Merry Christmas… and 2017 in review!
Many photographers publish a year-end “Best of” set of 10, sometimes 15 photos… a skill which I seem to have decidedly not mastered! Most years, I look back over my photos and either hate everything or simply cannot whittle it down to 10. I like different photos for different reasons, and sometimes like a photo because it’s arguably just a really good photo, but other times because it reminds me of a place or time.
Below are my favorites from 2017. As you’ll see, I didn’t manage to reduce it to just 10! It makes me sad that there are no underwater photos from this year, but it was a year of fairly bad ocean conditions early on, hand surgery, shoulder injury, and often simply too much going on. I am, however, gearing up to get back in the water, so hopefully you’ll see underwater photos again next year!
My trips this year were limited: three quick, weekend trips early in the year for an absolutely stunning wildflower bloom; one run up to Yosemite during back-to-back snowstorms; Wyoming in the summer for the total solar eclipse; and fall colors trips to the Eastern Sierra and Zion. Stay tuned to see what 2018 has in store!
If I had to pick a single photo as most iconic for the year, it would be the shot just below–of the “diamond ring” formation just as the total solar eclipse of this past August ended. Did a whole lot of people in the United States get this shot? Yes. But this is MY shot. A shot that took a whole lot of planning, preparation, effort… and no small amount of worry! Would the sky be clear in Jackson, Wyoming, during the eclipse? Would the park be so overrun with tourists that we’d get stuck in gridlock and not be able to get to the centerline of the eclipse? Because we had not managed to get hotel rooms for the actual couple days around the eclipse–even though we made our reservations 6-7 months before the eclipse!–would we manage to get a campsite after we had to leave the lodge? In the end, it all worked out and it was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives.
Other than the first and last photos, the below are in no particular order.
The “diamond ring” just at the end of totality during the Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017, as seen from Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming.
The Milky Way over Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
El Capitan peeks out through falling snow. Yosemite National Park, California.
Kayakers at Oxbow Bend in the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Wildflowers at sunset in Joshua Tree National Park, California.
Fall color in Surveyor’s Meadow along Bishop Creek in the Eastern Sierra, California.
Beaver den near Schwabacher Landing in Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming.
One of two cubs of Grizzly Bear 399 in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Mixed wildflowers cover a hillside in Southern California.
Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California.
Sunrise at Joshua Tree National Park during wildflower season. California.
A surfer does a flip off the backside of a large wave at La Jolla Shores. La Jolla, California.
The Big Dipper watches over a field of wildflowers at night in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.
California poppies overlook a lake in Southern California.
Rain approaches surfers off La Jolla Shores, California.
Flooded field and trees during a heavy snowstorm. Yosemite National Park, California.
Dead tree and reflections in a beaver pond in front of the Teton Mountains; Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Reflections of yellow aspens in fall in the Eastern Sierra, California.
Blend of ten exposures of the sun’s corona and prominences during the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Reflections in a pond. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Yellow Tickseed in the central valley of Carrizo Plain National Monument, California.
Reeds and their reflections in a beaver pond. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Marsh and ducks at the edge of Gull Lake on June Lake Loop in the Eastern Sierra, California.
Reflections in the fishing pond near Aspendell, California.
A coyote looks back at the photographer, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Endless yellow wildflowers–looking down towards Soda Lake in the valley of Carrizo Plain National Monument from high in the Temblor Mountains.
The Teton Mountains as seen from a beaver pond at Schwabacher’s Landing in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
An artist’s palette of wildflowers. Temblor Mountains, Carrizo Plain National Monument, California.
Hillside Daisies at sunrise after an overnight frost in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California.
Two bald eagles soar over the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Merry Christmas from the Moore family!
Excellent collection – Wishing the Moore’s family a very blessed Christmas and happy New Year.
December 22, 2017 at 10:34 pm
Merry Christmas to you and yours. When I checked in “Western front” of MedImpact, I did not expect to find a holiday note with such spectacular photos. Do take a break and have yourselves a very Merry Christmas.
December 24, 2017 at 9:43 am
Lovely Collection. All of them are awesome. My favorites are “Diamond Ring”, “Milky Way”, “Surfer Flip” and “Coyote Looking Back”.
I am big fan of your photography John. Please bring more.
Wishing the Moore’s family Merry Christmas and New Year.
January 2, 2018 at 12:49 am
Thanks for sharing some really great photos!
January 2, 2018 at 3:55 pm