December brings the time of year where we look back on the previous year and reflect on what occurred. I was hoping 2021 would be less eventful than the situation in 2020. While it was different, and much improved in many ways, the weather decided to be a big force where I live and not in a fun way. On the plus side, I did get out a lot more this year (locally) for photography, and I think I improved on some things from the previous year, which is all one can ask for really. 2021 also brought some really good fall foliage which I was able to both enjoy and photograph.
As usual, I started working on this list when I collected images for my 2022 Nature Calendar. I’ve published new images since then, and had many others to consider as well. If you click on a photo you’ll be taken to my Image Archive. I’ve also linked to corresponding blog posts that contain these images (if available) to provide more information about the location or to see other photos from that area. As usual, choosing 10 images is rather difficult, even though these should be considered my favourites and not the “best” necessarily. These aren’t in any order really as that would be just too hard!
I hope you enjoy this years selections and am curious to hear if you have any particular favourites. What do you see in photo #5?
My Favourite Photos of 2021:
1. Black Poplar (Populus trichocarpa) and Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) in Katzie Marsh (Pitt Meadows, British Columbia)
Blog post: Pitt Polder Dike Walk Part 2 – Pitt Lake Dike Trail
2. Western Tiger Swallowtail ((Papilio rutulus)) (Langley, British Columbia)
Blog post: Lavender Flowers, Bees, and a Western Tiger Swallowtail
3. Mount Maxwell (Hwmet’atsum) In the Clouds
(Salt Spring Island, British Columbia)
4. Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla) (Langley, British Columbia)
Blog post: Juvenile Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)
5. Cloud Formations
(Langley, British Columbia)
6. Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum) flower (Langley, British Columbia)
Blog post: Western Trillium Flowers in the Fraser Valley Of BC
7. Raven Peak and Fall Foliage (Pitt Meadows, British Columbia)
Blog post: Pitt Polder Dike Trail Walk Part 1
8. Backlit Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) (Langley, British Columbia)
Blog post: An Evening Walk in Campbell Valley Regional Park
9. Water Plants in Katzie Marsh
(Pitt Meadows, British Columbia)
10. Barrel-Roof Shed at Burgoyne Bay
(Salt Spring Island, British Columbia)
You can view my favourite photographs from 2020 here: My Top 10 Photos of 2020.
Wonderful images for the year. Raven Peak is my favorite of the lot, but all are excellent.
Thank you Randy! This winter I’m going to see if I can’t photograph Raven Peak with some snow on it. We’ll see!
I see a leaf creature in #5 but I am a bit biased.
I really like the variety of compositions. I do like the painterly strokes in #9. I know bad weather isn’t always conducive to wanting to be out in it, but did you make any photographs of those situations?
In number 5 I see a baby chick in a nest with its mouth open begging for food (upper part of photo). Open to interpretation of course!
I did photograph some in the rain this fall, but we had 7 or 8 atmospheric rivers in succession and I was out in a few, but those images suffer a bit from “rain grain” in that they aren’t that clear. Stormy exciting clouds isn’t as much a thing here as in other places. We excel in flat overcast skies and steady rain instead! 🙂
That’s a great crop for you from this year, Michael. I really like them all, but the Trillium and the Water Plants especially stand out to me, and Raven Peak is very nicely composed!
Thank you Alex! I have a lot of Trillium photos but that was one of the first opportunities to venture beyond a closeup of sorts and show the plant in context, with a nice background. I figured you’d like the water plants image. 🙂
This is a really nice selection Michael! My favorites are #3 Mount Maxwell and #9 Water Plants. I love minimalist photos, and these two are nicely done. Keep up the good work and best wishes to you in 2022!