I couldn’t help but write this piece. Consider it a teaser for the “Best Of 2025” post that is coming later in January. In the meantime if you’d like to see my favorite images from the year in Gallery form check out this link.
Snowy Mountainside
January 27th | Colorado
Hiking in the snow is always a joy. If you’re able to layer up it can provide some of the best photographic opportunities you can get. This was one such morning. Sophie and I had hiked out into the mountains along the Front Range at sunrise and we had turned back earlier as Sophies feet were feeling too cold (she’s since got winter boots that have done her well).
On the way back towards our car – I noticed this stunning framing of the mountains in front of me – it was a gorgeous scene with the morning sun hitting the ice cold mountains offering a bit of fog and cloud rolling off them.
Spring Along The Golden Gate
March 20th | California
I visited California twice this year! A lot of the work from the back half of the year on my fall trip was from there – but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. This image was taken in the beautifully spring ready San Francisco. Flowers were blooming – vegetation was green and lush and the skies were blue for my whole visit.
Coming from the somewhat brown and cool climate of Colorado at the time I was in shock. This first image was from the night I spent the longest time near the bridge itself.
When I first arrived the weather was looking poor for the next few evenings (it played out far better) so I wanted to make the most of it. I got an Uber to the Golden Gate Bridge area – and then walked around and over the bridge up to a nearby lookout.
From that lookout I walked down towards a beach as the sun was setting. Along the way I got this gorgeous view of the setting sun illuminating the tops of this grassy bluff and the Golden Gate bridge. It was a wonderful way to begin this trip – and I couldn’t wait to see what else the golden state had in store for me.
Shrine Ridge
August 2nd | Colorado
We’re deep in summer now. The spring had come and it had gone – wonderful as it was, with as many guests as we had we weren’t getting out as much as I typically would and I think the lack of “work” from that time in the year reflects that.
The guests who visited in the back half of the year were going out on hikes with me and on one such hike we explored a new part of the state – and experienced the insane weather that only the high mountains offer. At the beginning of the hike it was cold and quiet. Then a storm rolled in and we got hailed on hiking through the forest before it turned into rain for a few minutes.
As we pushed past that we reached a point where we got to summit some peaks and saw these breathtaking views. While I think this is probably one of the (if not the) weakest image of the year – the stunning color on the mountains in the distance and the hints of wildflowers in the foreground is nothing short of magic. I’m looking forward to returning earlier in the year for wildflower season in 2026.
Aspens In Aspen
October 6th | Colorado
This image may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However it has filled my mug to the brim.
It’s a dead simple image – just a suite of aspens and the foliage surrounding them. But what I love about this frame is the dramatic texture and variety of the foliage and fauna that makes up the environment the aspens find themselves in.
With dramatic color varying from the dead and pale browns of foliage nearing the end of it’s life to the lush greens of aspen leaves still fighting for survival I can’t help but feel mesmerized while I look at this image. They stand in a stark contrast to the cool and pristine white tones that the bark of the Aspens themselves showcase.
