Top 10 of 2013 – My 10 Best Landscape and Scenic Photos

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Time flies when you’re having fun.  With the new year fast approaching, there comes a time for reflection.  That means it’s time to take a look back at my photography and what I’ve accomplished along with showcasing my Top 10 Landscape and Scenic Photos from 2013! You can also take a look at last years 10 Best Landscape Photos. I saw some new places this year and learned a few new things along the way.  My business has increased and that makes me happy and nervous at the same time.  I’ve had huge support from family, friends, and encouraging words from people I’ve never even met.  It’s exciting and humbling all at the same time.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone.  You’re all the best.

In looking back and my landscape photography this year, I feel I’ve progressed.  I picked up a few new techniques and have been having some great success with them so far. Some new products and tutorials are in the works as well that I can’t wait to release.  I’ve ended the year with some keeper images and the bar has again been raised for me.

It was a struggle again to choose my best-of-the-best the same as it was last year.  I wanted to be able to contribute to Jim Goldstein’s project again though as well as reflect on where I’ve been.  That’s enough jibber-jabber from me though.  On to the photos…in no particular order.

East Canyon Yellow Balsomroot Sunset

A blanketed hillside of yellow balsomroot, aka mule ear, wildflowers at sunset in East Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah. Wildflowers in Spring provide a great landscape photography subject. (Clint Losee)

Sometimes you just get lucky.  I had driven over this pass a week or two prior and figured it might make a decent landscape photography area.  So I ventured back a couple weeks later at sunset to see what would come of it.  To my surprise, the entire East side of this little mountain was covered in yellow balsomroot wildflowers.  I did a little happy dance and proceeded to compose a few shots as the sun began to set.  Everything lined up perfectly this trip and I couldn’t be happier with the shots I came home with.

Lake Mary – Utah’s Wasatch Mountains

The view of Lake Mary in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah on a warm Summer morning is a sight to see and one many don't even know exists so close to a major urban area. Big Cottonwood Canyon holds some surprises for you if you're willing to hike for them. (Clint Losee)

This was my first hike up to Lake Mary in the Wasatch Mountains just East of Salt Lake City.  I set out before sunrise, saw a couple moose, elk and deer along the way, and made it to the lake right at sunrise. The clouds didn’t want to cooperate and the sunrise was pretty lackluster. I made do with what I could and found some decent views around the lake. It was a pretty peaceful experience being up there witnessing this. I only saw a couple other people there this morning as I wandered around. It’s amazing what you can find pretty much in your backyard.

Salt Lake Capitol Gardens

The inner gardens of the Salt Lake City Capitol Building provide an inner sanctuary to a political experience. As day turns to night, a peaceful feel takes hold. (Clint Losee)

I love photographing the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City. On regular occasions I make a trip up there to see what I can come up with. I must get lucky here too as there is usually no one around. I had the inner garden area all to myself and the trees were just blossoming this Spring.

Palouse Hills – Steptoe Butte State Park

The rolling green hills of the Palouse Region in Eastern Washington provide endless views from Steptoe Butte. Here a loan grain storage center sits among the flowing green country hillside. (Clint Losee)

After reading so much and viewing so many amazing photos of the Palouse region in Washington, I had to make the trip. I spent three days there in early June as the fields were bright green. This one is a shot from Steptoe Butte early one morning. The fields there are truly amazing and a landscape photographers dream. You can spend hours on the butte or spend hours driving through the endless backroads in the fields. It’s like driving through a see of flowing green water sometimes.

Lake Marion – Uinta Mountains Utah

Lake Marion sits in Utah's Uinta mountains. After a little hiking you come across this gem of a small little lake. While the fishing is alright, the reflections on a warm Summer cloud-filled day are great! (Clint Losee)

I love fly fishing. I also love to hike Utah’s backcountry when I get a chance.  I also love photography.  So these all go together rather well. I managed to coincide some time off with brother this past Summer and made a day hike to fly fish some Uinta lakes. The fishing was a little slow, but the scenery was amazing. Glass calm water, blue skies, and the place all to ourselves. Oh, and some nice fluffy clouds decided to meaner there way in for good measure. A perfect recipe for a good time.

Golden Gate Bridge Blue Hour

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco as viewed from Marshall Beach as the night slowly makes its way in as the evening waves crash over the rocks on the beach (Clint Losee)

January brought my first trip to San Francisco with my wife.  I have to say that city is a fun place to visit…and photograph. I shot some of the more familiar locations and even ventured down to the Big Sur area.  However, one of my best/favorite images came from photographing the Golden Gate Bridge.  I believe this was either Marshall or Baker beach just after the sun had set (blue hour).  It was one of those moments I can still picture in my mind today.

Wildflower Hillside – Utah’s Wasatch Mountains

A blanket of yellow balsomroot wildflowers cover the hillside in East Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah. (Clint Losee)

Along with the first image above, I came home with this keeper in the mountains near Salt Lake City this past Spring. The wildflowers exploded on this hillside!  While I waited for the upcoming sunset, I explored the area to see what I could come up with. It had to be one of the funnest photography trips I’ve had this year…and one of the closest to home as well.  Just goes to show you don’t have to travel all that far to experience the beauty of the outdoors.

San Diego City Lights

The downtown San Diego city skyline lights up the bay at night. Viewed from Coronado. (Clint Losee)

July had me in San Diego for a little family vacation.  I love San Diego.  This is the shot I had tried a year prior to get in the rain and ended up almost splitting my head open. This time nothing like that happened. City skylines are always appealing to me and I had always envisioned what the San Diego skyline would look like at night. This matches that vision perfectly.

Grand Prismatic Spring – Yellowstone National Park

The elevated hillside view of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park provides a unique view down onto the spring's vividly colored rings. (Clint Losee)

Yellowstone National Park is home to many locations that appeal to me photographically. Grand Prismatic Spring is one of them.  I had photographed this spot a year prior from the boardwalk near the spring itself and wanted a more aerial view ever since then. While on a fly fishing trip nearby this past Summer I decided to race over to see if I could get the shot. After a steep hike up the nearby hillside, I was presented with this view. Sadly just after this shot I had a tripod malfunction that caused my camera and 70-200 lens to topple to the ground, breaking off the lens mount of the lens.  Not a good day, but at least I was able to come away with this image.

Misty Morning Fly Fishing – Lake Marion, Uinta Mountains

(Clint Losee)

I don’t get many chances to get out fly fishing with my brother. That made this one all the better. A quick day trip to the Uinta Mountains with him this past Summer led us to Lake Marion early in the morning. The mist was still rising off the water and he was quick to string up his fly rod.  I was quick to pull out the camera. This image pretty much embodies that trip.  Peace.  Solitude. Fly fishing in beautiful surroundings with the ones you enjoy spending your time with. Capturing moments like this is what photography is all about.

That does it for My 10 Best Landscape and Scenic Photos of 2013. I should probably call it my 10 favorite images from 2013 though, but it’s all pretty much the same.  You can check out the 2012 post to see those images if you’d like as well.  I hope you enjoyed taking a look at them as much as I had photographing them.  Thank you for spending the time to view these and here’s to a wonderful new year and my best wishes to you all.

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