My top 10 Images from 2023

As I look back at my landscape photographs from 2023, I’m drawn to the images I created while exploring the south island of New Zealand. My time there was incredible and filled with wonderful moments, but like so many adventures, it wasn’t long enough. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of the photographic opportunities there, but that’s what new travels are for.

While I sit here reminiscing on each of these photographs, I find myself smiling from ear to ear. Reliving the cold water, slippery rocks, sand flies and other wonderful encounters along the way. I can’t help but recommend a landscape photography trip to New Zealand. As for non-photographers, I still recommend the trip. If you can stay at least a month, you won’t regret the adventures you’ll have.

You may agree or disagree, but I believe art is subjective, so rating my favorite images from one to 10 is nearly impossible. As such, these images are in no particular order. That is with one exception: the first two images are both from the same position. One is vertical and one is horizontal. I can’t decide which I like better.

None of these images are of wide open spaces. I did photograph a few cloud covered peaks and wide vistas, but they didn’t make this cut. On this trip, I was drawn more often to the intimate landscape scenes: the turquoise streams flowing through the narrow sculpted walls covered with brilliant green moss and the rivers running beneath the twisted branches of the trees.

For those that might be wondering what camera gear I used, I brought along a Fuji GFX 100 with a 23mm, 32-64mm, and 100-200mm lens. I used a tripod to photograph all these images. I believe each of these images also had a polarizer attached.

Thinking back on each of these images is a blog post in itself and I may create a detailed post for each at some point. If you would like to see more about  each of these images, follow this link to a full playlist or the link below each image for a specific video.

I photographed this in a hidden canyon on the South Island of New Zealand. I couldn’t decide if it worked better as a vertical or horizontal. What do you think? Video

Here’s the horizontal. Can you decide now? video

This image is from the same location as the first two. I actually returned to this location three times, but only photographed it twice. The 3rd time it was flashing due to heavy rains. Video

This is the only image I selected that was actually created using the canon R5. Check out the video to see why. video

This location was breathtaking. I actually came back a second time to photograph this spot while it was raining, but I’ll save that image for another time. Video

Wading through deep frigid water to see this waterfall was worth it. Video

I went a little bit of the wrong way and photographed Pyke Creek instead of the waterfall I was searching for. I love how a wrong turn can be the correct thing to do. Video

While on the road to Milford Sound I made a few stops to explore the rivers flowing down to the sound. This river was absolutely beautiful and I create several different images here. Video

I know this image is very similar to the one above and it is. I was slowly moving up the river and creating photographs along the way, but I think the two image create a slightly different feel. By taking my time moving around I’m able to find more potential compositions and the wet rocks were slippery. Video

Last but not least, this incredible location was one of my favorite to stumble upon. Video