Five to Stay Alive
This is my second year in a row choosing my Favorite Five photos of the year. I first did this back in 2009, my first full year as a professional photographer spanning time in Tokyo and Florida. I kept up this custom until 2013. Then there was an absence as things meandered in my life and my business. However, I intend to keep this custom going strong on into the future.
How do I choose?
The diversity of photos I made in 2019 once again made it very hard to choose just five, and this year the photos are made from three different devices: my now sold Nikon DSLR, my new Sony mirrorless camera, and my updated drone.
My criteria for choosing are simple:
Photos made in the 2019 calendar year
Only one photo per category
There is something about the photo that appeals to me in a unique way
Below I will post links to all past Favorite Five years. I would really be interested in feedback in the comments on what you think of my 2019 selections, and as compared to my past years’ selections.
ACTOR HEADSHOT ON BLACK BACKGROUND
category: headshot
Five Favorite Category: HEADSHOT — Nicole brought a lot to this photo, I just captured it
As soon as I made this photo I knew it was going to be not just a favorite, but have a coveted spot in the ultra exclusive slideshow on my website’s home page. What you cannot see in this photo is the transformation Nicole made from how she was when she walked into the studio, to how she was once in front of the camera. From a technical aspect this also demonstrates the best of my headshot making skills.
PORSCHE 911 TARGA FROM ABOVE
category: car
Five Favorite Category: CAR — using a drone for original views of this Porsche 911 Targa
This is actually a combination category of car and drone, as I made this photo with a Mavic 2 Pro drone. When I am flying I am concentrating very much, so not until I saw this photo on my 4K monitor did it stand out as an instant favorite. Catching the shadow like that was a lucky accident. The Targa just happens to be my favorite variant of Porsche 911, so that just added to me liking this photo. I was very pleased to be able to photograph more cars overall in 2019.
RIO BRAVO BRIDGE OVER RIO GRANDE
category: drone
Five Favorite Category: DRONE — Drone’s eye view of the Rio Bravo Blvd Bridge
For the actual drone category, this photo of the Rio Grande Blvd Bridge that covers over the Rio Grande River was not initially even my favorite photo of this shoot! After editing and delivering the photos to the client, this photo came to be my favorite as it was one of the first aerial photos I took with my new Mavic 2 Pro drone (upgrading from the original Mavic Pro) and it was quite a different subject matter than I usually get to fly over. The crossing line of the bridge with the river, and the mountains in the background combined to make this drone photo a favorite and one I may print myself for my own office.
LIGHTNING STRIKES SAN MATEO HOTEL
category: commercial
Five Favorite Category: COMMERCIAL — The San Mateo Inn with dynamic lightning background
I do not normally have photo shoots on Saturday evenings, but due to this client only being in Albuquerque, on the weekends, this particular Saturday was an exception. The client wanted night photos of their hotel, but the weather forecast was calling for a storm to come in for the evening. Add to the drama this was my first commercial shoot with my new Sony a7R IV mirrorless camera, and I was all nerves all the time! I was lucky enough to catch lightning in the shot during a long exposure of the front of the hotel, plus some light trails from passing cars. All these elements and all the circumstances make this photo a definite favorite and one I will never forget making!
DESERT HORSE AT TWILIGHT
category: nature
Five Favorite Category: NATURE — desert horse in Thoreau, New Mexico at twilight
When I stopped to make this photo, I had already driven two hours to a location for a client, had already been out in the cold desert for nearly another 2 hours, and had started what would be a two hour drive back home. However, I believe a real photographer always stops to get a shot if they see one, and hearing my own works in my mind I stopped the Jeep and took out the 70-200mm lens to photograph this horse standing peacefully in the desert. I approached slowly as not to scare the horse and let it know I was a friend. The horse seemed to understand this and let me share space with it. The effort it took to make this photo because of a long day, and the experience being near the horse itself made this a favorite, plus that soft twilight light!