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2021 Year In Review - Another Year of Photography During The Pandemic

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December 30, 2021

Waiting for sunrise along Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

This was another pandemic year, but unlike 2020, more people were getting out and away from enclosed spaces, which resulted in the National Park System receiving quite a bit of visitation. While I didn’t travel much during the first half of 2021, I still had plenty of material to write monthly photo columns for the Traveler. The second half of 2021 saw me traveling to several national parks (Mount Rainier, Yosemite, Great Basin) as well as starting my trek along the Washington state portion of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (you’ll read about this in articles penned for 2022). Of those 2021 columns published, here are a few of my favorites for you to check out.

My 10 Fave Shots From 2020

Maroon and yellow folds of "velvet," John Day Fossil Beds National Monument / Rebecca Latson

Maroon and yellow folds of "velvet," John Day Fossil Beds National Monument / Rebecca Latson

For the past eight years, I’ve kept a January tradition with the Traveler wherein I list my favorite national park shots (usually 10, sometimes more, sometimes less) of the previous year, why each photo is a favorite, and how I framed that composition.

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The Yin And Yang Of A Composition

Sunrise at Malaquite Beach, Padre Island National Seashore / Rebecca Latson

Yin and yang: “two complementary forces” coming together to form something of beauty. I often see that in my national park images. Sometimes, that yin/yang factor is captured unconsciously, and other times, I see it right away.

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Seeing The Forest For The Trees

Ferns, forest, and a sunstar, Redwood National and State Parks / Rebecca Latson

As you visit various units within the National Park System, take a moment to really look at the forests you may see. They are not all alike, and you can capture some stunning forest interiors with the tips and techniques I provide in this column.

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Water, Water, Everywhere

The energy of water, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Take a look at all the national parks images you’ve captured. How many of them feature some aspect of water (liquid, solid, or gaseous)? 

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A Great Time In Great Basin National Park

"Cave shield" speleothems in Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

"Cave shield" speleothems in Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

Great Basin National Park in Nevada is a part of, and surrounded by, stark, arid, lonely, and geologically stunning basin and range landscape. Even during the height of summer and crowds, you can still come away with great images, both upon and below the earth’s surface.

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Capturing The Colors And Character Of Fall

An autumn sunrise over Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Not all units of the National Park System experience (and exhibit) fall in the same way. But, for those parks that display a little autumn color, here are a few tips and techniques for capturing that seasonal brilliance to wow your viewers.

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The Faces Of Winter

A dusting of winter snow over Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park / Rebecca Latson

Just as park units in the National Park System experience and exhibit autumn in varied ways, so do they differ from one another in how they manifest winter. Some parks have an abundance of snow, while others have only a tiny bit or none at all. Get to know these varied faces of winter and learn a few tips and techniques to capture the best images.

Read the column

Related Stories:

A Day In The Park: Mount Rainier National Park
Why Our Nation's Most Vulnerable Species Are At Risk
A Day In The Park: Yosemite National Park

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