Photo Highlights of 2021

Putting a compilation of my favorite photos together at the end of a very active year is difficult to say the least. It’s also a challenge to pick something that’s technically good versus an image that may not be perfectly captured but holds a lot of memories. Each one of these shots has an associated memory and is also a reminder of how incredibly lucky we are to be traveling to some amazing places.

Some of you have asked about camera settings and equipment, etc. but I try to keep everything as simple as possible. I use my iPhone XS Max quite a bit because the lens and camera is of a really good quality. The app I use is Adobe Lightroom Mobile. It allows me to shoot in RAW on the phone and also gives me access to some robust tools for editing. As good as those photographs look, however, I do notice a huge difference when I use my Fujifilm X-H1 camera with my trusty 18-135mm lens. It’s kind of my go-to glass for all our travel photography. I do all my Fuji editing in Lightroom Mobile on my iPad. I have developed a number of presets that highlight various colors that work for a variety of situations. Other times, I will just make some basic adjustments and call it done. Either way, I don’t spend a lot of time editing my images. I try to get it right in camera as much as possible. Having said all that, let’s get on with the showcase.

Krk, Croatia

We rolled across the border to Croatia in mid October of 2020 and, due to COVID lockdown, wound up staying in the country for over three and a half months. We spent two of those months in a cabin in Krk with the Baltic Sea right outside our door. There was much weather drama for this photographer to be kept occupied clicking the shutter.

It wasn’t all roses though and the strains of being locked down even in this wonderful location took their toll. We missed out on traveling home to the United States to see our kids and Linda’s family. Many of those days in Krk felt claustrophobic with driving rain and angry waves coming more times than the sun.

This photograph is one of my favorites of our time there. The morning began with much promise but it was the precursor to another storm with high winds and thunderous waves. I love the depth in this I shot, with multiple layers of interest from the tree and bench to the crashing waves to the horizon and then the sun-kissed mountains beyond.

Palavas les Flots, France

Back in France again, we visited the port of Palavas les Flots. On the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, there was plenty of wildlife. Well, there were flamingos.

The funny thing about traveling in Europe is that, unlike traveling in the United States, we have seen almost no wildlife. Even on our 800 km trek across Spain when we walked the Camino, we saw no trace of wild things. When we first caught sight of these flamingos, in their natural habitat no less, it was a thrill. This image is all about capturing the memory rather than it being an outstanding composition. I really like it either way.

Béziers, France

We found an Aire for the night just outside the little French town of Béziers. While Linda organized Bijou, I decided to take a walk into town. The big attraction there is the abundance of bridges and the hilltop cathedral.

I found a place to sit by the river and just enjoyed the view without a care in the world. That is, until my phone rang and it was Linda saying that curfew was in place and I needed to be home by 6pm. It was about 5:45 and the Aire was almost half an hour away on foot. I did manage to arrive home just 5 minutes late and gasping for breath!

I really like this photo although it may not be the most original composition ever. It does evoke for me the quiet of the evening, the imposing cathedral and the depth implied by the receding bridge.

Carcassonne, France

Shot in Carcassonne, France, this is another photo that evokes more of a memory for me rather than it being a great composition. This fortified city dating back to the 6th century was really worth the effort. But what, you may ask, are the circular patterns in the photograph? I had to do a little research to figure it out.

Conceived by Felice Varini, a renowned French-Swiss artist whose work uses frames to play with architectural space, this installation promised to be spectacular. And it was but the problem is that when the paint was removed, it left a huge trace much to the horror of locals. I’m sure UNESCO was none too pleased either. Below is the installation in its full glory. Photo by André Morin.

Mirepoix, France

When we arrived in Mirepoix in France, we spent a few hours at the outdoor market. It’s a quaint little town although without the market, I’m not sure it would hold much appeal for me.

Mostly what I love about this photo is the way the tree line leads to the figures in the distance. Including humans, no matter how small, will always add interest to a composition. As dominant as the trees are in the photo, my eye easily seeks out the people. So yeah, this is a technically successful shot.

The scene reminded me of a drawing by Vincent Van Gogh (see below) and inspired me to attempt a drawing of it myself one of these fine days so stay tuned for that 🙂

Bergerac, France

There was obviously a lot to shoot in France because here’s another photo from the town of Bergerac, home to the infamous Cyrano. There was a statue of the man himself in the tiny central square but I found this restaurant to be much more interesting to photograph. The vibrant delivery motorcycle completes the composition. It kind of represents the day for us because we arrived at lunchtime. Now, if you don’t know, France pretty much closes down for three hours a day for lunch. So it felt abandoned when we rolled up on our bikes.

Although this looks like a simple photograph, there is actually a lot going on. I find my eyes are constantly searching and returning to the sign outside the restaurant. Funny enough, for as many times as I looked at it, I never noticed the guy on the right checking his phone. This one is in the technically successful category for me.

This road is across the river from the previous photo, still in Bergerac. I just love this kind of architecture. We first came upon it when we moved over to France in 2019 and had and AirBnB in a town called St. Julian Du Sault.

When roads like this curve away from the viewer, it adds a layer of mystery and this one is heading into darkness like in a Grimm’s Fairytale. There’s an implied story in the picture but it will be mostly realized by the imagination of the viewer. I like that. Another technical achievement 🙂

Rocamadour, France

Rocamadour is a small clifftop village in south-central France. It is known for the Cité Réligieuse complex of religious buildings, accessed via the Grand Escalier staircase. It felt like 1000 steps up and down but I’m sure it’s less.

As a photographer, I’m much more enamored with clouds than I am blue skies and I’m usually disappointed if we are going somewhere interesting to shoot when there are no clouds. There are exceptions, of course, and Rocamadour was one of them. There was a golden glow everywhere that day and the contrast of the blue sky made everything glimmer. I think Linda may have been contemplating ice cream at this moment but I recall the store was closed. Nonetheless, this was one of these scenes I had to be at the ready to capture. The brilliance of the light was just gorgeous.

This shot is also from Rocamadour climbing the aforementioned steps. The sweeping wide angle of the shot and the vibrant colors make the whole thing really dynamic to me. It also shows off the scale of the place (thank you Linda for modeling).

Le Landeron, Switzerland

We stayed at Le Landeron in Switzerland for 17 days and it was the first place we visited in a long time where restaurants were open. We found a favorite place and ate there a few times outdoors. It was glorious. I felt like we had been let out of prison.

The campsite was near a harbor and there were many swans about. These creatures are so majestic and have a huge wingspan. They can also be very territorial and aggressive so you need to stay out of their way, especially if they are protecting their family.

There were plenty of swans just floating about on that day and my photos were pretty ho-hum. Then this dude comes swooping in and skates along the surface of the water. Trying to compose well and also catch the action keeps my adrenaline pumping. Even though he is frozen in time, the splashing water and blurry foreground gives a nice sense of motion. To me, this is a good technical photo and one I go back to again and again.

Gdansk, Poland

Poland surprised us. It wasn’t the steely gray industrial burned out landscape we expected. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The country felt like it was thriving and the cities were as colorful and modern as any others we had seen. Gdansk is our favorite towns without a doubt. It has a nice intimacy about it with an abundance of historical buildings, interesting streets and a pedestrian riverfront. The food was dirt cheap too so we ended up eating out most of the time while we were there.

Being at ground level, I felt like I was missing out on a image that would represent the character of the town. We had passed the giant Ferris wheel multiple times and promised ourselves we would go for a ride before we left. On the day of our departure, the weather was perfect so we made good on that promise and I got the shot I was after.

From a technical standpoint, it’s important to me when shooting architecture to make sure all the vertical lines, when possible, are actually completely vertical. Camera lenses notoriously create what’s call keystoning if you are either above or below an object. What this looks like from the ground is that the tops of buildings begin to recede but this can be corrected in editing. As you can see from this one, all verticals are as you would expect to see them in real life.

Auschwitz, Poland

Linda visited both Auschwitz and Dachau when she was younger and I knew that I had to see at least one of them while we were in Europe. We made a plan to visit Auschwitz and it was as horrific as I imagined it would be and then some. It’s hard to go into something like this and learn about humanity’s atrocities while also thinking about photographing the place. I decided to leave my camera at home and just bring my iPhone. All of the surviving photographs of the time are black and whites and that is the indelible impression I had. I wanted to capture the essence of what I felt in black and white also. It seemed to convey a solitude and desolation that was apropos.

This image is very evocative of my experience there so it is successful on that level but it also tells a dense story by the choice of monochrome and including all the elements of the horror it represents.

Šiauliai, Lithuania

One of the more unusual sites in our travels was Hill of Crosses in northern Lithuania. Over time, Catholic pilgrims added statues, carvings, rosaries, you name it. It is quite a spectacle and when we arrived, we had a lovely sunset and the place all to ourselves! Although it may look chaotic, I’m sure it has some kind of meaning and structure for the pilgrims who created it.

The place is vast so it was hard to chose a photograph that represented the feeling of being there. This one does convey the density of everything. At the top of the hill, there is a recording of a mass being said that runs in a perpetual loop. It’s a little eerie when you are there alone. Still, it was a memorable visit.

Tallin, Estonia

This is hands down one of my most favorite photos I’ve ever shot. It was taken in Tallin, Estonia. We were staying at a marina and Linda noticed that there was a beautiful sunset outside. Now I have to admit that I get tired of shooting beautiful sunsets unless there is something unique about the scene. I dragged myself up from my chair, just in case it was something special. At first, I was lazy and took a few photos out the window but then I saw a ferry about to pass the gigantic setting sun. I quickly made my way outside and also noticed a family in the mid ground. They made a perfect silhouette. The boat in the foreground completed all the layers in the picture. Just then, the ferry passed the sun and I got the shot. Woohoo, I just love this picture!

Stockholm, Sweden

During our first visit to Stockholm in Sweden, we were taken aback by the number of tourists milling about the downtown area. People were walking down the narrow streets bumping shoulders and restaurants were packed. There were lines out the door of the little narrow shops.

One of the positive side effects for us traveling in Europe during the pandemic was being able to see world class cities with next to no one around. I didn’t have to fight to get photographs. Now I felt like normalcy was returning and I had mixed feelings about it. I was glad that people felt safe enough to leave their homes but kinda bummed that we were in a sea of tourists again.

We walked down one of the narrow streets and came upon this little square where this young lady was playing a violin. For a brief moment, it felt like we were almost alone again and I clicked the shutter. Notice also, the vertical buildings, corrected in edting. For me, the image is successful as a good composition and a great memory.

Saariselkä, Finland

This was a free overnight stay in Finland on our way up to Norway. We got to see reindeer wandering about and then this beautiful double rainbow appeared above Bijou. I had another shot that showed the entire thing but I like the focus on Bijou in the dead center because, after all, she is always the most important thing in a photo, n’est-ce pas?

Nordkapp, Norway

Our trip to Norway was as epic as our Alaska adventure back in 2016. As much as I like to occasionally visit cities, I definitely prefer to be out in the countryside or, even better, the wilderness as much as possible. Sometimes, when we approach a city, we can both feel the frenetic energy of it. Now, when I’m feeling frazzled, I just imagine myself being in Norway. This photo, in particular, encapsulates the idea I’m talking about. It was shot out the window on our way to Nordkapp. I love the “searchlight” sunbeams and the dramatic clouds (of course). It’s hard to believe that places like this still exist in a world of nearly 8 billion people.

Reine, Norway

Well, apparently I’m not quite done shooting sunsets. On this particular evening, by the waterfront in Reine, Norway, the colors in the sky were particularly pretty. I really wanted to shoot this with all the town lights coming on but the vibrancy had faded away by the time they did. Still, I just love the otherworldliness of the shot.

Oldedalen, Norway

While still in Norway, we visited the Briksdal Glacier. It was an amazing walking path and the waterfalls were really something. Scale is everything in a photograph and I wanted to show the power of the cascading water. With Linda standing on the bridge you really get a sense of the size of that gigantic boulder and the rushing water. It was hard to keep my lens dry!

Åndalsnes, Norway

There are many “must-see” places in Norway and one we did not want to miss was Trollstigen, otherwise known as the Troll Ladder. It can only be described as a serpentine road that leads to the top of a pass overlooking waterfalls, mountains and the zig-zagging road itself.

Before we took that on, we positioned ourselves in a nearby campground called Trollveggen. It was one of the most beautiful settings we have stayed in. I think the photo speaks for itself.

Preikstolen, Norway

Preikestolen, better known as Pulpit Rock is a steep cliff rising 604 metres (1982 feet) above Lysefjorden in Norway. It’s kind of another must-see place when in Norway. I had heard of it many times and had seen it most recently in the film Mission: Impossible – Fallout with Tom Cruise. The climax has him fighting with his arch enemy played by Henry Cavill. It is every bit as epic in real life as it is in IMAX (only more so.)

I found the ascent challenging while Linda found the descent to be difficult. On the way up, there was a blanket of fog and we really thought we wouldn’t have any views but as we arrived at the summit, the fog began to disperse and we got some glorious views. I’m afraid of heights so Linda took one for the team to get this shot. She is doing her signature poles in the air victory gesture 🙂

As tempting as it was to zoom in close, I felt the real subject was the cliff itself. The vertical aspect of the photo conveyed the sheer scale of the place.

Agliana, Italy

In Italy we decided to take a break from the road and settled into an AirBnB in Agliana. We were about an hour from Florence by train. Although there wasn’t really much around the farmhouse, the view out our bedroom window looked like a painting. I shot this image the morning after we arrived. The white car and the man and his dog really work for me because they tell a story, provide a central focus and work well for the scale of the landscape.

Lucca, Italy

Different places in the world seem to have different types of light even though it’s all coming from the same giant orb in the sky. Why is this I wonder? Part of it has to do with our exact position in the world, the season, and really how it is interacting with the environment and atmosphere. While staying at our Italian AirBnB, we spent a day visiting Lucca, a gorgeous quaint little town with lots of history of its own. Really, in most of Europe, you can’t visit a town or city that hasn’t been touched by a rich, broader history.

Lucca had a distinctive color about it as many towns in Tuscany do. The light finds its way into even the darkest alleys because of the bright reflections of adjacent buildings. I love this composition with its light and shadow and the network of wires and textures on the walls. Decay really lends itself to fascinating photos. At least I think so 🙂

Monterosso, Italy

A stormy sea but an otherwise beautiful day in Monterosso, one of the five towns of Cinque Terre in Italy. For me, this composition showcases the power of nature and the resilience of the tower over the centuries. The staircase leads my eye and the lookout towards the bottom is also evocative of so much history. All framed by wild waves and a dramatic sky. What else could I ask for?

I shot this in Monterosso as the day was fading. It would not have had the same impact without the cormorant. Despite the beautiful landscape and light, this little dude is still the focus of the shot. He also helps give it some scale (can you see a theme here?). Without him, the foreground rock could have been 4 inches high (Spinal Tap, anyone?). It’s all about perspective. Still, I love the entire composition and it has a lovely sense of calm about it.

Rome, Italy

As a recovering Catholic, I’m not exactly the religious type. Nothing wrong with that if you are, just not my thing. Still, the significance of St. Peter’s Square and Basilica are not lost on me. From a religious, architectural and historical perspective, it’s breathtaking to see it all in real life.

Here’s a glimpse inside the St. Peter’s Basilica. As grand as this looks in the photo, the height of the ceiling is hard to convey adequately. The keystoning I mentioned earlier is really obvious in this shot but there are some situations where this can’t be corrected without destroying the basic composition.

This was one of those split second shots. I loved the stature of the flags, the shadow they cast with the silhouette of the two figures. His position was perfect and hers is also ambiguous and I like that because it plays into that timelessness I’m always after in an image. The huge shard of light and the dark shadow of the building to the right made for a nice frame to the composition.

It’s at times like these I’m happy to be intimately familiar with my camera. I instinctively knew how to set it and shoot within a couple of seconds. If I had shot it on auto or with a smartphone, the camera would have compensated for the shadows and probably made for an average milky looking image. Instead, it ended up being a richly contrasted and vibrant photograph.

I shot this inside the Colosseum in Rome. This is basically a corridor for access to a viewpoint and also an exhibition documenting the history of the place. There were many people going to and fro but for a couple of seconds it was clear. Again, knowing how to properly set my camera in this tricky lighting situation made the shot work so well with deep shadows and balanced highlights. While editing this photograph, I pushed the yellows and oranges enough to give it a kind of golden glow. It looks like something out of a Indiana Jones movie set.

So those are my favorite shots for 2021. Of course we visited many other places in this epic travel year and, if you haven’t already checked out our other posts, there are a ton more photographs. I feel very fortunate and privileged to be able to see the world despite the global pandemic. We have lots of plans for the new year so stay tuned for more news and, in the meantime, happy holidays everyone!