do a lot of street photography but for some reason I’m more comfortable with it away from home. There were a few shots from Greece that stuck with me as interesting.

The men who worked with the donkey’s that took tourists up and down the cliffs of Santorini.

A Greek couple taking a break in a random area of The Plaka neighborhood of Athens.
Also worth noting the small display of graffiti that covered the city.

A woman in Mykonos viewing the tourists from her porch. Would have loved to talk to her! The stories she must have.

I know this doesn’t fall into the street photography category. But I found this door and all the objects seemingly laid out with purpose intriguing, like that cushion was just waiting for someone to take a seat.

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0 Responses

Jim Watkins says:

December 30, 2012 at 6:07 pm

Great job in 2012, Angie! You've produced some beautiful images. You've also inspired me to keep my own blog going. See you back in the Chicago area some day!

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1. angiemcmonigal says:
  
  December 30, 2012 at 6:19 pm
  
  Thanks Jim! Hopefully you put together your year in review??? I know you had some great images this year! And I'm glad you've been blogging more, it's always fun to read a friends writing and, of course, see your beautiful images! Hope to see you back in Chicago too! We'll be out, sort-of, your way this spring. CA at least, but the Palm Springs, San Diego area. I look forward to seeing more of your CA shots!
  
  Reply
Christine Oszak says:

December 30, 2012 at 7:37 pm

Angie, you have an amazing portfolio for 2012. The composition, the colors, the light, all absolutely beautiful.

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1. angiemcmonigal says:
  
  December 30, 2012 at 7:41 pm
  
  Thank you so much Christine!
  
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Holly says:

December 30, 2012 at 8:15 pm

So great Angie! I can't wait to see what you can do in 2013!

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1. angiemcmonigal says:
  
  December 30, 2012 at 8:25 pm
  
  Thanks Holly!
  
  Reply
Chrissy says:

December 30, 2012 at 10:26 pm

You such an inspiration! 2012 was a great year for you. Can't wait to see what you capture in 2013 🙂

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Christie says:

December 31, 2012 at 2:56 am

All great shots, but my faves are definitely the ones of Greece. And the one with the lights flashing off of the Bean. Well done.

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Julie Palencia says:

January 2, 2013 at 5:14 am

Enjoyed viewing your images, wonderful composition and inspiration. My favorite are your Greece images, one of my favorite places and brought back so many wonderful memories. Wish you many more fantastic captures in 2013. Julie

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1. angiemcmonigal says:
  
  January 2, 2013 at 2:08 pm
  
  Thanks Julie! Greece is an amazing place! I haven't looked at my images from there in a few months and I'm already longing to be back there:) I hope you had a wonderful trip there as well!
  
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Ed Crestoni says:

January 2, 2013 at 12:25 pm

Angie this is very nice.I really like the colors and composition of you photos. I wish I knew how to set up a blog and portfolio the way you have.If you ever want to give a old timer that's a one finger typer some tips fire away:) Keep up the good work and you look to young to be married for 10 years,congratulations

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1. angiemcmonigal says:
  
  January 2, 2013 at 2:09 pm
  
  Thanks Ed! I'll send you a PM about the blog and site.
  
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