Happy Sunday! As an annual tradition of Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, we are asked to review and post some of our favorite photos taken in the previous year. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite photos of 2023.

I feel many times, some of my favorite photos are some of my most memorable photos. Like this photo of the snow-capped mountains outside my home, it left an impression. Why wouldn’t it? 2022-2023 winter season will go down as the snowiest winter in my record book.

Here are some of my 2023 tulips. I hope they will be just as beautiful in 2024 after having to replant them in the fall since I kept accidentally excavating them during the summer.

Capturing photos of wildlife is always memorable and instantaneously brightens my mood. I particularly enjoyed getting the photo of the fly on my mums. It was one of the first times I photographed with my brand new 40-mm macro lens.

I recently took the photo of the bird in the desert when I visited Horseshoe Bend on Christmas Eve. I’ve never been so glad to have my 18-400 mm lens than in that moment. The bird kept fleeting away but because of the lens, I could just stay in one spot and zoom in and out. Though the bird ended up slightly out of focused, it’s the story behind the photo that made this photo one of my favorites.

I tried to narrow my favorites from my May 2023 trip to the UK and these 5 are the best I can do. What made these images my favorite are the greenery and the interesting architecture. I was there in May, therefore a lot of trees are blooming and green. I love it when everything is green as opposed to the bare branches in the winter.

I have many photos, which I consider to be my favorite from my trip to Japan in September. If I had gotten anything out of the trip, it’s that Japanese people are creative gardeners. They will use every inch of space – whether it’s dirt or concrete – and create a beautiful green space. I truly felt inspired walking the streets of Japan and I’m looking forward to apply some of that inspiration in my 2024 garden.

Finally, I can’t round up a list of my favorite photos from 2023 without a couple from my Christmas road trip. Google Maps took me on a joy ride from Day 1. It led me down one scenic route after another, which had me stopping at many of the overlooks along the way before arriving in my destination of Monument Valley.

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I want to see Bryce Canyon in the winter. Well, my wish was granted and it was absolutely beautiful with all the white snow against the orange.

And Grand Canyon, the rocks look different in every light. It’s a destination which no camera can ever do it justice in capturing its beauty.