Photo Highlights of 2022

Steven here and, as usual, I have a hard job at the end of each year. How can I possibly choose my favorite photos from thousands I have taken? The answer, of course, is I can’t but I have tried anyway. These pictures evoke as much as possible the magical year Linda and I spent together.

Sometimes we travel so much and to so many places, I don’t truly appreciate my photographs until many months later. So it has actually been a treat to relive it all.

This year, the highlights for me were Greece, Ireland and Scotland, in terms of photography anyway. Budapest in Hungary was a feast for the eyes but unfortunately I got quite ill while there and didn’t properly capture the beauty of the city. We will return this year and I’ll make up for it.

And then, we managed to walk from Northern Italy all the way to Rome. That felt like a massive adventure wedged into an already busy travel year. I thought we wouldn’t match the Camino de Santiago but this one came close albeit a little more solitary. I chose a handful of photos but, because of space constraints, they only represent a fraction of what we did.

In the meantime, it’s my pleasure to share some of the great moments we experienced in 2022.

Italy

Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. and the ruins of Pompeii are vast and ancient. Finding one image to encapsulate it all was a challenge but I liked this one with the centaur. It represented, for me, humankind’s nobility and resilience, even in the face of Mother Nature’s enormous power. Of the 20,000 residents of the city at the time, it was estimated that 2,000 died in the eruption.

Albania

This was a fairly typical scene when we visited Albania. Vendors sell fresh fruit and vegetables by the side of the road. Everywhere we looked, there were huge leeks like the ones in this photo. Alas, we didn’t purchase any. Generally speaking, I don’t get good photographs shooting out the window of our moving motorhome but this was an exception.

Greece

Our visit to Meteora in central Greece left me awestruck. There are six monasteries built on immense natural pillars and, as amazing as they look in photographs, it only approximates how breathtaking they are in real life. This one, in particular, called the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, is the most iconic of the group. I love the precariousness of the structure against the epic backdrop.
When we arrived at this campground overlooking the Ionian Sea, the sunset brought some really beautiful light, complete with dramatic rays. Bijou was very happy with the view, as were we 🙂
An amazing sunset view from our living room window. This was shot in Pylos. We were boondocking at the harbor there. There is an arch carved into one of the rocks. You can see it on the left side of the photograph.
This was shot at the ruins of Corinth. Sometimes walking around places like this feels like walking into a scrapyard so it can be a little challenging to find a good composition that doesn’t feel cluttered. I wanted to imply the size of what remains of the pillar in the foreground but it was also important to include the distant snow on the mountains. All in all, I think it is a well-balanced composition.
As beautiful as the Acropolis is in Athens, I admit I was much more enamored with the view of the city itself (from the Acropolis). I’m so used to seeing skyscrapers in most of the modern cities we have visited but they are completely absent here. Just a sprawling mass of similar buildings fading off in the distance.
I am still gobsmacked at the sensational boondocking spot we found here in the town of Vathia on the Mani Peninsula. We drove up to the top of this hill and onto an old basketball court. I set up my drone to get this shot. That night, I went outside for a few moments and was struck by how silent it was. I remember it as the quietest place we ever visited. The town of Vathia itself is in ruins, aside from a restaurant (closed) and a couple of occupants here and there.
Two scenes from the town of Monemvasia. This island was separated from the mainland by an earthquake in 375 AD. It’s mostly set up for tourists but the colors and textures made it a dream for photographs. I imagine during normal times at the height of the season, it is packed with visitors but we were there during Covid so there was only a handful of people there.
I shot this in Kalamata while we were in search of the famed olives. What struck me about it was the juxtaposition of two unrelated pictures. The four heads in the mural appear to be fascinated by the woman in the poster.

Bulgaria

Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and its architecture and frescos are just gorgeous. Sometimes I come across a place that seems like it will be easy to photograph but this one was challenging. It’s a 360-degree experience being there and these two photos only give a glimpse of its full magnificence.
I was reminded of Transformers when we visited the Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument. Built in 1981, the site remembers past rulers of the country. This one is probably the most photographed. I’d say it was about 60 feet tall. The entire place was fascinating and also a bit surreal.
I shot this in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s historical and cultural capital. When I saw Linda sitting by this mural, she looked like she was part of it.

Via Francigena (Italy)

In March, we walked about 500 miles from Aosta, in northern Italy all the way to Rome. The experience has been well documented here on this blog. I shot so many photos I lost count but here are some of my favorites.

This was taken a few days into our adventure. I was walking behind Linda and asked her to stop and turn around. This scene, for me, said it all… a pilgrim on the precipice with an enormous landscape behind. The journey begins…
While I am always on the look out for good compositions, I’m also in search of a story to tell. In this shot, there is the sense of a journey and the implied destination is represented by the distant church. The black and white treatment keeps it focused on that narrative and casts a feeling of timelessness. These are common elements in a lot of what I shoot.
Photographers love fog, there’s just no denying it. I love it because it simplifies a busy landscape. It reduces it down to its basic elements. Although it’s clearly Linda in each of these shots, she is also representing an anonymous pilgrim so the story is more universal. The sun also, is a type of metaphor, a guide to the destination. This was such a special morning for both of us.
This photograph is like a greatest hits of Tuscany for me. It has a little bit of fog, rolling hills, farmhouses, a sunrise-tinged sky and the famous patterned fields. It truly is a beautiful section of the via Francigena.

Romania

Brasov is a beautiful town and its main feature is Biserica Neagra (the Black Church). It looms over the square and it was long thought its appearance had to do with a fire that consumed most of the town. More recently, however, it is believed that the blackened exterior was actually caused by modern pollution. I like the contrast of the pristine square against the imposing dark structure of the church.
Sighisoara is a World Heritage Site and the alleged birthplace of Dracula. There’s even a sign on the wall of the actual building (so it must be true). This is kind of a classic shot with the clock tower in the background. After seeing a hundred or more on a Google search, I couldn’t resist 🙂

England

The interior of the Church of St. Andrew in Grantchester. I’ve been to so many churches in the past few years and I’m not even religious! What made this one special to us is it is also the location of many a scene from the PBS TV show “Grantchester”. We became a little obsessed with the show while we were staying in nearby Comberton. Anyway, I love the light hitting the wood paneling by the pipe organ in the back. My eye is also drawn to the blue cushions on the front bench.
The lush countryside around Cambridge in England is really a sight to behold. We walked this trail from Grantchester to Cambridge town and it was just wonderfully serene. I may paint this scene someday but, honestly, it already looks like a painting.
I love this shot of the seaside town of Whitby on the east coast of England. I am pretty zoomed in for this photograph which tends to compress the background, bringing it closer than it would appear to the human eye. Because of this, it drew all the compositional elements into one unified whole. The wildness of the sea and the war-era buildings in the background got me really excited! It’s times like these when I’m so happy I invested years of my time learning how to capture imagery with my camera. A lot of decisions went into making this look exactly as I saw it in my mind’s eye.
Another shot from the same town, this time from the ruins of Whitby Abbey. There are so many compositional possibilities when shooting something like this, especially when it’s equally interesting from many angles. I chose this one because it showed the character of the architecture best and it also conveyed the scale and a little context with the town and beach off in the distance.

Ireland

The town of Cashel in Ireland is quaint and full of photo opportunities but I loved how this shot of the trio of sheep and the vibrant greens of the grass made for a quintessentially Irish scene.
The Cliffs of Moher are an iconic part of Ireland’s west coast. I chose black and white for this shot because it conveyed the sense of bleakness and scale I felt while hiking the trail. In real life there are many shades of greens and blues but I don’t care much for real life in this instance.
Give me anything that is decaying and I’ll gladly shoot it. The Plassey is the most famous shipwreck in Ireland. It came ashore in March of 1960 on the beach of Inis Oirr, the smallest and most easterly of the Aran Islands. It is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature. By comparison, the photo below was taken shortly after she washed ashore.
The Plassey, circa 1960.
The Aran Islands have always been a little mysterious for me because I feel like time has stood still there. This shot embodied that timelessness. It’s a scene that could have been shot yesterday or a hundred years ago.
Calming post-storm sunset light in the town of Dingle in Ireland. If you have a chance, watch the film “Ryan’s Daughter”, shot in the 1970s in this area starring Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles. It’s the epic story of an off-kilter romance during World War II and is set against the sweeping golden beaches and truly cinematic sea views that are abundant in this part of Ireland.
Such a rich color palette in the water reflection during my sunset walk in Dingle. I’ve promised myself that I will soon become an expert on identifying clouds. I’ve always been fascinated by them.

Scotland

I’m forever on the lookout for nature’s spotlight when there are patchy clouds about. The valley below Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, was beautifully illuminated on this particular morning. This fleeting scene only lasted a matter of seconds.
We had a brief overnight stay in Dornoch and I got up early to catch the sunrise. It was pretty gloomy so I wasn’t expecting much but I love walking on beaches when no one else is around. The sun’s rays appeared for a couple of minutes and then disappeared. For me, this image brings me a sense of peace, exactly as I felt it at the moment I pressed the shutter.
One of the many beautiful beaches around Durness in Scotland. This is a rare photograph that really captured the magic of the place. I love the composition in this photograph. The weight of the house is balanced by the foreground interest of the sheep and all around is intrigue, like the old church and cemetery, the distant sand dunes and the painterly sky.
The Kelpies, in Falkirk, are a monument to horse-powered heritage across Scotland. It’s just hard to get a bad shot of them. They are particularly impressive once night falls when they light up in ever-changing colors.
I guess I’m one of the few people on earth who is not a Harry Potter fan but Victoria Street in Edinburgh is apparently the inspiration for Diagon Alley. The light was perfect to bring out the colors of all the quaint little stores. I admit, it did kinda have a magic all to itself.
This Highland Coo is one of two that lived next to the campground where we stayed in Edinburgh. I was excited to get a photo of one of these beasts and this one was obviously used to the attention.

England (again)

While in Canterbury, we visited another ancient structure. The cathedral was established in 567 A.D. The architecture is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic. I talk a lot about scale in these photographs but this was one of the most impressive cathedrals we have seen. The arches seem to go on to infinity and the ceilings feel like they almost touch the sky. I found myself taking endless photos of the same thing and pondering this amazing feat of human engineering.


Up Next: A new year begins.


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50 Comments

  2. A James

    Steven,these pictures are stunning & with your “eye” I can readily believe you would wish to paint them.For me,prints enlarged & framed in my home would just be phenomenal & most all of them would be better than fine- unfortunately,not enough room! So,just a hint -for goodness sakes do prints.As always,thank you for sharing them with us.All the best.

    1. 2chouters

      Thanks Dorothy. People rarely spend anymore than a second or two browsing photos these days so it’s nice to be able to pause and ponder once in a while. It feels so old school 🙂

  11. Tom

    Hi Steven,
    Your photos are always fantastic and beautiful to look at. I’m curious as to what kind of photography equipment you use to take these pictures.

    1. 2chouters

      Thanks Tom. I mostly use a Fujifilm X-H1. I also shoot with my older XS Max iPhone. I process everything in Lightroom mobile on my iPad. I haven’t used a computer in a few years.

  12. Carmela Gersbeck

    You are so talented — to be able to draw and paint and to take photographs as stunning as these is a real gift! Thanks for sharing it with us. Your blog is one of my favorites — it’s just terrific!

    1. 2chouters

      Carmela, I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog! I’m thankful everyday for the gifts I have been given. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments.

  16. Jodee Gravel

    Great job of collecting from an amazing year of photos. I’m exited to see you chose some of those that are also my favorites – for sure Corinth and the Kelpies! Your captures of Linda on the trail tell such a peaceful story. And that OMG header :-)) Alas, all are stunning.

  19. joyce e densmore-thomas

    Gorgeous photography and the perfect travel advertisement for these locations. Makes me want to jump on a plane asap…but where to go first? And your explanation of each photo is an education in Photography 101 in and of itself. Thank you! And now thanks to your post…I’m off to write a post on our blog identifying my favorite travel (and a few home) photos from 2022. Why didn’t I think of that?

  22. Steve Colibaba

    Your photos are always spectacular! I love how you describe how each scene makes you feel. A photo book of your travels would probably be of interest to many that want to travel Europe…just sayin. 😉
    Safe travels!

  23. Susan Bidniak

    Your photos are never a disappointment..there aren’t enough ‘wow that is gorgeous’ to describe your expertise when it come to your photography skill !!..
    Many thanks for sharing your adventures with those of us who are ‘on the other side of the pond’
    Onwards to your 2023 collection !!..safe travels !!

  24. Laura

    Well, your blog has already pretty much convinced me we need to get to Ireland and Scotland ASAP, so those are easy favorites, but that Tuscany photo is also stunning – and totally looks like a painting – as are several of the others. Just fantastic captures of gorgeous scenery. Love them! Nice work!!

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