Best of 2025

AlanLichty

Moderator
I didn't do a lot of traveling this year but I still ended up shooting quite a bit both in the air and on the ground. I took a lot of shots I like but decided these would be the ones to show.

1. From the air - a January sunrise panorama with Mt. Hood in the distance. Mavic 3 Pro at 70mm.

DJI_M3P_70P_PSunrise010725.jpg


2. At a local wetland greenbelt park with an egret less than an inch from its feet hitting the water. I love what the current generation of mirrorless cameras can do. Canon R5 MkII.

CR5m2_WaterWalker011925.jpg


3. A particularly spectacular sunrise panorama in early May with the sun angle far enough north to come up behind Mt. Adams. Mavic 3 Pro at 70mm.

DJI_MP3_70P_SunrisePano050725.jpg


4. A scene looking east at the Reflection Lakes in Mt. Rainier National Park in late September. Lots of neat shots from that trip but this was one of my favorites. Canon R5 MkII.

CR5m2_ReflectionLakesEast092525.jpg


5. Fall colors were quite amazing this year and the trees in the Columbia River Gorge did not disappoint. This is a drone shot from out over the river looking back at Wahkeena Falls with the Benson Recreation Area in the foreground. Mavic 3 Pro at 24mm.

DJI_M3P_24_WahkeenaBenson102025.jpg


6. In late October I had a trip to the coast on my agenda with a goal of shooting a set of waterfalls near the headwaters of the North Fork of the Smith River - Kentucky Falls. It's a spot fairly deep in the Coast Range I had been wanting to include in previous trips to that part of the Oregon coast but have always gotten sidetracked. This trip I made it my primary goal and am glad I did as that area has some rare and stunning areas of old growth forest.

This is a view from one of the many bridges that cross over the North Fork along the way. Canon R5 MkII.

CR5m2_NForkSmith2102725.jpg


7. This is a view of Kentucky Creek from the trail leading to the Upper Falls. Canon R5 MkII.

CR5m2_KentuckyCreek102725.jpg


8. A view from some switchbacks dropping down to the base of the falls. Canon R5 MkII.

CR5m2_TopUpperKentuckyFalls102725.jpg


9. Upper Kentucky Falls from a spot at the base of the falls. Canon R5 MkII.

CR5m2_KentuckyFallsPortrait102725.jpg


10. In early December I bought a Mavic 4 Pro as an upgrade to my camera drone kit and so far am delighted with the new cameras. This is a sunset panorama scene from over my house in NW Vancouver. Mavic 4 Pro at 166mm.

DJI_M4P_168P_VancouverLakeSunset120525.jpg


11. A shot of Palisades Falls in the Columbia River Gorge just below Crown Point. Mavic 4 Pro at 70mm lens.

DJI_M4P_70_UpperPalisades122225.jpg
 

Michael13

Well-Known Member
A good year for sure, and hard to pick a favorite from these! But I will go with the first image, it just projects optimism and hope! Just what we need in this day and age!
 
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AlanLichty

Moderator
A good year for sure, and hard to pick a favorite from these! But I will go with the first image, it just projects optimism and hope! Just what we need in this day and age!
Thanks Michael - January usually offers up some of the more amazing sunrises of the year although it may be a while since the rains return tomorrow.
 
I didn't do a lot of traveling this year but I still ended up shooting quite a bit both in the air and on the ground. I took a lot of shots I like but decided these would be the ones to show.

1. From the air - a January sunrise panorama with Mt. Hood in the distance. Mavic 3 Pro at 70mm.

View attachment 86300

2. At a local wetland greenbelt park with an egret less than an inch from its feet hitting the water. I love what the current generation of mirrorless cameras can do. Canon R5 MkII.

View attachment 86301

3. A particularly spectacular sunrise panorama in early May with the sun angle far enough north to come up behind Mt. Adams. Mavic 3 Pro at 70mm.

View attachment 86302

4. A scene looking east at the Reflection Lakes in Mt. Rainier National Park in late September. Lots of neat shots from that trip but this was one of my favorites. Canon R5 MkII.

View attachment 86303

5. Fall colors were quite amazing this year and the trees in the Columbia River Gorge did not disappoint. This is a drone shot from out over the river looking back at Wahkeena Falls with the Benson Recreation Area in the foreground. Mavic 3 Pro at 24mm.

View attachment 86304

6. In late October I had a trip to the coast on my agenda with a goal of shooting a set of waterfalls near the headwaters of the North Fork of the Smith River - Kentucky Falls. It's a spot fairly deep in the Coast Range I had been wanting to include in previous trips to that part of the Oregon coast but have always gotten sidetracked. This trip I made it my primary goal and am glad I did as that area has some rare and stunning areas of old growth forest.

This is a view from one of the many bridges that cross over the North Fork along the way. Canon R5 MkII.

View attachment 86305

7. This is a view of Kentucky Creek from the trail leading to the Upper Falls. Canon R5 MkII.

View attachment 86306

8. A view from some switchbacks dropping down to the base of the falls. Canon R5 MkII.

View attachment 86307

9. Upper Kentucky Falls from a spot at the base of the falls. Canon R5 MkII.

View attachment 86308

10. In early December I bought a Mavic 4 Pro as an upgrade to my camera drone kit and so far am delighted with the new cameras. This is a sunset panorama scene from over my house in NW Vancouver. Mavic 4 Pro at 166mm.

View attachment 86309

11. A shot of Palisades Falls in the Columbia River Gorge just below Crown Point. Mavic 4 Pro at 70mm lens.

View attachment 86310
Alan, the #1, #8, #9, #10 are beautiful, I love these aerial shots ! You had a fruitful year !

Oliver
 

Mike Lewis

Staff Member
Alan,

a tour-de-force in both drone and terrestrial photography. My favorite drone shot is #10 and my favorite mirrorless shot is #4, with #3 and #9 also making the list.

#3 - A great sunset capture!

#4 - love the depth in this one, and that little splash of red in the foreground is very special.

#9 - a perfect waterfall study, with a shutter speed that shows motion while retaining some nice water detail too.

#10 - Just a killer shot - an advertisement for having a drone. I sold my Autel a while ago, and then decided I wanted to jump back in with a smaller drone when the Mini 5 Pro came out, but by then things were so uncertain I did not pull the trigger. I am still on the fence about it, and soon, they will be impossible to buy here. But in any case, your new Mavic 4 Pro is killing it here.

ML
 

AlanLichty

Moderator
Alan,

a tour-de-force in both drone and terrestrial photography. My favorite drone shot is #10 and my favorite mirrorless shot is #4, with #3 and #9 also making the list.

#3 - A great sunset capture!

#4 - love the depth in this one, and that little splash of red in the foreground is very special.

#9 - a perfect waterfall study, with a shutter speed that shows motion while retaining some nice water detail too.

#10 - Just a killer shot - an advertisement for having a drone. I sold my Autel a while ago, and then decided I wanted to jump back in with a smaller drone when the Mini 5 Pro came out, but by then things were so uncertain I did not pull the trigger. I am still on the fence about it, and soon, they will be impossible to buy here. But in any case, your new Mavic 4 Pro is killing it here.

ML
Many thanks Mike - drone photography has been a major player in my photography for the past couple of years but the Mavic 4 Pro just boosted that to a new level with its upgraded camera systems. Its still a bit short of what my mirrorless camera can do but the two camera systems combined are making my photo hobby a lot more fun :)
 
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