Photo Highlights 2019

Photo Highlights 2019

Once again it’s that time of year to look back on the accomplishments of the past twelve months. Like every year, 2019 had its share of highlights and disappointments. In terms of new images and trips, 2019 was one of the best years in recent memory. Firstly, the new year began by breaking in a much-needed new camera and lens system. Secondly, I was able to finally make a long-planned and awaited trip to the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho and Wind River Range of Wyoming. This year was so successful I had a tough job whittling the selection down to just eleven images. I hope you enjoy them all!

Kalaloch Beach #4 Olympic National Park #65138  Purchase

1. Kalaloch Beach #4 Olympic National Park. Made in May during an annual pilgrimage to the Washington Coast with my wife, Coleen. Photographers usually bypass Kalaloch Beach for the classic compositions of sea stacks at nearby Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park. While not as dramatic as Ruby, Kalaloch has long stretches of beautiful sandy beach and some wonderful tidepools to explore.

Sawtooth Lake Idaho #65958  Purchase

2. Sawtooth Lake, Sawtooth Mountains Idaho. This was my first stop on a six-week photo tour of the Northern Rockies. Sawtooth Lake is one of the more popular backcountry destinations in the area, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a relatively short and easy hike to a classic view of Mount Regan. This one was made from the south side of the lake just after sunrise with an ultra-wide angle lens.

Little Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains Idaho #66227  Purchase

3. Little Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains Idaho. After nearly two weeks of backpacking into the Sawtooths, I was treated to one more morning of great light. Right alongside a road and a major campground, Little Redfish Lake is one of the easier spots in the Sawtooths to get to for dramatic views. It’s also a lucky spot for me, on my last visit to this viewpoint I also had some spectacular light.

MilkyWay over Titcomb Basin Wind River Range Wyoming #66743  Purchase

4. MilkyWay over Titcomb Basin Wind River Range Wyoming. The main destination for me in the Winds, Titcomb Basin, and Island Lake are a magnet for backpackers and climbers. There is so much to see and photograph in this area that I allotted nine days to take it all in. One of my first attempts at night photography, I set this one up next to my tent while camping in upper Titcomb Basin. A few wispy clouds were also present to accentuate the scene. 

Squaretop Mountain Wind River Range Wyoming #67138  Purchase

5. Squaretop Mountain Wind River Range Wyoming. My last destination in the Wind River Range was along the Green River near Squaretop Mountain. This is probably one of the most recognizable views in the Winds. This view is just a few yards from my tent. Getting an early start on Labor Day weekend gave me the first pick on campsites, certainly one of the best sites along the river.

Clearing storm over Grand Teton  #67405  Purchase

6. Clearing Storm over Grand Teton. This one was made during a two-week stay in Grand Teton National Park back in September. As part of my Rocky Mountains photo tour, I originally planned to stay only 3-4 days in Grand Teton. However, a series of interesting weather patterns convinced me to extend my stay. This one was made at sunrise after a storm dusted the higher peaks with fresh snow.

Oxbow Bend Sunset, Grand Teton National Park #67566  Purchase

7. Oxbow Bend Sunrise, Grand Teton National Park. This is probably the most popular scene for photographers in the park. Because of the crowds of photographers, unless you arrive a few hours before sunset or sunrise you may not be able to set up in a choice spot. After spending nearly two weeks in the park I finally got the light I was after. This evening was one of those rare times when the light just kept getting better and better. Even nearly an hour after sunset there was still a nice glow in the sky.

Great Fountain Geyser Yellowstone National Park #67744  Purchase

8. Great Fountain Geyser Yellowstone National Park. As part of my Rockies photo tour Yellowstone, like Grand Teton, was originally planned as a brief stop on the way to Beartooth Pass. However, since I was already on the road for many weeks and the weather was taking an ominous turn my plans shifted. Therefore the Yellowstone segment lasted over a week. This image was made while waiting for the geyser to erupt, which it didn’t do until well after sunset.

Firehole River Yellowstone National Park #67865  Purchase

9. Firehole River Yellowstone National Park. I came across this scene just as a thick layer of morning fog was burning off. One of the keys to an enjoyable visit to Yellowstone is checking out its geothermal features very early in the morning or late in the day. In this instance, there were only three or four cars in the parking lot. A few hours later even the overflow parking was full.

Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone National Park #68021  Purchase

10. Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone National Park. In the northwestern corner of the park, Mammoth Hot Springs can be a rather frustrating feature to photograph. Springs can be dry one year and resurface in another place the next year. On a previous visit, this spring the upper terrace was bone dry and gray. On this visit not only was it flowing, but I had a few mornings and evenings of nice light to photograph them in.

Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone National Park #68060  Purchase

11. Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone National Park. One of the things that makes Yellowstone’s geothermal features so interesting is the variety of colorful thermophilic bacteria that lives in them. Here, on the lower terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs, a tree has been encased in travertine created by the bacteria and minerals brought up with the hot water.

I hope you enjoyed viewing Photo Highlights 2019, please feel free to vote or comment on your favorite photos in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you.

Also, if you enjoyed these images please share this post with friends family, and coworkers. Finally, all of the photos are available as fine art prints and commercial licensing, just click on any to see purchasing options. I hope all of you have a new year filled with peace, prosperity, and joy!

Photo Highlights 2019