Selection of my favorite photos of 2023.
I took roughly 14,000 photos last year. Of those I narrowed it down to about 750 that had some promise, of which I had 80 that I really loved. I was able to narrow it down to these final 12 that I'm sharing with you all here.
Gastown - Vancouver, BC
I took a quick day trip up to Vancouver when this picture was taken. Due to the limited timing and weather, I took some night shots in the rain which I love doing. In the background is the Vancouver Lookout Tower and in the foreground is the Gastown Steam Clock. I really like how the lights on the trees add to the mid-ground of the shot.
Friendship - Sandhills, NE
These two calves were in a field together exploring their territory. The Sandhills are my favorite region of Nebraska where grass-stabilized sand dunes and the Ogallala aquifer come up to the surface in the area and between these large dunes you can often find lakes where the aquifer reaches ground level.
I chose this picture for the elements. It captures the spirit of the Sandhills and I feel that the additional elements of the fence, windmill, and lake make it a strong composition. I also really loved the two calves sticking together as they wandered around.
Rural Discourse - Mullen, NE
You may or may or may not agree with the political message, but this photo encapsulates small town Nebraska and a look at the state of political discourse of the region and country in one image. As a photographer I like to document life as it is and look at things through a neutral lens. My goal is to capture the feeling of the moment.
Regeneration - Comstock, NE
Smack dab in the middle of Nebraska, sits this abandoned house in a farm field. I selected this photo for the circle of life, growth and decay. The crops are just starting to sprout on another year's harvest. The abandoned house sits on a lush patch of growth and it appears that the tree is bursting out the side of the house.
Stages of Decay - Riverton, NE
Like the previous photo in Comstock, NE this photo shows three stages from well kept, to abandoned, to regrowth of the environment. I love this image for that story, as if the progression of the photo could have been taken 50 years apart.
Groundbreaking - North Platte, NE
I was driving around on a back highway near North Platte when I spotted these excavators staged at a construction site near the highway. I liked the simplicity of this photo and how majestic they look on the hill ready for this impromptu photo-op.
July 4th - Omaha, NE
This is probably my favorite photo of 2023. The mood, the lighting, rain, and colors all came together for this photo. The subdued energy of the three ladies in the photo round out the balance of this photo.
Riding Shotgun - Omaha, NE
This photo was taken during the Terence "Bud" Crawford parade after his masterful defeat of Errol Spence, the largest victory of his career. I really like this image due to the bright yellow color and how the cyclist lines up with the drivers seat as if he could be driving the car.
Champ - Omaha, NE
This is my favorite photo of a specific moment of this year. The crowds and the excitement for Bud Crawford was immense. The crowd of tens of thousands showed up during an extremely hot day. I love this photo for the emotion and how it captures the current Omaha skyline, which is quickly changing as the new Mutual of Omaha tower is just starting to be erected directly behind the Champ.
Closing up Shop - St. Paul, MN
I love artificial light at night. This photo was taken at the Minnesota State Fair at the end of the night as the last customers get a shot for a hot dog on a stick. The lighting really focuses your attention on everything that is important in the shot as night hides the unimportant. The bright lights and colors of the signs and flags really add to the photo.
Starting to Sound - Port Townsend, WA
I chose this picture because of how abstract it is until you know what you are looking at. It's a chaotic image with the clashing container ship entering the Puget Sound between the lighthouse at Fort Worden State Historical Park and Mt. Baker approximately 60 miles away. I like the jarring pink color to the otherwise color-muted traditional photo.
Backlit Forest - Olympic National Park, WA
Around Thanksgiving I had some time on the Olympic Peninsula, and visited the Olympic National Park. As we hiked through the trails the sun was poking through the dense forest, I love how the backlight lit the moss on the edges of the trees while hiding the nearside of the trees from the light.
