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Home » Photography News & Events Blog » My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2016

My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2016

December 30, 2016 by Patricia Davidson

Each year photographer, Jim Goldstein graciously features a list of photographer blogs who share their best photos of the year. You can find out more about the project here. I have been participating since 2013 but have been a follower of Jim’s blog since 2009. I always enjoy seeing other outdoor photographer’s work. I have found so many great photographers from Jim’s list. You can find my 2015 blog post here.

2016 was a fun year of traveling the Southwest, California, Nevada and Oregon. There were trips planned to other places that didn’t work out. When you live nomadically in an RV, you know there will be time to get to places eventually, so you don’t sweat it. 2016 was the first full year living in our RV without a sticks and brick home. I wrote about about the first three months here.

Algodones Dunes Wilderness in California

In January my husband and I met up with photographer Anne McKinnell and her husband Ray along with other new RV friends at a BLM site off Ogilby Road in California, near the Arizona border.  Anne and I took a run out to the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness to catch the sunset. You can read more about some of my travels and photographing the southwest here.

sand dune at sunset
Algodones Dunes in California during an evening sunset.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

A trip to the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico was at the top of my bucket list so my husband and I made our way there hitting it right at spring break!  You can read more about my experience here.

sand dune at sunset
Beautiful white sand during sunset at White Sands National Park in New Mexico.

Lower Antelope Canyon ~ Page, Arizona

Another place that has been on my bucket list for awhile was Lower Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. I paid for two different photography tours. Read my blog post, Tips for Photographing Lower Antelope Canyon. I really enjoyed my tours and came back with several keepers. Below are a couple of my favorite.

canyon walls
Colorful slot canyon walls at Lower Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ.
Canyon walls
Colorful slot canyon ceiling at Lower Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ.

McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California

On our way back to Oregon for the summer we traveled along California’s Highway 395.  

I loved visiting Burney Falls even though the weather wasn’t cooperating. Despite poor light, I was able to get a couple of creative photos I really liked.

waterfall
Intimate photo of Burney Falls in California.
flowing creek waters
Close up of ripples at Burney Creek in California.

Lower Kentucky Falls ~ Oregon Coast Range

We decided to make our way up the California & Oregon Coasts after getting out of Redding. Once again the weather wasn’t cooperating with my plans for photography. Particularly when we visited the Redwoods again this year. Then we were back in my old stomping grounds along the Oregon Coast Range where we went on one of our favorite hikes along the Kentucky Falls Trail.

waterfall in spring
Lower Kentucky Falls during the spring time from the Kentucky Falls Trail in the Oregon Coast Range.

Lavenders in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

We spent 4 months in Oregon. We volunteered as camp hosts at Oregon State Parks in areas near our kids. This gave us a free place to camp. Our work schedules were light and we had plenty of time to see family and explore the areas we stayed in.

In June & July we stayed Champoeg State Park as Visitor Center hosts. We loved exploring the farmlands, seeing our kids in Portland and getting a chance to see the farms during the Lavender Festival.  Next year I plan on checking out more lavender farms that participate. There are lots of photo ops there!

vintage bike in flowers
Photographed during the Lavender Festival in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Smith Rock State Park ~ Redmond, Oregon

Then in August we spent a whole month on the property of Smith Rock State Park as Welcome Center Hosts to be close to our Bend family. There were many sunrises and sunsets that were pretty awesome to see and photograph during our stay there.

smith rock at sunset
Sunset with view of Crooked River and Smith Rock in Oregon.

Sweet Creek Falls ~ Oregon Coast Range

In the fall we wanted to be close to one of our daughter’s who was having her first baby, so we were back near Portland. Besides lots of baby photos that I took when Jack finally arrived, we made it down to Sweet Creek Falls back in the Oregon Coast Range before heading south.

waterfall in fall
Sweet Creek Falls photographed in the fall. This beautiful waterfall can be found along the Sweet Creek Trail in the Oregon Coast Range.

Even though I took less photos than I have in previous years, I would not change a thing. It was great to spend quality time with family, make new friends, take a slower pace in our travels and enjoy all the places we visited, thoroughly.

Category: News, Photography BlogTag: 2016, Arizona, best photos of 2016, California, landscape photography, Oregon, top 10 photos, travel
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Comments

  1. Andrew

    January 25, 2017 at 1:39 pm

    All your images are lovely I really like McArthur–Burney Falls and Sweet Creek Falls images (I love waterfalls). Look forward to your images in 2017! Andrew

    • Patricia

      January 26, 2017 at 11:33 am

      Thanks so taking the time to comment and for your nice compliments!

  2. David Leland Hyde

    January 23, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Hi Patricia, I like that you photograph so many waterfalls. It is interesting and good what you did with Burney Falls, one of my favorite places. However, my favorites of your beautiful selection here are White Sands and the Bicycle, which I like by far the best. Hope you have a productive and fulfilling 2017.

    • Patricia

      January 26, 2017 at 11:32 am

      I appreciate it David! Thank you!

  3. Todd Henson

    January 12, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Beautiful collection, Patricia! Great light in all of them. I really like the soft pastel colors and the simplicity in the White Sands image. And the composition and color in the 2nd Antelope Canyon image also really draws me in. Every one of your falls images are fantastic.

    • Patricia

      January 12, 2017 at 1:05 pm

      Thank you so much Todd for taking the time to comment! I appreciate your thoughtful and kind words. I hope you have a successful year with your photography!

  4. Sarah Marino

    January 11, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Hi Patricia – This is a wonderful and diverse selection of photos. I really enjoy the soft colors in your desert/sandstone photos. The Kentucky Falls and the water ripples photo at the top of the post are also especially nice. I hope you have another great year of travels. It would be nice if our paths cross again soon!

    • Patricia

      January 11, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Thanks so much Sarah! Definitely would be great to see you and Ron this year down the road :)

  5. Alexander S. Kunz

    January 10, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    A terrific compilation of photos. I like them all. If I had to pick a single one, my absolute favorite would be Lower Kentucky Falls – simply fabulous how you put all these elements together.

    • Patricia

      January 10, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      Thanks so much Alexander! I appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment. All the best to you this year!

  6. Alan Majchrowicz

    January 10, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    Wonderful selection of images again this year, Patricia! I love the first image of Algodones Dunes, very clean and simple. Keep up the good work in 2017, maybe I’ll see you on the road!

    • Patricia

      January 10, 2017 at 7:22 pm

      Thanks so much Alan! I hope to see you sometime again on the road! Looking forward to seeing what photograph this year!

  7. Jim Goldstein

    January 9, 2017 at 11:27 pm

    Wow! A stunning set of images. Always a pleasure to see your year end photos and really appreciate your participation in this years Best Photos of the Year blog project. I hope you have a great 2017!

    • Patricia

      January 10, 2017 at 12:58 pm

      Thanks so much Jim for the compliment and for adding my page to your project blog page! Appreciate all that you do. I wish you a great 2017 as well!

  8. Theresa

    January 3, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    Beautiful images, Patricia. I’ve never been to that part of the country, and it’s definitely on my bucket list! Would love to retire and do the RV thing – I’ll be reading your blog for tips. By the way – what is a Visitor Center host?

    • Patricia

      January 4, 2017 at 8:57 am

      Thank you Theresa! A Visitor Center host just works at the visitor center at a state park. So our duties at Champoeg State Park were running the gift shop and their visitor center. At Smith Rock they had a yurt Welcome Center. They had a little merchandise and we showed people trails.

  9. Larry Millican

    December 31, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    Patricia, these are all so outstanding! No doubt very difficult to narrow down. Especially liked the pastel colors and light in your White Sands photo.
    Thanks!

    • Patricia

      January 10, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      Thanks Larry! Happy New Year to you!

  10. Greg Russell | Alpenglow Images

    December 31, 2016 at 9:36 am

    Really wonderful set of images, Patricia! They represent a diverse set of landscapes and subjects, but all have your signature “west coast” feel to them, and they are all a joy to look at. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2017!

    Greg

    • Patricia

      January 4, 2017 at 8:55 am

      Thanks so much Greg! All the best to you in new year!!

  11. Calvin Mukumoto

    December 31, 2016 at 8:28 am

    All “Tens” in my book. What beautiful places you have been in 2016. Here’s to a wonderful 2017.

    • Patricia

      December 31, 2016 at 9:11 am

      Thank you so much Cal! Happy New Year to you & yours!

  12. Rob Tilley

    December 30, 2016 at 9:04 pm

    Great Collection Patricia! My favorite is the abstract shot of water at the top of your post. Happy New Year!

    • Patricia

      December 31, 2016 at 9:11 am

      Thank you Rob! Happy New Year to you!

  13. Susan Dimock

    December 30, 2016 at 3:48 pm

    All such beautiful images, Patricia! It’s so important to enjoy the traveling rather than kill yourselves getting to the next pic! Your portfolio is expanding! So glad you have had a great year! Many new adventures filled with laughter and love for you and yours in 2017! ~ Susan

    • Patricia

      December 30, 2016 at 5:44 pm

      Thank you so much Susan! I wish you and Steve a wonderful 2017 taking photos while out in your new travel trailer ;)

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