Summer vacation photos 2011

YOUR SCENE | EDITOR'S CHOICE | SUMMER 2011

Cameras were never far from Times’ readers hands as they took time off to explore the world this summer. The result is an album of breathtaking photographic memories.

What did you do on your summer vacation? The answer is in these pages. We asked readers for their best summer vacation photographs, and they responded with more than 700 pictures of the places where they took some time off.

The crop this year included lots of animals and plenty of water-related snaps, but no matter the topic, each photo says, “Get out there and travel.” I could see myself visiting any of these places, which tells me that the photo is inspired. Read more...

What also makes these photos fun is learning the story behind them. The large photo on the cover, by Peter Leung, took my breath away. Leung, who carried a tripod (that scored bonus points for me), recently celebrated his 80th birthday but still approaches those travel moments with a fresh eye.

That is the point of travel. We see the world anew, whether it¿s walking through a mosque in Iran or cruising by a grizzly (at a safe distance, of course) or looking out the window of the plane down on a Pacific island. These photographers packed a sense of curiosity and wonder; we see here their rewards — and we share in them. << Hide

-- Kathy M.Y. Pyon, Los Angeles Times photo editor

View our 10 favorite photos in high-res | Share your vacation photos | Summer 2010 photos