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
Surf crashing on rocks at Secret Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
If you’re in search of warmer latitudes and a sense of adventure the north shore of Kauai is a great place to get away from it all. From the rugged Na Pali Coast at road’s end in Ha’ena, the famed Kalalau Trail traverses the cliffs and valleys of this spectacular landscape for a truly unforgettable hiking experience.
For maximum time on the water, kayaking the 16 mile coastline is a truly unique way to see this remote part of the island that doesn’t require an overnight. Several tour companies in Hanalei provide all the equipment and an informative guide along with pickup service at the end of the journey.
But perhaps this all sounds a bit too adventurous after your escape from the mainland, and all you really want is a quite little piece of paradise to call your own. In that case, you can’t do much better than Kauapea Beach (known by the locals as Secret Beach). This pristine strip of golden sand is a short detour off the Kuhio Highway, but is rarely crowded and offers wonderful views of the Kilauea Lighthouse above the turquoise waters of the Pacific.
Whether you need to wind down with your toes in the sand after a day of hiking or paddling, or prefer to spend all your time a la Robinson Crusoe just off the grid and unplugged – this secluded hideaway is a mandatory stop on your North Shore adventure.
Sunset over the Channel Islands from Ventura State Beach, Ventura, California
As a landscape photographer I spend a fair amount of time on the road each year often traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to remote locations. So it struck a chord when it was recently suggested within the online community of photographers to showcase images of those special places that are close to home – essentially in our backyard.
I’m fortunate to have a national park adjacent to my community and, although it’s 11 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean and I don’t make it out there as often as I’d like, I do get to see it most every day. Channel Islands National Park is made up of five of the eight Channel Islands with Santa Cruz seen here being the largest. The islands are rich in Native American culture and wildlife, and are a diver’s paradise. But even from afar they make a wonderful setting for a classic Southern California sunset.
When planning your next photographic adventure don’t overlook the local gems that are within easy reach and may provide just as much visual opportunity as those popular locations miles from home.
