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It's getting towards the end of the year and I thought it would be fun to post some of our best / favorite shots from the last twelve months. Only post images you captured this year and please keep it to eight photos or less (I know, it's tough if it's been a busy year). I can't wait to see what you captured. I'll start with some of my favorites :)

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Ok... that Quetzal shot is to die for!!! Such an amazing perch, background, and pose.... so very dramatic!
 
Stunning presentations by many talented and skilled photographers. These images serve as an inspiration to improve my work…. Or I’ll take up finger-painting.
 
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First and foremost, it needs to be stated that there is some amazing work on this thread. Every photographer who has posted their work should feel proud of what they've done and shared... I am just amazed by the vision of my friends and colleagues here.
As for me, my year was one filled with great loss. As many of you know, I lost my beloved wife of nearly 33 years in April, and this forum has been a refuge for me during periods of extreme grief. Like Steve and Rose, Tamy was my photographic partner. She went where I went, took pictures by my side and afar, and loved to be on adventures that took us everywhere from deep country backpacking, roadtrips, and international excursions. As Tamy declined, I'd continue to shoot whenever I could find a subject within a few miles of my home. Her gradual decline from fully functional to physical/cognitive impairments lasted for about 18 months, and photography was the one piece of therapy that I gave myself. Pursuing nature photography was so important to me during this time that I recently wrote an article about the "Therapeutic Power of Nature Photography" that was published in the current issue of Nature Photographer Magazine.
With all of that stated, my year's work represents a mix of 20 minutes of shooting here and there, to long hours of sitting and watching nature as I grieved the loss of my one true love.
Just last week I returned from Bosque del Apache. This was my first real trip without Tamy, and was a trip that almost never happened. Tamy had always been my travel companion and I left on an 8 day road trip with the fear that I would not be able to do this on my own. Fortunately my golden doodle Luca, was there to keep me company and I endured... making the trip happen. I think some of my best work of the year was made at Bosque, but... with the exception of a few pictures, the work is currently unedited. The last picture in this series was posted earlier in the week, and is among the best shots I've made in a long time... so I present it here as well.
Ok... that's a huge confession of life's reality. These 8 photos are presented in the order they were taken.
Good shooting and Happy New Year to you All!!
bruce
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First and foremost, it needs to be stated that there is some amazing work on this thread. Every photographer who has posted their work should feel proud of what they've done and shared... I am just amazed by the vision of my friends and colleagues here.
As for me, my year was one filled with great loss. As many of you know, I lost my beloved wife of nearly 33 years in April, and this forum has been a refuge for me during periods of extreme grief. Like Steve and Rose, Tamy was my photographic partner. She went where I went, took pictures by my side and afar, and loved to be on adventures that took us everywhere from deep country backpacking, roadtrips, and international excursions. As Tamy declined, I'd continue to shoot whenever I could find a subject within a few miles of my home. Her gradual decline from fully functional to physical/cognitive impairments lasted for about 18 months, and photography was the one piece of therapy that I gave myself. Pursuing nature photography was so important to me during this time that I recently wrote an article about the "Therapeutic Power of Nature Photography" that was published in the current issue of Nature Photographer Magazine.
With all of that stated, my year's work represents a mix of 20 minutes of shooting here and there, to long hours of sitting and watching nature as I grieved the loss of my one true love.
Just last week I returned from Bosque del Apache. This was my first real trip without Tamy, and was a trip that almost never happened. Tamy had always been my travel companion and I left on an 8 day road trip with the fear that I would not be able to do this on my own. Fortunately my golden doodle Luca, was there to keep me company and I endured... making the trip happen. I think some of my best work of the year was made at Bosque, but... with the exception of a few pictures, the work is currently unedited. The last picture in this series was posted earlier in the week, and is among the best shots I've made in a long time... so I present it here as well.
Ok... that's a huge confession of life's reality. These 8 photos are presented in the order they were taken.
Good shooting and Happy New Year to you All!!
bruce
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Beautiful shots Bruce, and this was the first I heard about your loss. I'm so sorry to hear it and you have my deepest condolences. I can't imagine what it must be like.
 
Here are some of favorites from 2023...

King Vulture
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Resplendent male quetzal - angel wings
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Green iguana
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Palla's long-tongued bat
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Fiery-throated hummingbirds
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Grizzly sow and cub
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Loons
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Bald eagle - environmental image
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Karen,
You really made the most of your trip to Costa Rica... absolutely love the tail movement in the Quetzal as well as the tight portrait of the King Vulture... Fantastic stuff.
 
Some beautiful photos here. I'm almost embarrassed to put mine up. I'm not sure these are the "best" but these are my favorites from 2023.
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As for me, my year was one filled with great loss. As many of you know, I lost my beloved wife of nearly 33 years in April, and this forum has been a refuge for me during periods of extreme grief. Like Steve and Rose, Tamy was my photographic partner. She went where I went, took pictures by my side and afar, and loved to be on adventures that took us everywhere from deep country backpacking, roadtrips, and international excursions. As Tamy declined, I'd continue to shoot whenever I could find a subject within a few miles of my home. Her gradual decline from fully functional to physical/cognitive impairments lasted for about 18 months, and photography was the one piece of therapy that I gave myself. Pursuing nature photography was so important to me during this time that I recently wrote an article about the "Therapeutic Power of Nature Photography" that was published in the current issue of Nature Photographer Magazine.
Bruce,
Your photos are beautiful. My main comment here is one of condolence for your loss. My wife is also my photo, travel and life partner. I would be lost without her and cannot even begin to imagine the void in your heart. Hang in there. I have no advice, at least nothing that would be meaningful other than just hang in there and let time do its thing.

Jeff
 
@BLev65 So sorry for you loss. Thanks for sharing so openly and honestly, as I think it might help someone else out there (even if they are not a registered member and you never know about them). You certainly managed to make some amazing images in your season of grief. Your set is among the best posted here.
Thank you very much for both the kind words and compliment, as they mean a lot to me.
regards,
bruce
 
Bruce,
Your photos are beautiful. My main comment here is one of condolence for your loss. My wife is also my photo, travel and life partner. I would be lost without her and cannot even begin to imagine the void in your heart. Hang in there. I have no advice, at least nothing that would be meaningful other than just hang in there and let time do its thing.

Jeff
Thank you Jeff...
As I tell anyone who is willing read or listen, embrace the time you have with the ones you love as life is an ephemeral thing.
cheers
bruce
 
three photos taken last spring in Costa Rica:
Male purple-throated Mountaingem
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Rufous collared Sparrow
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Golden-Browed Chlorophonia
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Bruce…my sympathies to you as well on the loss of your bride…I've had mine for 47 years now (51 going back to initially meeting in marching band at the University of Miami)…and while both of us know which buttons to push on the other…either of us would be heartbroken by loss.

So many great photos here…so I figured I should offer my humble images as well, mostly in chronological order. Unfortunately…down here in SW FL…spring is the best time of the year and between a trip to the UK in the summer and late lasting hot weather and low water levels there haven't been many great opportunities since about May. Next year's will be better…Africa, Costa Rica, and Glacier NP (again) are on the schedule. Started with the 300ish published to the blog, a quick run through in LR to get 39 to choose from…then examined those in different collection and removal got harder and harder as I got closer to the magic number of 8…there would have been 12 once I got to finalists but I didn't want to double post. Locations were Black Point, Fort DeSoto SP, and Corkscrew.
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