It’s that time of year again; time to go through the previous year’s photos and pick out favorites. I always wait until the new year to announce my best photos, because what if I take a great photo on December 31? This year I visited a number of filming locations during my trip to Southern California. In the Pacific Northwest, I got to see a lot of “rural decay” as well as some beautiful coastline. Rounded out with trips to Cape Cod and photo adventures around my hometown of Saratoga, I’d say it was another great year for photos. Narrowing it down to just 25 favorites was as difficult a task as always, but after much deliberation, here are my personal favorites:
Buildings on Glen St at Dusk, Glens Falls, NY – January 23
After feeling like we had photographed almost every landmark in Saratoga, my friend Barb and I headed up to Glens Falls on a chilly winter evening to get some dusk photos. I love the buildings.
Father of the Bride, South Pasadena, CA – February 14
It was surreal to be standing on the sidewalk in front of the very house used in the Father of the Bride movies in the 1990s. The sun happened to be in a perfect position as well, making for an idyllic photo.
Doc’s House, Pasadena, CA – February 14
Just a few minutes after photographing the Father of the Bride House, I photographed the outside of the Gamble House in Pasadena, a mansion that’s now a museum, which stood in as Doc Brown’s mansion in the Back to the Future movies. Yes, I am a bonafide film location junkie!
Dusk at the Langham, Pasadena, CA – February 14
I guess February 14 was a great day for photos, because I’ve got a third one. I just love the courtyard area of the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. I took a lot of photos, but this is my favorite.
Santa Monica Pier at Night – February 16
It probably comes as no surprise that I blogged this photo taken from the Fairmont Miramar in my favorite hotel views post.
It Was a Rainy Evening, Disney California Adventure, Anaheim, CA – February 17
As the title suggest, it was indeed a very rainy evening at Disney California Adventure when I took this photo. A drop of rain landed on my front element, and I decided to leave it, because I liked the effect it added.
Disneyland Fire Dept., Anaheim, CA – February 18
It looks like a simple fire house, but Disneyland fans know that Walt Disney had his apartment on the second floor. It’s still set up to look like it did in the 50s.
Partners at Dusk, Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA – February 18
The Partners statues at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are two of my favorite things to photograph when I visit the parks. Beautiful evening light is just the icing on the cake.
Fireworks Over Saratoga Lake, Part II, Saratoga Springs, NY – July 3
While most folks were watching the fireworks being launched nearby, I was photographing the ones being set off across the lake, which allowed for a more pleasing composition with the boats in the foreground.
Grain Elevator in Boyd, OR – July 17
While most people go to the Columbia River Gorge for the waterfalls and rainforests, one of the underrated features of the area are the small towns with old buildings such as this one. I felt like I was riding through an episode of Little House on the Prairie!
Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie, Wasco, OR – July 17
I just love photographing abandoned buildings, especially school houses, since I’m a teacher. This photo of an abandoned school house near Boyd, OR, is one of my favorite photos I took this year.
Fairfield Homestead, Wasco, OR – July 17
I just love abandoned houses. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not the type of person who will actually go inside them, but just seeing a house like this in the middle of of the field is so fascinating. I would love to see what it looked like when it was new.
Seattle from the Space Needle – July 20
I used my 150-600mm lens to take some interesting cityscape photos of Seattle from the Space Needle.
Cannon Beach, OR, by Night – July 20
Cannon Beach is famous for its large Haystack Rock. At first glance, this photo might look like it was taken during the day, but it was actually taken late at night.
A Long Path in the Woods, Cannon Beach, OR – July 21
This trail at Ecola State Park was for experience hikers only, so I settled for a picture of it.
Spring Run Sunset, Saratoga Springs, NY – October 16
The Spring Run Trail has been a new favorite photo location for me. In the fall, the colors were gorgeous.
Wide Eyed – November 30
Franny was a welcome new addition in 2016, and her Christmas-tree climbing antics resulted in many a photo like this one.
Christmas Time in Saratoga – December 1
The buildings of Broadway are lit up with Chistmas lights and decorations in this photo I took at the Victorian Street Walk in Saratoga.
Looking Up Caroline St., Saratoga Springs, NY – December 22
Caroline Street always looks so pretty at Christmas with the wreath garlands strung across it.
Merry Christmas!, Saratoga Springs, NY – December 22
I love the tree in the War Memorial in Congress Park. It looks so beautiful at night!
Glorious Sunset, Wellfleet, MA – December 26
Heavenly-looking rays of sun peek through the clouds at sunset on Mayo Beach in Wellfleet, MA.
Festive Mayo Beach, Wellfleet, MA – December 26
A wreath on the fence makes this Cape Cod dusk photo a little more festive. This photo was taken at the same beach just minutes after the previous photo was taken.
A Beautiful Parking Lot, Saratoga Springs, NY – December 30
Even parking lots can look beautiful under a fresh coat of snow!
Well, those are my 25 favorite photos I took this year. Here’s to a photo-filled 2017!
