To round out the year I've posted my 12 favourite shots from 2012. The first two were taken during our Venice Carnival Photo Tour last February. Of the two I prefer the first – I think it's a more striking image – but I also like the fact that the second one is quite confusing, at least at first.

The next two were both taken in Dubai during some of my workshops for the Gulf Photo Plus event in March: the first from the rooftop bar of the Four Points by Sheraton hotel on Sheik Zayed Road, the second is the desert near Dubai (head out on the Hatta Road for about 40 minutes, then turn right and drive for another 30 minutes into the desert. I'm looking forward to revisiting both locations in March when I run my Shoot the City and Landscape Photography workshops.

The fifth image is also a GPP related shot, but was taken during our Faces and Places Photo to Oman. We met a whole range of interesting, photogenic and very friendly people, but this guy was one of my favourites.

The sixth image was shot closer to home: taken on Blackpool seafront during my Creating Dramatic Images workshop in May.

The seventh was the only one of all 12 that I was commissioned to take, a shot of Jess and Georg on their wedding day. They were a great couple and it was a pleasure to spend time with them.

The eight is possibly my favourite portrait of 2012, a shot of Samar Breitem, taken at the DIFC building in Dubai.

The night image is another local shot: the sea and skies of Blackpool.

The ninth is another portrait from Oman, while the final two were also shot in Dubai: the first during my Landscape Photography workshop in November, the second while I was shooting for Sony with their new SLT-A99.

So, those are my choices from 2012. I'm sure that some of you will have some different favourites, but I hope you enjoy my choices too.

On which note: I hope you all have a fabulous New Year's Eve and that 2013 brings you the health, happiness and everything else that you all deserve :)

Oh, and in other news ...

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