© 2011 Zoe Wiseman - model: Ella Rose

I’ve been trying to pick some of my favorite images from my Mexican festival that I like the best. It’s really hard to choose what one’s will be “the one” when you work with such amazing models. Every image just seems like it’s just as good as the other. Trimming is tough. I might not be done for quite some time. In a normal situation I may shoot once or twice a month, so I have ample time to digest each shoot. The festival I put on is like one or two shoots per day for 8 days. So that’s like 6 months crammed into a week. Is 20 OK? 30? 10? Are there rules? I have my own rules I place upon myself, but sometimes I wonder if I’m being hard enough on myself. I’m sure every photographer does. If you click on “full screen” you can see them bigger, but they may get pixelated due to the fact I never put large files on the web. Prints are ALWAYS so much prettier.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in making 2010 a special year for me. It was filled with happy moments and great picture making. Trips to Australia, New Orleans, New England and all over my home state of California. Book publishings, gallery exhibitions, magazine features, working with amazing models and learning quite a bit and growing quite a bit.

A really special thank you to all the people at A&I. The exhibitions that I participated in were so much fun and I met so many wonderful people. It’s nice being part of a beautiful photo community in the city where I live. Thank you for allowing me to put on such a big solo exhibition too!

Australia. I love you. I love your people. I love your land. I want to throw a rope around the tail hitch of the plane each time I leave and drag you back to California with me. I do. I do! I hope all of you in Queensland are staying somewhat dry right now. What a flood! Sorry.

Thank you to all the collectors who purchased my work this year. While book and magazine publishings really make one happy, nothing makes someone happier than when someone likes the work so much that they buy it and hang it on their wall. Pure happiness!

Thank you to American Photo for making me their centerfold this July! What a hoot! 1o years later this photo is still being published. Love that.

Thank you very much to all the models who worked with me this year. I hope the work we did reaches the pages of more books and magazines in the future. You’ll be the first to know!

Thank you to Feierbend Unique Books, 1x, Sunset Studios and A&I for all the publishing and exhibits!

Thank you to everyone who has joined up on my new site Figure Models.

Thank you to Julia Dean Photo Workshops for having me participate in their workshop line up. It’s great to be teaching along with so many amazing photographers in such a warm and professional atmosphere.

And speaking at Apple about iPhone photography! Geek moment to remember!

And thank you to all the people who have touched me personally this year. Who have helped me see the world a bit more positively and shared my love of the earth, sky and water. Made me laugh, made me cry, and supported me in ways that gave me that special boost to carry on. I love you all.

Enjoy some photos from what will be remembered as a very amazing year! Bring on 2011!! Happy New Year!

What a lovely telephone call I just had! Seems I might be going back to Australia sooner than I thought. A deal could be in the making and it might bring me back there in January. Interviews, movie making, love stories… Stay tuned! Kangaroos I will see you again soon!

A long ride to a foreign land. rolling through the sky looking at landscapes filled with mountains and rivers I’ll never cross. it seems as if this continent must have been connected to California looking at her from this viewpoint. I see fire and smoke burning up the mountain side, clear skies and a spralling metropolis up ahead. the weather feels warm. looking forward to landing and skipping into the country as seemlessly as possible.

We arrive – wander through the city with the help of my iPhone GPS – easy. Japanese dinner with good company – see a new friend up ahead and invite her in.

4am tomorrow we are off again. To yet a new land.

Before you go on a trip, especially one that won’t allow you to rent gear, you need a check list. A packing list, and a bag that you can carry on the plane. Checking your gear and trusting airport baggage with expensive equipment is a bit foolhardy. If only I could Fed-Ex it all so it arrived before me. But I don’t even trust that. So – I thought I’d let you all into my ritual of organizing before a photo excursion by posting my check list.

iPhone snap of Holga back

• 1. Holga w/Polaroid Back. I don’t leave home without it!
• 2. And that means – 10 packs of Type 85 Pos/Neg
• 3. Sodium Sulfite (hmm… airport security… wonders to myself)
• 4. Polaroid Bucket
• 5. 2 Nikon FM
• 6. Nikkor 50mm
• 7. Nikkor 105
• 8. Red Filter, Orange Filter, Yellow Filter
• 9. 20 BW Kodak Tri-X 35mm 400 Speed
• 10. Rollei
• 11. 20 BW Ilford Delta 120 400 Speed
• 12. 20 BW Kodak Tri-X 120 400 Speed
• 13. The last stash of Kodak Portra
• 14. My last roll of Kodak Color Infrared
• 15. Film Cooler for Infrared Film
• 16. Diana Camera
• 17. Pano Holga Camera
• 18. 4×4 silver/white reflector
• 19. Polaroid film protectors

I’m debating on taking my Speed Graphic 4×5. I know I’ll want it at some point but the terrain is going to be rugged and traveling light seems like that will give me the most freedom. Not only would I have to tote the 4×5 around but boxes of Type 55 too. So it’s not sounding too adventurous at the moment. Thinking about renting something while I’m there for a day so …

• 20. i545 Polaroid Back
• 21. 1 box of Polaroid Type 55

Yeah – I kind of have to shoot 4×5 – at least one day. Even though it will be insanely cumbersome, it will probably be worth it.

• 22. Video Camera

I have a few days yet, trying to think of more crap I can fit into a carryon seems exhausting. If only I just needed clothing.

For those wondering what the prize is going to be… I’ve decided to give whoever guesses where I am 2 movies I made to music of my photography mailed to you.