Democracy is such a beautiful thing. I’m offering you another chance to vote! This time it’s on my favourite landscapes from blog posts in 2013.
If you happen to wander around this blog a little, you may have noticed I have a tiny preference for wildlife. I like to look for wildlife in beautiful places so if the creatures are playing possum, I amuse myself with scenery. I even managed to collect 10 shots to make a full lid for this post. Just for the record, my eclectic definition of landscapes is basically any nature photo that doesn’t include wildlife.
So vote away on the poll at the end – for as many photos as you like and see how others voted. As always, I’d love to hear why you made the choices.
1. Mountain Magic
While driving near Fairmont BC, I had to stop when I noticed the sun hitting this distant mountain peak. Definite stopping power.
2. Favourite Haunt
This is one of my favourite stops in Prince Albert National Park, SK. There are typically beavers in summer and very fall the colours are nothing short of remarkable. 
3. Leaning into the Sun
Hoarfrost at a nearby lake created wonderful displays along the shore line. Thankfully I didn’t go blind taking this shot.
4. Grand Sunset
I went to Grand Teton National Park in the US for wildlife and found this sunset along the way. What an evening!
5. Peace and Turmoil
Water turned to glass on the lake above Nistowiak Falls in northern SK. I don’t think I’ll ever remember how to spell those falls!
6. Spring
Spring emerges in Banff National Park. What better symbol than this?
7. Frosty Barb
It’s hard to imagine barbed wire as beautiful but dress it up with some frost and it’s amazing to see the improvement. 
8. Unusual Beauty
I drove past this scene in Prince Albert National Park but the image lingered and forced me to back up to take the photo. Who knew a pile of branches was photogenic?
9. Magical Light
What were the odds the sun would trace around the edges of this valley in Yellowstone National Park while I watched?
10. Simple Beauty
There is something special about pure, driven snow. Thankfully I didn’t walk through this area to get to this spot.
Krahnpix 
I fondly remembered this post of your’s and came back to take another look. I find these images soothing to look at and they just plain make me feel good. Not often a series of photos does that for me but this series really has it going on.
Wish I could bump this to the top of the page forum style, I bet lots of folks would enjoy seeing these again.
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Wow. I am amazed that you remembered this post and then came back to it! A photo can’t do much more than make a person feel good. I have the advantage of being taken back to those beautiful places in my memories which, of course, makes it impossible for me to view them the same way as others.
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Outstanding!
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Thanks so much.
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These photos are all remarkable, stunning images. I voted for the grand sunset. This image is breathtaking, it is such a poignant scene, the clouds are amazing and the reflection turning the water gold is really beautiful. The frosty barb is really special too. The photos are all spectacular and wonderful.
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Thanks for voting and your comments. The sunset was one of those amazing moments that completely surprised me and made me stop to take the photo. It really was surreal. Few things match the luxury of being in the right spot. It was fun to look back at the year and enjoy the scenes I experienced.
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That Teton Sunset is just stunning! All of these are terrific, I struggle with wide scenes. Looks like you put in a few miles this year 🙂
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Thanks so much. The funny thing is that Teton sunset was actually a side show. I had been looking for wildlife in that spot and was getting ready to leave since it was getting too dark when I saw the sunset and realized I had to shoot that. It was pretty quick, no tripod and little thought compared to other scenes I agonized over and that never made it to my top 100. Go figure. I too find wide scenes much more difficult but having a grand show apparently trumps that. I was able to go on some significant trips this year which was a blessing.
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I definitely enjoy seeing what you are up to. All of the photos their own special interest and are pleasing. To choose one I have to vote for “Grand Sunset”. My reasoning is strictly on the mood it puts me in. When all the choices are great you have to go with your gut. Nice job and I look forward to seeing he best of 2014.
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I’m happy I am able to keep you interested in my posts. I think you are absolutely right about using your gut to try to make subjective judgement calls. Right now it seems daunting to try to come up with something comparable next year. I really appreciate your thotful comments.
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All your photos are magnificent, but I decided on the Grand Teton sunset. It’s superb. 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed them. That was a special sunset.
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1. You do have a very liberal definition of a landscape.
2. I voted for the Grand Teton Sunset because that photo is jaw-dropping and I can imagine how amazing it must have been there.
3. I also like he snowflake on the barbed wire fence. That is very artistic. Only if a hawk has landed on it…
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1. I was waiting for someone to call me on that. I need a better word.
2. Thanks for voting and explaining. That sunset came unexpectedly since I rarely see them in the mountains.
3. I like your idea of the hawk. Darn I left too soon again.
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Both of these have been really tough decisions, each in their own way are so unique and display the wonders of nature so vividly. I recognized them all, so they obviously stuck in my memory for what made them so interesting. I ended up having to blindly pick, but I love the cotton candy flow of the river, so I chose that one.
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Wow I am so impressed that you were able to remember all the photos. The water flow has a special appeal. Thanks so much for comments.
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So hard to pick just one! The Grand Sunset is my favorite. It is almost as if I am right there admiring the colors from the water’s edge, beautiful!!!
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I’m happy to take you there! Thanks so much.
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Stunning, gorgeous – hard to vote for just one. My vote went to the Frosty Barb, because it’s an image you don’t see every day.
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Thanks so much. The frost was amazing that day, I’ve never seen anything like it before or after. I’m glad you like it.
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Looking at the first one I figured it couldn’t get any better than that, until….. #4-Grand Sunset had me sucking in my breath in a gasp. Mountains, sunset reflections on water, what could be more perfect than that? Then again… I have to say they were all magnificent in their own way. Except perhaps #9. Could be my screen, but I really had to peer into the dark to make out what it was.
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As always I appreciate your comments. There is something magical about the mountains and it’s nice to capture some of the essence in photographs. I’m happy you found it too. When I have a dark photograph like #9, it’s hard to know how much to adjust it since it’s hard to know what readers will see on their particular monitors.
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I’ve heard that monitor settings can be a problem and I’ve heard there are adjustments that can or ought to be made, but I’ve never seriously looked into it. Perhaps I should.
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To be honest I find that whole area frustrating. I have calibrated my monitors but my two monitors still show different results. Each monitor is going to handle light and colour differently. On a less dramatic photo it’s not that noticeable but when the photos are more light or dark it seems to make more of a difference.
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If you tell a photographer their photograph looks like a painting, is that a compliment? Can you call a digital picture a photograph? So many questions, I know. Anyway this “photograph” looked like a painting to me. The soft detail at the front combined with the magical light, made #9 “Magical Light” my favorite.
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It is to me! It’s funny because I think it’s great photographs look like paintings and when paintings look like photographs. There must be a sweet spot in there somewhere. I well remember looking out over that scene and I felt like I was in a painting. Thanks for the comments.
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All of your photos here are marvelous, but the ice-decorated barbed wire gets my vote because of the unexpected juxtaposition of man-made wire and nature-made ice, long-lasting coarse metal and delicate ephemeral frozen sculpture. And because I’ve never seen anything like that before. You have a great eye, if I may say so!
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You describe that unexpected juxtaposition better than I could but it is something different. As always, I appreciate your thotful comments.
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Lyle, The images are all spectacular in their own right. This is a really tough decision, but I think my most favorite is “Grand Sunset” followed by “Frosty Barb” and then….I don’t even know. I love them all! The simplicity of Spring is wonderful though! Best, Robyn
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Thanks for playing along. I find it interesting to hear about people’s choices since we all look at photos differently. And of course I was there so my view will always be different. I appreciate the comments.
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I voted for the barbed wire, because I could imagine being right in the middle of that landscape, touching the wire. Second choice was the mountain, beaten just because it was more distant.
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Interesting. The barbed wire was in a rather desolate, snowy landscape – most of all I liked the quiet since there was no one else around for kilometres. In order to get close enough to the wire I was tromping through snow up to my knees. The funny thing is I stopped because of an old abandoned building but the frost was way better.
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Ten lovely choices once again! I confess I envy you the spectacular fall foliage, I find the barb the most interesting as a photo, but simple snow is hard to beat for beauty, and my personal favourite 🙂
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This fall I was surprised to learn how many places don’t get that dramatic colour turn but then not many places get as cold as here either. I was wondering if the simple beauty of snow would sway anyone. I really appreciate your comments.
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I really appreciate your photos!
They’re the photos I’d love to take if I had the skill, the patience and whatnot. 🙂
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I’m guessing it’s mostly whatnot! It’s nice to share similar tastes – I’m sure you could do it too if you really wanted.
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#4 The Grand Sunset gets my vote but I did have to agonize over my choice due to the overall excellence of this group.
Very well done!
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Thanks so much. I appreciate you stopping by to choose. I thot that one might win over a few people.
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#7, #2, #6, #1
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Thanks for picking. I was trying to come with a pattern on your choices and couldn’t.
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Now I have more details about my choices: #7 – because of blue shades and the sharpness of that wire; #2 – I love that refflection of the trees and the lovely colours of Autumn; #6 – I love green and this sort of buds; #1 – for that white peak.
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All wonderful, but number 7 is my favorite!
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Thanks. I was quite pleased to stumble upon that one!
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Peace and Turmoil is my first choice, but it was neck and neck with Simple Beauty for me …
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It’s good to have competition. Thanks for choosing.
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I like the barbed wire – just cause I’ve never seen that captured so beautifully before and I live on a farm in Northern Saskatchewan. The mountains are beautiful – but I’ve seen so many pictures and plan to see so many more….
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Since we’re in the same province, we’ve both seen a lot of barbed wire! The day I found that scene, I was astounded that so much frost could hang freely. I appreciate the comments.
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I voted too and I am so glad that most of us voted the same photograph… It was amazing. Thank you, love, nia
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Glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate you checking them out and commenting.
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First place goes to Magical light, even i’m in a minority with that. Has something…out of ordinary. Congrats!
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Thanks. The beauty of this is that are no wrong answers even in the minority. I completely agree with you that photo has something way out of the ordinary – it makes me feel good every time I look at it as I get transported back to that scene.
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Love landscape photography…and you’re a master at it!! Well done…thanks for the fun of allowing us to vote…even though it was hard to choose! Ha!
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I’m glad you see the fun in voting. I like those kinds of choices but I’m higher on the decisive side than some. I appreciate your comments.
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For mood, movement, reflection, detail, and grandeur the choice is clear. Each and every shot holds the stuff of life and delivers sensational magic.
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The stuff of life – I like that. Lots of magic buried there and its a lot of fun to find it.
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Again, a difficult choice.. They’re all spectacular in different ways! I voted for the unusual beauty, I love that we can find beauty in unexpected and quite ordinary things. And again, a photo with a story to tell!! 😀
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Getting surprised by beauty is a special reward for keeping my eyes open to the potential. And stories help.
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love them all! Adeline
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I appreciate that.
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#1
Mountains are majestic.
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They truly are. I always feel a sense of wonder when I stand in their presence.
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unique!
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Thanks
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