Revellers are gathering in this part of the world as Australia prepares to ring in 2012 ahead of countries trailing behind the International Date Line. After a very Merry Christmas indeed, our New Year's Eve promises to be blissfully low key with a bowl of popcorn, a showing of Tooth Fairy with the kids on television, a simple dinner of home made pizza, a glass of bubbly later on with a more grown up movie as we toast to the New Year. 2011 has been a very special year for me and Cook Republic. The blog has come a long way, slowly and surely. And it is here to stay. I loved writing about my food adventures and culinary exploits intermittently throughout the year. I loved sharing my photos with you all. I loved discovering some of your amazing blogs and websites. I loved reading your heartfelt comments. I loved basking in the kindness and comraderie you showed me. Most of all, I loved connecting with you all and being a small part of your beautiful lives this year.
Last week, I woke up to the most amazing news I would have never expected to get. I had won the Eat Drink Blog 2011 Food Photography Impact Award. All those prop hunting trips, all those low light experiments and all those precious dollars saved for a very special lens eventually reached fruition. It didn't sink in for a good few days and when it eventually did, I was blown away all over again. My first photography award and I get to buy the gorgeous Canon lens I have been eying with the moolah I get. Thank you all, for you have all played a very special part in my shenanigans. Cook Republic would never be the same without you guys!
On the eve of 2012, I am sharing some of my special photo memories from 2011. Yes, I do photograph things other than food even though I may have misled you. These photos are ingrained in my mind for elating me in the moment I captured them, for telling a story and for recording a special moment that I will forever remember. I hope you enjoy them. I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. May the coming year bring you new adventures and may you write some new and totally amazing stories of your own in the coming year. From our home to yours!
Your photography is very inspirational! Congrats on winning the award, from what you share here, it is well deserved:-) I look forward to following you, and enjoying your beautiful photography! Take care, Terra
Thank you for the wishes Terra 🙂
Congrats on the win. You did well considering the other finalists.
Look forward to future photos 🙂
Thanks Simon!!
Your photos rock! Congrats on the win!
These are all great! My personal favorite is of the eggs. But that bunny is wonderful.
These are lovely! Particularly the eggs, your beautiful Ganesh in the lotus..
And happy New Year!
Congratulations! I love the pictures particularly the basket of eggs and the tractor, oh and the seafood sign and........ GG
Congratulations, your photos are fantastic, you must be so thrilled. Love your blog, have been a subscriber for a long time. Happy New Year.
Somehow I feel blessed having found this on the first day of a new year! The photography is inspired: a joy to celebrate in life! I adore your blog but wonder whether your immense talent should not be shared with the world just in photographic images . . . you know you are 'good' enough?
Sneh, I normally don't care too much if there's no food in a photo but I must say all your photos are beautiful. You totally deserved the award. Happy new year!
Very nice collection of pics!
Congratulations Sneh! I've been very much enjoying visiting your blog in 2011 and totally agree with the judges - your photography is strikingly beautiful! Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
Those are beautiful photographs indeed! Congrats on the award, may 2012 bring in many more! 🙂
Have a wonderful new year!
Congratulations, Sneh! All pics are very beautiful. Happy New Year! 🙂
Congratulations Sneh. All the photos are lovely. My fav is the red bus in the train. Brilliant.
Happy New Year!
grats on winning! your photos have wowed and stunned me all year and cheers to even more delicious eats in 2012!
congrats for the award ! love the flowers images the most 🙂 and the rabbit, bus ones too 😀 glad to have found your blog & you ! wishing you & family a very joyous new year !
very very well deserved Sneh. I told you earlier as well, I think you have grown and shown a great part of your photography this year. I'm in love with every single one of the above pictures! happy new year