Greetings from the Sierra Nevada,

Happy New Year! I hope your year ahead is happy, healthy, and artistically productive!

I’ve always thought that tight editing was a prime skill for any photographer and that I was good at it. Well, this year, I’m proving that incorrect. I decided that since over the past year, I’ve made such a diverse range of imagery, I would show that range. My 2019 collection includes 60 photographs listed in chronological order. I am hoping that while seeing a fuller view of my visual explorations that somewhere while scrolling through my images you find an inspirational direction for your own art.

The primary motivation for me to photograph is to experience beauty, which is everywhere if we look for it. For example, the first image here was taken with my iPhone in Costco. Much of what I find is local, around my home like ice formed in a bucket on my patio, snow on the pines in my neighbor, trees in bloom in Fresno, and of course a few from Yosemite.

Many years ago, when I was involved with Ansel Adam’s workshops, I was fortunate to hear lectures by many master photographers.  One of them was Jerry Uelsmann (http://www.uelsmann.com/), who became a friend and mentor.  During his lectures, he would show his work from the past year.  Since his work involves compositing many images together, these images including variations he had tried, often with the same objects in different locations or scenes.  This overview revealed the progression of Jerry’s creative process during the year.  I always felt inspired when seeing many of his slide shows.  I often thought I should do this myself each year, in order to assess my year’s efforts, but never got around to it. So now I’ve been doing the annual review annually!

The process of self-assessment is a vital part of artistic growth.  In the day-to-day rush of life, we don’t often stop to see trends in our image-making.  By turning back the clock, we can see if we are stuck in a rut or made great progress.

I hope you will add your comments or favorites at the bottom of the page. You can add a link to your collection if you wish.

Kind regards, Bill

PS Click here to read my Outdoor Photographer essay on this subject written in 2010 entitled Best of the Year.

Best of 2014
Best of 2015
Best of 2016
Best of 2017
Best of 2018

 


Flowers, Fresno, California 2019
PureShot for iOS, iPhone XS Max back camera 4.25mm f/1.8,
1/60 second at f/1.8, ISO 50

 


Sierra Foothills, Madera County, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
2 second at f/32, ISO 100

 


Bracken Fern, 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM,
1/4 second at f/11, ISO 100

 


Winter Oaks, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/200 second at f/14, ISO 800

 


Pines in snowstorm, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/2 second at f/25, ISO 100

 


Ice, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
3.20 second at f/32, ISO 100

 


Gnarled Oak, snowstorm, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/90 second at f/13, ISO 800

 


Vernal Pool, Madera County, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/10 second at f/6.3, ISO 100

 


Spring foothills, Madera County, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/2 second at f/8, ISO 100

 


Oak woodlands, Madera County, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/40 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Moonrise and oak woodlands, Madera County, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/6 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Creosote patterns, Ahwanhee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/15 second at f/6.3, ISO 100

 


Ice and stones, Ahwanhee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1.50 second at f/19, ISO 100

 


Pear blossoms, Fresno, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM,
1/640 second at f/11, ISO 1600

 


Spring Blossoms, 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM,
1/250 second at f/16, ISO 800

 


Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/1600 second at f/18, ISO 400

 


Dawn Surf, Point Pinos, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
30 second at f/20, ISO 100

 


Cypress trees in fog, Pacific Grove, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/3 second at f/20, ISO 100

 


Pfeiffer Arch, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
8 second at f/14, ISO 100

 


Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/1000 second at f/18, ISO 100

 


Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/800 second at f/18, ISO 100

 


Moon over Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/25 second at f/5.6, ISO 400

 


Dogwood, Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/2 second at f/25, ISO 100

 


Dogwood Blossoms, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/6 second at f/14, ISO 100

 


Dogwood along the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/3 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Spring sunrise over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/40 second at f/11, ISO 100

 


Upper Yosemite Fall, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/1600 second at f/5.6, ISO 200

 


Waterfall and Mist, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/1600 second at f/7.1, ISO 200

 


Lupine, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/4 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Farewell to Spring Blossoms, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/8 second at f/13, ISO 100

 


California Poppies, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/13 second at f/9, ISO 100

 


Hydrangea, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
4 second at f/25, ISO 100

 


Ridges, Mt Tamalpais State Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/125 second at f/16, ISO 200

 


Sequoias, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1 second at f/14, ISO 100

 


Sequoia trees, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/2 second at f/10, ISO 100

 


Ripples, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #10 50/2.4,
1/400 second at f/2.5, ISO 100

 


Abalone Shell and Bubbles, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/2000 second at f/5.6, ISO 800

 


Abalone Shell and Bubbles #2, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/2000 second at f/5.6, ISO 800

 


Ripples, Ahwahnee, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/3200 second at f/5, ISO 1600

 


Patterns #1, Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/640 second at f/8, ISO 200

 


Patterns #4, Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/320 second at f/11, ISO 200

 


Ripples, Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/800 second at f/9, ISO 1250


Cottonwoods and Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM,
1/25 second at f/18, ISO 400

 


Clearing Storm, Santa Rosa Wilderness, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/400 second at f/8, ISO 100

 


Clearing Storm, Santa Rosa Wilderness, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/400 second at f/8, ISO 100

 


Cottonwoods and mist, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/8 second at f/11, ISO 100

 


Cottonwoods impressions, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/2 second at f/25, ISO 100

 


Cottonwoods, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/1 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Pine Forest, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
4 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Steaming Mist and Pine, Yosemite National Park, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/80 second at f/18, ISO 100

 


Cattails, San Juaquin Valley, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/5000 second at f/5.6, ISO 6400

 


Grasses reflected, San Juaquin Valley, California 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/4000 second at f/6.3, ISO 6400

 

SonyILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/8000 second at f/7.1, ISO 6400

 


Sword Ferns, Sehome Hill, Bellingham, Washington 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
2 second at f/16, ISO 100

 


Sword Ferns, Sehome Hill, Bellingham, Washington 2019
SonyILCE-7RM2, #127 90/2.8,
1/13 second at f/16, ISO 800

 


Alder Forest, Arroyo Canyon, Bellingham, Washington 2019
SonyILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1 second at f/20, ISO 100

 


Alder Forest, Arroyo Canyon, Bellingham, Washington 2019
SonyILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1.60 second at f/20, ISO 100

 


Whatcom Falls, Bellingham, Washington 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/6 second at f/13, ISO 200

 


Whatcom Falls, Bellingham, Washington 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/3 second at f/20, ISO 200

 


Whatcom Creek, Bellingham, Washington 2019
Sony ILCE-7RM2, FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS,
1/3 second at f/18, ISO 100