I thought it’d be fun to go through what turned out to be my top content on social media for the year and that continues today. Mainly I’ll focus on Instagram but I’ll drop in a few others towards the end as when they get traction (e.g. Flickr) the stats go crazy. So, here’s number 1 in my most viewed posts of 2023… does that make them the BEST? Not so sure, but for whatever reason they connected with people, or the algorithm!

So, this is it… the second shuttle image in my top 10 posts from Instagram this year. As rated by their analytics. People love the shuttle… or maybe people love space. Probably both. I can’t remember what prompted the re-share and I was sure an image from Scotland would make the top spot as there were a bunch of those which are definitely in my favorite images I’ve ever taken but there you go!

Number 1

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2011-05-16 12:57:04
• CameraNIKON D3S
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1/8000
• Aperture1.4
• ISO200
• Focal Length50.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

I thought it’d be fun to go through what turned out to be my top content on social media for the year and that continues today. Mainly I’ll focus on Instagram but I’ll drop in a few others towards the end as when they get traction (e.g. Flickr) the stats go crazy. So, here’s number 5 in my most viewed posts of 2023… does that make them the BEST? Not so sure, but for whatever reason they connected with people, or the algorithm!

This one is interesting… people love the shuttle. But more on that in a few days…

Number 5

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2011-05-16 07:56:01
• CameraNIKON D3X
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1/8000
• Aperture5.6
• ISO200
• Focal Length112.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-1

This photo was a bit of an accident.

I was as close as humanly possible to the launch, on the edge of the media area in the NASA compound. When the shuttle blasts off, there is a long delay before you hear the thing. Right when I took this, the first sound wave ripped through my skeleton. I think I just hit the trigger out of fear and shock combined! But, it came out pretty good, all the same.

Endeavor to the Beyond

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2011-05-16 07:56:01
• CameraNIKON D3X
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1/8000
• Aperture5.6
• ISO200
• Focal Length112.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-1

I was lucky enough to be invited by NASA to the final few launches of the Space Shuttle. Wow that really was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever witnessed. What really surprised me is when the wall of sound hit me and how it shook my skeleton like an earthquake.
From the new NFT drop on Foundation.

Up and Away. USA.

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2011-07-08 15:29:58
• CameraNIKON D3S
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1/2500
• Aperture13
• ISO200
• Focal Length50.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-1

Maybe I’ve been lucky, but every sunrise I’ve seen on the east coast of Florida has been absolutely beautiful. Even on days when it’s quite cloudy, the sun somehow manages to pop through and make the whole scene epic. Besides that, nothing beats a morning walk on the beach to clear your head and get you ready for the day! 🙂

From the new NFT drop on Foundation

Sunrise Florida. USA

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2019-06-13 06:34:02
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/400
• Aperture8
• ISO160
• Focal Length29.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Miami is a pretty cool place to shoot because it’s an interesting-looking city and there is a ton of water around to get all sorts of shots. I set this one up to be a bit of a longer exposure to smooth out the water and give the clouds a bit of a trippy effect. And, then, of course, adding a little HDR makes it even better!

Miami at Dusk

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-08 12:21:02
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time6
• Aperture5
• ISO200
• Focal Length28.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias+2

What a cool-looking place eh? I love these kinds of funky restaurants that have all kinds of crazy lighting. This is one of those open-plan styles where the chefs are in the middle and you get to watch them all the time. I’m not a chef, but I think it would be more fun to be out in the open like this rather than stuck in some back room.

Burlock Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-01-10 06:58:30
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time8
• Aperture10
• ISO125
• Focal Length12.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias+1

I don’t remember exactly where I heard this theory, but I kind of like it. I believe it had to do with street photography and capturing an interesting number of people. For some reason, an odd number looks more interesting than an even number. I don’t know why. I don’t even know if I believe it…but maybe. I try to do it with objects too… apart from here, where there are 6 cool trees…

The Odd Number Theory

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-17 10:21:33
• CameraFC220
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/850
• Aperture2.2
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

As cheesy as it is, Disney World offers all kinds of great photo opportunities. I guess they are still going strong in the middle of Covid, but I haven’t been there in a few years. One of my best recommendations for a photographer is to go to Epcot and take your time taking photos, well into the night. Even after they close, the security is very nice and they let you take as many photos as you like.

The Matterhorn at Epcot

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-12-30 02:06:01
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/1600
• Aperture5
• ISO200
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-0.3

No, this is not product placement for the Google phone! I just love this thing so much and I think it’s fun to share photos with it. It’s not as awesome as my Sony, but, honestly, 99% of the general public who knows nothing about cameras would see very little difference, if any.

Lighthouse with the Pixel 4 phone

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-08 17:43:38
• CameraPixel 2 XL
• Camera MakeGoogle
• Exposure Time1/450
• Aperture1.8
• ISO50
• Focal Length4.5 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias