Lens-Artists Challenge #77 – Favorite Images of 2019

Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.

Imogen Cunningham

LOVELY LIGHT

The great Ansel Adams once said “12 significant photographs in any one year is a good crop“.  So in response to Patti’s Challenge, I’ve chosen 12 favorites from among this year’s  thousands. Each is special to me for a different reason, which I’ve included in my comments below.

To approach the task, I divided my 2019 archives into several categories.  I opened with a favorite of my Flower Images, chosen because of the way the exquisite light gives the lily a transparent purity against the dark background.

ABOVE THE CLOUDS, GLACIER

“My favorite photographs speak eloquently, both about and to us.”

Matei Glass

For my second category, Travel Photography, I first chose a capture of the incredible natural phenomenon we experienced in Glacier National Park. Climbing the Going To The Sun Road, we were totally fogged in and worried we’d see nothing of the park’s grandeur. As we rose above the deep mist we had a true AHA moment. The fluffy white clouds spanned the valley to reach the towering mountains on the other side. The purple lupines completed the palette of nature’s perfect painting.

DESERT SUPERBLOOM

“A good image can be created, executed, captured, and recorded but it is well before imagined by a mind.”

Lakshman Iyer

My second Travel image features the 2020 super bloom, which had to be seen to be believed. It’s not something one can plan for, never knowing when or if it will occur. I was fortunate to be visiting family in Arizona during the desert super bloom.  It is a memory I hope to have with me forever.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE DAY

“Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.”

Peter Adams

I sometimes enjoy creatively post-processing my images, so I’ve featured two captures from among my Artistic Impressions. I love the feeling of movement in the scene above, which highlights the bright green of Kiawah’s springtime marsh under beautiful blue skies, as a field worker focuses on his task.

Both Portraiture and Monochrome are featured in the post-processed image below. The color’s removal and a touch of grain to me give the image a more nostalgic feel. The little girl is my niece’s daughter – I like that the portrait captures the more serious side of her personality.

DEEP IN THOUGHT

“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.”

Edward Steichen

Next up, my favorite 2019 Kiawah Creature Images – beginning with our magnificent birds. I’ve chosen the Night Heron from among hundreds of 2019 birds. This particular species is quite elusive, often hiding in deep foliage beside one of our lagoons. They are usually partially hidden and are rarely seen with wings outstretched. The image captures the bird’s beautiful wings and coloring, as well as the intensity of its bright red eye. It is one of my favorite photography moments, simply because it is so rare.

NIGHT HERON ON THE WING

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”

Ansel Adams

Here on Kiawah, we co-exist peacefully with our deer population – they provide a lovely reminder of the nature that surrounds us. I like the way this image captures the doe within her typical environment;  the catchlight in her eye is an added bonus.  

SHARING NATURE

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”

Henri Cartier-Bresson

I simply cannot omit alligators from a Kiawah Creatures category. In this image, I love the gator’s lazy, smiling face and its apparent indifference to the turtles below. I suspect the turtles’ shells offer little protection from the gator’s powerful jaws but perhaps he’ll seek an easier target should he awaken hungry from his nap.

PEACEFUL COHABITATION

“I think good dreaming is what leads to good photographs.”

Wayne Miller

Finally, I’ve included some favorite Kiawah Landscapes – a true challenge since our island is so blessed with natural beauty. I love the soft light peeking through the clouds during a rainstorm in the image that follows. Its ethereal beauty speaks to me of Mother Nature’s many moods.

PEEKING THROUGH

“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”

Marc Riboud

Amazing skies are a frequent occurrence on Kiawah. While the scene below seems dramatic in and of itself, for me the presence of the fisherman adds an extra touch of interest.

UNDER SCARY SKIES

“When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.”

Alfred Eisenstaedt

Hurricanes can wreak havoc on a barrier island. This image was captured the day before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian. It left us with many downed trees and no power, but spared us from major damage. I was happy to capture the beachgoers enjoying the churning sea under the gathering clouds of the approaching storm.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

“I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of place could be photographed.”

Annie Leibovitz

I agree whole-heartedly with the quote following my final image below. For me at least, it’s the things I’ve photographed that I most remember. The beauty of an autumn sunset on Kiawah’s beach, for example, will be with me for a lifetime.  Hopefully, on this one my choice speaks for itself.

BEACH SUNSET

“What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”

Aaron Siskind

So there you have it, my favorite images of 2019. Sincere thanks to those who stayed with me for my longer-than-usual post 🙂. I’d love to hear your thoughts on which image(s) you prefer and why.

Patti, Ann-Christine, Amy and I look forward to seeing which of YOUR images you count as personal favorites. Be sure to include the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you, and to link to Patti’s original challenge here. We hope you’ll join us next week when Ann-Christine posts Challenge #78. If you’re new to Lens-Artists, click here for information on how to join us.

As always, our team sincerely thanks you for your participation and  support of our challenges throughout the year. Happy 2020 everyone – wishing you a New Year filled with love, friendship, peace, fun and photography. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: 2019 Favorites

• December 29, 2019
• Impressionism, Kiawah, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photo Essay, Photography, Travel, Wildlife
• 153 Comments