The Best of 2018

[JimFox]

The Best of 2018

It's that time of year when we can all look back, not just our lives but also on our Photography. We at FocalWorld hope that last year was a successful year for you and your family and also for your Photography.

So here are the Rules.

Post up to 10 of what you consider to be your Best photos taken during 2018.

Post any type of Photography. Pick out the best 10 from anything you have photographed.

Reply to this thread and Post those 10 here.

Please give a short 1 sentence comment with each photo. Tell us WHAT you were thinking, WHERE it was taken, and perhaps WHY it was special to you. (and # them please)

If you don't have 10 that you feel are your Best of, post less. The 10 is a max #. If you only have 3 photos for example that you feel are really special, then only post 3.

Please also # your photos. With so many being posted it makes it so much easier for the viewer to reply when you have listed each photo by #.

I look forward to seeing everyone's awesome photography!

Jim

 

[JimFox]

Well, I didn't think it would be this hard. When I sorted out my top favorites I had like 20 chosen, I managed to get them pared down to 10. I still left out some really special photos, but this will have to do.

#1. From Death Valley. This is an area in DV that I have scoped out for a while but hadn't really shot until then, so it was a pretty special feeling to have it all come together for a first time.

#2. Dream Lake in RMNP. I haven't been able to shoot the ice bubbles in Banff yet, so I was over joyed to find these up in the Rockies in Colorado.

#3. The Milky Way over Arch Rock in Joshua Tree. A single shot exposure that just came out really nice I felt.

#4. Sky Pond. In RMNP, it's a fun hike but at the end you have to climb up through a waterfall to get into this upper basin where Sky Pond is located. It was a bit tricky, but worth it.

#5. La Jolla in San Diego. Just a moment of serendipity as this beautiful butterfly was spreading her wings while I was there to shoot the beach. I rarely add the human element in my landscape images, so this one feels special to me.

#6. A photo shoot of Caleb's 1st Birthday. Went all out on the baseball theme, it was a lot of work but totally worth it. It's also special since Caleb is my youngest grandson.

#7. One of my weddings I shot, this one is a little extra special since the bride is a good friend.

#8. The Moon. One of my earliest shots with my new Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. The lens is a beast, but it's results are so beautiful.

#9. Fall in Yosemite. This is the run off from Bridalveil Falls. It's a little off the beaten path, and I seemed to have been the only one crazy enough to be standing in the freezing water to shoot this area.

#10. Dallas Divide in Colorado. It was a morning without color in the sky as the clouds were raining. But persistence and patience paid off as the sun started to break through the clouds to produce what was a pretty special light.

 

[AlanLichty]

Not an easy task - I shot a lot of pictures this past year. Lots of coastal sunrise/sunset shots to have to choose favorites from. These are basically in the order I posted them with the oldest first.

Harris Beach near Brookings was kind to me this year:

Harris Beach South Beach Sunset

• AlanLichty
• Jan 25, 2018
• 3

Last light of the evening at South Beach.

Rialto Beach:

Rialto Sunset

• AlanLichty
• Mar 18, 2018

Low light at Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park.

Milky Way at the Bisti:

Milk-n-Eggs V2

• AlanLichty
• May 6, 2018

The Milky Way over the Cracked Eggs formation in the Bisti De-na-zin Wilderness.

Blue hour light at Bryce Canyon:

A Color Show Surprise

• AlanLichty
• May 1, 2018

Blue Hour light along the Queens Garden Trail in Bryce Canyon.

More Harris Beach:

Harris Beach Sunset

• AlanLichty
• May 13, 2018

An early December sunset at Harris Beach State Park, Brookings.

Geyser Basin in Yellowstone:

Lower Geyser Basin Overlook

• AlanLichty
• Oct 1, 2018

A morning view of the Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park.

Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park:

Hidden Lake

• AlanLichty
• Oct 14, 2018

Hidden Lake near Logan Pass in Glacier National Park.

Fall color reflections near the Siuslaw River:

Green Creek Reflections

• AlanLichty
• Oct 21, 2018

A small tributary of the Siuslaw River with some neat fall reflections.

Sweet Creek waterfalls:

Upper Ledge Falls

• AlanLichty
• Nov 21, 2018

Upper Ledge Falls along Sweet Creek in the Siuslaw National Forest.

Sweet Creek

• AlanLichty
• Nov 14, 2018

A colorful fall scene along Sweet Creek in the Siuslaw National Forest.

Finally a sunrise at Harris Beach:

Harris Beach Sunrise

• AlanLichty
• Dec 13, 2018

A nice morning color show at Harris Beach in Brookings, Oregon.

 

[Nilo Photography]

Awesome collection...Wow!

 

[Nilo Photography]

Well, I didn't think it would be this hard. When I sorted out my top favorites I had like 20 chosen, I managed to get them pared down to 10. I still left out some really special photos, but this will have to do.

#1. From Death Valley. This is an area in DV that I have scoped out for a while but hadn't really shot until then, so it was a pretty special feeling to have it all come together for a first time.
View attachment 15164


#2. Dream Lake in RMNP. I haven't been able to shoot the ice bubbles in Banff yet, so I was over joyed to find these up in the Rockies in Colorado.
View attachment 15163


#3. The Milky Way over Arch Rock in Joshua Tree. A single shot exposure that just came out really nice I felt.
View attachment 15166


#4. Sky Pond. In RMNP, it's a fun hike but at the end you have to climb up through a waterfall to get into this upper basin where Sky Pond is located. It was a bit tricky, but worth it.
View attachment 15170


#5. La Jolla in San Diego. Just a moment of serendipity as this beautiful butterfly was spreading her wings while I was there to shoot the beach. I rarely add the human element in my landscape images, so this one feels special to me.View attachment 15178

#6. A photo shoot of Caleb's 1st Birthday. Went all out on the baseball theme, it was a lot of work but totally worth it. It's also special since Caleb is my youngest grandson.
View attachment 15175

#7. One of my weddings I shot, this one is a little extra special since the bride is a good friend.
View attachment 15174


#8. The Moon. One of my earliest shots with my new Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. The lens is a beast, but it's results are so beautiful.
View attachment 15180

#9. Fall in Yosemite. This is the run off from Bridalveil Falls. It's a little off the beaten path, and I seemed to have been the only one crazy enough to be standing in the freezing water to shoot this area.
View attachment 15177


#10. Dallas Divide in Colorado. It was a morning without color in the sky as the clouds were raining. But persistence and patience paid off as the sun started to break through the clouds to produce what was a pretty special light.
View attachment 15176

These are amazing captures, each has it's own unique scene. I love them!

 

[JimFox]

These are amazing captures, each has it's own unique scene. I love them!

Thanks Lenny! I look forward to seeing your Top 10 too. You have shot such a wide variety this year, it will be great to see.

 

[Jim Dockery]

You had a good photo year Jim - very nice well rounded set. I appreciate the explanation of what makes the photo for you. The first one is my favorite, and not an easy one to expose but you nailed it. My next fav. is #3 - you are truly a master of stars with realistic lighting on the earth. You got some gooduns too Alan, like you said Harris Beach was good for you, that first one is my fav.

It's funny I just compiled my own Best of 2018 Google album, something I've never done before. That should help me figure out a few of my own to post here.

This is a composite of my buddy Jeff ripping some good powder up at Stevens Pass, Wa a week before I broke my leg skiing in the same area. Hopefully we'll have many days this good in 2019, but it hasn't happened yet.

I was lucky to chance upon these climbers finishing up a route on the north face of Vesper Peak. I had back-country skied up an easy way and was very happy I lugged my Sony A7rII and 24-105mm so I could do justice to the fantastic view down.

Sunrise behind Glacier Pk. from Mt. Pilchuck. My first hike with a new drone, I also brought my Sony A7rII and got some nice sunrise shots.

Looking back at Sunset behind Mt. Pilchuck from the drone.

This was my first year learning to fly a drone, which opened up an exciting new way to see the world. Sunset on White Chuck, Glacier Pk. behind.

This isn't necessarily an esthetically pleasing shot, but it still makes me think, "Wow!" Taken on a day I took my mom and some older friends up to the Skagit valley for their first birding experience. Snow Geese take off.

I got into back-yard birding this summer after I built a fountain that attracted them.

Bear family at Sand Point, ONP - they came ambling down the beach out of the mist, we hurried out into the rocks at low tide to watch as they passed us.

I was very lucky to have a great week of snorkeling with sea turtles in Maui last spring after my leg healed.

 

[Nilo Photography]

# 1 How to tame your Dragon...Borrego Spring , CA

# 2 Taken at Santa Barbara Pier

# 3 Taken while visiting Davao, Philippines

# 4 I heard singing while walking around Venice, Italy and it was this guy with his colorful Gondola.

# 5 History Museum in Budapest.

# 6 One of many canals in Venice, Italy

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great images already posted, now I will post my collection.

1.My latest great grand daughter Emma Joy.

180405-5013-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

2. The Provo Utah Temple

180131-4045-5DS Rwarp

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

3. Roses from my garden

180824-7980-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

4. Skyline overlook in Utah

180511-6060-5DS R A Nik Bw

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

5. Silverlake flats in the Wasatch Mountains Utah

180606-6304-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

6. Aspen above Provo Utah

181008-9233-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

7. Bucktail Ponds overlook, Grand Teton NP

180924-8738-5DS R A 16x9 A Studio

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

8.Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton NP

180924-8448-5DS R 30x45 11-9

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

9. Anticline Overlook, Canyonlands NP Utah

180317-4940-47 PC5B36x24

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

10. Grand View Overlook Capitol Reef NP Utah

180509-5836-5846 PANO 16x46

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

 

[JimFox]

Great images already posted, now I will post my collection.

1.My latest great grand daughter Emma Joy.

180405-5013-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

2. The Provo Utah Temple

180131-4045-5DS Rwarp

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

3. Roses from my garden

180824-7980-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

4. Skyline overlook in Utah

180511-6060-5DS R A Nik Bw

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

5. Silverlake flats in the Wasatch Mountains Utah

180606-6304-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

6. Aspen above Provo Utah

181008-9233-5DS R

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

7. Bucktail Ponds overlook, Grand Teton NP

180924-8738-5DS R A 16x9 A Studio

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

8.Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton NP

180924-8448-5DS R 30x45 11-9

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

9. Anticline Overlook, Canyonlands NP Utah

180317-4940-47 PC5B36x24

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

10. Grand View Overlook Capitol Reef NP Utah

180509-5836-5846 PANO 16x46

• Ben Egbert
• Dec 30, 2018

Very cool work Ben! You had quite the year. #4, 6 and 10 are my favorites.

 

[Timmeh]

My top 10:

Oak Savanna Lunar Eclipse

• Timmeh
• Feb 1, 2018
• 1

#1 Oak Savannah Lunar Eclipse

The Rocks Below And The Clouds Above

• Timmeh
• Feb 19, 2018

#2 The Rocks Below and the Clouds Above

Sentinel After The Storm

• Timmeh
• Mar 8, 2018

#3 Sentinel After the Storm

Endemic Island Paintbrush On The Bluff

• Timmeh
• Apr 9, 2018

#4 Endemic Island Paintbrush on the Bluff

Sunset Rain And Tufa Towers

• Timmeh
• May 28, 2018

#5 Sunset Rain and Tufa Towers

Bristlecones Watch Death Valley

• Timmeh
• Jun 17, 2018

#6 Bristlecones Watch Death Valley

Eruption At Fifth Lake

• Timmeh
• Jun 21, 2018

#7 Eruption at Fifth Lake

Streak Of Light At Minaret Lake

• Timmeh
• Jul 13, 2018

#8 Streak of Light at Minaret Lake

Leaves On The Dance Floor

• Timmeh
• Nov 6, 2018

#9Leaves on the Dance Floor

Pummeled Smooth

• Timmeh
• Dec 23, 2018

#10 Pummeled Smooth

 

[Bart Carrig]

WOW ! Astounding images, all. Great beauty, skillful captures, amazing vision, efforts rewarded, icons unto themselves. There just aren't enough words to describe these. What a great way to end the year (and begin a new one). Thanks and congratulations to each of you.

Bart

 

[Kyle Jones]

OK here goes...

I made several "trips of a lifetime" this year and consider myself very fortunate to have been able to do so. That makes choosing photos for a year-end list tough - so for the most part I have one image from each place. I have more info on my website here if you are interested and/or would like to subscribe.

So in the order captured:

1) Vermilion Lakes Sunrise - Banff, Canada
Combine the most intense sunrise color I've ever seen with a beautiful location and you get a no-brainer entry for a best of list.

2) That Wanaka Tree - Wanaka, New Zealand
Some more great light in an iconic location. I chose this over a Lake Matheson shot I really like to represent my trip to New Zealand.

3) Half Dome Sunset - Yosemite California
Great light, iconic scenes - that takes care of the first three entries on my list.

4) Cape Disappointment Lighthouse - Ilwaco, Washington
I was in the area for a family reunion and hiked out to the lighthouse in the dark with my dad. That alone makes it special. The scene I saw through the viewfinder told me I had something that stood on its own merits.

5) Crack to the Stars = Davenport, California
I had planned this shot for over a year and made several attempts to capture it with no luck until this fall. Everything came together and I loved seeing my vision come to life.

6) Half Dome and Merced - Yosemite, California
There were no clouds in the sky so I framed the scene with the leaves in the river. The alpenglow on Half Dome took care of the rest.

7) Jerusalem Temple Mount - Jerusalem, Israel
Representing my trip to Israel. I wasn't able to create the composition I wanted, due to construction in the area, but I think that helped my focus on the most interesting parts of the scene.

8) Siq and Treasury - Petra, Jordan
I never thought I'd make to Petra and it was completely worth the effort. I like this one as it combines a landscape slot canyon with the iconic Treasury.

9) The Great Pyramids - Giza, Egypt
Another place I never thought I'd actually visit. For me this shot had the best light and cleanest composition of the many photos I took in the area, so it represents Egypt on my list.

10) Chicago Skyline - Chicago, Illinois
With the exotic places I've traveled to, it is kind of funny that I'd never made it to the Windy City. I was fortunate to be there for a clear night with no wind. This was the result.

 

[AlanLichty]

You sure managed to hit up a serious bucket list of photo destinations this year Kyle. With some excellent results.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Excellent set Kyle

 

[JimFox]

My top 10:

Oak Savanna Lunar Eclipse

• Timmeh
• Feb 1, 2018
• 1

#1 Oak Savannah Lunar Eclipse

The Rocks Below And The Clouds Above

• Timmeh
• Feb 19, 2018

#2 The Rocks Below and the Clouds Above

Sentinel After The Storm

• Timmeh
• Mar 8, 2018

#3 Sentinel After the Storm

Endemic Island Paintbrush On The Bluff

• Timmeh
• Apr 9, 2018

#4 Endemic Island Paintbrush on the Bluff

Sunset Rain And Tufa Towers

• Timmeh
• May 28, 2018

#5 Sunset Rain and Tufa Towers

Bristlecones Watch Death Valley

• Timmeh
• Jun 17, 2018

#6 Bristlecones Watch Death Valley

Eruption At Fifth Lake

• Timmeh
• Jun 21, 2018

#7 Eruption at Fifth Lake

Streak Of Light At Minaret Lake

• Timmeh
• Jul 13, 2018

#8 Streak of Light at Minaret Lake

Leaves On The Dance Floor

• Timmeh
• Nov 6, 2018

#9Leaves on the Dance Floor

Pummeled Smooth

• Timmeh
• Dec 23, 2018

#10 Pummeled Smooth

Great shots Tim! #3, 7 and 8 are my favorites that really stand out.

 

[Dean]

Great shots everybody.. Happy New Year to all and all the best in 2019 with lots
of health and happiness and of course beautiful light !
Here is an eclectic mix of images from the past year in no special order.
#1 Harriman State Park

#2 The Fisherman Cape Cod

#3 Bee Happy.. Featured on the Nat Geo Web Your Shot Daily Dozen and Picture of the week

#4 Transitions Fall Harriman State Park

#5 Fuji from Kumomi Japan

# 6 Horses Cty Rt 7 the Coral Area

#7 Gil Brook.. With Bart in the Adk Fall

#8 Fuji from Kumomi Beach area

#9 Race Point Beach Natural Rose Garden Cape Cod

#10 The True Grit View Colorado.. With Jim, Bart & Larry

 

[Ken Rennie]

This is my best of 2018, it is already 2019 here. I am just back from a ceilidh with singing and dancing.

I saw the rays, quickly changed to a 70 -200mm and ran up the hill to get the birch tree below the hillside.

This is the first time that I had visited this little hill and was hoping that it gave me a new view on a favourite view. I saw the ponies and fitted a long lens thinking that they would run if I got too close. In the end I went back to a wide angle lens and lay on the very wet ground to get the tree above the hills. The pony was very accomodating posing perfectly.

Running up and down the hillside trying to get the reflections just right hoping that the wind would not destroy the reflections.

Unseasonly heavy snow meant that I could not drive so I walked out to this 12thC church. The heavy snow falling simplified the image I used a little dehaze on the left hand tree to pull it out of the background. The snowdrops are starting to appear on the front left but the cold weather put an end to them.

Taken during the same heavy snowfall as the previous snow shot of the church. This was taken during a very heavy snowfall whilst I sheltered under some trees. Looking back I should have walked down through the snow and fitted a wider lens perhaps next year.

Taken in Brittany on the first day of a week long holiday. I was overjoyed thinking that every day would be like this. We had lunch here and as I ate my sandwiches I saw the juxtaposition of the sandspit on the right and a smaller one on the left. By the time that I got to take this image the left hand spit had been covered by the rising tide but I thought that this part of France was full of places like this. The following week persuaded me that this was not the case.

Well only six images this year. Ken

 

[rfkiii]

Perhaps not the best but these are my faves.

1.) Yellowstone 2018

2.) Hedrick Pond, Grand Teton NP 2018

3.) El Capitan, Guadalupe Mountains NP

4.) Yellowstone 2018

5.) Grand Teton NP 2018

6.) Skyline View/Moonscape Overlook, Blue Valley, Utah 2018

7.) Capitol Reef NP 2018

8.) Bryce Canyon NP 2018

 

[Mike Lewis]

So many wonderful images, I will have to try to respond to my favorites over the next few days.

My 2018 imaging mostly came from 2 separate trips, an astroimaging trip in June 2018 (where we finally had our weather karma fail, and got only 2.5 nights out of a possible 7 with clear skies), and a 2 week trip to all 5 national parks in UT.

1) M81, Bode's Galaxy, a grand spiral galaxy (subframes a bit underexposed but still showing some details)

LRCC_M81_FW_LRCC_M81_LRGB_Sat_DSE_LHE_MT_PSCC

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

M81 under dark skies in NM, but with somewhat underexposed subframes

2) M13, one of the best examples of a globular cluster to be seen from the Northern Hemisphere:

FW_LRCC__M13_LRGB_ACDNR2_stretched_Sat_ABE_MaskedStretchL_LHE_DSE_PSCC

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018
• 2

M13 from dark Skies in NM

3) The Bubble Nebula, imaged in narrowband bicolor (H-a, OIII)

LRCC_FW_sRGB_BubbleNebula_Ha-0.9OIII_0.1Ha-OIII_PSCC2_MT2

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

The Bubble Nebula from dark skies in NM

4) The 'Gang of Four' astroimagers, Abiquiu Reservoir, NM, June 2018 (from left Mike Lewis, Dan Drew, Frank G., Bruce Rabalais)

LRCC_FW_AstroGroup_Abiquiu_TAP29361

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

'Gang of Four' astroimaging group, Abiquiu Reservoir, NM, June, 2018

5) Dead Horse Point at sunset, close up detail (The Pyramid):

LRCC_FW_DeadHorsePointPyramid_VC1_TAP30512

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

Sunset, Dead Horse Point State Park

6) Dead Horse Point, right before sunrise:

LRCC_FW_DeadHorsePoint_PreSunrise_sRGB_TAP30531_2_3_fuN_PSCC

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

Right before sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park, UT, USA

7) Roadside Rocks, heading to Capitol Reef National Park:

LRCC_FW_RoadsideRocks_TAP30799_PSCC

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

8) Zion Canyon, late morning:

LRCC_ZionScenicOverlook_FW_TAP31488_89_90_co_testimage

• Mike Lewis
• Nov 2, 2018

Zion Canyon from the Scenic Overlook trail endpoint, off of the Zion-Mt Carmel Highway in Zion...

9) Upper Antelope Canyon Abstract:

LRCC_FW_UpperAntelopeCanyon1_TAP31792_3_4_5_6

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

Upper Antelope Canyon Abstract

10) Sunset at Monument Valley:

LRCC_MonumentValleySundown_VC1_sRGB_FW_TAP32114_PSCC

• Mike Lewis
• Nov 20, 2018

Last light of day on some of the most iconic formations in Monument Valley.

ML