The first year of the month is a great time for photos. Lots of people get new cameras for the holidays and start new projects. There's a serious uptick in the photographic force around the world. This month's Your Best Shot gallery is evidence of that. Tons of great stuff, so click through the gallery and get inspired. Then head over to the Contests Page to find out how you can participate, win cash, and get featured. 

By Ron Henderson

After a storm, a white great egret stands alone on the lake overflow, creating an interesting accent to the repeated pattern of the runoff feature.

• CAMERA: canon 5d mark III
• FOCAL LENGTH: 170mm
• SHUTTER SPEED: 1/10
• LENS: canon 70-200 2.8
• ISO: 100
• APERTURE (F-STOP): f/32