Monthly Archives: December 2014

Recently, I’ve noticed a number of “Year In Review” blog posts and articles on other sites popping up, so I figured it must be about time for me to publish my own photographic review of the year.

2014 has, indeed, been quite a year for me photographically.  I traveled to and photographed 4 different national parks, 2 airshows, an engagement photo session, 3 weddings, a chamber choir, performers at the Texas Renaissance Festival, the annual migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds into my part of southeast Texas, my Christmas tree with its decorations and bright lights, and I wrote 12 new articles for the National Parks Traveler. It was all great fun, even though I managed to completely destroy two of my favorite Canon lenses, so now I must rent until I can purchase replacements.  Following are examples of my 2014 photography experiences.

The view along Lost Mine Trail during a late-April visit to Big Bend National Park, Texas

A strawberry pitaya cactus bloom alongside the Mule Ears Viewpoint trail, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Kyle and Adrienne – the first of 3 weddings

Kevin and Amber – the second of 3 weddings

John (Avery) and Jennifer – the third of the 3 weddings

Bringing in FiFi, the worlds only  B29 “superfortress” still flying (CAF Air Power History Tour, Dallas, Texas)

Becky, Bill, and the Stearman Bill piloted:  my acrobatic ride in this plane was the bomb! (CAF Air Power History Tour, Dallas, Texas)

The SB2C Helldiver at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

The Shockwave Jet Truck at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

The Blue Angels at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

Upside Down and Side-By-Side, the Blue Angels at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

The rising sun during the sunrise photoshoot at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

The Texas Raiders B17 during the sunrise photo shoot at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

Taking a break in front of a Stearman during the sunrise photo shoot at the Wings Over Houston Airshow

A strip of sunlight during a Chugach Mountains morning in Alaska, near Anchorage

Sunrise and moonset over Nugget Pond and Mt. McKinley (aka Denali), Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Watching me in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Yellow-headed beach babe in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska

 Kilauea’s glow at 3:30 AM, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Looking down the trail to Kilauea Iki, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Back-lit ruby-throat

 Juvenile ruby-throated hummingbird

The cast, crew and staff of the King’s Feast at the Texas Renaissance Festival

The Pride O Bedlam Pirates onstage at the Sea Devil Tavern, Texas Renaissance Festival

The Cannibal Tudors onstage at the Sea Devil Tavern, Texas Renaissance Festival

Opening toast at the King’s Winetasting, Texas Renaissance Festival

Haley Welsh Wine pouring the red at the King’s Winetasting, Texas Renaissance Festival

Mixing business with pleasure at the King’s Winetasting, Texas Renaissance Festival

Bringing in the meat at the King’s Feasthall, Texas Renaissance Festival

Handing out the mugs at the King’s Feasthall, Texas Renaissance Festival

Chicken on a “stick”, King’s Feasthall, Texas Renaissance Festival

Katia in purple, Gypsy Dance Theatre, Texas Renaissance Festival

Twirling Alla, Gypsy Dance Theatre, Texas Renaissance Festival

Kira in blue, Gypsy Dance Theatre, Texas Renaissance Festival

Zara’s balancing act, Gypsy Dance Theatre, Texas Renaissance Festival

Tsura and her violin, Gypsy Dance Theatre, Texas Renaissance Festival

Red, gold and blue fairies at the Texas Renaissance Festival

Christmas Becky playing with the lights, decorations, her Canon 1DX and the 85mm f1.2 lens

A small, cozy home with a beautiful Christmas tree

Christmas colors

2015 is shaping up for what I hope will be an interesting year.  I won’t be traveling to any national parks, probably, due to a 2-week trip to Paris and Normandy (plane ticket purchased, friends in Paris notified, and maps and guidebooks to Normandy open for research), some planned elective surgery recuperation time, and saving that remaining week of vacation for any emergencies that may occur during the year.  If I make it to December with that extra week still intact, then I definitely plan on traveling *somewhere* for Christmas – staying home in Texas for the holidays is not my cup of tea, I’m afraid.  Of *course* you will read about my Paris/Normandy trip; part of that involves retracing my WW II paratrooper father’s route when he jumped over Normandy on D-Day (In June, I’ll post the story he wrote about his D-Day experiences).  As for the rest of 2015, well, that’s still a work in progress.

So, how did *your* 2014 turn out?  Got any plans for 2015?

Happy New Year to all of you and to WordPress, too!