I try to do a BEST OF every year to review and capture my best shots of the year. I did a BEST OF Animals 2023 you can see here…. https://kritterspix.com/2024/01/20/best-of-animals-2023/

This year we went to number of old stand-by’s that we enjoyed, and a few new spots that may become new favorites. We got some wonderful sunsets and amazing Arizona scenery. It is always difficult to pick favorites, but I’ve tried to narrow down my favorites to the top 10 that resonated with me. For me these photos evoke a memory of beautiful space and time. That is the beauty of photography and art in general, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

1. I think my favorite landscape photo of the year was this sunset at Aker Lake. We were there 3 nights. It was peaceful and quiet. Every morning and every evening we went out to take photos. On our last evening, I went out to take photos and found these two hikers had pitched tents at the water’s edge (ironically, right next to the sign that said NO CAMPING). As they fished for supper, I took photos that just popped with the color of their tents against the lush trees right at sunset. Better lucky than good.

2. We do not see a lot of cactus where we live, but were camping in Kofa Wilderness in southern AZ and found the light and glow on the mountain ranges to be magical.

3. Dogtown Lake is small lake outside of Williams, AZ. It offers wonderful views of the Bill Williams Mountain range and great reflections on the water. On this particular visit we were gifted with a wonderful early morning sunrise.

4. Carnero Lake has become one of our favorite spots. It’s quite small, and generally quiet – though not always. We enjoy hikes around the lake and the ducks and coots that find it home. I got a great kick out of these ducks ‘walking on water’ as they chased each other across the lake.

5. Just outside of Page, Glen Canyon is home to the Vermillion cliffs and Marble Canyon. The mighty Colorado River flows through stunning canyons with craggy ridges and cascading rapids. It’s a wonderland of hiking and exploring opportunities, with amazing views in a serene environment.

6. I am so humbled by the awesomeness of nature. We travel her backroads looking for gorgeous overlooks, and are always inspired by the diversity of our beautiful state and it’s many moods. While our monsoon season was very dry this past year, the few rain storms we did see brought in some fantastic skies, making me all the more thankful to be in a spot where we can enjoy the show and the view.

7. We frequent Green’s Peak outside of Show Low. We particularly enjoy it in the Fall when the aspens are bursting with golden hues. The landscape is so vast and broad it’s hard to capture. We enjoy the elk, antelope, and hawks that roam through the meadows and trees.

8. Green’s Peak is also home to a number of small lakes that are popular fishing holes for local fisherman. Of course we love the water and it’s reflections of the landscape along it’s shores. During the Fall it is particularly alluring with the changing colors and mirror glass still water.

9. We pass Lake Mary every time we go to Flagstaff. We don’t generally stop, as we are on our way to do something in Flagstaff. We often see fisherman or boaters enjoying a day at the Lake. On this particular occasion it was hard not to stop and capture this sprawling field of yellow daisies against this stunning sky. Sometimes you have to stop to smell the flowers and take in the view.

10. Whitehorse Lake is a recreational lake deep in the Kaibab National Forest. It offers kayak rentals, boat ramps, fishing opportunities, camping, and hiking. If you are lucky you might see osprey fishing, waterfowl or deer. On our visit we actually had an unusual encounter with a feral pig, which for me, was particularly thrilling.