Wrapping up 2020, I think we can all agree that it has been a challenging year. With all of my photo workshops canceled and other plans for travel very much curtailed, I ended up making far fewer photographs than I have in the past several years. However, reviewing the year I realize how fortunate I am to have been able to get out more than most, wander among the wonders of nature, and indulge in my passion for making photographs.
I hope you will enjoy viewing my top ten favorite nature photos from the past twelve months. The image above of Bandon Beach is one of my favorites because I – finally – happened on good conditions for a great sunset photo at Bandon after years of trying.
Okay, this one is not strictly a nature photograph, but it is a favorite as a reminder of a wonderful trip in March. For the third time in the past four years, I drove Rusty, my VW Westfalia, from Oregon to Los Cabos at the southern end of the Baja peninsula and back. Unfortunately, the adventure was cut short when it became obvious that COVID-19 was a serious problem, but we’ll go for it again as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Years ago one of my cousins had the foresight to dig up some of the iris plants that grew in our grandparents lovely garden. Thanks to him, almost everyone in our family now has some of these beautiful plants to cherish. It was a delight to watch this stalk shoot up from the ground, form multiple buds and then unfold into gorgeous blossoms.
Forests are my favorite habitat, and even more so in Spring when new growth appears and the foliage is lush and verdant. Ferns are among the first plants to come back in our mountain and coastal forests after winter dormancy and my camera often gets pointed at their unfurling fronds.
Muench Workshops gave me the go-ahead for leading a photography workshop in Badlands National Park next year, so in June I loaded Rusty with food and camera gear and headed to South Dakota to scout locations. Have you guessed that I love long road trips? With my camper and only needing to shop for groceries every few days, it wasn’t a problem to maintain social distance. As is usually the case, even in popular national parks you can avoid crowded conditions by being out at dawn, taking a break or moving to a new location mid-day, and resuming photography around sunset. I’m delighted that my June 2021 Badlands and Black Hills workshop is generating so much interest that we may have to add a second session and we’ve already got it on the schedule for a repeat in 2022. Check out the details at www.MuenchWorkshops.com.
While scouting Badlands National Park, I was happy to find that it offers some great opportunities for wildlife photography in addition to amazing landscapes. Bison, bighorn sheep, deer and prairie dogs are abundant. I love the way this little owl just gave me the stare as I slowly drove up, rolled down my window and pointed my lens her way.
My route to the Badlands and Black Hills gave me the opportunity to photograph several other wonderful locations on the way there and back. Out before dawn for a hike on one of the trails at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, I found a great vantage point for a sunrise view of this extraordinary rock formation. Read more about Devils Tower in this blog post: https://www.wandersandwonders.com/2020/09/24/devils-tower-national-monument/
With my workshops cancelled, my schedule was open for photographing fall color in Oregon for the first time in several years. I’ve wanted for some time to return to Steens Mountain for the large colonies of quaking aspen. Despite research and planning, my timing was off by a few days so I missed peak fall color (it doesn’t last long there!). Regardless, I enjoyed my days on the Steens. It was fun to pan and zoom from an overlook, picking out portions of the overall scene.
Like a good number of my fellow nature photographers, I’ve lately been drawn to intimate landscapes, small scenes, and details. During a late fall trip to the southern Oregon Coast when clear skies made big landscapes somewhat boring, I turned my eye to driftwood, seaweed and rocks on the beach.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” – John Muir
The practice of Shinrin-yoku (roughly translated as Forest Bathing) has brought me peace and calm many times during this insane year. I walk in the woods, focusing on mindfulness and gratitude. Invariably, it soothes my soul. Perhaps not too surprising, when that happens I start to really see, not just look, and I make photographs that tell a story, have meaning, and that I feel are worth sharing.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing my personal favorites for the year, and if you have compiled your own favorites, please leave link in the Comments below.
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Even though I’ve seen some of these photos from your 2020 before, they’re a wonderful selection together. I know I’ve commented on the Devil’s Tower image before and it remains one of the best photos of that location I’ve ever seen. I had not seen the Badlands photo before and THAT is absolutely stunning. Wonderful light to begin with of course, but the way you lined up those mounds and managed to get such a pleasing composition is simply fantastic. Wonderful work. All the best for next year, Greg!
Thanks very much, Alexander! I’ve certainly enjoyed viewing your photos and reading your words this year. All the best to you in 2021.
Thanks Greg for sharing all of those. Your best are certainly right up there with the best taken last year by everyone. Have a wonderful next year filled with great images.
Thank you, Deigh. I’ve really been enjoying your photos on Facebook, and hope that we have the opportunity to meet in person sometime in 2021.
Congrats on you efforts and results plus the upcoming workshops. I also have a 91 Camper synchro and have had it since new. I’ve always been disappointed in the stock refrigerator which is near useless in higher summer temps and end up adding some ice to it and also have a plug in cooler that I also place a plastic container to hold ice when not plugged in. Have you come up with better alternatives for that?
Thank you, John. I’m envious that your Westy is a Syncro, and that you’ve had it since new. Since purchasing this van 8 years ago, I’ve not been able to get the frig to work on propane – although my mechanic once did. It does work on AC, so I sometimes plug it in the day before a trip to get it cooled down. I don’t run it on battery, as it sucks too much energy too quickly. My solution is to carry a basic cooler with ice – small for solo trips and larger for family multi-day trips.
I loved this glimpse into your heart, Greg. Thank you for that marvelous gift, my dear friend. Wishing you and yours fond aloha across the miles and years.
Mahalo nui, Leilani! I enjoy keeping in touch on Facebook even when we can’t in person. Hope you have a wonder-filled 2021.
Great set of images Grem, love them!
Thanks very much, John!
Hi Greg, what a lovely collection of photographs! It would be hard to choose my favorite, as I have favorites!
Thanks very much, Brenda! I’ve learned and been inspired by your books.
You had a great year Greg
Thanks, Kevin! It was a good one, and I’m hoping this one will be even better for all of us.
Some really amazing images Greg. The devil’s tower is amazing shot as are all the others… Glad to see that you managed go out during this pandemic…
Thanks very much, Luka! I’m very fortunate that there are some places where I can travel while remaining relatively safe.