2024 in Review

Chris Cotton
Dec 12, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Jun 13

We're getting very close to the end of 2024 and I wanted to take this time to reflect on all the adventures and photos taken throughout this eventful year. It was a year of growth for me and my photography, with more effort put into planning and composing photos, and I'm really happy with the images I came out with. You can check out my favorites below...

10: A Foggy Blue Ridge Adventure

A gnarled tree along the Blue Ridge Parkway surrounded by fog — I loved the way this tree stood out in the fog on an eerie morning up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I've passed this tree many times on hikes before and had been waiting for just the right conditions to get a photo of it. This morning proved to be the right one!

9: Rainbow over Charlotte

A rainbow stretching above the Charlotte skyline. — A combination of early planning and sheer luck, I caught this rainbow at the tail end of large storm in Charlotte. I had some ideas for a great composition, hoping that the rainbow would line up with the skyline. Once I reached my shooting location, I was treated to an epic sight with the rainbow aligning perfectly over the Charlotte skyline.

8: One World Trade Center

Twilight in New York City and the One World Trade Center — During a fall trip to New York City, I desperately wanted to get a timelapse of the One World Trade Center during sunset. This photo was one of my favorite frames from that timelapse. I like how the distant glow of the sunset casts a nice red hue on the buildings as the city lights begin to stand out in the skyline.

7: Fire on the Mountains

Sunset along the Blue Ridge Parkway. — Though there was no real "fire" on the mountains, the sunset I witnessed this summer night on the Blue Ridge Parkway sure made it look like it. This sunset tested my patience, as with every passing minute, the lighting and dramatic colors kept getting better and better. During the shoot I packed my camera up multiple times expecting the best to be over with, only to set it back up with an even more dramatic sky in front of me

6: Colorado Badlands

Sun casting a bright hue on the Book Cliffs in Colorado. — Taken from the outskirts of Grand Junction, CO, this simple image was one of my favorites from my summer trip out west. Because of smoke from a nearby wildfire, the setting sun cast a beautiful reddish-pink light across the ridges along the cliffs. I love the shapes of the ridges and the gradients of color in the cliffside.

5: Delicate Arch Sunrise

Delicate Arch at sunrise in Arches National Park — Another favorite from my time in Utah this summer, I was determined to get a photo of Delicate Arch at sunrise for some great lighting and minimal crowds. The morning couldn't have gone better as we were one of the first to arrive and got to witness a wonderful sunrise at one of the most beautiful locations in the USA.

4: Autumn on the Parkway

Fall foliage surrounding the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway — One of my favorite views on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, this image was taken in late October, with fall colors on full display at the Linn Cove Viaduct. After a devastating fall for the communities of Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene, it was nice to be able to visit the mountains and support the local communities while also getting a chance to see an incredible display of color in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

3: Spring in the Gorge

Sun rays shining in Linville Gorge Wilderness — Of all the photos I took this year, the one above might have been the hardest to capture. It took multiple frames to produce the image above because I needed to focus stack the image and control the dynamic range of the scene. And I had to do all this while the winds in Linville Gorge came whipping over the mountain top, shaking not only my camera, but all the trees and flowers in the image too. Despite all the conditions, I couldn't have been happier with how the image turned out.

2: Starry Night in Arches

The Milky Way rising above rock formations in Arches National Park — Although I don't think it's one of my best photos of the year, this Milky Way image from Arches NP is perhaps the photo I'm most proud of taking in 2024. I had been dreaming of taking a starry night image in the desert for years and wanted to make it a priority during my summer trip out west. This was my first attempt on the week long trip and I was thrilled with how it turned out. It's safe to say I will be making more trips to photograph the Milky Way in the future!

1: An Unexpected Sunrise

A blooming tree in front of a sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway — Finally, my favorite image from 2024, an incredible sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I've visited this overlook many times before and I wasn't even planning on shooting this location during my visit in the spring, but after striking out on a photo from a different spot, I decided to give my favorite overlook a try and I was not disappointed. The tree on the right of the frame was just starting to bloom, giving it a nice golden look in the early morning light. Many of the trees in the valley below were also just beginning to show some spring color with pops of bright green and yellow scattered across the hillsides. Altogether, the composition, colors, and lighting worked perfectly, turning what was a completely unplanned photo into my favorite of the entire year.

I appreciate you following along this year as I shared my photos and stories from all my travels. I'm looking forward to another exciting year in 2025 and hope you'll join me for many more photo adventures! Happy Holidays and see you again in the new year!

2024 in review

Thanks, Chris

2024 in Review

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