My interest in photography as a hobby was revived around 1999 and probably peaked in 2003-04 when I made the majority of my international journeys. It was a way to get away from work, really. Now that I'm semi-retired, the urge to hit the road doesn't seem as strong. But there are the occasional trips, usually to familiar places, and from one of those I select the 2015 Photo of the Year. This is from Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri. There was one of the biggest flocks of snow geese I've ever seen filling the sky as sunset approached.
First prize, which I award to myself every year, is a trip to Keokuk, Iowa to see wintering eagles. I did go through eastern Iowa this January but didn't make it down to Keokuk. Instead what few eagle shots I got were actually from Squaw Creek again. Here is this year's POY and previous winners.
Here are my POY selections for 2002-2014.
 Junior I 2002 |  Gentoo Penguins 2003 |  Little Brothers 2004 |
 Bald Eagle 2005 |  Blue Jay 2006 |  Eagle with fish 2007 |
 Great Horned Owls 2008 |  Custer SP Bighorn 2009 |  Keokuk Eagle 2010 |
 Sertoma Butterfly 2011 |  Dark Morph 2012 |  Night heron 2013 |
 Elk Frame 2014 |
