Another year has closed, and once again, San Francisco photographer Jim Goldstein is calling for your top photos taken this year! It's always a blast to participate in and review some of my favorite shots taken over the past year.

You can also see my best photos from 2008.

--

Protestors gather at Civic Center in San Francisco on January 12, 2008 to protest the shooting death of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer on New Years Eve.

--

Buzz, a friendly elephant seal pup that we encountered while backpacking along California's Lost Coast.

--

While traveling through Canada this past summer, we took a gondola ride near Banff. The first part of the ride was enveloped in fog. Right after we broke through, I stuck my DSLR out the window (yikes!) and captured this shot!

--

Visited Seattle for the first time this summer as well and took this shot at the foot of the Space Needle.

--

Steve Jobs made his return to Apple, after being sidelined with health problems. It was my first time attending an Apple keynote / Stevenote and the first time seeing Steve Jobs in person. Shot photos for gdgt. Definitely a moment that will stick with me for a long time.

--

The Blue Angels always provide fantastic opportunities for shooting photos. I took this photo as Blue Angel #7 screamed right over the top of our apartment building.

--

In March, the California Supreme Court ruled on the validity of Prop 8 (and made the unfortunate decision to uphold it). I took this photo and thought it represented a nearly perfect representation of each side (literally, metaphorically, politically). Two people on the left, in love and making a point about equal rights. On the right, an older white gentleman, holding up a sign in support of Prop 8.

--

Robogames 2009 at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Two competitors chat after a battle and examine the damage inflicted upon their robots.

--

A second photo from Robogames 2009. A competitor cheers in victory after his robot scores a critical hit on an opponent.