2023 - Best or Favorite Images
Its that time of year again....
What I think are my best or favorite images of 2023
Cardinals with the snow falling around them. Always a goal and rarely a disappointment. Taken out my office window aimed at my birdfeeder.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...30f04aba_h.jpg537A6074 by kayaker72, on Flickr
A baby Squirrel monkey clutches its mother's back while moving through the canopy on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. This one gets me as it makes me stop and ponder the dynamics of the monkeys and monkey colonies.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3f91f791_h.jpg537A2526 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Similarly....I would have never thought about it, but monkeys on a ground are more susceptible to predators. So, whenever possible, they get their water from sources in the tree. Here the Capuchin monkey is dipping its arm into a knot hole filled with water, and then letting the other monkey drink the water off its arm.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1943a460_h.jpg537A3209 by kayaker72, on Flickr
I occasionally visit butterfly gardens while traveling and how tried many times to get one in flight. At the Niagara Falls butterfly garden, there was a platform overlooking a waterfall area with butterflies frequently flying across. I took a few minutes and about 500 shots and I finally got this...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7893fbe5_h.jpgIn Explore - 537A6575 by kayaker72, on Flickr
If you have never been, Watkins Glen in upstate New York is a great destination for a long weekend. Here we hiked Watkins Glen, in the morning and toured ice creameries (there is such a think), visited wineries/apple cideries in the afternoon. A good weekend. Several waterfall shots I like. As for my favorites, it is between the B&W shot of Cavern Cascade and this one as for my favorites. I am going to give this one some love:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a7040a07_h.jpg537A7077 by kayaker72, on Flickr
I only got out to photograph the loons twice. Staying with the apparent theme of this year, the adult loon had just raised up and flapped its wings....soon after, the chick did the same thing as if to show its parent it could it too.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b11f81aa_h.jpg537A8380 by kayaker72, on Flickr
I could have picked several from Prague. But this one from the Charles St. Bridge looking back on the old town is one of my favorites and may best illustrate the visit.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8fd62335_h.jpg537A9416 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Last part of the trip (two conferences over two weeks with me fitting in activities in between) was in Venice. I likely have many more "typical" images of Venice, but this one of the older man waiting to catch the Vaporetto (water taxi) in Venice is one I like to think about.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1ffb7585_h.jpgSmall-0423 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Odd year for foliage. Not bad. Not good. Some color. Lots of rain. I ended up with two images I really like. One waterfall (Ellis) and this one of the fog rolling over the hills in Crawford notch:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2368bae5_h.jpg537A0449 by kayaker72, on Flickr
A second work trip to Europe, I didn't have much time to myself, but did manage this walk that I really enjoyed from the Vasa Museum to my hotel in Stockholm. This is along the walk. Maybe not a picture with the widest appeal, but this portion of the walk had an extreme feel to it. Some mist, an incredibly long twilight (being so far north), few lights. This image captures that for me.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...92690a81_h.jpg537A0066 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Every year for our Christmas cards, I run around trying to photograph our cat, Stella. This was actually after I tried to get some photos. My camera was still by my side, but I was sitting on the couch. Then, she laid nicely in front of the fire and looked back at me....as if saying "is this the pose you wanted."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e8cefa85_h.jpg537A0761 by kayaker72, on Flickr
While I live in New Hampshire, I love where I am from, the Palouse region of Idaho/Washington. Back for an early Christmas with family, my sister and I took a drive to photograph the Palouse. This is an old barn at the foot of Kamiak Butte.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8bddbc82_h.jpg537A0525 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Ok. I hope everyone had a great 2023 and wishing you all the best in 2024!
Happy New Year!
Brant
