Top 10 Favorite Images from 2021
I hope everyone had a great holiday season and I always wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year. As most of you know as I prepare for the next year, I always take some time to reflect upon my photography from the previous year and my goals. My goal from last year was to capture more images in 2021 than I did in 2020. In retrospect, I captured about the same number, so I didn’t quite hit my goal, but I feel like the photographs I did capture were more diverse than previous years. This is something I’m always striving for.
Before I present the images, I always want to mention that the previous years favorites are available from these posts: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
Also, all the images from 2020 on my website can be viewed: Images from 2021.
My yearly disclaimer: As with every year, with each selection I consider the technical and aesthetic aspects, but also if they hold any special memory or meaning for me. The following images are in no particular order.
![Deep in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park, a small tarn close to Thunder Lake reflects the beautiful mountains as they glow with the light of the rising sun.](https://i0.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_1425-thunder-lake-tarn-2-674x1024.jpg?resize=660%2C1003)
A small tarn near Thunder Lake deep in the backcountry of the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. I camped here with my daughter for 2 incredible nights and were greeted with this scene at sunrise.
![A small bunny rests deep in the forest near Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana.](https://i1.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/R0A9931-tiny-bunny-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
I had hoped to create more images in 2021 and I certainly kept that promise, in wildlife images. I came across a few baby critters throughout my travels. This little bunny was nestled in the forest near Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana.
![Swiftcurrent Lake in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park reflects the mountains as the sunlight gives the mountains a warm hue.](https://i0.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/112A5079-swiftcurrent-many-glacier-sunrise-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
Near where the bunny was nestled, this scene was just a few feet away. I captured this image on a beautiful July morning, a near perfect reflection.
![A summer storm brews in the distance while the sun shines through under the clouds.](https://i2.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/112A6328-windmill-fence-storm-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
Sunlight glows behind the clouds as a storm rolls through the Sandhills of central Nebraska.
![Twin Lakes in Colorado is still as the light of dawn begins to paint the landscape in warm hues.](https://i1.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/112A6599-twin-lake-sunrise-haze-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
Forest Fires from the west created perfect conditions for a beautiful sunrise over Twin Lakes near Leadville, Colorado. I spent two days exploring the shores looking for the perfect composition.
![A waterfall from the outlet of Swiftcurrent Lake in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park glows in the rising sun.](https://i0.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/112A5684-many-glacier-waterfall-683x1024.jpg?resize=660%2C990)
A waterfall near Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park glows with warm hues from the rising sun.
![A monarch butterfly suns itself on prairie grass near a lake in Sarpy County, Nebraska.](https://i0.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/R0A7465-monarch-butterfly-grass-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
Captured near a small lake in eastern Nebraska this monarch butterfly was sunning its wings on a warm late summer day.
![Two Bighorn Sheep lambs playfully butt heads in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.](https://i1.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/R0A9067-baby-bighorn-heads-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
Butting Heads
Two bighorn sheep kids butt heads playfully on a butte in Badlands National Park, South Dakota. I captured this scene on a July afternoon. For quite a time I put the camera down and simply watched these kids play. Sometimes its better to just take it all in.
![A duckling cuddles up to his mother on the banks of a lake in eastern Nebraska.](https://i0.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/8T7A31310-ducking-and-mother-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
While kayaking I found this little duckling snuggling up to mother. I wasn’t expecting this scene. It always pays to keep your camera close at all times!
![A bald eagle in eastern Nebraska flys across the sky with dinner in its talons.](https://i2.wp.com/www.journeyoflight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/R0A4206-bald-eagle-fishing-1-1024x683.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
I captured my last image while watching this magnificent eagle fishing in a lake in Nebraska. I was thrilled to be able to capture him with his dinner.