I enjoyed photography in 2023 and decided to share my pick of favorites. It was not easy! 12 photos for 12 months – not one per month, but just the twelve that I felt were especially beautiful or interesting. See the full gallery – where I recommend clicking the “play” button to see them as a slideshow – and read on for some commentary about each one.
March – South Georgia Island. On this trip to the remote island of South Georgia, in the South Atlantic, I snapped over 10,000 photos and videos… so it is not surprising that five of my favorite 12 photos came from there.
June – Cyprus. We stayed at a conference hotel on the southern coast of Cyprus; in the early mornings I would often wander along the coast and then back inland through the neighborhoods. In a vacant lot overgrown with weeds, I came across this wild Myrtle. It brought beauty to an otherwise dismal place.
August – Peru. In the Sacred Valley, in the high terrain outside Cusco, we had the opportunity to visit a small village and experience their craftsmanship. The weavings were particularly beautiful. An older member of the village demonstrated, her practiced hands darting over the loom.
August – Peru. We then went on to Machu Picchu. It was a bit cloudy, but the clouds cleared and the sun peeked out, giving this historic site a moody feel.
September – White Mountains of New Hampshire. The trailhead parking had overflowed, so I parked down the road and bushwhacked up a streambed to reach the trail. I was treated to some hidden gems, including this waterfall cascading down a notch in the granite of New Hampshire.
October – White Mountains of New Hampshire. It was a particularly gray day, with low clouds and occasional drizzle. We went hiking anyway, and the foliage in the low-elevation hardwood forest was glowing.
October – New Hampshire. On a cloudy day in late October I had no time for a hike, but wanted to get outside and to see what my camera might find. I drove a road I’d never traveled, through Plainfield and Meriden NH, and came across this covered bridge. I scrambled down the steep hillside to the rocky banks of the stream, hoping to capture the bridge and the pool below.
November – Kiawah Island, South Carolina. While walking back along the inland streets, after a stroll along the beach, I caught sight of a hawk; he landed helpfully in a sunny spot along a branch nearby.
Again, I recommend visiting the full gallery – where I recommend clicking the “play” button to see them as a slideshow. Enjoy!
David Kotz 