Here’s the final installment of my favorite photos from 2020. I decided to lump the last three months together – partly because I have fewer photos from these months and partly to get done with the voting so I can move on with putting together the final product.
As with the previous installments, please put the numbers of your favorite photos from this batch in the comments section below. In a couple days, I’ll tabulate the results and put the top vote getters from the whole year into the final collection. Thanks everyone.
1.) Wild lettuce seeds. Helzer Family Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/11, 1/200 sec. 2.) Bison at the Niobrara Valley Preserve. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-300mm lens @125mm. ISO 400, f/0, 1/1600 sec.3.) Prairie violet seed pod and October snow. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/16, 1/500 sec.4.) Orb weaver spider in burned area. Niobrara Valley Preserve. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 640, f/11, 1/200 sec.5.) Prescribed fire in the woodlands at the Niobrara Valley Preserve. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-300mm lens @85mm. ISO 640, f/11, 1/500 sec.6.) Bison at the Niobrara Valley Preserve. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-300mm lens @240mm. ISO 400, f/9, 1/1000 sec.7.) Ice on Indiangrass. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/10, 1/640 sec.8.) Ice, sun, and prairie. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 with Nikon 12-28mm lens @20mm. ISO 320, f/22, 1/500.9.) Ironweed seedheads and ice. Helzer backyard. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/14, 1/60 sec.10.) Black-eyed Susan and ice. Helzer backyard. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/13, 1/640 sec.11.) Switchgrass and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/18, 1/320 sec.12.) Little bluestem at sunrise. Helzer Family Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 250, f/10, 1/1000 sec.13.) Ice, sun, and prairie. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 with Nikon 12-28mm lens @20mm. ISO 320, f/22, 1/250.14.) Sandhills and smoke at sunset. Niobrara Valley Preserve. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-300mm lens @160mm. ISO 500, f/11, 1/1250 sec.15.) Grass leaf and snow. Gjerloff Prairie. Nikon D7100 with Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/16, 1/640.16.) Sideoats grama seedhead. Helzer Family Prairie. Nikon D7100 with Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/14, 1/250.
On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 8:47 AM The Prairie Ecologist wrote:
> Chris Helzer posted: ” Here’s the final installment of my favorite photos > from 2020. I decided to lump the last three months together – partly > because I have fewer photos from these months and partly to get done with > the voting so I can move on with putting together the final” >
Chris-very nice collection of photos. Those plumes on the wild lettuce really resemble those of goat’s beard or salisfy. I don’t think I ever have looked carefully at wild lettuce.
The Prairie Ecologist 
4, 5, 8, 11 :)
1,2,7,11, 14
1,3,10,11,13 (I like 13 best!)
Photos #5 and #14 are my favorites! They all are wonderful – – all winners!
6,11,12,13,14!
Fire and Ice: 5, 10, and 13.
3, 7, 10, 11, 14, 16
1, 8, 10, 11, 13
12, 14, 7, 11, 10
1 2 5 6 11 12 14 :)
2, 4, 6, 9, 14, & 16
2, 5, 8, 11, 14
2, 10, 14 – Lovely!
2 and 13
4, 5, 10, 14
12, 5, 6, 8, 14
Actually impossible to pick favorites from this lot, they are all great. Thanks for sharing!
The toughest choice yet.
1, 3, 8, 11, 14, 15
11 beautiful
On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 8:47 AM The Prairie Ecologist wrote:
> Chris Helzer posted: ” Here’s the final installment of my favorite photos > from 2020. I decided to lump the last three months together – partly > because I have fewer photos from these months and partly to get done with > the voting so I can move on with putting together the final” >
6,10,13,5 Not necessarily in any order. They are all so good!
2, 3, 5 and 6.
9, 10 and 13 my favs. Love capturing the ice
1, 4, 5, 8, 12
2, 5, 7, 12, 14
2
6
7
8
9
10
11
13,14,7
1, 2, 14, 11
1, 5, 6, 8, 11 ,15 Thanks for sharing your pictures and beauty of the prairie
2,5,8,11 – I was afraid I was only picking sun shots (of some form or another) and then I saw 11 – awesome shot!
2,8,10,11,13
1, 3, 9, 10, 11, 15
6,12,15, 10 or 11 can’t pick!
3,5,11 All are so awesome!
1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11. 12. 14, and 15.
8, 5, 11,16
11, 2, 1, 14, 4
Thank You! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 15, & 16
… especially # 15 & #1
1,2,9,10,13,14
1, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 13
2, 5, 11, 14 ❤️
1 3 4
16,15,3,10
7, 11
11,14,2,3
6, 10, 16, 8
3, 5, 13
2, 13, 7, 15
14, 14, 14
1, 6, 5, 13
5, 6, 14, 3
1, 4, 9, 15
Chris-very nice collection of photos. Those plumes on the wild lettuce really resemble those of goat’s beard or salisfy. I don’t think I ever have looked carefully at wild lettuce.
Keep up the good work.
Happy New Year.
Carl
11, 1, 12 in that order for top 3.