Our Top 20 Pictures of 2013

Traveling in 2013 – Our Favorite Pictures

After traveling for about 7 of the past 12 months, you can imagine how many pictures we took along the way.  That is why it was so hard to narrow down the list that (I think) represents the best 20 pictures.  Each picture brings back memories and reinforces how fortunate we are to have been able to experience this in 2013.

1 – Oregon

Crater Lake has to be the most beautiful lake on earth.  We felt a connectedness to nature as we sat along the top rim of rocks overlooking the lake.

Crater Lake, Oregon

2 – Grand Tetons

It took 3 days to get this picture, as the first 2 days were overcast.  It was worth the wait, the old barn in the Grand Tetons is very photogenic.

Old Barn in Grand Tetons

3 – Oregon Coast

I took this picture without even getting out of the car.  I figured it would be just another picture but once I started reviewing the pictures at the end of the day, this picture really grabbed me.  I love the saturated blue hues juxtaposed with the grey trees in front.

Oregon Coast

4 – Whistler

After taking the gondola to the top of Whistler mountain, we spotted this small lake at the top, which really stood out among the mountains in the background.

Whistler, British Columbia

5 – Rosemary Beach, Florida

Just minutes from our front steps, we took this picture on the beach as the day was coming to a close.  We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.

Rosemary Beach, Florida

6 – Point Reyes, California

I love seeing the waves come crashing in during Spring at Point Reyes National Park in California.  Notice at the end of the peninsula is the Point Reyes lighthouse.

Point Reyes National Park, California

7 – Washington (State)

We came upon this rusty old truck when hiking in the Olympic National Park in Washington State.  One of friends once told me that anything old and rusty photographs well.  I agree.

Washington State

8 – Alaska

We were on a photography tour when the guide showed us how to simply point our camera towards the sun when pointed right behind plants.  I was surprised how this little trick created such a cool picture.

Alaska

9 – Grand Tetons

The Grand Teton mountains make a great backdrop to this lake we saw just outside of Yellowstone National Park.

Grand Tetons

10 – Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco offers so many great photo opportunities, the iconic Golden Gate bridge never disappoints.  We missed a better shot of the bridge.  One day fog was hovering all the way up to the middle of the bridge but we could never get into a good position to come out with a good picture of it.  I also used Photoshop to take out all colors but red for a cool look of the bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco California

Just the reds of the bridge

11 – Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone provided so many great pictures but this one stood out.  I love the foreground reds with the smoke coming out of the geyser in the background.

Yellowstone National Park

12 – Cannon Beach, Oregon

Haystack Rock is probably one of the most photographed places in Cannon Beach. One day we were strolling the beach and found ducks going for a swim in the ocean. This felt very odd, as I had never seen them do that before. They lined up perfectly with Haystack Rock in the background for a great picture.

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon

13 -Vancouver

Vancouver and the surrounding British Columbia area is incredibly beautiful, especially in the summer. We snapped this picture on the way from Vancouver to Whistler.

Vancouver, British Columbia

14 – Butchart Gardens, Victoria

We took lots of great floral pictures in Butchart Gardens so it was hard to narrow it down.  I really like the aperture of this picture, with the flower focused while the greenery of the background takes a backseat.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia

15 – Alaska

I love photographing waterfalls.  We came upon this one in Alaska and it did not disappoint.  I set the shutter speed (ISO) at about 100 and set the aperture small enough to maximize focus (around f/10). That gives the water a more silky look as it falls.

Alaska Waterfall

16 – California Coast

The California coast is beautiful. I love the color of the water, the green grass and the orange cliffs.

California Coast

17 – Alaska

The shadow of the rock is what struck me when I snapped this picture.  People stack these rocks — we saw lots of this when traveling around Alaska.  Not sure why they do it, but it does create a nice photo opportunity.

Stacked Rocks in Alaska

18 – Washington Coast

We stumbled onto this secluded beach when traveling along the Washington coast.  A lot of debris gets washed up along their shores and the trees are heavily washed by the thrashing ocean.

Washington Coast

19 – Glacier Bay, Alaska

The glacier is obviously awesome but I happened to catch this seagull in mid flight, which adds a new dimension to the photo.  He was changing his direction, almost stopping on a dime.

Glacier Bay, Alaska

20 – Husky in Alaska

How can you resist photographing such a cute puppy?  This Alaskan Husky will most likely run the Iditarod in Alaska when he grows up.

Alaskan Husky