12 from ’12

As 2012 comes to a close, I thought I’d take a look back and post my personal favorite photos from the year. 2012 was a momentous year in my life since Claudia and I got married in August! But photographically speaking it’s been a relatively quiet year, unlike 2011 when I spent more time in foreign countries than I spent in the US. This year Claudia and I were happy to mostly just be “home” in Colorado, though we did manage several big road trips to Montana and the deserts of California, Arizona, and Utah. (None of the desert photos made the cut here… they just can’t compete with the mountains!)

It’s insanely difficult to whittle down a year’s worth of photos to only 12; a list of 16 or 20 would have been much easier! But “12 for ’12” was my theme here so I had to do it. Without further ado, here’s my 12 favorite photos from 2012.

Mt. Sneffels, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, sunrise, summit

Mt. Sneffels Summit Sunrise : Prints Available

Sunrise atop Mt. Sneffels (14,150 ft.) – May.

solar eclipse, Mt. Sneffels, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Solar Eclipse over the Sneffels Range : Prints Available

The peak of the May 2012 annular solar eclipse above Yankee Boy Basin.  Potosi Peak is on the right, with Mt. Sneffels behind.  At the bottom you can see the solar eclipse as refracted in the lens flare.

Great Sand Dunes, sunset, Colorado, fiery, Sangre de Cristo

Fiery Dunes Sunset : Prints Available

A fiery sunset over the Great Sand Dunes with the Sangre de Cristo mountains behind – June.

Pyramid Peak, Glacier National Park, Montana, sunrise, reflection, Glenns Lake

Pyramid Peak Sunrise : Prints Available

Sunrise reflection of Pyramid Peak, in Glenns Lake – July.

mountain goat, Cracker Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana

Cracker Lake Dawn : Prints Available

A lone mountain goat surveys the scene at Cracker Lake at dawn – July.

Needle Mountains, Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, sunrise

Dark Sunrise in the Needles : Prints Available

A single beam of sunrise light illuminates the Needle Mountains on a stormy morning deep in the Weminuche Wilderness.

Vestal Peak, Arrow Peak, Grenadier Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, sunrise, reflection

Grenadier Sunrise Reflection #2 : Prints Available

Reflection of Vestal Peak and Arrow Peak of the Grenadier Range during a fiery sunrise.

Aspens, fog, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, september

Aspen in the Fog : Prints Available

Aspen forest in the fog – September.

Dolores Peak, Telluride, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, aspens, September, Fall Creek

Fall Creek Sunrise : Prints Available

A stormy sunrise above Dolores Peak and the vast aspen groves of the Fall Creek valley near Telluride, Colorado – September.

Chimney Rock, Courthouse Mountain, Cimarrons, Ridgway, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, sunset

Chimney Rock Sunset : Prints Available

Sunset light on Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain in the Cimarron Range near Ridgway, Colorado – September.

Cimarrons, Ridgway, Pleasant Valley, Sneffels Range, Chimney Rock, Courthouse Mountain, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, sunset, panorama

Cimarron Sunset Panorama : Prints Available

The Cimarrons lit up by a spectacular sunset over Ridgway and Pleasant Valley, with the Sneffels Range in the background.  Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain are the prominent peaks near the center.  The West Fork Cimarron valley is at left. 

Ice Lakes, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, October, icy, ice, dawn

Ice Lakes Icy Dawn : Prints Available

Dawn light in Ice Lakes Basin on a chilly October morning after the second snowfall of the season.

I wish you all the best in 2013!

12 thoughts on “12 from ’12

  1. I have no idea how you narrowed it down to a dozen, but it’s a phenomenal set to cap off a great year. You’re a rock star 🙂 Happy New Year to you and Claudia – I know you two have big things planned for ’13. Cheers!

  2. For most people this would be a top 12 of like, several years! What a great year, and what a great way to reflect on just being able to “be there” when the good stuff all happens. I know a lot of it requires long hours and hard work, and maybe therein lies the greatest satisfaction. For the last few years, your work has been a huge inspiration for me personally — so thank you for all that hard work. Here’s to 2013 and another year celebrating the worlds greatest vistas, we are lucky to be able to be in place that is truly humbling in its beauty.

  3. Amazing, as always. What a great collection. Happy New Year!

    We are looking forward to many more great shots (plus a little more snow) in 2013.

    Thanks, Ned

  4. You definitely earn your moniker, “Mountain Photographer” with this set. Some very beautiful mountain scenes, with a number of them in remote locations. I like the Eclipse, Grenadier and the Needle Mountains best.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.