Best of 2024 with Poll

I assessing my photographic progress in 2024, I have been looking back and attempting to determine what my best photos are. I have narrowed the selection down to five images and I would like to get feedback from readers and so I am attempting a poll at the bottom of this post. I already have my personal choice which is probably colored by the experience that I had taking each photograph and it will be interesting to compare it to the results I get with a poll.

Another fun aspect of looking back is seeing how well my photos tend to follow a style. It is hard to deliberately develop or describe a “style” as it is something that evolves over time with experiences and more about feelings than literal description. But, if I had to put it into words, I would describe my style as warmth and peaceful solitude as those are the aspects that I enjoy most about photography. Let me know what you think.

In no particular order, I submit five photos that I think are among my best for 2024. Please select your pick in the poll below.

Arizona Sunset

Taken alone on a lovely evening in Saguaro National Park in Arizona. How many beautiful sunsets have passed unnoticed in the desert? I was fortunate to see this one.

Sunrise at the Wildlife Refuge

I had this peaceful scene all to myself. Sometimes it pays to get up early on a Sunday morning, drive half an hour, and hike up to an overlook before sunrise. I just want to walk into the picture to the hillside in the distance (which I did after taking the photo).

Bird Cliffs in Svalbard

I took this photo from a small zodiac boat full of people. Technically, I wish I had been able to frame it a little differently, but I still love the way it came out with the fog suggesting a bit of danger.

Bridge into the Fog

Enjoying some early morning fog on the coast of Texas near Rockport. I just love the mystery of this image.

Sunset Path

Taken on an another enjoyable evening hike while having the wildlife refuge to myself. I edited this high-contrast as I thought it gave it a hint of a fantasy feel. I like to think that the viewer wonders what is down the path.

Poll

Now that you have seen my five candidates for my best photo of 2024. Please vote in the poll below and leave a comment below if you like. I’ve never used this polling widget before and I don’t know how well it will work out.

Expand to see my favorite

Sunrise at the refuge is my favorite but perhaps my feelings affect my judgement. It was a very peaceful morning and the happiest I have been taking a photo this year plus it was half an hour from my door.

I don’t think I did anything like this for 2023, but if I had I would have chosen this photo: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52866668222_0f676e4fbc_k.jpg

24 thoughts on “Best of 2024 with Poll”

  1. My two favorites were the Arizona sunset and the bird cliffs. I had a hard time choosing between the two, but in the end I chose the bird cliffs, simply for the uniqueness of that photo. But as far as exuding warmth and peaceful solitude, the Arizona sunset does the better job, in my opinion.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. This is a tough one. These are excellent photos, each with a great aesthetic, just in different ways. So I’m choosing merely by personal feeling at the moment. “Arizona Sunset”, with “Bird Cliffs in Svalbard” a very close second (despite the Zodiak). And yes, you have a style.

    You don’t appear (to me, anyway) to use a “formula” approach to composition (“rule of thirds”, etc…), which I appreciate. However, I detect a sort of Baroque-like change in contrast from corner-to-corner, low to high: 1) upper left to lower-left, 2) upper-left to lower-right, 3) left corners to right corners, 4) left to right, 5) upper-left to lower-right. And these all have a “destination” that can be reached in some way, but that is unseen… down a trail, along the coast, by road, along a creek. There is something left unanswered in these photos.

    And then, there’s your magnificent favorite from last year, which entirely blows everything I’ve just said out of the water. So… nevermind.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. I confess my vote was biased, as I live in Arizona. However, choosing was terribly difficult. The wildlife refuse made me want to go horseback riding. The bird cliffs brought to mind a historical romance story or adventure story. The bridge in the fog made me shiver, definitely a spooky story. And finally the sunset path beckoned me to take a long walk. All of them are gorgeous.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. This was hard, because you take amazing photos, but being that my mind is on one certain photo right now I had to choose the bridge in the fog. 🙂 The photo captures the mysterious feeling so well. It is a perfect image for the New Year. No one knows what is going to come. The Bird Cliffs was a close second.

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      1. I was trying to forget about the murderous pelicans, doolally! But yes, I am not afraid of murderous pelicans. If I can make seagulls my friends, then I can be a pelican whisperer too. But if I were you I would be very afraid the next time you see a pelican. They may have it in for you now.

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  6. the colors in the Arizona sunset photo are stunning.

    but at the same time, fog is my favorite weather “event” – and you had to have two photos involving fog. Of the two, I prefer (just slightly) the bridge in the fog.

    so I am casting two votes, one for the sunset, and one for the foggy bridge – both amazing photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Jason, I had a hard time choosing. Each of them “speak” to me. The experiences with each had to be amazing! Although I’m not “here” often, my goal is to visit your place more this year. Your photos are stunning! I chose the Arizona sunset–wow. My 2nd choice would be either the sunset path or the bridge…wait a minute, or the bird cliff? It’s very hard to choose!! What amazing pictures and a year!

    Liked by 2 people

      1. It’s my pleasure, Jason. I’m an amateur with cameras. When I see your photos I’m amazed. They all tell a story and show God’s beauty! I love that Joy uses these to tell stories, too. For someone like me, who has a gypsy and wayfaring spirit, they allow me a “visit” to some places that I have enjoyed; and places I may never get to see. So thank YOU!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Jason, I have pondering your request and what thoughts ai might have to offer. You are very good at what you do. You have a vision and perspective which you apply effectively in your work. I personally like the bridge getting lost in the fog. Curious about where it goes. All of your work as one commentator mentioned leads a viewer off to someplace “undefined”. Which is good.

    But I also have a challenge for you for this coming year. Utilizing your telephoto lens in more work. I am guessing on some of the photos shown you may have used a 24-70 or a 70-200. The bridge shot, the birds and the cliffs image.

    So, the path leading into the sunrise at the wildlife refuge. Long lens, framing the distant tree in the lower left corner with some of the grass to its left and below it, and the orange grasses leading away to the right. Shooting that tighter with a tele, filling the frame but still employing the way you see.

    Am trying to entice you into trying something a little different with intention. Really looking at a different approach with a different tool. Doesn’t mean you will like the resulting images or feel it fits your “style”, but it might help you grow in another way by broadening your vision.

    At one of the newspapers decades ago that I worked at someone I knew outside the newspaper told me they could always tell that I had taken a photo without even looking at the name below the image in the paper. Thought they were bonkers and didn’t believe I had a “look” to my images. But we all do to some extent when using our tools to record images. Maybe different tools (lenses) but the look remains the same.

    Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Looking forward to more posts down the road.

    jerry

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