Looking Back….Favorites of 2013

By Jane LurieJanuary 2, 2014 ( 80 )

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On the road again…sums up life the past couple of years. Our two cross-country drives again this year,  covering over 10,000 miles, provided many wondrous subjects for my lens.  And, I am ending the year living in Sydney, Australia for three months which has been a photographic feast–for next year’s list. 

An image is a favorite for many different reasons. It may have been a moment of intense creativity, a simple warm memory, one of of sheer beauty, an interesting place or a shared time with someone special. That someone is my husband Bob, who is my supporter of “all things photography” and my travel partner for life. 

On the 2nd Anniversary of Jane’s Lens, I wish you a Happy New Year and fabulous 2014 with thanks again for your interest and support.

 

 

A typical summer day in San Francisco- chilly and foggy, the Golden Gate and a dynamic coastline. The setting was practically black and white with the fog and as I walked down the beach,  I spotted the fisherman  and started running, set up and took two shots before he began to pack up for the morning. Timing is everything. 

Morning Catch, Baker Beach

 

 

New Year’s Day 2013, Bluffton, South Carolina. Celebrating the holiday with good friends. A morning bike ride under the southern live oaks. It was misty, quiet and lovely being enveloped by this canopy. I stopped peddling, watched my husband and friends ride off and shot this landscape. 

Morning Ride and Live Oaks, Bluffton, SC

 

 

Glacier National Park is one of the finest national parks with jaw-dropping vistas and harrowing drops as you drive up Going-To-The-Sun Road. The day we visited with our good friends, the weather began to worsen, which can be a gift for photographers. As we came down to lower elevations, the clouds were spectacular as this scene appeared at the end of our day.

Afternoon Storm, Glacier National Park

 

 

My bus stop series has been a fun and interesting project. My husband encouraged me to shoot bus stops as we walked around San Francisco and as I examine the images, I discover human elements of connection and disconnection. Urban vignettes that are a moment in time of people waiting. I think this one is a story waiting to be written.

Who Loves You? Bus Stop, San Francisco

 

 

Olympic National Park, in Washington was a highlight on our cross-country trip. Photographing the moss covered trees in the Ho Rainforest as we hiked in the rain was a magical experience, however, as we emerged from the trail, this scene appeared on the other side of the river. For me, it coveys the feeling of this unspoiled part of the country. 

Lifting Fog, Olympic National Forest

 

 

Exploring California’s magnificent Sonoma County is one of our favorite activities. One afternoon we happened upon this fabulous white barn situated perfectly on a working vineyard.  I loved the weathered boards and details of this classic building and set against the vibrant sky with its red roof, it was a fruitful afternoon of shooting. 

White Barn, Sonoma

 

 

My visit to the Badlands National Park was one of my favorite photography experiences this past summer. The terrain is unlike any I’d seen; rugged, colorful and vast. When we came to the Yellow Mounds, I was astounded by the unusual landscape.  In this scene, I was captivated by the lone green tree in contrast to the yellow and red mounds. 

Yellow Mounds and Tree

 

 

This image is one where the result was what I envisioned when I shot the image. As I came upon the scene on this horse farm, I saw the plow marks in the green field leading my eye to the fence and white clouds and there was this completely still white horse. Incredible. Most amazing, was that the horse never moved. The scene reminds me of a dream sequence. 

Tranquility, Lexington, KY

 

 

Every summer I look forward to photographing my friend’s grandson at his preschool. I have been photographing Ronan since he was a baby and have loved watching him grow up. He and his best buddy called for me to come over and this is what they started doing… hugging and mugging. They were having such a good time together and this photograph just makes me smile. The pure fun of  being kids.

Buddies, San Francisco

 

 

I am one of the many photographers obsessed with the Golden Gate Bridge. This was an unusually clear summer night and as the blue hour came upon me,  I loved capturing the beauty of this magnificent bridge and the city by the bay.

Blue Hour, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

 

 

I love the gracefulness of ferns. In the quiet of the Ho Rainforest I immersed myself in the forest understory shooting close-ups of the leaves and curled fiddleheads of the ferns. Suddenly, I noticed how the fern fronds reach toward each other and gently touch. The raindrop was an added bonus. 

Fern Leaves and Drop

 

 

You really have to keep your wits about you when photographing Yellowstone National Park. This image of Minerva Terrace at Mammoth Hot Springs captures the otherworldly nature of the park with its saturated ochre colors and rising steam. Feels like a dinosaur is about to stroll by.

Minerva Terrace, Yellowstone

 

 

I shot this sunrise image during a workshop led by two respected professional photographers. A couple of key things I took away from that shoot-  get it right, or as close to right in the camera.  And, shoot darker to allow the colors to really stand out. I was very happy with the image  and I think it captures the open sky that epitomizes the lowcountry of South Carolina. 

Daybreak, Kiawah Island. SC

 

 

When we arrived at the lake at the base of Maroon Bells this past September, I was thrilled that the wind was calm and the skies had a few clouds. Fortunately, I got my tripod set up in time to get this classic reflection of the mountain because moments later, the wind picked up and the ripples on the lake obscured the reflection. A summer landscape is a bit easier to get in Aspen, otherwise, I would have needed snowshoes. 

Maroon Bells Reflection, Aspen

 

 

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Categories: Black and White, Children, City Scenes, Landscapes, Nature, Night Photography, Photography, Portraits, Street Photography, Sunrise, Sunset, TravelTags: Aspen, Badlands, Black and White, California, Children, City, Close-up, Color, Fog, Golden Gate Bridge, Hiking, Inspiration, Kiawah, Kiawah Island, Landscapes, Mountains, National Park, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon, Ocean, Portrait, San Francisco, South Carolina, Travel, Year in Review, Yellowstone

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