Happy New Year! It’s January 1, 2014 and I find myself in the exact same spot I was one year ago. Literally! I’m in the exact same campsite boondocking in Borrego Springs Desert State Park in California where it is 80 degrees today.
But I’m not in the same place in my photographic journey as I was one year ago. I have grown. I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, but I do like to look back over the past year and pick out my favourite images because it reinforces that I am living the life I want, seeing and experiencing beautiful places, and sharing that beauty with others through my photography.
I chose these photos as my top 10 landscape photos of 2013 simply because I like them the most. I didn’t try to capture a variety of places I have visited, or a variety of photographic techniques, or even the photos that received the most comments, likes or +1’s. I just chose the ones that mean the most to me. They are shown in the order I made them.
Please click any of the images to view larger versions.
1. Clark Dry Lake, Anza Borrego State Park, California
It was the sign of a good year to come. This is the first image I made on the first day of the year.
Read the story behind the image.
2. San Diego, California
This image of the San Diego skyline took quite a bit of patience waiting for the right light. This is an 80 second exposure which shows the movement of the clouds overhead.
Read the story behind the image.
3. Little Finland, Nevada
It was a long and bumpy drive to get to this little known location. In fact, the drive took much longer than expected, I missed sunset altogether, and just captured the last light of the day before it was dark.
Read the story behind the image.
4. Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
The Valley of Fire was one of those pleasant surprises you get when you wander. This rock formation is known as “Fire Wave”.
Read the story behind the image.
5. Devils Golf Course, Death Valley National Park, California
Devils Golf Course rarely receives any rainfall and so the salt crystals continue to grow and form pinnacles that are now about 3 feet deep. You can even hear it happening. While I was making these images I could hear the popping and cracking of salt crystals bursting apart as they expand and contract.
Read the story behind the image.
6. Cape Kiwanda, Oregon
I made this image by blending exposures. One exposure captured the motion of the water, but it also moved my tripod rendering the background blurry, so another exposure maintained the sharp background of the photo.
This photo is previously unpublished on the blog, but I wrote a tutorial on Digital Photography School which explains the process I used to create this it. Read How To Blend Exposures to Enhance Your Composition.
7. Vancouver, British Columbia
The clouds broke up just in time for my night shoot of the Vancouver cityscape taken from under the Cambie Street Bridge. This photo turned out to be the perfect feature image for my new SmugMug Portfolio!
Read the story behind the image.
8. Sidney, British Columbia
For me, this simple moonrise over the cool, clear ocean represents British Columbia in summer time.
Read the story behind the image.
9. A simple flower at Butchart Gardens in Sidney, British Columbia
This flower portrait is previously unpublished on the blog.
10. Fall leaves at Butchart Gardens in Sidney, British Columbia
When you visit the same location over and over again you are forced to come up with new compositions.
Read the tutorial “Photography Locations: Revisit and Reshoot”.
I also love photographing animals so this year I decided to have 2 separate top 10 lists: one for landscapes and one for animals.
Next up I will have my top 10 animals photos from 2013 to share with you, and it includes my favourite photo of the year.
It might even be my favourite photo ever.
Have you collected your favourite photos from 2013? If so, feel free to leave a link in the comments below. I would love to see them!
Gorgeous images – looking forward to another year of top notch photography!
These are all stunning images Anne! A beautiful year! Wishing you all the best in 2014! 🙂
Anne —
Cape Kiwanda . . . movement and clarity combined. Have a wonderful and joyous new year!
Loving all your shots, the ones in Nevada are my favorites though. I love how you capture the beautiful colors in the rock formations.
Great set of images Anne! I wish the best for you in 2014!
Number 10 has such a unique perspective. Nice work!
A superb set, Anne. All the best for 2014
Beautiful set Anne. I wish you the best for 2014!
After following your blog all year I’m amazed you could whittle it down to just 10 photos. I do love the blue moonrise in British Columbia. All the best in 2014 for health and happiness. I look forward to following your travels throughout the year.
Oh my! My Clark Dry Lake photos never look like that! I guess it would help if I would get out of bed earlier in the mornings. A wonderful selection of inspiring photos. Have a great 2014 clickin’.
A beautiful collection Anne – the fall leaves are just exquisite.
I’m so glad you’re back on the road and wish all the best for you in 2014!
Well done, I am particularly fond of the San Diego and Vancouver skylines. All the best in 2014.
They are all stunning Anne. It has been wonderful to watch your journey over these past few years. May 2014 bring you even greater success!
Great images, Anne. All are wonderful but I love the simple pastels of the BC moon shot. Hope 2014 is a great year for you!
Great photos Anne. I think No.1 is still my favourite – although to me it seems to be a glimpse of what Hell might be like!
I’m just re-kindling my photography after a long absence and treated myself to a NEX-6 for Xmas. I’d be pleased to produce anything half as good as what you do.
Thanks for the inspiration and I look forward to seeing more from your travels in 2014.
Jen
Thank you for sharing your AWESOME photos Anne. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!