My Year in Photos - 2023

Mexico, Alaska, and the California Desert

I decided earlier this year that rather than feed the Instagram machine, algorithm, and addiction, I would begin posting my photographs here on occasion. I’ve been taking photographs for over fifteen years (well before ubiquitous smartphone cameras), and I’ve been shooting film for over ten years. So, I thought I’d add onto the annual “My Year in Music” tradition, and begin a “My Year in Photos” tradition too. I found that I paid much more attention to the music I was listening to throughout the year, knowing that I would be writing about whatever floated to the surface. So while I am excited to share my favorite photos from this last year with you, I’m perhaps even more interested to see how knowing I intend to do this next year might affect and further encourage my photography in 2024.

All the photographs shared here were taken on film. The caption for each photograph denotes which camera and film I used, along with any other noteworthy information.

I doubt any of these pictures are technically perfect. I can spot flaws in them. But as far as photographs go, I don’t always think that matters. I don’t think I’d be using film if I did.

I hope you enjoy.

Baja, Mexico

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Fujifilm Color 400

I am discovering that I like pictures that contrast old with new (which should come as no surprise to those who know me.) I think that’s what captivates me about this one: there’s just enough information there to tell you this is present day, but the rest is timeless.

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

Anza-Borrego Desert, California

Olympus Superzoom, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus Superzoom, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus Superzoom, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus Superzoom, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus Superzoom, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus Superzoom, Kentmere PAN 400

Alaska, USA

Olympus OM-1, 35mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus OM-1, 35mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus OM-1, 200mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

I have dreamt of going to Alaska for a long time, long before I ever moved to the States. This photo, for me, captures precisely what has always drawn me to it.

Dubble SHOW Camera, Fuji 400

I don’t often capture interesting events as they happen, but this felt almost journalistic. My friends and I were exploring near that closed hotel in the left side of the frame just minutes before I took this picture.

A fuel station at the dock just behind it caught fire, and I managed to get the smoke at its worst.

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Fuji 400

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Fuji 400

There’s something exciting about capturing someone doing they probably shouldn’t be.

Newport Beach, California

Olympus OM-1, 35mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

There’s a few things I like about this photo. The main one being the sun, rather obviously. I remember being stunned by the beautiful colors of the sunset, only to take the picture and then remember that I had black-and-white film loaded in the camera. The whole reason I took the shot was obsolete.

But there’s something cool about seeing the sun like this, in black and white. It’s almost more powerful. Removing the color makes it just unfamiliar enough to remind us that we’re just circling around this huge, bright ball of fire. Even at its weakest moment, a sunset, it’s still bright enough to burn the center of my little frame of film, probably just about 2mm wide, absolutely white.

I also love seeing all the different people from the foreground, all the way into the distance. It evokes something, and sometimes that’s all that matters.

Cuddeback Dry Lake, California

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Kentmere PAN 400

Zion National Park, Utah

Olympus OM-1, 35mm Zuiko lens, Fuji 400

On this trip to Zion, I tried out bringing only my 35mm lens, simply to mix things up. As you can see from the caption of many of these photos, my preferred lens in the wider 28mm when using the OM-1. The narrow field of view challenged me, and I wasn’t that comfortable framing a lot of my shots. This one in particular I remember thinking “I wish I’d just brought my other lens…” but this is one of my favorite shots from the trip. The colors are spectacular, and actually do a decent job showing just how rusty and green the leaves were during this fall trip. But perhaps I also just like this one because I had to stretch myself, and the result was worth it.

Gibraltar

Olympus OM-1, 28mm Zuiko lens, Fuji 200

I finished out the year with three weeks spent in Spain and Gibraltar. Gibraltar is the only location in Europe where you can find wild monkeys. It was fun photographing them, but the photos I like the most highlight the contrast of the man-made elements with the wildness of the monkeys, along with the rather casual demeanor of the monkeys in such an unnatural space. This photo demonstrates that best, I think. (You can also see the building where I stayed in the background, which adds a nice touch for those who know.)