It's that time again.... In keeping with the last couple of year's reflections on the year that was (2010 here, and 2009 here) below are my 12 14 favourite images from 2011. Slightly different from these previous entries though, I haven't picked one image from each month, I've simply tried to pick my 12 (which ended up being14) personal favourite images from this year. It's always an interesting exercise and I find it really quite rewarding to see how my skills have developed from the year before. So here they are, although not in any order in particular, other than chronological.

First up is an image I made in Spinningfields, Manchester that I submitted in the Urban View category of the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2011 competition, which was subsequently shortlisted.

Also in January I made the image below with Charlie in Castlefield with one of my favourite modifiers, the Lastolite Ezybox. Details here

Patrick with his guitar on the roof of the Arndale car park before the security guards came along. Blog post here

Maltese street scene - First trip to Malta this year. Blog post here.

Kayleigh, Trafford Park with the moon. Blog post  here

Second trip to Malta this year. Blog posts here and here

Anna - "Waiting for a bus?" with some very carefully placed SB900s - blog post here

Lighthouse, Vilamoura, Portgual. Blog post here and on variable neutral density filters here

Manchester Central Library - post here

Jenson Button in his McLaren Mercedes tears up Deansgate, Manchester. Post here

The Lake District. Post here

Derwent Valley. Post here

And finally a shoot I did with Sophie and Pat in mid December that I haven't yet blogged about. Post to follow in the New Year.

So in retrospect I'm more than happy with the quality of what I've produced this year, though I do feel that I need to up the quantity next year. And in upping the quantity I'm pretty certain that this will also see an improvement in the quality too. I ought to write a post on my plans for 2012 too. For one, it'll give me something to be held to, and it'll also help me to thrash out my thoughts and plans for the next year of my business and where I want to take it. So you can look forward to this in the coming weeks.

Finally, for 2012 I'll be releasing desktop wallpapers for your personal use. You can download January's here in 3 separate sizes. There's 2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1200 & 1440 x 900. Simply click the appropriate link and right click to save to your desktop.

As this'll be my final post for 2011, I'll sign off by saying that it's been a fantastic year for me photographically speaking and I hope that 2012 is even better. Enjoy the celebrations, and I'll see you on the other side.

Wishing you a prosperous 2012. Neil