2016 was both an Interesting and Frustrating Year. It started out very nicely, but in March, things went pretty South, due to an Injury. It became very Difficult for me to Get Out and Enjoy all of the Things that I Enjoy doing… Photography alone was my Saving Grace for most of 2016 and I made the Best of it and even managed to do a bit of Hiking even in my Aircast, lol I’m almost back now and have finally started getting some real Hikes in, so I’m really looking forward to more Adventures in 2017.
As a Nature Photographer, I Shoot so many Different Subjects, that it really is Impossible to narrow my Favorites down very far, so I break my Subjects down into Categories and just pick a Favorite from each Category. I’ve Doubled the Categories from last Year, because again, it’s just so hard to narrow things down and it helps me keep all of these Images organized, lol Some Images also end up in Several Categories, so it gives a Favorite more than 1 Chance of being Selected too…
And if you have read my 2015 Post of Favorites, you already know that I call these Favorites for just that Reason… These Images may not be my Best Technical Images, but they are the Ones that I enjoy the most, due to Location, Situation, Emotion or whatever, lol
I did have some Good Trips this Year, especially as the Year waned and I was more Mobile. I hope you Enjoy my Images as much as I Enjoyed making them…
Abstract – Sucked In Reflection and Flow on the Verde River
Amphibians – Jeremiah American Bullfrog
Architecture – Zebras at the Light Rail Downtown Phoenix
Autumn – Autumn Lagoon Reflections of Fall Colors in the Colorado River
Birds – Golden Hour Portrait Great Blue Heron
Black and White – Pollen Party A Spring Cholla Bloom that was Snowing Pollen in the Arizona Desert
Butterflies – Tiny Diner Western Pygmy-Blue Butterfly. It’s one of the smallest Butterflies in the U.S. About the size of a Dime…
Dragonflies – Ode Love Blue-eyed Darners
Flowers – Summer Meadow At a Northern AZ Arboretum… This could most likely go into the Wildflower Category as well, but since it was in a Controlled Setting, it ends up in Flowers too…
Hiking – The Pink Hour Signature Red Rocks from a Range in Central AZ after the Sun went down.
Intimate Landscapes – Golden Mirror I do love my Golden Hours, especially if I get a Reflection as a Bonus!
Landscapes – The Light Reward Breakthrough Storm Light on a Prominent Peak in Southern AZ. The Light was Intermittent and took Patience, but the Reward was pretty Sweet….
Macro – The Beauty Within A Closer Look at a Thistle
Wild Mammals – 2 For the Price of 1 – Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels This was a tough Choice, but I chose this, because the Odds of ever getting a Shot like this are pretty Slim, lol
Miscellaneous – A Restful Path As a Nature Photographer, any Image that contains something Man Made goes into this Category just to separate it from Scenes that are totally Natural…. So, who wouldn’t want to sit here???
Miscellaneous Wildlife – Black and Orange – Tarantula Any Wild Creature that isn’t a Bird or a Mammal….
Nightscapes – Death Valley Rising
Non-Technical Canyoneering – Perennial Flows A Canyon you can Hike without Technical Gear
People and Kids – Paige Sweet Baby and I really liked this Image as a Black and White as well….
People and Outdoors – Gliding Through Gold Kayaker at the start of the Golden Hour….
Domestic Animals – Autumn Leisure A Couple of Ranch Hands enjoying an Autumn Meadow during their Off-Time…
Captive Wildlife – Anasazi II – Golden Eagle An Education Bird that is not able to be Released into the Wild due to Physical Problems… She was Beautiful. I so Appreciate our Wildlife Rescue Groups that not only Rescue Injured Wildlife, but can also give them a Permanent Home if needed….
Reflections – Roadside Attraction Not too shabby of a View from a Rain-filled, Road-side Ditch…
Reptiles – Emerging – Chuckwalla Time to come out of the Shade and Catch some Rays….
Road Shots – Peace and Turmoil Hard to beat Autumn and Storms and the Roads that Travel through them….
Spring – In the Spotlight The Spring Blooms of a Hedgehog Cactus in the Desert….
Sunrise/Sunset – Witnesses Sunset in the Sonoran Desert
Technical Canyoneering – Desert River Narrows Technical Equipment is needed to go down there. We did, but I ended up with a Busted Up Ankle. This is a Canyon I hope to Return to someday and get it Right… It’s too Beautiful to not be Enjoyed….
The Southwest – Dust to Light – Saguaros Breakthrough Light during a Dust Storm in the Sonoran Desert…
Trail Shots – Autumn Path A Walk through Autumn in Central AZ….
Urban – Art and Architecture Downtown Phoenix
Waterscapes – Flowing Glass Verde River Currents
Weather – Framed with Promises Sonoran Desert Storm Arches
Western – River Crossing A Wrangler crossing the Verde River….
Wildflowers – Summer Jubilee The Colors of a Northern Arizona Meadow in Summer….
I wish you all the Best in 2017 and May the Light Be With You… Onward to New Adventures and Places this Year….
Enjoying the Wilds 