Best of 2013

Best of 2013, a set on Flickr.

My choices for the best of my photography during 2013. This year's collection is a selection of landscapes, still life, travel and sports photography.

Camp Hale

D71_4302 - Version 2, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Via Flickr:
The remains of the Field House, one of the last remaining structures of Camp Hale, the one of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. At its peak, Camp Hale was comprised of over 1000 buildings throughout the Eagle River Valley. Over 14,000 troops were stationed here. The site also served as a prisoner of war camp for 400 German Afrika Corps troops.

After the Army decommissioned the base in 1945, the site was used by the CIA from 1958 to 1964 to train Tibetan Freedom Fighters. The secrecy of the training facility was maintained by the cover story that the location was being used for nuclear weapons testing.

The site is now listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Sophie

D5K_DSC1535 - Version 2, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Sophie is the newest member of our household. She is a mixed breed cat, but mostly Maine Coon Cat. Sophie came to us from a pet rescue organization here in Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D5000 and a Nikon 55-200mm f3.5G VR lens.

Fist Bump

2013 Warrior Games, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A member of the US Navy and Coast Guard Team exchanges a "fist bump" with a British Armed Forces Team member during the 2013 Warrior Games at the US Air Force Academy.
Shot with a Nikon D7100 and a Nikon 80-200 f2.8D ED lens.

Speed Week

D90_DSC6855, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Racers at the apex of a tight turn during the 2013 Sand Springs Challenge, the final stage of Speed Week, a series of criterium races across the Southeastern US. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X lens.

Helen to The Atlantic Balloon Race

_D714661, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Ballons are staged for the start of the 2013 Helen to The Atlantic Balloon Race in Helen, GA. Shot with a Nikon D7100 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

Altamaha River Kayaking

D5K_DSC0732, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Kayaking on the Altamaha River in Southeastern Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D5000 and a Nikon 55-200mm f3.5G VR lens.

Hopper Car at Sloss Furnaces

D5K_DSC0056, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A bucket car sits at the end of the tunnel underneath the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL. This car was used to transport raw materials to the skip loaders that supplied the furnaces. Shot with a Nikon D5000 and Nikon 35mm f1.8G lens.

The same shot converted to black and white with Apple Aperture.