Best of 2023

[Mike Lewis]

Obviously it is a good year when you have trouble picking only 10 images to post, but 2023 was a great year for me photographically, with a very productive year for astrophotography, combined with an epic once in a lifetime trip to Australia. So I have decided to take my 10 selections from 4 of my favorite 2023 astro images, 2 of my favorite 2023 wildlife captures, and 4 of my favorite 2023 scenic images, arranged in rough chronological order of when the were captured.

#1 The Seagull Nebula in Narrowband, Green Valley, AZ, (controlled from Colorado) (January, 2023) - (perhaps my new favorite astro image I have made so far...) This is a slightly newer reworked version I liked more than the original version I posted to FW:

#2 M106, Green Valley, AZ, (controlled from Colorado) (March, 2023)

#3 The Trifid Nebula (M20) in RGB with Hα Added, Green Valley, AZ, (controlled from Colorado) (March, 2023) - I love that little weird apparition of an eyeball in the blue nebulosity... :

#4 Sun Hits The Gorge, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (June, 2023) - a magical camping trip to this amazing place...Despite feedback to the contrary, this original version remains my favorite crop of the shot...

#5 Purple Pass, Independence Pass, Colorado (August, 2023)

#6 Last Light on the Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia (October, 2023) - A bucket list destination that did not disappoint!

#7 Magellanic Clouds Over Uluru, Uluru-kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia (October, 2023) - A shot that came together as I had hoped despite many obstacles along the way.

#8 Southern Cassowary in the Wild, The Daintree National Park, Queensland, Australia (October, 2023) - THE wildlife shot I was hoping to get on the trip (only ~4,000 of these birds exist...)

#9 Rainbow Lorikeet, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia (October, 2023)

#10 The Wizard Nebula with Sh2-139, in Narrowband, Green Valley, AZ, (controlled from Colorado), (November, 2023)

ML

 

[AlanLichty]

You definitely had a good year for imaging with some outstanding results. Hard to pick favorites but #1, #3, and #5 keep me looking longer than the rest of these nice images.

 

[JimFox]

It was a really great year for you Mike. You have some incredible images here.

My favorite landscape ones are #4 and 5.

But my favorite images are #1 and 3, with #1 being my favorite, though the Trifid is breathing down it's neck. I look at these of yours, and it makes me feel like quite the hack in my Astrophotography. I still have a long way to go in the processing end. You have a very delicate touch to your astro processing, where I think I am still very heavy handed when I compare my similar images to these of yours. Awesome work!

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Awesome set Mike. I waited till I could see these on the big monitor. The Astro images are to notch with the first one grabbing my attention the most. The gorge image is my favorite landscape one. All in all a great year for you.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

A beautiful set of mages, Mike. My absolute favorite is the Flaming Gorge.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Missed all this great feedback, thanks so much everyone!

ML