This will be the first place other than my photography blog where I write about my top shots for the year. I won’t go into as much detail as I will there (I hear you sigh with relief), but I will talk about why each made the cut. Partially it will be on technical and/or artistic merit, partially on whether it pushed or challenged me as a photographer either in the field or in processing and partially just because I like the picture. These are my rules, I make ‘em up.
Taken in chronological order -
February
Never Met a Stranger
Because damn - lickable light. And the composition doesn’t suck. And shadows. Patterns and repetition. The hint of a trail. Perfect powder.
Growth/development = processing
Mental Twin
Because fog. And that I actually got out of the car in the snow and the wind to get this. The composition was good to start, but flipping this horizontally made it better - there is better visual flow to the partially obscured tree in back.
Growth/development - compositional risks and payoffs, processing
April
With wider perception
Isn’t this a beauty? I love the shapes and colors, the unexpected details and the overall presentation of the lichen with that smooth background.
Growth/development = Focus bracketing & stacking
June
Frequent visitor
Because ruby-throat! The light was just right for it to show up so well. The details are pretty good and the pose is pleasing.
Growth/development = wildlife/birding skills
August
Mystery at the base of a tree
Because it glows. And it’s so perfect in all its mushroomy cuteness.
Growth/development = LED panel (constant artificial light source) & focus stacking
Success!
Because we got it! The bird - a meal and me a shot of it getting its meal.
Growth/development = wildlife/birding & kayak photography skills
September
Earthly angels
Because lickable light again!
Growth/development = Focus bracketing & stacking, Photoshop & Zerene skills
October
Three canoodlers
Because Snakes! In! A! Tree! Completely new behavior for me and woah, on technical merits the photo is pretty killer - all three heads are in focus and the light is tasty.
Growth/development = Wildlife photography, keeping my eyesight acute
The heart never waits
Because just look at that composition. It’s true that low and close work in landscape photography. That and a pair of tall boots.
Growth/development = going the extra mile for a killer composition
November
No peace for you
Because wow. A bird just taking off in a classic pose and in freaking focus.
Growth/development = Birding/wildlife & lens handling & Photoshop skills
Specific Feedback Requested
any and all constructive feedback is welcome
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
All vary in terms of what I did to capture and process each photo but they were all done with the following tools -
Lumix G9
Various Panasonic and Leica lenses
Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop including the TK8 Combo & Multi mask panels
Topaz Labs Sharpen and Denoise AI
Zerene photo stacking software
Various tripods, filters & fiddly bits