Once again it is time to post my 12 favorite photos of 2019. I had a great year, with four trips beyond the East Coast – two within the United States, and two beyond our borders. One domestic trip included two National Parks. Here is a re-cap of the year.
Newfoundland, Canada
I started travelling in May, with a much-anticipated trip to Newfoundland. The main purpose of the tour was to photograph the night sky, and to catch some icebergs before they melted. Unfortunately, clear skies at night eluded us, and I didn’t get a single opportunity for night photography. The trip was punctuated by cold temperatures and lots of rain and fog – it was clearly still winter in Newfoundland! But I did enjoy seeing Moose and icebergs and photographing the cultural uniqueness of the area — “stages” and “stores” left over from the cod fishing industry that supported many Irish immigrants in the 18th Century. For more information and photographs, check out the Newfoundland blog post.
This first photo is a favorite from the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park. The Tablelands are a region of exposed mantle rocks from an ancient seafloor that lack nutrients to support plant or animal life. This is a long exposure – I made use of my Breakthrough 6-stop CPL filter to get the water to appear silky and record the movement of clouds in the sky.
Salt box houses and historical cod processing “stages” on Change Island, a small island off the northeast coast of Newfoundland.
Lake Michigan
My next pre-planned photography excursion wasn’t until September, but upon my return from Newfoundland I had so few images I could claim as “favorites” that I searched for weeks for some place to go in the summer. I finally landed on Lake Michigan as a place I had yet to explore, and I anticipated cooler temperatures than I could expect in Virginia. Unfortunately, the week in July that I chose had a high pressure system that brought scorching temperatures…so much for best laid plans. But I have a couple images that have become favorites.
This is “Big Red” – a rather unique lighthouse officially called the Holland Harbor Light standing sentry at a channel opening on Lake Michigan in Holland, Michigan.
What a show the setting sun gave us at Big Sable Point Lighthouse! A 2-mile walk followed by a scramble up a sand dune (easier said than done) to get to this perspective. The light and cloud pattern changed constantly but I like this photo the best. While standing in one spot probably an hour and a half, I forgot I was on the apex of the dune and mistakenly stepped backward and tumbled down the dune, finally grabbing some sea grass to stop the decline. Camera stayed on the tripod at the top of the dune so I dusted myself off and began another climb up….
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks have been on my Autumn bucket list for years but always supplanted by another beautiful location for Fall scenery. Finally in 2018 I decided 2019 was the year to return, and I made plans for peak color season. Yellowstone is a huge park, with so much diversity, I was glad I spent an entire week there. From wildlife (Bison, Elk, Fox, Bear) to geothermal features (geyser basins, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles), waterfalls, and even a high snow-covered mountain pass (Dunraven Pass), there was so much to photograph. I had difficulty picking favorites.
Grand Teton National Park
After my week in Yellowstone I traveled south through Grand Teton National Park to Jackson for another 4 nights. As of this writing, I have yet to process my photos. I had only three weeks between returning from Wyoming and departing for Scotland and I worked on Yellowstone photos during that time. I have been processing Scottish Highland photos since returning. Yet these two photos are the ones I remembered in my mind as having been satisfying at the time, so I share them here. I think there will be many more favorites from the Grand Tetons!
Scotland Highlands
I discovered that late October is a tough time to visit the Scottish Highlands. The weather had already begun to turn from Autumn to Winter, with cold weather, near constant rain and incredibly powerful blasts of wind. Of course some of the best locations to shoot from are on edges of cliffs and tops of mountains, where I could barely stand upright. Actually, I won’t count the number of times I slipped on soggy ground. Of course, save the camera was the mantra! We visited the Isle of Skye, Outer Hebrides (Isles of Harris and Lewis), Glencoe region, and of course Inverness. I’d love to return! Some of my favorites:
Thank you for viewing my Favorite Photos of 2019!
Jeff Leonards
27 Jul 2020Hi Debbie, hey, I was looking at a calendar the other day, and noticed your name in very small letters under the picture. I couldn’t believe it was you. I went to your website, and I’m enthralled by the quality of your photographs. I remember you saying after one of our sociology classes that you were intending to occupy a few inches of space on a library shelf. It looks like in some ways you have realized your dream. Congratulations. I began using a camera with Zeal when my father bought me a Kodak instamatic. Since then, I have taken literally thousands of photographs , which, to develop, have cost me a fortune. tried my hand at more professional-looking photography, and some of my friends said my photos were good. I invested in a better digital camera, which I talk on several trips, including throughout Italy, with good results. I took a course in digital photography, but after a lot of effort and seeing so many times the photos coming out of quality photographers like yourself, I abandoned my pursuit. Probably a wise idea. Anyway, nice to see your work, and hope you keep it up. Best wishes. Jeff Leonards
Deb Snelson
27 Jul 2020Hey Jeff – thank you so much for the kind kudos! Seems you have sparked envy in me many times with your successful career! Both of us took a different path than Sociology – my few inches of library space belong to my thesis in Geoscience….I’m certain you fill shelves and shelves! So good to hear from you! I bet your photography is better than you think! Feel free to find me on Facebook and say hello!
Mitchell Diann
15 Mar 2020Hi Debbie,
, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to respond to your photographs, they are absolutely breathtaking! The colors are so vivid, they look like paintings instead of photographs, so beautiful! You have been to some amazing places I have never been, I thank you for sharing your pictures! I feel like I have been there and your details are great.
Keep up the good work!!
Deb Snelson
15 Mar 2020Thank you Diane – so good to hear from you!
Todd Henson
29 Jan 2020I really love that first photo of Newfoundland, beautifully composed, great light, and it works so well with the long exposure. I hope you have a great year!
Deb Snelson
30 Jan 2020Thank you Todd! I agree that the long exposure in Newfoundland is probably the best photographically. I may have sold some of the others short by grouping them by location with a representative sample, and trying to come up with the second “favorite” from Newfoundland was difficult! I really appreciate your confirmation of “best” photo – my best to you as well!
Leon Roland
2 Jan 2020Wonderful collection of photographs.
Deb Snelson
30 Jan 2020Thank you Leon – I appreciate that you took the time to look!