The votes are all in and counted, and here are my top ten photographs of 2013!
We had truly an amazing response this year: 396 people looked through my initial selection of 49 images and posted their picks here on the blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and by email. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to look through these photographs and voice your opinions! I also really appreciate all the kind words expressed along with the votes. I wish I could respond to every comment, but please know that I’ve read them all and am very grateful for all your support. And last but not least, many thanks to my wonderful assistant Claudia who tallied all those votes!
To express our gratitude to all of you we’ve decided to give away another print to one of the voters. We assigned each person who voted a number, and used a random number generator to pick the recipient. And the winner is… Judy Heiser! Judy will receive a signed, numbered, matted 16×20 print of her choice from among the 49 original selections. Congratulations Judy!
So here’s the list of the ten images which received the most picks, and the number of votes they each received:
  1. Image # 25, Milky Way reflected in an alpine lake, Yosemite, 175 votes
  2. Image # 41, Mist, sunlight, and a California black oak, Yosemite, 174 votes
  3. Image # 43, Half Dome and the Merced River, late afternoon, autumn, Yosemite, 152 votes
  4. Image # 45, Ice formations in the Merced River, Yosemite, 117 votes
  5. Image # 44, Reeds, cottonwood leaves, and reflections, Sonora, CA, 107 votes
  6. Image # 10, Yosemite Falls on a misty spring morning, Yosemite, 104 votes
  7. Image # 46, Snowy black oaks, late autumn, Yosemite, 103 votes
  8. Image # 8, Waves in the Merced River, Yosemite, 100 votes
  9. Image #12, Redwoods and rhododendron, late afternoon, Redwood NP, 99 votes
  10. Image # 17, Sun breaking through fog in a redwood forest, 98 votes
Rounding out the top fifteen were numbers 31, 3, 1, 7, and 34.
As you can see, there was almost a tie for first place. I was pleasantly surprised that number 41 got so many votes, because it’s not a big landscape, and it’s in black and white. But perhaps this speaks to the sophistication of the audience. 🙂 Overall, I think this is a great selection, with a mix of grand landscapes and more intimate scenes – and even a black-and-white image. Nice work everyone! I’ll be submitting this post shortly to Jim Goldstein’s blog project.
Again, thank you so much for your participation. This has been really fun for me, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it too. Here are the top ten images:
25. Milky Way reflected in an alpine lake, Yosemite
41. Mist, sunlight, and a California black oak, Yosemite
43. Half Dome and the Merced River, late afternoon, autumn, Yosemite NP, CA
45. Ice formations in the Merced River, Yosemite
44. Reeds, cottonwood leaves, and reflections, Sonora, CA
10. Yosemite Falls on a misty spring morning, Yosemite
46. Snowy black oaks, late autumn, Yosemite
8. Waves in the Merced River, Yosemite NP, CA, USA
12. Redwoods and rhododendron, late afternoon, Redwood NP
17. Sun breaking through fog in a redwood forest
— Michael Frye
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Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
Congratulations on a really wonderful year of photography, Michael. Patty and I were just talking today about how beautiful the entire set of images is, including many that you did not include in this final set.
Dan
Thank you Dan! And congratulations on your top ten — a really beautiful set of images.
A beautiful group. I like the contrasts, stillness in many and motion in some.
Thanks very much David!
A wonderful diverse group of images – my mouth smiles/ my soul smiles thanks much for sharing your image self and work with us – I greatly appreciate this
Very nice George, thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful images with us. They are truly beautiful! I am so Excited!
Thank you Judy, and congratulations again!
Inspiring set of images Michael! You had a great year. I hope 2014 is also good to you!
Thank you Patricia!
Photography is an art and so a vote is always as the taste of the observer, but it got a stunning collection of shots. Let this year 2014 get as the old, take care and all the best.
Irmgard
Irmgard – Thanks, and yes, it’s always subjective!
Incredible selection, Michael. You had a very prolific year!
Thanks Richard!
A..6
Wonderful selection of images Michael! I especially love the images from the Merced River and Redwood Forest! All the best to you in 2014! 🙂
Thanks so much Rachel, and all the best to you as well!
The light on the Black Oak was amazing. Muted light through the mist in the redwoods is stunning but they all are!
Thank you Daryl!
Beautiful. My fave is ‘Snowy Black Oaks’.
Thanks Mary!
What a great collection (as usual), Michael. I have a hard time picking a favourite in this collection so I won’t 🙂
Thank you Dave, and I won’t twist your arm. 🙂
Wonderful set Michael. Wow.
Thank Mark!
all of your pictures are wonderful. I especially like 41. I also liked ….well….all of them. I’m not a photographer or a painter. I am pretty simple as it were but I have enjoyed all of photographs. makes me wish I could see some of these places you are so privileged to see.
Thank you very much Rita! You should definitely get to Yosemite if you haven’t yet.
Well the one we picked as #1 won by one vote so our vote must have put it over the top.
I am impressed again by the diversity of the images. I have savored many specific ones, and then also the whole spread. Thank you once again for sowing such beauty around you, for all of us to enjoy. Especially those of us far from Yosemite!
Thank you Adair, and I’m sure your vote is the one that made the difference. 🙂
Great set of photos from a great year’s work. I was going to vote, but being on the road, it was difficult to find the time with an internet connection. But in looking over the “winners”, I see my votes were widely mirrored by the masses. The first and second were my choices, too, in no particular order and they are both stupendous for different reasons.
Now if only California would get some rain/snow for the farmers, which would simultaneously benefit the photographers.
Aram
Thanks Aram, and if you know any rain dances…
Wonderful selection, Michael. Congratulations! My best wishes for 2014.
Guy
Thanks Guy! And all the best to you – hope you have a great year also.
Thanks for the inspiration!
You’re welcome A.P. — thank you!
Michael,
An excellent and diverse group of photographs. I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings!
Thanks a lot Derrald!
Congratulations on a very photogenic 2013!
Thank you Scott!
Color, form, and flow that is guided by your eye,
your art takes my breath away.
An inspiration of what can be accomplished.
Thanking you for your courtesies,
Zan
Thank you very much Zan!
A wonderful top ten, Michael. They all have a special element – mostly great light, but also beautiful conditions or unusual formations. I’m still staring at those ice/frost formations, but the misty light and Milky Way have me sighing from the beauty of it all.
Thanks very much Vivienne — I really appreciate all the kind words.
First of all, I would like to thank you for the most magnificent app on Yosemite which I used in my recent vacation to California. Your application was really a savior as I did not know about the area , where to go and stuff and this app took me to right spot and at right time as mentioned in your instructions.
Really a big fan of your photography, own your books and your article on zone system explanation in conjunction with what metering to use is quite informational.
These are outstanding photographs and I feel like going again in spring and for at least a week.
PJ, I’m glad you found the app helpful, and thanks for all the kind words! And I hope you get to go back to Yosemite soon.
Heard you on Improve Photography podcast today. Love all the Yosemite pics and the ideas of using telephoto for landscape! Keep up the good work.
Thanks Paul — glad you enjoyed the podcast! For the record, the idea of using telephoto lenses for landscapes in not mine, and it’s not new. Actually, what’s new is the idea that only wide-angle lenses should be used for landscapes. It’s odd that this restrictive concept has become accepted by so many in this age of limitless access to information.
Inspirational for sure, Michael!
Thanks Mike!
All are great. Fav is Redwoods and rhododendron.
Carey
Thanks Carey! I’m glad you like that photograph; I wrote a little bit more about it in this post:
https://www.michaelfrye.com/2013/05/24/in-redwood-country/
Beautiful group Michael! As always I’m so inspired looking at your work. My favorite is Half Dome and the Merced River.
Thank you Michael!
I found several of these works stunning, and am very happy I jumped over here from Andy Nixon’s Photo Blog. Beautiful work, Michael Frye, and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the new year.
Thanks Lucy! Glad you found your way over here. 🙂
Thank you for the breathtaking set of beautiful glimpses of Yosemite. Being from South Africa, I have only been in Yosemite in early spring. These are wonderful and an inspiration!
Thanks very much Alwyn!
Just saw this and before seeing the winners – decided on one color and one B/W – and the top 2 were my choices also. You have certainly soaked up the souls of the masters you’ve been around and have become one yourself. The dimensional quality of the B/W “Mist, sunlight & black oak” is phenomenal. For me, one of the most inspiring arts is taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary – which is what this photograph does. There are thousands of black oaks and you made this one special. The Milky Way? I’ve never seen a photo like it. Amazing. What a gift you have to capture the spectacular in a way that it remains spectacular… or to take the ordinary and make it a work of art. You rock Mr. Frye!!!
Thanks so much Allison! I hope you’re doing well; long time no see. 🙂
Michael: