2022 is almost behind us, as we all look to a much better 2023. Like many friends and colleagues, I have created a post that includes my personal favorites photographs of 2022. As mentioned before, these aren’t necessarily my “best” images, but they are the photographs that resonated most with me.
This year’s collection is….fine. I did not travel as much as I would like, so much of the work is local, particularly in our Laguna Mountains.
I do have some hopes for a better 2023 and a chance to get out of the house more. So I have reason to be optimistic that things are looking up, and there will be more opportunities.
That doesn’t mean I don’t love our local areas. Far from it, and the Lagunas in particular will always be a special place.
I am also collecting friends and colleagues who have created similar posts, on this Page. I don’t use this collection as a way to boost my profile, it is simply a way to give back to the Jim Goldstein project he curated for many years, and give some like-minded individuals some additional reading and viewing.
If you would like to add your Blog Post to the list, feel free to Contact Me with your URL.
Below are my Favorite Images on 2022, with a few notes about each.
This beauty was taken in February, coming back from a visit to the Lagunas. Inclement weather gave way to what looked like some incredible light setting up, and the Wildwood Glen Lane segment of Old Highway 80 was the nearest favorite landmark. I had about 30 seconds of amazing light before it all vanished.
This is a favored spot right by my home. During seasons with good rain, this field can really blow up. We had a little rain, not nearly enough, but the flowers were still magical. This is also a fun spot because my daughter is usually at the house for Spring Break when flowers are peaking. She was with me for this image.
Now we jump all the way into July, and you can see that my favorite images ended up at the second half of the year. After a couple disappointing monsoon seasons, 2022 was much, much, better. It became appointment viewing in the Laguna Mountains, and a couple of times the rain came down hard and I happily stepped out of my Subaru to get soaked.
Next, we get to August, and I took this one on my birthday. It is an old rustic cabin in Colorado, West of where my parents live, but it is also the cabin my Great Grandfather was born in, in 1915.
Next, we make it to August, with more monsoons making beautiful light and shadow in our mountains. This is from Foster Point, a beautiful scenic overlook off the Pacific Crest Trail that I often overlook, but managed to visit a few times this year. I am glad I did.
Leave it to me to select an image in my Lightroom Catalog that I had not previously published on my website. Alas, here it is, and should have made prior debut on the blog. This is a great view of Laguna Crest from a favorite spot, with those dramatic clouds I love so much.
This is probably my favorite photograph of the year. I have always loved this overlook, and every once in a while something just lines up. When the monsoons rest over the desert, you never know what you will see. The beautiful cloud, the shadow, and the entire scene just comes together for me. This is an image that will stay with me for a long time.
For being so prominent in San Diego County, I have always struggled to get good images of Lake Henshaw. The overlook on S-7 is always a nice location, but light has never lined up exactly like I want. Instead, this is one of several turnouts on State Route 76 South of the Lake. This is more light and shadow during a clearing storm.
My last 4 images were all made this month, and three of them were during a recent snowstorm. This is another view of Laguna Crest, and the rain shadow effect is quite obvious here. I also love the fresh snow with no footprints, and we were lucky to get there early.
One of the best parts of getting to the mountains early was seeing snow still on the trees. With the storm cleared out, it was quite cold, even with the sun peeking through.
Just another beautiful snow scene. I could have taken hundreds of these up and down Sunrise Highway, but I had a child that had thrown enough snowballs and wanted to head home.
A similar image from this location appeared in my 2020 Post. This rock always gets a shadow from a rock in front of it in December, and I wanted to see it again. I took it from a slightly different angle, and I imagine I will want to visit again sometimes.
It is tough to compress an entire year into a single Blog Post, but I hope you enjoyed this selection of my favorite photographs of 2022. If you have any favorites or questions about anything in this post, please don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments.
Further Viewing
T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographer’s Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.
It was difficult to choose which one I liked the best…they were all so good! I believe my favorite was LM284. What I really liked about it was the high contrast that the shadows cast on the mountain tops, making it almost appear like a different shade of rock.
Aside from this one I really loved the snow pics, with LM309 being my favorite. Very nice composition and I love the wide angle of the shot.
Thanks Will!
Amazing photography as always, you are very talented when it comes to your art. My favorite of this grouping is The Cabin in Colorado C048
Looking forward to visiting that cabin again one of these days.
Always a gorgeous collection. LM292 is definitely spectacular though I think my favorite from here is LM309, with the sun peeking through that tree. Also: very cool shot and story about your great-grandfather’s birthplace.
Thanks man, that photo was worth dealing with the black ice…you may know a thing or two about that.
Great photos! CO48 is my favorite!
Thanks man….Alaska one of the days
I generally never favor
Black and white photos when given the choice. Modern cameras capture such vibrant colors that I generally prefer those but out of your favorites I have to say LM292 is by far my favorite! It has a sort of symmetry to it that I love. I also love the cabin (also black and white but it seems like that one should be) CO48 I also love the family history behind it. Great photos Tracy!
Thanks, I’ll make sure next year’s Holiday Photo is in black and white (ha)
OH80108 is my favorite The pavement competition is the reason rainbow is interesting.
LM292 looks like it was a thrill to capture. If you didn’t pick it as your favorite, I would have.
Thank you sir, Barstow Del Taco for us one of these days
LM284 is my favorite but it is splitting hairs with the others. Great perspective and photos.
Thanks AC. You and I have been splitting hairs (mainly on music) for 25 years….that will never change!
I think you did rather well this year. I like all the subtle colors which do not scream at me. If I would have to pick one personal favorite, I’d probably go with “LM284”.
I also want to thank you for putting together “Best of 2022 Blog Posts”. I truly enjoy going through all those fantastic collections. I just sent you the details for my personal favorites of this year as well.
Thanks Stefan! Hope to add more to the annual list with a little help from my friends…
Great photos! I’m with Will, LM309 is beautiful. LM251 is also a personal favorite. Keep up the great work.
Thanks! Hopefully more good light in 2023.
The black & white process seems to love your subtle processing and details. I’d go with your own pick of the black & white LM292 (how come I haven’t received a card with that one?;-) and CO48 of course — like others already said, the family history part of it is simply great, in addition to the photo itself.
Out of paper….can’t afford more paper. I do want to print that one, though. Here’s to more great images in 2023.
Lots of beautiful images, my favorites are LM 301 and EC76. Thanks for adding my 2022 list to your page. And best wishes for the new year!
Thanks Tom! Always enjoy your posts and your beautiful close-ups. Hope you have a great 2023.
Lm292 is my favorite, it feels like you’re headed off the cliff and straight for the cloud. It’s also nice to see how you captured such different feelings in a similar place with different shots of the Laguna mountains. Great work!
Thanks! That’s a great overlook. Don’t think you can launch your hang glider there, but with prevailing winds I bet you could fly over it.
I’m fascinated by LM292 with those amazing clouds. I love how some of the clouds create that great shadow on the ground below. Beautiful job processing in black and white. And also related to black and white, I think it’s great you were able to photograph the cabin your great grandfather was born in (amazing it’s still standing). Nice work for the year and I hope you’re able to realize your own hopes for 2023.
Thanks Todd! Alex said he’d give me some extra paper he had, then I look forward to printing that one! Hope you have a great 2023.