Here’s my favorite image of 2018 taken on the morning of March 23rd outside my B&B cabin in Delta Junction, Alaska. This aurora display began at about 2:00am local, reaching a peak near 4:30am when the aurora danced with incredible beauty. Needless to say, the celestial show was too amazing to examine each image in “real time,” but upon later examination this photograph really touched my spirit.

Here is my photo for Best of 2018, not because of its quality, but because of the experience for Kendall, the “model,” on top of the RV. It was a completely unplanned shot, that happened between her 3 day backpack through the Tetons and her 24 hour Cowboy Tough Adventure Race.

Lynda and I spent the evening overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge while the camera’s clicked away and we watched brightly lit barges and airplanes come by wondering if they were going to ruin the final picture. She knew a great location overlooking the bay to get this image.  The sun started to come up and we went for a nice breakfast in Sausalito in one of the only places that was open that early.

This is not only my favorite for 2018 but my favorite picture, period. I visited near my hometown in SW Colorado several times this summer and experienced clouds, rain, wind and even bears at this location. I knew I wanted to return for a fall foliage shot but that everything would have to come together–the leaves, the weather, the moon, and the one night I had in the area. Fortunately, it all did. I hope you enjoy the result.

This is my favorite photo for 2018, taken during the Mono Lake alumni workshop in May, 2018.  This is my first attempt ever at photo stacking. I remember the night well because as I was following Brad’s instructions, I was so involved in the process that my fingers froze in the cold of the night!  I then had trouble knowing what buttons I was pushing on the camera.  But I recovered and continued. I was not sure how it was going to come out but I was astonished at how well I did on my first attempt. I was so ecstatic and still am!

Earlier in the day, this was the spot in Yellowstone National Park where I was married. I told my wife I wanted something special to remember our day and suggested we go back to where we were married overlooking Yellowstone Lake and take some photos. Not exactly your traditional wedding image but it’s one that means the world to us.

I like this image because of the lighting techniques I used (thanks, Brad!) and because the Alabama Hills are such a striking place to photograph in.

Kalahari Plains in Botswana

This image was recorded in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at one of the historic cabins in the Cades Cove area of the park. This image is my favorite because of the combination of the experience and the execution involved in creating this image.

Some weekends stand out a little more than others. I enjoyed the marriage of two amazing friends, beheld mountain and meadow views, waded through meandering rivers, soaked in hot springs, talked loudly to bears that may or may not have been around the next bend, and meditated to the illumination of this waterfall by the harvest moon.