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Best Photos of 2022

It's been two years since my last photo year-in-review.

In 2021, photography took a back seat to life. We bought a house. We moved. I left my job and started a new one. We successfully (mostly) parented two tiny humans during a global pandemic. Though I did manage to take some pictures in between, editing them was a different story. There are entire folders of photos that I've never touched. Hopefully, someday I'll get around to editing them. Until then, 2021 was The Lost Year.

2022 was a return to form. Or at least form-ish.

My favorite thing about these recaps is discovering what they reveal. Themes emerge. Deep insights are gleaned. I get to find out if I’m getting any better at photography or if I’m getting worse. (It’s debatable!) Sometimes, as in 2020, these collections are a surprisingly good reflection of the state of the world and my place in it. 

So what grand lesson did I learn from this year’s recap?

To be honest, I don't know.

This group of images has me a bit stumped.

While I’m proud of this collection, it definitely feels a little less cohesive.

This year, I was drawn to busier, more chaotic, less perfect scenes. In reviewing my contact sheets, some of my favorite images are objectively the worst in the series. But there's something I like better about them, in all their imperfection. They do a better job capturing not just how things look, but how they feel. They have more soul.

Overall, my photos this year tended to be more graphic. The compositions were more about the individual elements than the subject itself – shapes and patterns. Light and shadow. Color. And one color specifically: yellow. So much yellow!

Maybe there’s deeper meaning in that?

I decided to look it up. Here’s what The Internet says about the symbolism of yellow: caution, fear, sensationalism, happiness, optimism, positivity, innocence, cheer, sunshine, enlightenment, creativity, sickness, anxiety, betrayal, impatience, warmth, wisdom, wealth, faith, joy, and mourning.

That's not terribly insightful. But also, pretty accurate.

This fall my 7-year-old daughter Hazel started taking an interest in photography. During a trip to the city she discovered that if she moves fast while taking a picture, the result is something unexpectedly abstract and painterly. In photography, this is a technique called ICM (Intentional Camera Movement). Hazel calls them "blurry-on-purpose-pictures."

Looking back on this year in review, maybe my photography was a little blurry-on-purpose too.

Hazel Eden, October 2022

Hazel Eden, October 2022

Hazel Eden, October 2022

Hazel Eden, October 2022

PET PROJECTS:

Before I get into the best-of images, it’s worth calling out some longer-term projects. This year I added a lot of photos to some of my ongoing Fine Art projects. I also started a few new ones. You can click the images below to visit the galleries for each one.

PET PROJECT: UNMOORED

I started “Unmoored” with my flower photography in 2020, but I've never shared it.

By removing the stems in Photoshop, flowers become gravity-defying otherworldly creatures, full of movement. It's impossible to look at them without your mind trying to fill in the gaps of how they're floating. Some blooms become spinning helicopters. Others pulse like jellyfish. It's a fascinating mind trick.

PET PROJECT: CHAOS

The more I add to this project, the more I come to love it. This collection feels like New York. My approach for these photos is the exact opposite of what I’m usually trying to do. Instead of removing elements to give an image a focal point, this series is about making the frame as full, random, and frenetic as possible.

PET PROJECT: POST NO BILLS

I started this new project this year, featuring images of tattered construction wall wild postings.

It's like creating a collage. But instead of deliberately adding layers, these images are created serendipitously, by what someone has torn away.

PET PROJECT: LITERAL STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

This is one of my oldest ongoing projects, where the street itself is the subject. I love how the textures and color blocking create energy and modern-art-inspired compositions.

AND NOW…THE BEST PHOTOS OF 2022

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite photos from 2022:

“Fly Lanes” Nice, Frace. June, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 200

In Old Nice, the streets are so narrow you could stand in the center of the road, reach out your arms and open two front doors at once.

I was fascinated by the jagged shapes the buildings made out of the sky. I spent a long time using my Jedi mind tricks to try to convince a bird to fly into one of my shots. This pigeon finally cooperated.

“Foothills” Upper East Side, New York, November, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/11, 1/210, ISO 200

For my wife’s birthday gift, she wanted to pick out a ring from a local jewelry designer. As luck would have it, the designer ran her studio out of her apartment on the 33rd floor. This was the view from the balcony. We both left with a gift.

“Little Amal arrives in New York” Grand Central Station, September 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 3200

When I got off the train to go to the office one day, I was greeted by a gospel chorus and a now-famous 12-foot-tall puppet named Little Amal. She had just arrived in the city a few moments before I did.

“Paying Tribute” World Trade Center reflecting pools, New York. September 11th 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 0.5 sec, ISO 3200

I’ve been documenting the September 11th Tribute in Light every year since 2012. This was the first time it rained.

“Tiny March for Democracy” Midtown, New York, November 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/240, ISO 200

“The photo-bombers” Nice, France, June 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200, f/11, 1/1000, ISO 2000

They had no idea.

“Ballerina” Rye, New York, February 2023
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 200

This is our next-door neighbor’s tree and it’s my favorite one. Which is what happens when you get old and move to the suburbs. You develop tree preferences.

“Choreography” Savannah, Georgia. July, 2022.
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 640

I like these trees too.

“Sky on fire” Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, July 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/4.8, 1/25, ISO 200

“Sunrise wave” Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, July 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/10, 1/1250, ISO 200

This is the same beach as above, three days earlier.

“In the spotlight” Downtown Los Angeles, March 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm f/16, 1/125, ISO 4000

“Walking through a Mondrian” Chelsea, New York, October 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 400

“NYC OCT 02” Midtown, New York, November, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1600

An image from my new project, Post No Bills

“Taxi, yellow and red”, New York, NY May, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 200

“Yellow bands” Downtown Los Angeles, March 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 200

Again with the yellow.

“Scribbles” Detroit, Michigan, September 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/5.6, 1/2900, ISO 200

“Wall of taxis” Midtown, New York, November 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/16, 1/125, ISO 2000

“Lobby in Violet” Midtwon, New York. November 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2, 1/125, ISO 1000

When I saw this colorful scene in midtown, it reminded me of a great photo by Jay Maisel from his book Light, Gesture & Color.

When I went back to look it up in his book I discovered this was the exact same building. Here’s Jay’s version.

Also worth noting: purple is the complementary color to yellow.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY REPEATING

A few shots from this year had “echoes” - similar scenes and elements from much different times and places. Click on any of them to see them bigger:

“Efficiency” Chelsea, New York, October, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 3200

“Wheelie” Downtown Los Angeles, March 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/9, 1/400, ISO 200

“42nd Street” New York, NY May, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200, f/11, 1/4400, ISO 200

“Shine on” Nice, France, June 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/16, 1/900, ISO 200

“Sea full of stars” Chelsea, New York. October, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200, f/16, 1/2700, ISO 200

“Seeing spots” Chelsea, New York, October 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/9, 1/420, ISO 200

I’ve taken a lot of photos of this Frank Gehry building over the years. But on this day, it stopped me in my tracks. The light reflecting off the windows of the building across the street transformed the facade into a school of luminous jellyfish.

“Mediterranean abstract” Nice, France, June, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200, f/16, 1/800, ISO 1600

On the beaches of Nice, the beach is made of smooth stones instead of sand. I was mesmerized by the shapes and patterns they created in the shallow water. The light created these wobbly rainbows across the surface that appeared and disappeared in fractions of a second.

“LAX” Los Angeles, March 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/6.4, 1/1000, ISO 1250

I took this shot from the back seat of an Uber on the way to my hotel from LAX airport. It’s out of focus, the composition is weird, but there’s something that I love about it. It feels like LA.

The two-tone sky effect is created by the window of the car, rolled halfway down.

“Le Palais” Cannes, France, June 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 1000

“Frost Study 1” Rye, New York, December 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, Legacy Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 lens, 1/125, ISO 5000

I went to take the recycling to the curb early one morning in December and noticed the frost covering the car. I ran back inside to get my camera. I have no idea the science behind all the different intricate shapes and patterns the ice crystals created on the surface of my car, but I could have spent all day out there shooting them.

“Frost Study 2” Rye, New York, December 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, Legacy Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 lens, 1/125, ISO 1000

“Frost Study 3” Rye, New York, December 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, Legacy Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 lens, 1/90, ISO 6400

“Between giants” Rye, New York, February 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/8, 1/160, ISO 200

I took this image during a snowstorm at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye. I was drawn to the single snowy evergreen, dwarfed by its much taller neighbors.

“Geometry” Cannes, France, June 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/350, ISO 800

I took a lot of beautiful, traditional streetscapes in Cannes. But this geometric shot one is one of my favorites. There’s something about the messy imperfection of it all that’s just perfect.

“Rue Haute” Cannes, France. June, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/16, 1/125, ISO 1000

While I admire that the pigeons pooped on the “no pooping” sign, I love it even more that the street name translates to the High Road.

Apparently, Pigeons have a brilliant sense of humor.

“Flatiron Building” Nice, France. June, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/180, ISO 200

“Carl and friends” Downtown Los Angeles, March, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 200

I liked the way it looks like the men and the scooters are all waiting patiently for Carl’s to open.

“Side eye pig” Gratiot Central Meat Market, Detroit, Michigan, September, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 2000

“Breakfast” Southampton, New York, November 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200, f/8, 1/125, ISO 2500

I took this shot at a diner in Southampton, Long Island. I was drawn to the way the Breakfast sign reflected correctly in the picture frames along the diner wall. I took a few other shots of this scene. The others were “cleaner” compositions, but I like the imperfection of the messy foreground and the sense of place the salt and pepper shakers give it.

“Wash day” Nice, France, June 2022
Fujifilm x100s, 23mm, f/16, 1/100, ISO 2500

“THUNK!” La Croisette, Cannes, France, June 2022
Fujifilm x100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/100 ISO 250

I saw this exclamation point shape in the tree trunk and got lucky with the blurred motorcyclist heading right for it. I didn’t realize until I was editing it that the relationship between them created a real-life cartoon.

“Elegant hats” Nice, France, June 2022
Fujifilm x100s, 23mm, f/11, 1/100, ISO 1250

I love the way the man in the sign for the Elegant Hats store is judging the tourists with the decidedly not elegant hats.

“Yellow corner” Cannes, France. June, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/11, 1/400, ISO 200

Much like pigeons, French bicycles and motorcycles also have a blatant disregard for rules.

“Tightrope” Midtown, New York, November, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/16, 1/125, ISO 500

This is another shot that I’m not entirely sure why I like it. It just feels like New York.

“DINER” Chelsea, New York, October, 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, f/11, 1/210, ISO 200

Messy. Graphic. Yellow.

“Above millions” New York, NY. March 2022
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 200

I hope you enjoyed this year’s Year in Review.  Thanks for reading! And if you want to see more, you can check out the other years in review:

2020’s Year in Review
2019’s Year in Review
2018’s Year in Review
2017’s Year in Review
2016's Year in Review
2105's Year in Review
2014's Year in Review.


Or follow me on Flickr or Instagram.

Happy New Year, all!

Life out of focus

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I took this abstract city shot on an overpass above the BQE in Brooklyn on my way to pick up my daughter from school one evening in January. I love the energy and chaos of this image.

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Sometimes photography is more effective when you don’t show the thing you’re seeing.

I tried taking a few shots focused on the cars instead of the fence too, because the blue hour color in the sky is what caught my eye in the first place. It was a lot less interesting.

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Year of the Pig. New York's Chinese New Year Firecracker Festival 2019

This year, I finally got to check off one of my New York photography bucket list items - covering the Chinese Lunar New Year Firecracker Festival. Here are my favorite photos from the Year of the Pig celebration in Chinatown.

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I love the way the boy is in the light and everyone else is in the darkness.

I love the way the boy is in the light and everyone else is in the darkness.

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Sometimes attention can be the subject. No two people in this shot are looking at the same thing.

Sometimes attention can be the subject. No two people in this shot are looking at the same thing.

I underexposed this shot to dramatize the way the gold rims of this guy’s glasses caught the reflected sunlight.

I underexposed this shot to dramatize the way the gold rims of this guy’s glasses caught the reflected sunlight.

I took a bunch of perfectly in-focus images from this same angle. But this accidentally blurry one is the only photo from the series that actually feels like an explosion.

I took a bunch of perfectly in-focus images from this same angle. But this accidentally blurry one is the only photo from the series that actually feels like an explosion.

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Sometimes I take a photo and realize afterwards that it’s an echo of an image I’ve loved before. In this case, the inspiration of this photo comes from this image by Jay Maisel from his book, Light, Gesture and Color

Sometimes I take a photo and realize afterwards that it’s an echo of an image I’ve loved before. In this case, the inspiration of this photo comes from this image by Jay Maisel from his book, Light, Gesture and Color

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20 Best Photos of 2017

in

Year in Review time!

Having done this a few times now, it seems like it should get easier. But the Fourth Annual “20-best” has been the hardest to cull by far.

This is for two main reasons:
1. I took a lot more photos this year and
2. I’m getting a lot worse at self-editing.

Long story short, “The 20 Best of 2017” is now “The 36 Best of 2017.”

The process of reviewing a year’s worth of photos is always interesting, because common themes always emerge. Last year, I was all about geometry, primary colors and umbrellas. This year, I apparently had a thing for dramatic lighting, pictures of things framed through windows, and wildlife photography taken at dangerously close proximity.

Another big change for this year is that I started work on some longer-term photography projects. These will all be ongoing, but I’m happy to share three works-in-progress. You can follow the links below to see the full galleries:

"Holiday Windows" is a sentimental portrait of people’s reactions to 5th Avenue’s enchanting holiday window displays.

"Crud" is a germaphobe’s eye view of the cringe-worthy, yet strangely beautiful “crud formations” in NYC subway stations.

"American Palace" is, well, that one's pretty self explanatory.    

Without further ado, here are my top 20... er... 36 photos from 2017.

"Just Grand" June 7, 2017. Grand Canyon, South RimFujifilm X-Pro2, 10-24mm, f/22, 1/3 sec, ISO 200

"Just Grand" June 7, 2017. Grand Canyon, South Rim
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 10-24mm, f/22, 1/3 sec, ISO 200

As the sun set over the Grand Canyon, I spent a half hour cursing these guys under my breath to get out of my shot. (Photographers spend an inordinate amount of time trying to harness the power of telekinesis to move strangers in and out of their compositions. It's not normal.) 

Eventually the mind trick worked, the guys left, and I had a clear scene.

Of course, when I got back home and downloaded all of the photos from the series, I liked the one with the people in it better. (Although I'm still cursing the guy on the right for wearing his sunglasses on the back of his head like Guy Fieri.)

"London Nights" January 7, 2017. St. Paul's Cathedral. London, EnglandFujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/11, 10 seconds, ISO 200

"London Nights" January 7, 2017. St. Paul's Cathedral. London, England
Fujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/11, 10 seconds, ISO 200

The hardest thing about taking photos of iconic locations like St. Paul's Cathedral in London is that they've been photographed TO DEATH. So you have to work a little harder to try to find something more original than the typical postcard shot.

After taking a dozen photos of this scene, I noticed the traffic pattern and had an idea. Using a trash can as a makeshift tripod, I waited for a double decker bus to pass by on its route, then left the camera shutter open for ten seconds – long enough to create these bus-shaped light trails.

"The Navy and the Pizza." May 23, 2017. Cobble Hill. Brooklyn, NY.Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2.5, 1/125, ISO 5000

"The Navy and the Pizza." May 23, 2017. Cobble Hill. Brooklyn, NY.
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2.5, 1/125, ISO 5000

During Fleet Week, Naval officers are nice enough to wander around New York in uniform and sit in front of things, making every photographer feel a bit like Alfred Eisenstaedt.  

"Colors of Cape Town" November 20, 2017. Bo-Kaap. Cape Town, South AfricaFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/11, 1/250, ISO 320

"Colors of Cape Town" November 20, 2017. Bo-Kaap. Cape Town, South Africa
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/11, 1/250, ISO 320

I wish I could say that I saw this photo coming together, dropped to the ground and snapped it. But the truth is, I was awkwardly crouching, cheek to the pavement, trying to compose a shot for the stripe and the scooter. Then this guy who perfectly matched the bike (right down to the fur hat and shoelaces) just wandered into frame. 

"We were all yellow" November 17, 2017. Cape Town, South AfricaFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/8000, ISO 400

"We were all yellow" November 17, 2017. Cape Town, South Africa
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/8000, ISO 400

"Some have said that if you take a great picture in color and take away the color, you’ll have a great black-and-white picture. But if you’re shooting something about color and you take away the color, you’ll have nothing." - Jay Maisel

"Sad Emoticon." January 7, 2017. Notting Hill. London, England. Fujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 1600

"Sad Emoticon." January 7, 2017. Notting Hill. London, England. 
Fujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 1600

I took this photo at the edge of a triangular island of sidewalk in Notting Hill, London. It's my favorite photo yet in my ongoing Literal Street Photography project. 

"Camp's Bay Beach Crossing" November 9, 2017. Camps Bay, South Africa.Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/750, ISO 200

"Camp's Bay Beach Crossing" November 9, 2017. Camps Bay, South Africa.
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8.0, 1/750, ISO 200

Moments after I took this photo, this group of kids took off sprinting across the beach. Pure joy. 

"Rainy Paris" January 15, 2017. The Louvre. Paris, France.Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/4, 1/60, ISO 6400

"Rainy Paris" January 15, 2017. The Louvre. Paris, France.
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/4, 1/60, ISO 6400

"A window covered with raindrops interests me more than a photograph of a famous person." - Saul Leiter 

The Louvre is another one of those locations where it's really hard to make an original photograph. After spending the morning walking around the courtyard searching for a unique angle, I found it in an unexpected place - the back seat of the Uber on the way back to my hotel.   

"Park job." November 17, 2017. Cape Town, South AfricaFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 1250

"Park job." November 17, 2017. Cape Town, South Africa
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 1250

I traveled halfway around the world to Cape Town and one of my absolute favorite shots is also the most mundane.

"Road trip to Zion" June 9, 2017. Zion National Park, UtahFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/11, 1/125, ISO 500

"Road trip to Zion" June 9, 2017. Zion National Park, Utah
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/11, 1/125, ISO 500

I took this photo in standstill traffic at the tunnel entrance to Zion National Park. Hey, you've gotta pass the time somehow. 

"Sins and vases." January 7, 2017. Portobello Road Market. London, England. Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1250

"Sins and vases." January 7, 2017. Portobello Road Market. London, England. 
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1250

I don't take a lot of photos deep with symbolism. But there's a lot going on in this shot. You've got Jesus in the foreground faltering under the weight of the cross, gazing out longingly from between flea market trinkets (including an empty decanter of wine). His plight is completely unnoticed by the crowd of onlookers. And in the background, the weirdly devilish-looking salesman hides a blood-red cloak under his jacket and has ACTUAL HORNS on his truck.  

Art historians, go nuts. 

"Ascend." January 7, 2017. Tate Modern. London, EnglandFujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/4, 1/70, ISO 6400

"Ascend." January 7, 2017. Tate Modern. London, England
Fujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/4, 1/70, ISO 6400

When I visited London, the Tate Modern was hosting "The Radical Eye," an exhibition of Sir Elton John's extensive photography collection. Just beyond the ticket window, I captured this shot for my own collection.   

"Horseshoe Bend" June 8, 2017. Page, ArizonaFujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/8, 1/13, ISO 200

"Horseshoe Bend" June 8, 2017. Page, Arizona
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/8, 1/13, ISO 200

Horseshoe Bend is not a great location to visit if you're a photographer who is also afraid of heights. I honestly don't know how those rooftopper people do it. I was sitting a good five feet back from the edge, and just holding my tripod near the cliff was making me sweat bullets. 

"Passion." June 8, 2017. Antelope Canyon. Page, Arizona Fujifilm X-Pro2, 10-24mm, f/8, 1.1 seconds, ISO 400

"Passion." June 8, 2017. Antelope Canyon. Page, Arizona
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 10-24mm, f/8, 1.1 seconds, ISO 400

The photographer's tour of Antelope Canyon is great, because the guides idiot-proof it for you. They tell you what camera settings to use, then show you just where to set your tripod to get all the best angles. Like this heart-shaped skylight in the canyon ceiling. 

"Table Mountain Sunset." November 9, 2017. Cape Town, South AfricaFujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/5.6, 1/70, ISO 800

"Table Mountain Sunset." November 9, 2017. Cape Town, South Africa
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/5.6, 1/70, ISO 800

I was in Cape Town for two weeks in November, but we spent most of the time in meetings or on location for a film shoot, so I had to find photo-ops wherever I could. Fortunately, this was the view from our pre-production meeting. 

"Canyon Breath." June 8, 2017. Antelope Canyon. Page, ArizonaFujifilm X-Pro2, 10-24mm, f/8, 0.5 seconds, ISO 200

"Canyon Breath." June 8, 2017. Antelope Canyon. Page, Arizona
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 10-24mm, f/8, 0.5 seconds, ISO 200

I've admired these magical photos of light shafts in Antelope Canyon for years. Peter Lik's version of this shot is the most expensive photo ever sold, fetching $6.5 million dollars.  (For the record, I'll happily take ten grand for mine if anyone wants a print. I'll even sign it with Peter Lik's name).

The thing I never knew was how they get that ethereal misty effect in the light beam. 

Here's how: a photo tour guide chucks shovelfuls of sand into the air, then tells you to take a picture.

"Unforgotten." September 11, 2017. Tribute in Light. New York City.Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/2.8, 1/17, ISO 6400

"Unforgotten." September 11, 2017. Tribute in Light. New York City.
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/2.8, 1/17, ISO 6400

I've been documenting the September 11th Tribute in Light for seven years now. Each time, I try to find a different vantage point. This year I photographed the lights from Staten Island. The shot from over there was nice. But this perfectly-aligned view of the lights haloing the World Trade Center during the Ferry ride back to Manhattan was a total surprise. 

"Hout Bay." November 13, 2017 Chapman's Peak Drive. Cape Town, South AfricaFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 640

"Hout Bay." November 13, 2017 Chapman's Peak Drive. Cape Town, South Africa
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 640

See? I told you I had a thing for things in windows this year. I took some nice shots of this scene from the overlook a few miles down the road too. But so did ten zillion other photographers.  

"Room with a view" June 7, 2017. Desert View Watchtower. Grand Canyon South RimFujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/11, 1/120, ISO 400

"Room with a view" June 7, 2017. Desert View Watchtower. Grand Canyon South Rim
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/11, 1/120, ISO 400

The Grand Canyon is another location that's easy to take a great photo of, but really hard to shoot in an original way. Putting people in the frame helps. So did framing the canyon through this window inside the Desert View Watchtower. 

"Battleship Rock Sunrise." June 7, 2017, Grand Canyon South RimFujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/11, 1/3, ISO 200

"Battleship Rock Sunrise." June 7, 2017, Grand Canyon South Rim
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/11, 1/3, ISO 200

...that said, when you get a sunrise like this, you can get away with being a little less original, because, wow. 

"Grand Canyon Sunset" June 6, 2017, Grand Canyon South RimFujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/8, 1/70, ISO 400

"Grand Canyon Sunset" June 6, 2017, Grand Canyon South Rim
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/8, 1/70, ISO 400

Do you think this tree has any idea how good its view is?

"Wide angle wildlife photography: Elk edition" June 8, 2017. Kaibab National Forest, ArizonaFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm (23mm!), f/4, 1/125, ISO 320  

"Wide angle wildlife photography: Elk edition" June 8, 2017. Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm (23mm!), f/4, 1/125, ISO 320  

I took this photo of an Elk with a 23mm lens (35mm equivalent. For reference, that's just slightly more zoomed-in than your iPhone camera) while crouching in the grass on the side of the road in Kaibab National Forest.  

It is without a doubt one of the dumber things I've done. 

"Wide angle wildlife photography: Cheetah edition." November 19,2017. Botriver, South AfricaFujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 800  

"Wide angle wildlife photography: Cheetah edition." November 19,2017. Botriver, South Africa
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 800  

This photo was also taken with a 23mm lens. Which means this kitty was well within booping distance. 

"Artistic license." January 15, 2017. Montmartre, Paris.  Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1000.

"Artistic license." January 15, 2017. Montmartre, Paris.  
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1000.

I just love the skepticism. 

"A better view." November 13, 2017. Kalk Bay, South Africa Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/8, 1/5000, ISO 5000

"A better view." November 13, 2017. Kalk Bay, South Africa
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 55-200mm, f/8, 1/5000, ISO 5000

I took this photo from the passenger window of our production van in Cape Town, while going about 30 mph. (Which I think translates to around 190 kilometers per hour).

"Seaside Chapel." September 2, 2017. Ender's Island, ConnecticutFujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/22, 120 seconds, ISO 200

"Seaside Chapel." September 2, 2017. Ender's Island, Connecticut
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/22, 120 seconds, ISO 200

I took this long exposure of the seaside chapel at Ender's Island, a catholic retreat and sanctuary at the southern tip of Mason's Island, Connecticut. If I were Catholic or in the market for a retreat, I would totally book a stay at this place. It was stunning.

"Flock of tourists." January 14, 2017. Cathedral Notre Dame. Paris, FranceFujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 640

"Flock of tourists." January 14, 2017. Cathedral Notre Dame. Paris, France
Fujifilm X-Pro1, 14mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 640

The only thing more remarkable than capturing this photo was not being pooped on moments later as these pigeons took off flying over my head. 

"Choreography." January 14, 2017, Musee du Louvre. Paris, France.Fujifilm X-Pro1, 55-200mm, f/13, 1/125, ISO 1250

"Choreography." January 14, 2017, Musee du Louvre. Paris, France.
Fujifilm X-Pro1, 55-200mm, f/13, 1/125, ISO 1250

This shot at the Louvre in Paris is solid addition to my tourists project

"Tribute in Light" September 11, 2017. Brooklyn, New YorkFujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/11, 45 seconds, ISO 200

"Tribute in Light" September 11, 2017. Brooklyn, New York
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm, f/11, 45 seconds, ISO 200

This is  pretty popular and well-tread location for taking photos of the Tribute in Light, so I can't say this shot is breaking massively new ground. Although I've never seen the water on the East River calm enough to reflect the lights quite as well as it did this year. 

"Tribute" September 11, 2017. Staten Island Ferry, New YorkFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2, 1/50, ISO 3200

"Tribute" September 11, 2017. Staten Island Ferry, New York
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2, 1/50, ISO 3200

Because I've shot the Tribute in Light so many times now, I'm always trying to find original vantage points. I love this one, framed through the window of the Staten Island Ferry, en route from St. George Terminal.

(Because the window thing.)

"Eiffel Tower at Dusk." January 14, 2017. Paris, France. Fujifilm X-Pro2. 14mm, f/2.8. 1/5, ISO 400

"Eiffel Tower at Dusk." January 14, 2017. Paris, France. 
Fujifilm X-Pro2. 14mm, f/2.8. 1/5, ISO 400

This shot of the Eiffel Tower nearly got cut from the list because the photo is a little postcard-ish. But one little detail does makes it much different than what you typically see: there are no people. (The lawns on the Champ de Mars were fenced off for the winter).

"Sins vs salvation." January 15, 2017. Montmartre, ParisFujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 5000

"Sins vs salvation." January 15, 2017. Montmartre, Paris
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 5000

"Hey Mike. What do you think we oughta call this porno shop?"

"Meet you at the bottom" May 18, 2017. Harbes Farm, Mattituck, Long IslandFujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 4000

"Meet you at the bottom" May 18, 2017. Harbes Farm, Mattituck, Long Island
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 4000

I usually keep my family photos and my year-in-review photos separate to spare you all from cute baby overload. But this shot of my wife greeting my daughter at the bottom of a slide is objectively one of my favorite shots of the year. 

"Cape Town Nights." November 11, 2017. Cape Town, South Africa. Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/4, 1/70, ISO 6400

"Cape Town Nights." November 11, 2017. Cape Town, South Africa. 
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/4, 1/70, ISO 6400

Sometimes you get really lucky, turn a corner and happen upon a pre-lit, period-piece film set. 

"Lion's Head Mountain Sunset." November 18, 2017. Mount Nelson Hotel. Cape Town, South Africa. Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2, 1/40, ISO 400

"Lion's Head Mountain Sunset." November 18, 2017. Mount Nelson Hotel. Cape Town, South Africa. 
Fujifilm X-Pro2, 23mm, f/2, 1/40, ISO 400

The driveway to the historic Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town is lined with palm trees. From the right vantage point (that is to say, smushed awkwardly up against a lamp post) they provide the perfect frame for Lion's Head Mountain.

"Christmas in New York." February 9, 2017. New York, NYFujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 6400

"Christmas in New York." February 9, 2017. New York, NY
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 6400

Every year when I go back through all of my photos there are a few gems that I totally overlooked at the time. This photo is interesting, because I have absolutely no memory of taking it. I’m not even sure if I took it in Manhattan or Brooklyn. 

Maybe it's because, as a picture, it’s not actually all that good. But as a representation of what it feels like and means to live in NY? It’s SO good. 

Thanks for reading! And if you want to see more, you can check out 2016's Year in Review, 2105's Year in Review, or 2014's Year in Review. Or follow me on Flickr or Instagram. 

20 Best Photos of 2014

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According to Lightroom, I took well over ten thousand photos in 2014. It wasn't easy to narrow those down to my 20 favorite photographs, but I gave it my best shot. I hope you enjoy them. 

Here's to many more photo-worthy moments in 2015. Happy New Year!

"Stormy Sunset in New York", October 2014, Brooklyn, New York
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/5.6, 2.6 sec, ISO 500

I've probably taken this shot of lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park fifty times now. This one stands out for me, not just because of the amazing sky, but because of the way the metal bands on the tops of the pylons reflect the streetlights behind me. Usually, these poles either fall completely in shadow (like this), or are partially lit and a bit distracting (like this). But on this night, some alchemy of lights, angle and camera settings came together to give each silhouetted pylon a shimmering halo, mirroring the bands of lights along the skyline.

"Wall Street"  May 2014 , New York City
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/150, ISO 800

I took this photo on Wall Street, a block east of the New York Stock Exchange. While I'd like to tell you that this was a single, serendipitous moment, it didn't quite come together that way. After noticing the poster on the wall and getting the idea for the photo, I went back to this spot for two days in a row trying to capture this image. It must have taken 200 tries before I got one with a single businessman walking in the right direction, looking just the right amount of unhappy, who was just the right height so the rope would intersect the back of his neck, and frozen at just the right moment so those two inches of rope would actually attach to his collar. 

"Cherry Blossom Festival"  April 2014 , Washington, DC
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/11, 1/35, ISO 800

Even though I lived in the DC area for most of my life, I never actually made it to the Cherry Blossom Festival during its peak. This year, a visit home was timed perfectly to catch "peak bloom." I arrived at the Tidal Basin before sunrise along with dozens of other crazy photographers. I got  some great shots from the sunrise, but this one from a bit later in the morning is my favorite. When the early morning sun hit the cherry blossoms, the pinks just lit up. 

 

"Man in the Middle" January 2014, New York City
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 2.1 sec, ISO 250

On a rainy weekend in January, my wife and I went to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was playing around with a slow shutter speed to give this stoic scene of the Grand Staircase a sense of energy. But then this guy stopped right in the center to check his phone, which froze him while everyone else blurred. Totally unplanned. But it totally made the shot. This may be the only instance in history where a guy checking his smartphone has actually improved a photo. 

"Your Journey Continues" April 2014, New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx, New York
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/11, 1/125, ISO 5000

I take it back. Maybe there are two instances in history where a guy checking his smartphone has improved a photo. I may be the only photographer to ever visit the New York Botanical Gardens and come away most excited about a photo of a guy in front of a beige cinderblock wall, not a flower in sight. I don't do much in the way of social commentary in my work, but I just love this one. The guy, completely oblivious to the journey that lies ahead. The total blandness of this space. The polite sign trying to encourage him on to bigger and better things. The ray of light from the heavens beckoning him on to something unimaginably amazing. He's blind to it all. Right now, there's candy to be crushed.   

"Storm over Williamsburg" June 2014, Brooklyn, New York
Fujifilm XPro1, 14mm, f/8, 1/40, ISO 1600

In June, I drove to Grand Ferry Park in Williamsburg to photograph an event called the "World Naked Bike Ride." It was going to be a bizarrely great photo op. But nature had other plans. Not more than 15 minutes before the official meet-up time for naked bike riding, this storm rolled in. I stayed around just long enough to take a few dramatic shots before the sky opened up, dumping a monsoon of rain across the city. I'll never know if they went ahead with the naked bike ride. 

A day after I posted this photo, I got a notification that one of my favorite National Geographic photographers, Jim Richardson added it as a favorite on Flickr, which is the photography equivalent of Frank Sinatra stopping by to compliment your karaoke performance. 

"Watching the storm roll in" June 2014, Brooklyn, New York
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/150, ISO 320

This photo was taken just eight minutes earlier than the one above. I started shooting this scene down low along the rocks. But then I stood up and saw the couple with the umbrellas. As a rule of thumb, people are almost always more interesting than rocks. 

"Covered Bridge at Sunset" March 2014, South Woodstock, Vermont
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/4, 1/80, ISO 250

In March, we planned a long weekend trip to Vermont. Two days before we were scheduled to go, a storm dropped 24 inches of snow across the state. While the snowstorm made for some harrowing driving moments on the less-plowed side roads, it also made for this covered bridge photo op, which is about as iconic Winter-In-Vermont as it gets. Much to my good fortune, they even left their Christmas Wreath up for St Patrick's Day. 

"The Long Walk Back" March 2014, Burlington, Vermont
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/16, 1/320, ISO 200

When we checked into our hotel in Burlington, the concierge suggested we take a walk across the frozen Lake Champlain. This seemed like a terrible and dangerous idea. But sure enough, people were out there traipsing around all over the ice. So we took a walk on the lake. After all, "when in Rome." Sure enough, it was frozen solid, clear across to New York. This is the first time the winter has been cold enough for the lake to freeze since 2007. 

"The Flatiron Building at Sunset" November 2014, New York City
Fujifilm X-T1, 35mm, f/1.4, 1/30, ISO 800

In November, we edited at a studio on 5th Avenue called Rock, Paper Scissors. This is the view from their kitchen. Wowsers. 

"The Birdwatcher" November 2014, New York City
Fujifilm XPro1, 63mm, f/4.5, 1/60, ISO 200

The trouble with taking photos of iconic New York landmarks like the Bow Bridge in Central Park is that they've been photographed a zillion times before. Fortunately, this birdwatcher gave me the opportunity to capture something more unique than the typical postcard view. 

 

"Two Bridges" May 2014, New York City
Fujifilm XPro1, 14mm, f/8, 250 seconds, ISO 200

Sticking with the bridge theme, here's one of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges that I shot from the East River Promenade. This was a four minute long exposure, which made the water on the East River go silky and created the sense of movement in the clouds.  

"Brooklyn Bridge" May 2014, New York City
Fujifilm XPro1, 14mm, f/8, 240 seconds, ISO 200

Here's another shot from the same evening. I love how foggy the water looks around the pylons. The scene feels totally silent except for the flapping of the flag on top of the bridge. (Of course, it was far from it, with horns blaring overhead on the FDR Expressway)

"Coney Island Reflected" June 2014, Brooklyn, New York
Fujifilm XPro1, 74mm, f/5, 1/750 seconds, ISO 200

My favorite shot from Coney Island's raucous Mermaid Parade wasn't even of a mermaid. It was this quiet moment of an amused spectator, sitting on the boardwalk railing, taking in all the madness. I love how isolated he is against the blown-out sky. It's only when you see the reflections in his sunglasses that you get a sense of place. A jam-packed boardwalk with Deno's Wonder Wheel spinning in the background. 

"Bonk" April, 2014 New York City
Fujifilm XPro1, 35mm, f/4, 1/55 seconds, ISO 1250

It's hard to create slapstick humor in a scene without any people. But when I spotted this poster at the Broadway/Lafayette Street subway station in SoHo, I knew I had to come back with my camera. I took this photo on 4/2/14, so it may have been inspired by April Fools Day. Or, more appropriately, tax day. 

"Little Cupcake Bakeshop" January, 2014 New York City
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/105 seconds, ISO 6400

I love the feeling of this photo. There's something kind of Edward Hopper about it. And there are so many little details. The glimpse of the Empire State Building in the distance. The snowflake decorations that make the cupcake shop feel just a bit cozier. And the fact that the two people crossing on either corner of the street are perfect mirror images of each other. 

"Indecent Proposal" May, 2014 Brooklyn, New York
Fujifilm XPro1, 14mm, f/8, 1/40 seconds, ISO 400

I have so many questions. Was it a real marriage proposal? Did she say yes? Did they cash his check? Was the tiny shrub in the shipping crate part of the proposal? 

"Houston Street Noise" May, 2014, New York City
Fujifilm XPro1, 35mm, f/8, 1/160 seconds, ISO 1600

This famous mural on the corner of Houston and Bowery Streets has had rotating artist installations for 30 years, including work by Keith Haring and Shepard Fairey. I've just learned that the wall has been temporarily dismantled for the construction of a new building. This mural by Cope2 was the final installation. 

"Welcome Freedom Creators" December, 2014, Edgewood, Maryland
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/8, 1/160, ISO 200

I took this photo just a few days ago. We were driving home for the holidays and pulled off I-95 to to get gas. This hotel was next door. This is why you always carry a camera. 

"MacDougal Street Snowstorm" January, 2014, New York City
Fujifilm X100s, 23mm, f/2, 1/125 seconds, ISO 2500

This year was one of the ten snowiest winters on record for New York City. So there was no shortage of picturesque snowglobe-quality photo opportunities. But of all the winter photos that I took this year, this shot from Greenwich Village is my favorite. I took this photo while kneeling in the center of MacDougal Street. I snapped a few shots, played around with settings, and tried to compose something interesting. But then this guy stepped off the curb in the distance and crossed into the middle of street. Sometimes it's that tiniest of details that makes all the difference. The other photos from this series are totally unremarkable. This one is magic.