10. Falcon 9 Rocket Launch – Cape Canaveral, Florida
When you would’ve instructed me on December 31, 2019 that I’d find yourself being a complete area geek within the subsequent yr I most likely would’ve laughed. All it took was a behind-the-scenes tour at NASA (you possibly can learn my abstract of the go to right here, right here, and right here) to get me hooked! This unimaginable image was accompanied by whooping and hollering as my fellow NASA Socialites and I cheered the rocket into the sky, with provides and experiments for the Worldwide Area Station aboard.
Photographically this shot was all about getting the settings proper. I used a distant timer to kick off a 4 minute publicity about 40 seconds earlier than the rocket launched and I couldn’t be any happier with how the shot ended up!
9. Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge – Dallas, Texas
When you’ve adopted my weblog for any variety of years you’ll acknowledge this iconic Calatrava bridge. Connecting downtown Dallas with the brand new Trinity Groves space, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is iconic and an immediately recognizable a part of Dallas’s unimaginable skyline. I’ve shot this bridge so some ways however actually preferred this framing of it, the graffiti on the bridge help displaying a little bit of Dallas’s gritty basis towards the clear and polished skyline.
8. L Practice – Chicago, Illinois
I’ve identified about this spot for years, the place the L prepare snakes its manner northward out of downtown Chicago. On a enterprise journey in February (my final enterprise journey earlier than the pandemic hit, it might prove) I lastly had a while to cease by and seize my very own model of this nice shot. I used to be in a parking storage, standing in entrance of a GMC Acadia SUV with my digicam perched on a window sill. The proprietor of the SUV, who confirmed up throughout my shoot, was not a fan of a random passerby being so near his automobile however I confirmed him the shot and he grew to become pleasant (I despatched him a replica of the picture). Fortunately the sundown cooperated too!
7. Vitruvian Lights – Addison, Texas
I’ve an exquisite buddy named Brooke who at all times places up with my loopy picture concepts, so me calling her up and asking her to be a watch mannequin for me at a well-liked vacation lights show close to Dallas wasn’t an excessive amount of of a shock. We undoubtedly caught some odd seems from others on the show, since my digicam was on a giant tripod with an infinite lens about 5 inches from her face, however the end result was completely good.
6. Walter’s Wiggles – Zion Nationwide Park, Utah
I went out to Zion Nationwide Park in Might, because the park was within the technique of reopening, to see how the expertise could be totally different from the traditional melee of visiting considered one of America’s hottest nationwide parks. I really like the hike as much as Angel’s Touchdown, though the chain part and summit was closed. I took the prospect to seize this basic composition of Walter’s Wiggles, the calf-destroying switchbacks simply earlier than you arrive at Scout Lookout, the emotional midway level on the way in which to Angel’s Touchdown. You may see extra footage from my go to in Might right here, and my return journey to Zion in November with my buddy Mike, the place I did a telephone comparability between my iPhone 12 Professional and my $6500 Sony digicam package, right here.
5. Wingtip Aurora – North Atlantic Ocean, Earth
I used to be flying over to London for work in January and occurred to verify the aurora forecast earlier than my flight. Once I noticed a promising forecast I made certain to seize my tripod and favourite low-light digicam. I needed to warn the flight attendants what I used to be as much as (as a result of it seemed kinda suspicious, having to drape a blanket over my digicam and the window to stop cabin lights from ruining the shot) and it took about 20 makes an attempt however this ended up being a completely unimaginable shot. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to see the northern lights 4 occasions now and this simply is likely to be my favourite!
4. Star Trails on the Rock Church – Cranfills Hole, Texas
This picture turned out so a lot better than I initially thought! The wonderful foreground of an previous church constructed by Norwegian settlers in rural Texas mixed with star trails circling across the Northern Star (positioned conveniently on the steeple of the church) simply turned out so effectively. Sony ended up doing an article about this picture, as I used my beloved Sony a7rIV to create it!
3. Curved Aspens – Colorado
It took me three years to seek out these timber. And people three years had been price it!
I gained’t try to retell the entire story right here, however I’d love so that you can take a look at the complete story at my publish about these timber right here, it’s well worth the learn.
2. The Milky Method at Prada Marfa – Valentine, Texas
My brother and I had been on our manner out to Tucson, Arizona, for my They Will Fly Once more venture in April. Driving via the evening, my Tesla instructed me to cease in Van Horn, Texas, to cost for a bit earlier than the lengthy drive throughout the Texan desert to El Paso. Whereas charging, I remembered the well-known Prada Marfa artwork set up was solely about an hour south. We determined to make our manner south, and boy am I glad we did. I had by no means seen a Milky Method shot from the well-known artwork set up and was completely happy to create it!
1. They Will Fly Once more – Dallas, Fort Value, Houston, Tucson, Kansas Metropolis, Tulsa
I couldn’t simply decide one image from my They Will Fly Once more venture so right here’s a sampling. I knew the photographs I captured could be compelling and inform a strong story, and I used to be proud of the protection it acquired. What I by no means imagined, nevertheless, had been the numerous emails I acquired from airline pilots and crew around the globe telling me thanks for sharing their plight with the world. These emails meant extra to me than any accolades ever may.
Which was your favourite?
This yr felt unusual to so many people however I hope I used to be in a position to present you some magnificence from it. I can’t look ahead to 2021 and have so many adventures to run after.
The story ain’t over…completely happy 2021!
