Your best photo of 2020

I have a single photo to post as my best one, taken relatively later in the year on Nov 21:



For a few years now I've been trending more and more towards including myself in my landscape photos. These aren't the traditional 'selfie' - oh, how I hate that word - because my aim isn't to take a photo of myself but rather to provide the viewer with a connection to the scene. I still want the photograph to be a landscape picture, so I usually want myself to be as small as possible. To do this I invested in a long range remote shutter release at the beginning of the year, which I have since used heavily. Now, a few words about the photograph itself:

The location is North Fork Mountain, in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. I had this exact image in mind before I began the hike, and I wanted to take it around sunrise. The camera was set up on a tripod on a broad rocky spire, called Chimney Top, which required a short scramble to get atop. To get into position myself, I scrambled off Chimney Top, then made my way through some woods to get to the base of the horn I'm standing on. Another scramble to get atop that and I was finally able to take the shot. I'd set a 3sec timer on the remote, which allowed me to fire off the shot, and then strike a pose. This shot is my favorite of the year for all the planning that went into it, followed by the effort to actually take it. The end result was all I could have hoped for.

Oh man...I always have such difficulty picking one.

I am more partial to pure landscape shots (just mountains, lakes, etc), and I have some good ones this year. But I think I'll go with this one. I love how the goat glows in the sunlight. (And while they look kindof mangy in the summer, this is its beautiful fall coat.)

This is from my fall hike where I was blessed to hit peak color for the trees. Yes, I know this is not a tree but this tiny Indian Paintbrush caught my eye as I was hiking. This took a little effort in stopping, removing my pack, then taking several shots until I thought I had at least one good one. I think it was worth the effort.

Nope, it was taken in the UP of Michigan. I've always called these Indian Paintbrush (since I was a kid). Maybe I was told wrong and it's actually something else?

Most of this year I have spent with just the six year old, doing her home schooling, or distance outdoor exploring with her where a six year old, and someone who stands like the number 7 and mostly sees her feet, can walk safely.

My favorites are her on the sea cliffs

and one of my son and grandson kayaking among water lilies

rebeccad's photo is what we always called "Indian Paintbrush." I grew up in Michigan: this was always one of my Mom's favorite sights when we visited the western mountains.