It’s become an irregular tradition–is that an oxymoron?–on this blog to post a late-in-the-year entry highlighting some of my favorite images captured in the prior 12(ish) months. How irregular a tradition is this? This year will be the third time I’ve created such a collection in what is the 16th year of this blog. (Previous distillations were offered in 2017 and 2021.) So, there’s been a whole lot more irregular than there has been tradition.
Before proceeding I will note that this year’s offering is inherently incomplete, as it omits any of the images from last autumn’s trip to northern Minnesota, a function of the unfortunate–and ongoing–computer failure that has indefinitely interrupted my processing of images from that trip. No matter. There were enough image making opportunities from other sessions in 2022 to, hopefully, paper over the silicone-induced shortcomings.
I’m going to present these favorite images in two parts, beginning with this post. The second installment should appear next week and will consist of images from the Smokies trip last April. That post will also serve as the introduction to the chronicling of that trip.
Note that there has been no attempt to limit this bipartite collection to a particular number of images, nor will there be an effort to present some sort of rank ordering of preference. Basically, any attempt to do anything so formal felt too much like a chore for me to undertake and, believe me, I have more than enough chores on my agenda already without having to manufacture more. (If you prefer to interpret the resulting chaos as evidence that I’m just being lazy, I won’t put up much of an argument.)
Hey Kerry. Happy New Year! Of course, I saw many of these already as you posted during the year. But nice collection of images. I think you really did a nice job on the abstract shapes and curves – something I don’t necessarily think is an easy task.
I have done my own “favorites” over the years – though not consistently. This year was one of the more difficult. I made just under 7,000 images (second most since I have been keeping track) and I “tried” to get those down to 10. No ranking. But really an impossible task, and subjective as well. I noted on my own blog that what I finally chose the day I posted it may have been different had I done it a week earlier or a week later :-). Anyway, great series of images – as always.
Your favorites coincides fairly well with what I identified as favorites from your postings during the year. Wish the Minnesota photos were available, but we can look forward to that as Part III whenever they are ready.
An outstanding collection of favorites, Kerry! I agree with Ellen — your favorites include images that I enjoyed most from your posts. Interesting exercise — I’m often asked which is my favorite image or location after a trip, and I find it impossible to answer. Each location has its own pros and cons, and some images (and locations) have special meaning for me despite not offering objectively outstanding comps or conditions. My trips are not just to make images — they also make memories to keep me warm on the cold, winter days when I’m too ancient to make these trips anymore (presuming no cognitive issues by then). Looking forward to your next post…
Steve
Yeah, with the volume of images we likely produce, coming up with a single favorite–or even a predetermined number of favorites, plural–can be an exceedingly difficult exercise, which is why I put no cap on the number in this–and subsequent–collection(s).
And definitely agreed, what merits inclusion in any collection is definitely subjective. It could be something that simply tugs at the chords of memory, independent of any presumed image “quality.” Absolutely nothing wrong with that, IMO.
Very nice. I should have visited AZ more often when I lived in nearby Colorado. Death Valley is another area of interest . . . perhaps I’ll combine both in a future road trip. Thanks for the inspiration.
While this was my first visit to the two sections of Coyote Buttes, I’d been to Vermillion Cliffs–White Pocket, specifically–the prior year, which was a great experience in its own right. Death Valley is a pretty decent haul from the monument–I’d estimate about a six-hour drive.
But, particularly if you’re into abstracts and graphic imagery, I highly recommend both locales.
Thanks. I’m not especially ‘into’ any particular genre. I tend to photograph whatever interests me at the moment (one of them non-focused snappers). But, yes, I’m also drawn to patterns.
Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog 
Hey Kerry. Happy New Year! Of course, I saw many of these already as you posted during the year. But nice collection of images. I think you really did a nice job on the abstract shapes and curves – something I don’t necessarily think is an easy task.
I have done my own “favorites” over the years – though not consistently. This year was one of the more difficult. I made just under 7,000 images (second most since I have been keeping track) and I “tried” to get those down to 10. No ranking. But really an impossible task, and subjective as well. I noted on my own blog that what I finally chose the day I posted it may have been different had I done it a week earlier or a week later :-). Anyway, great series of images – as always.
All my best,
Andy
By: LightCentric on December 27, 2022
at 8:25 am
Thanks, Andy. Much appreciated.
I’m going to link your favorites post right here:
https://lightcentric.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/my-favorite-images-of-2022/#comment-3448
I encourage everyone who reads this to check it out. It’s basically a template for how this sort of post ought to be written.
By: kerryl29 on December 27, 2022
at 11:03 pm
Wow, Kerry. An honor and thanks for the kind words!
By: LightCentric on December 28, 2022
at 5:50 am
Your favorites coincides fairly well with what I identified as favorites from your postings during the year. Wish the Minnesota photos were available, but we can look forward to that as Part III whenever they are ready.
By: EllenK on December 27, 2022
at 12:01 pm
Thanks very much, Ellen. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish processing those Minnesota images before too much longer.
By: kerryl29 on December 27, 2022
at 11:04 pm
An outstanding collection of favorites, Kerry! I agree with Ellen — your favorites include images that I enjoyed most from your posts. Interesting exercise — I’m often asked which is my favorite image or location after a trip, and I find it impossible to answer. Each location has its own pros and cons, and some images (and locations) have special meaning for me despite not offering objectively outstanding comps or conditions. My trips are not just to make images — they also make memories to keep me warm on the cold, winter days when I’m too ancient to make these trips anymore (presuming no cognitive issues by then). Looking forward to your next post…
Steve
By: sscarter on December 27, 2022
at 4:09 pm
Thanks, Steve.
Yeah, with the volume of images we likely produce, coming up with a single favorite–or even a predetermined number of favorites, plural–can be an exceedingly difficult exercise, which is why I put no cap on the number in this–and subsequent–collection(s).
And definitely agreed, what merits inclusion in any collection is definitely subjective. It could be something that simply tugs at the chords of memory, independent of any presumed image “quality.” Absolutely nothing wrong with that, IMO.
By: kerryl29 on December 27, 2022
at 11:08 pm
Pretty fantastic!
By: kewtiebird on December 28, 2022
at 2:53 am
Thanks very much!
By: kerryl29 on December 28, 2022
at 12:22 pm
[…] I noted in the last entry, the photo set from the desert last winter is just the first part of the favorite images […]
By: Favorite Images of 2022, Part II (The Smokies) | Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog on January 3, 2023
at 8:03 am
Very nice. I should have visited AZ more often when I lived in nearby Colorado. Death Valley is another area of interest . . . perhaps I’ll combine both in a future road trip. Thanks for the inspiration.
By: disperser on January 14, 2023
at 9:46 am
Thanks very much!
While this was my first visit to the two sections of Coyote Buttes, I’d been to Vermillion Cliffs–White Pocket, specifically–the prior year, which was a great experience in its own right. Death Valley is a pretty decent haul from the monument–I’d estimate about a six-hour drive.
But, particularly if you’re into abstracts and graphic imagery, I highly recommend both locales.
By: kerryl29 on January 14, 2023
at 11:52 am
Thanks. I’m not especially ‘into’ any particular genre. I tend to photograph whatever interests me at the moment (one of them non-focused snappers). But, yes, I’m also drawn to patterns.
By: disperser on January 14, 2023
at 9:48 pm