As every year comes to a close it can be helpful to look back on the last year; while one could argue that the date of January 1st is arbitrary, a retrospective still puts a timeline to progress and is a chance to look back on how we’ve grown and where we can go. As a photographer, the best way to do this is by culling down the entire year into my absolute favorite images. I must admit that for 2018 this was a real challenge! I felt as though I’ve had one of the stronger years in a while, getting out to shoot more often than previous years and being more productive while I’m out there. The balance between time spent with art shows and time spent creating images has taken quite a while to figure out, but it’s getting there.
I want to thank all of you for my support over the last year, I can’t say that sincerely enough. It was once again another strong art show season where I have the chance to meet all of you face-to-face; it’s wonderful to see my artwork making its way onto so many walls throughout the country. On top of that, I’ve seen strong support from the film community as people continue to learn from my ebook "Film in a Digital Age" and use my drum scanning services. These two avenues of business continue to show me that film is growing in new ways even today!
I knew early on that my goal this year was to focus on my home state of Colorado while still getting out to stretch my legs into other regions. This worked out quite well, resulting in a quick backpacking trip between nearly every art show. There was also a stunning (as usual) autumn in Colorado where I explored places that were new to me as well as returned to old places and finally got the image I had been seeking for years. Still, I may have overextended myself during the summer months and look to re-aim my schedule just a tad there.
Moving forward into 2019 will be exciting! My time spent backpacking in the mountains of Colorado only gave me a stronger drive to do more next summer. Pouring over topo maps revealed endless new places within my home state that I want to see and I’ll continue to tackle that list while still getting out for some different adventures. Expect to see a lot of new and different work from me in the coming year, 2018 set a high benchmark and I can’t wait for what’s to come!
Now onto my favorite images of 2018, in no particular order. These aren't necessarily my most popular, but rather the ones I feel are my strongest and my personal favorites. Which one do you like most? Leave a comment and let me know!
“Bear Lake Sunrise” - After years of visiting this spot during the fall I finally had the sunrise and aspen conditions I was looking for! The stand of aspen on the right were glowing a brilliant red and really set the scene. Prints Available
“Ruby Range Sunset” - This image kicked off the start of my summer backpacking season in June. The symmetry of the distant mountain range and groupings of pine work perfectly together. The stunning scenery and solitude makes this one of my favorite views in the state. Prints Available.
“Autumn Glow” - The sun shines through a brilliant red aspen with the snow-capped San Juan Mountains in the background. Prints Available
“Coastal Oak” - Massive live oak trees make for a perfect evening along the central California Coast. Prints Available
“Flatiron Snow” - A spring snowstorm covers the Boulder flatirons and the surrounding forest in crisp white powder. Prints Available.
“Shrine Ridge Trail” - Flowers line a ridge-top trail in morning light. Prints Available.
“Barn Storm” - Sunset illuminates a passing thunderstorm, creating a warm glow on this old rural scene. Prints Available.
“Triple Peak Flow” - A midsummer backpacking trip brought me to this stunning view of an alpine stream meandering into looming peaks. The soft light of sunrise fills the valley with a warm glow. Prints Available
“Wizard Hats” - Stone swirls lead up to towering formations shaped like wizard hats. Prints Available.
“The Remains of Autumn” - A few aspen trees hold on to the last of their golden leaves while the rest of the forest lies bare. Prints Available
“Gore Range Reflections” - After climbing up a relentless slope and spending the night well above treeline, I was rewarded to calm water and flawless reflection the next morning. Prints Available.
“Maple Waves” - Fallen maples leaves lay scattered in desert soil that was washed into waves by recent rains. Prints Available
“Homestead Sunrise” - An abandoned homestead under vibrant sunrise skies of the Great Plains. Prints Available.
“Hooker Cliffs Sunset” - The dramatic vertical cliffs of Mount Hooker glow in sunset light deep in the Wind River Range. Prints Available.
“X Trails” - Sailing stones leave a distinct letter in the dried earth. Late afternoon light stretches the shadows and obscures reality in this otherworldly environment.
If you would like any of these images on you walls as prints, please contact me by email or by calling me at (970)412-0679
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