Today’s blog is inspired by my friend and extraordinary photographer Martin Bailey (see his work, podcasts, and photo-workshops —> here). Martin has advocated for years that photographers exercise their eye and heart by selecting a “Top 10” group of images produced in a calendar year. This task can be excruciating if one takes as many pictures as I do. In the end, favorites and bests often rise to the top, but these so-called “bests” are those that resonate with the artist, and not the viewer. I am quite certain that the photos I have selected may not be the ones a dispassionate observer might make, but they are the images that resonated with me.
I’ve decided to share this work in clusters. The images will be preceded by a short block of text that offers a bit of context, and each picture will be captioned with a title and explanation as to why it was selected.
JAPAN: 2024 began with the earnest realization that my wife, Tamy Leventhal, would no longer be a physical companion on my adventures. Her passing continues to sting, but while she is not here with me in the flesh, I carry her in my heart and brain wherever I go. This passenger in me is uniquely present when I’m in the field and behind a camera. While I had done a few short trips in 2023 following Tamy’s death, my January trip to Japan was a seminal moment. This excursion with Martin Bailey Tours was the first time I left the country to pursue nature photography without Tamy. I am grateful for the friendships I made abroad, and Martin’s sensitivity to the emotional burden I carried during my travels.
Hokkaido Japan was a bucket-list destination that I had always planned to visit following my retirement. Mid January and early February are the best times to photograph Japan’s winter wildlife. Because I was bound to my work as a teacher, seeing a winter in Japan had to wait until I was not tied to the needs of my students. Because my trip to Japan was a significant step into the future, the work I produced there represents 50% of my top ten photographs.
Cranes in the Mist, Hokkaido Japan : Seeing Red-crowned cranes was on my bucket list of species to see and photograph. I have told stories about these birds to my students when discussing behavior ecology. In addition, this species in mist and frost seemed to be an iconic way of representing the minimalistic beauty that is everywhere in Hokkaido.
Fox Curl, Hokkaido Japan : I was fortunate to see and photograph many foxes during my time in Japan. On this occasion, a foraging fox stopped what it was doing, sought out a patch of dark earth, and curled up to take a nap. This brief moment of eye-contact is what elevated this photo to my top ten list.
Banking, Hokkaido Japan : I spent a few frenzied mornings trying to photograph Steller’s sea eagles and white-tailed eagles from the deck of a boat that was surrounded by ice flows. While the photography was quite challenging, I made quite a few images of this species catching fish in the frigid water. In the end, my favorite eagle shot was of this bird that had banked towards me and seemed to look right into my lens.
Where Trees Meet Snow, Hokkaido Japan : I am forever trying to push myself beyond “natural history” images that might seem best placed in a field guide. By using inentional camera movements, I induced the blur to create an impressionistic image of a forest… you’ll see more work like this from me in the future.
MOVE TO CALIFORNIA: People often say that you should not make any drastic decisions following a loss like the one I experienced. While I tried to give life a go in Minnesota, I found that I could not break from the depression and grief that overwhelmed me each day. While I continue to grieve the loss of my partner, I recognized that I needed a change in scenery if I was going to ever stop the the merry-go-round that replayed Tamy’s decline in my head. So, as 2023 ended, I retired from my 31 year-long career in teaching, and made plans to move to California. I purchased a tiny home that is all of 400 square feet, and put it on my sister’s property along the Central California coast. This second block of images reflect a tiny fraction of my work in California. I live in a biodiverse region of the state where mountains give way to forests that touch the sea. My decision to live here offers me the opportunity to make images throughout the year and follow a variety of unique migration patterns.
Bobcat on the Prowl, Point Reyes California : I have spent many years trying to make a decent photograph of a bobcat. In October, 2024, I spent 90 minutes over two days watching this individual from afar. At some point, I just sat in the prairie and watched the cat go about her business… this was the gift she gave me.
Laughing Sea Otter, Elkhorn Slough California : I live about 20 minutes from an estuary where I can put in a kayak and paddle with otters, sea lions, seals, and pelagic bird species. This otter was busy grooming when it looked up and appeard to laugh. Like many of my other strong images of wildlife, it is the eye-contact that caused me to select this as a top ten shot.
White-sided Dolphin Porpoising, Monterey Bay California : I have photographed dolphins and whales many times throughout my decades of nature photography, but have never made a clean shot of a dolphin that is completely out of the water. Shot on a very foggy morning, this was the first time I’ve made a dolphin photo that I actually like.
ICELAND: Tamy and I visited Iceland in June 2016 and again in August 2017. We had two amazing adventures, and I fell for the magical light and scenery that the country had to offer. With wanderlust in my heart, I made a rather spontaneous decision to return to Iceland. The trip was a cathartic experience as it was the first time I returned to a place we both loved, but this time I made the journey alone. The November conditions were nothing short of brilliant, as I was gifted two days of beautiful light and four days of turbulent Icelandic weather.
Clouds over Vestrahorn, Stokksnes Iceland : Although I had driven past this location previously, I never stopped. From the road this area appears to be a “nothing-burger.” On this occasion, a guide steared me in the right direction and I was able to capture the motion in the grass and sky as sunset approached.
Sunrise on Diamond Beach, Iceland : Much like Vestrahorn, Tamy and I did not have the opportunity to photograph Diamond Beach in 2016. While I made many images of water flowing in and around the ephemeral icebergs, I liked this simple shot of a sunstar refracting through a block of ice.
MOVING FORWARD: 2025 promises to be another year rich in photographic adventures. I have purchased a 2002 VW camper van and hope to spend the year traveling throughout the US and Canada. I do not know what the future holds, but if I’m alive, you’ll see me somewhere with a pack on my back and a tripod on my shoulder.
Happy New Year, bruce
Kaleidoscope of Monarchs, Natural Bridges California : After years of teaching, I now have the time and energy to push my brain in new and unique directions. Like each and every one of us, the some of our life experiences impacts how we perceive the past, present, and future. As I evolve, so evolves my vision of nature. This piece foreshadows my own evolution as an artist and says a bit about how I am feeling and thinking these days.
All Rights Reserved. Copyright Bruce J Leventhal, btleventhal.com, bruceleventhal.com
