Favourite Images of 2024
I’m not one for New Year's resolutions. If I want to change something or set new goals, I don’t see the need to wait for a specific date. However, I feel that the end of the year is a good time to look back at my favourite images and experiences and think about where my photography journey is headed. Photography has been a bit of a backburner activity for most of 2024. Much of my spare time has been spent converting our van into a fully off-grid camper. At times, it has been completely all-consuming, and it felt like there was no end in sight. I simply did not have the bandwidth to even consider picking up my camera and being creative. Although our van is not 100% finished yet, it is now fully functioning, and for the past few months, we have been able to start reaping the rewards of our hard work.
With all that being said, 2024 has provided some amazing experiences, and I have come away with some photos I’m very happy with, which you can see below:
The rising Milky Way over La Palma in the Canaries, from an altitude of 2400 m (8000 feet), with almost zero light pollution, was absolutely breathtaking.
An incredible morning from Beinn a'Chrulaiste in Glencoe when the entire landscape was under a blanket of cloud. You can read about this morning in my blog here.
Another from that incredible morning in Glencoe, this time taken after sunrise using my drone.
Eilean Donan Castle in North-West Scotland after sunset. We were incredibly lucky to have these conditions when we were passing by on our way to the Isle of Skye. The tide came in just in time to create an amazing reflection of the remaining colours from sunset and the lights on the castle.
While cooking dinner in our van on the Isle of Skye, heavy rain showers kept blowing through. I captured this image out of the window as a rainbow formed in front of the cliffs.
A fleeting moment of light near the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. I saw this scene from the road, so we pulled over, and I ran across the river and up the cliff to reach the vantage point. A few minutes later, the sun dipped below the hills, and the light was gone.
On the night of the 10th of October, the UK and much of Europe were treated to an unbelievable display of the Northern Lights. I ventured into the Peak District to find some of the darkest skies I could (still quite light-polluted). I stayed at Magpie Mines near Bakewell for around six hours (crazy, I know!). The best part of the night was around 12:30 am when the entire sky was filled with blood-red aurora, clearly visible to the naked eye. I got some nice images, but nothing compares to the real experience.
So, what are my plans going forward? Well, my number one priority is simply to get outside more often. My wife and I will be making use of our van to travel around the country whenever we can, which will no doubt provide some great photographic opportunities. In addition, I want to use my newly acquired drone to explore new areas and vantage points that would otherwise be impossible to reach. I also want to rely less on special moments and conditions to capture new images. I have recently begun working on taking images in the middle of the day, in ordinary British weather (usually grey and miserable). This is a challenge, but it fits better with everyday life and relieves the self-imposed pressure of having to get out at specific times of the day. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes.
I wish you all the very best for the coming year. If you would like to be informed of new blog posts and website updates, please subscribe below.
