2024 – The Year in Pictures. Here is a selection of my favorite images released in the past year. These are not necessarily my best or most popular, but each represents a special moment in time in which the beauty of this amazing world revealed itself before my lens.
Please share and enjoy! I’d love to know your thoughts and if any images resonated with you or conjured up good memories. You can click on any image for a large high quality view, to learn more about it or purchase a fine art print.
I look forward to seeing your favorite images, and most of all I wish everyone a healthy and Happy New Year!
-Russ
Yellow-eyed tree frog, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Alajuela Province, Costa RicaSunset at Playa Matapalo beach, Puntarenas Province, Costa RicaHiker exploring the Monte Verde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa RicaRio Celeste Waterfall, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa RicaLupine near Lindis Valley, Otago, South Island, New ZealandThe Pororari River, Paparoa National Park, Punakaiki, New ZealandMount Cook above Lake Pukaki, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, New ZealandMilford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New ZealandBurney Falls, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, CaliforniaLower South Falls, Silver Falls State Park, OregonTanner Creek, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OregonLatourell Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
Snow dusted apple orchard and pines, Yosemite National Park, California
Happy Holidays and welcome Winter Solstice!
Midwinter, Yule, the Longest Night, Jól – the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is known by many names, but the shortest day of the year is the official start of winter and the perfect time to reflect on the past twelve months.
As 2024 comes to a close I’m grateful for another year of new experiences and travel near and far. And as always I appreciate your support and company in exploring all the natural beauty that surrounds us.
Have a wonderful holiday season and a healthy, prosperous New Year!
Fresh snow on fall aspens and pines, Inyo National Forest, California USA
Fall Color Photography – Where’s The Light? Successful fall color photography obviously starts with planning around the seasonal changing of the leaves (and this Fall Color Map can help), but once you’ve scouted your location there’s another key factor to consider.
Where and how the color happens is dependent upon elevation and temperature and no two years are ever the same. The higher mountains of the west begin in mid-September, eastern hardwoods in October, and the lower red-rock country of the southwest typically in early November. Once you’ve settled on a destination and found that great grove of trees the next step is to understand the light.
It might seem like the vibrant reds or yellows before you would be faithfully reproduced by your sensor no matter what time of day, but understanding the quality of the light can go along way towards guaranteeing your success. Using backlight or sidelight when the sun is low on the horizon and illuminates the leaves from behind creates a wonderful warm glow, especially when set against a dark background.
Softlight is another great light source (illustrated above) that occurs when the sky is overcast and acts like a giant studio softbox. Under these conditions, it doesn’t matter what time of day you’re shooting as the shadows are eliminated and the uniform light both reduces the contrast while intensifying the colors.
So when the scene presents itself, consider the light and framing, and don’t be too quick to trip the shutter. A slight change in position or a little patience can often make the difference between a good image and a great one.
