Over the past twelve months I’ve been privileged to have been able to photograph some amazing things, I took a huge leap and moved to Chicago, and I self-published a photo book.  I spent about a third of the year living on the road at the Kentucky Derby, the US Open, and in Florida for the final flights of the Space Shuttle.  The hours were long, but the returns were huge.  The experiences I had last year will stick with me for life.  Here are a few of my favorite images from the past year.

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom being walked to the winners circle at Churchill Downs.

Mission specialist Sandy Magnus and pilot Doug Hurley walk along the rope line as Atlantis is moved into the VAB in preparation for her final flight at the Kennedy Space Center.

A news anchor is silhouetted by studio lights as weather delays the roll back of the RSS at the Kennedy Space Center.

USGA Agronomist Darin Bevard uses a TruFirm to check the firmness of the putting surface during the practice round at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.  (Copyright USGA/Joel Kowsky)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is lifted inside the VAB in preparation for her final flight on STS-134.

Space Shuttle Atlantis sits illuminated by work lights on pad 39A just after 3am on June 1, 2011 after completing her final journey from the VAB.

Here are a few polaroids that I’ve shot over the course of the final space shuttle mission.

I was lucky enough to be on the pad surface for the last time the RSS was rolled back.

Once Atlantis disappeared into the clouds it started to sink in that no one will ever get to see a space shuttle fly under power ever again…

Here are a selection of Polaroids taken during the final processing of Endeavour in the VAB and of the orbiter out on pad 39A.

When I last photographed President Obama back in April I didn’t have the chance to cover his arrival and departure in Air Force One.  When I heard that he was coming to Kansas City, I knew this was my second chance.  I brought along my Polaroid and and decided to make two photos of Air Force One and then present them side by side.  Watch for a later post with a few more images for the arrival and departure.

Check out my iPhone Blog for a photo of the Polaroids and Air Force One together.

Photographed on strobes with a Polaroid Land Model 195.  I know the first photo isn’t quite sharp, but I’ll get it right next time.

Me, taken with a Polaroid Land Model 195.  Shot on Fujifilm FP-100B.  Lit with a Canon 580EX II at 1/8th power, which was wirelessly triggered.