My Best Natural History Photos of 2013
Once again the end of the year is upon us and I look back at my photographic works of the preceding 12 months. I did not produce as many new images as in years past but I did manage to create some notable ones that hopefully communicate why I love to spend time outdoors. If the theme of this year’s selection is not obvious, allow me to point out that this is the first annual retrospective of mine that includes just one photograph made during daylight hours (and a couple at the edge of the day). Note: if you like these feel free to check out previous years’ favorites as well: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007. Also, be sure to check out Jim Goldstein’s blog, where he collects the “best of the year” collections of many talented photographers, you are sure to find enough eye candy to keep your pupils entertained for all of 2014. Cheers, thanks for looking, and best wishes for 2014!
The Wave at Night, under a clear night sky full of stars. Photographer is illuminating the striated rocks with a small handheld light. The Wave, an area of fantastic eroded sandstone featuring beautiful swirls, wild colors, countless striations, and bizarre shapes set amidst the dramatic surrounding North Coyote Buttes of Arizona and Utah. The sandstone formations of the North Coyote Buttes, including the Wave, date from the Jurassic period. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Wave is located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and is accessible on foot by permit only.
Image ID: 28620
Location: North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona, USA
Owachomo Bridge and Milky Way. Owachomo Bridge, a natural stone bridge standing 106′ high and spanning 130′ wide,stretches across a canyon with the Milky Way crossing the night sky.
Image ID: 28541
Location: Owachomo Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, USA
Approaching sunrise and star trails over the San Diego Downtown City Skyline. In this 60 minute exposure, stars create trails through the night sky over downtown San Diego.
Image ID: 28386
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Ancient bristlecone pine trees at night, under a clear night sky full of stars, lit by a full moon, near Patriarch Grove.
Image ID: 28533
Species: Ancient Bristlecone Pine, Pinus longaeva
Location: White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California, USA
Mount Rainier sunset, viewed from Ricksecker Point.
Image ID: 28722
Location: Ricksecker Point, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Perseid Meteor Shower and Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleides Cluster, over Half Dome and Yosemite National Park
Image ID: 28746
Location: Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Milky Way over the Watchman, Zion National Park. The Milky Way galaxy rises in the night sky above the the Watchman.
Image ID: 28587
Location: Zion National Park, Utah, USA
The OVRO 40 meter Telescope, part of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory located near Big Pine, California, USA. The telescope is used to conduct interferometric observations along with the other telescopes in the observatory, as a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) station and as a single dish instrument. Its main focus today is on the monitoring of blazars.
Image ID: 28796
Location: Big Pine, California, USA
Milky Way over Tioga Lake, Yosemite National Park
Image ID: 28521
Location: Tioga Lake, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Blue Moon, Full Moon at Sunset over San Diego City Skyline, approaching jet with headlights appearing in front of the moon
Image ID: 28753
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Cormorants and sea lions on Seal Rock, at night, waves lit by full moon.
Image ID: 28864
Location: Laguna Beach, California, USA
Live Oak and Milky Way, rocks and stars, Joshua Tree National Park at night
Image ID: 28417
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Milky Way and stars at night above Mount Rainier.
Image ID: 28728
Location: Sunrise, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Sunrise Clouds and Surf, Hospital Point, La Jolla
Image ID: 28834
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Scripps Pier solstice, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier.
Image ID: 28474
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA
