Vote on Ben's Favorites + Update

[JimFox]

Not everyone knows, but @Ben Egbert who has been a friend to many of us here for over 20 years, and is one of the core members when we decided to start up FocalWorld 6 or 7 years ago, is suffering from Cancer. He has been dealing with it for a few years now, but that never stopped him from meeting up with at various locations in Utah and Wyoming. Ben's cancer has spread recently to where there is no cure, and he doesn't have much time left.

That is why he had decided to go back through a bunch of his photos and reprocess his favorite ones again with some of the processing tool advancements we have seen over the last few years. When Ben started this a couple of months ago, we had agreed that once he had his favorites posted that I would list them all in a poll so that we as a community could vote on them for him.

So please take some time and pick your favorites, Ben will appreciate it.

#1 - Schwabachers Landing, Grand Teton National Park

#2 - Skyline Overlook, Utah

#3 - Utah

#4 - Mormon Barn, Grand Teton National Park

#5 - Watchman, Zion National Park

#6 - Christmas Meadows, Utah

#7 - Mesa Arch - Canyonlands National Park

#8 - Factory Butte, Utah

#9 - Oxbow Bend - Grand Teton National Park

#10 - Utah Lake, Utah

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Can I vote for them all? They are all wall hangers.

 

[TimMc]

I agree with Jameel

 

[Jeffrey]

My favorite of Ben's images is not listed! It was the first time I'd seen a pic of Skyline Overlook, long before I ever got there. So, I still voted for another one of his from Skyline. Thank you Ben for turning me on to one of my favorite places!!

 

[Peter Michal]

It is difficult to choose only 4 pictures from these photos, because they are all wonderful!

 

[JimFox]

My favorite of Ben's images is not listed! It was the first time I'd seen a pic of Skyline Overlook, long before I ever got there. So, I still voted for another one of his from Skyline. Thank you Ben for turning me on to one of my favorite places!!

I agree with you Jeffrey, I don't think Ben had his best Skyline Overlook image in this. But this one from Skyline is certainly a very pleasing image.

 

[Bob Israel]

An amazing set of images. Very hard to pick as I absolutely love them all.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

A portfolio all of us would be proud of.
If I had to pick, I would pick #8 - Factory Butte to hang on my wall.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Before I ever "knew" (in quotes because we never met in person) Ben, I had found his guide to photographing in Grand Teton and used it extensively for my first trip there.

I had to pick Teton images.

 

[Alisa]

All of these are SO GREAT!! I picked the ones from Grand Teton and Skyline!

 

[KevinA]

Although I'm not a landscape photographer, I can still appreciate someone else's good work. These shots go so far past good that it's hard to find the right words. Every one of them is excellent and has outstanding merits, so I feel it's impossible to pick a favourite.

 

[IainGFoulds]

… Appreciate #4 (Mormon Barn) the most. Love the interplay between the rustic man made in the context of nature.
… Bless you Ben.

 

[ckcarr]

Not going to say which I selected, it was a difficult choice of elimination to get back to four...

Great images all of them!

So sorry to hear this Ben. I hope you spend lots of time with your family.

 

[Jim Sanderson]

Sorry Ben. Dang that’s bad news. All these are beautiful shots. I think the Mormon Barn is the best Mormon barn shot I’ve ever seen.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

When someone as skilled at photography as you are, Ben it isn’t possible to narrow the best image from so few images. Each has its own merits and uniqueness that make it special. For example, your image of the Mormon Barn is beautiful because of its unique fog. I’ll bet no one else in the world has that exact image.

The same is true of your Teton image. The clouds and the composition make it so different than any other image of Schawbacker Landing. It is spectacular.

You have a unique portfolio that merits accolades from the best landscape photographers. Congratulations on your life’s work. You should be very proud.

Doug

 

[Bob]

Ben,
I deeply sorry to hear about the spread of the disease that takes so many precious individuals. It is with great sadness I will make a selection of your best image.
I like them all and they all have excellent qualities but If I have to single out one which is difficult it would be #4.
God bless,
Bob

 

[AlanLichty]

I think my biggest regret with voting here is that I couldn't vote on Ben's favorite locations instead of individual locations. I had to go with a representative image of each of the locations instead - the Tetons, Canyonlands, Skyline area, and the Uintahs. I have seen many of Ben's images from each of these locales that are every bit as worthy as the ones above and I would vote for all of them if I could. It is an impressive body of work.

Alan

 

[JimFox]

I think my biggest regret with voting here is that I couldn't vote on Ben's favorite locations instead of individual locations. I had to go with a representative image of each of the locations instead - the Tetons, Canyonlands, Skyline area, and the Uintahs. I have seen many of Ben's images from each of these locales that are every bit as worthy as the ones above and I would vote for all of them if I could. It is an impressive body of work.

Alan

That would be interesting too.

If I were have to guess from my talks with Ben is that his favorite locations would be in this order.

1. Skyline
2. Canyonlands (But mainly for the 4x4 experience that he enjoyed)
3. Tetons
4. Uintah's

I think if Ben had made a list of favorite locations 6 or 7 years ago, Tetons would have been #1.

I will see if Ben is able to get on and he can share his list of favorite locations.

 

[CarolS]

Hello, I am Ben's sister and I wanted to let you all know that he passed away this morning. Words cannot describe how much we appreciate your tributes to him. He never felt his pictures were good enough to stand with the greats but I always disagreed. I hope to put together a book of his favorites for family to cherish always. It will be his legacy and these 10 photos will be in front. I hope to also gather his "All time best" as will as some of his wildlife and Oregon coast photos that we have enjoyed over the years. Thank you for supporting him in a hobby that he truly loved and gave him reason to stay active to the end.... Carol

 

[AlanLichty]

Hello, I am Ben's sister and I wanted to let you all know that he passed away this morning. Words cannot describe how much we appreciate your tributes to him. He never felt his pictures were good enough to stand with the greats but I always disagreed. I hope to put together a book of his favorites for family to cherish always. It will be his legacy and these 10 photos will be in front. I hope to also gather his "All time best" as will as some of his wildlife and Oregon coast photos that we have enjoyed over the years. Thank you for supporting him in a hobby that he truly loved and gave him reason to stay active to the end.... Carol

Thanks you for letting us know Carol. We are all going to miss him a lot.