Jonathan-Mac
Well-Known Member
I used to do this over on the Pentax forum but since I very rarely shoot my Pentax gear now it makes much more sense to do it here with images shot with my S5. One image for every month in the year, though not one image taken in each month.
Starting with what I consider my best image of the year, this was taken in the Palacio De Cristal (glass palace) in the grounds of the Madrid Parque de Retiro. I took a day off work and headed into town with a brace of old manual lenses (nothing native L-mount) and had a great time shooting without any rush. The Palacio De Cristal is used as an art exhibition place and I've captured some interesting stuff here over the years. This time it was filled with artificial smoke and in fact was nowhere near as dark as the image suggests - it was a bright day but I exposed for the highlights. Taken with a Vivitar (Tokina made) 17mm f/3.5 in Pentax K mount).
Smoke in the crystal palace by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
From the very beginning of the year at the Reyes Magos procession in Segovia with the superb Pentax SMC 135mm f/2.5.
Angel by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
On a spring trip to Valencia. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art.
Valencia by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Another spring trip, this time to Edinburgh. Taken in the garden belonging to the parents of a friend who passed away twelve years ago now. We always visit when we're back. Lumix 50mm f/1.8 at minimum focus distance.
Ladybird by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
It was a very long and very hot summer this year. Pentax SMC 30mm f/2.8.
Dry summer II by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Taken in the Melissani cave on the Greek island of Kefalonia, which was a stop on our summer cruise. The Lumix 20-60mm was perfect for this - compact and wide.
Melissani cave by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Another stop on the cruise - Montenegro. This photo was taken from the launch we took on a brief tour of the bay and for me it really captures the beautiful surroundings and summer light. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art.
Montenegro by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
And another Greek island, this time Mykonos. A village street showing the traditional Greek colours of white and blue. Lumix 20-60mm.
Mykonos street by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Two newborn kittens sleep at the bottom of a friend's garden. The mother, a street cat, gave birth to at least four in the litter and moved all but these two to somewhere else while my family were there. Unfortunately the commotion of having children arrive and run around playing must have scared her off and she didn't come back for these two so they were taken to a shelter the next day. Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN.
Sleeping kittens by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
A butterfly perches on my elder daughter's hand in the summer. Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN.
Butterfly by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
I'm not much of a street photographer - I don't have the instincts or the bravery to really immerse myself and risk being called out for photographing, but something about this photo from an Autumn trip to Porto makes it stand out to me. I think it's a combination of the soft light and wondering what the old lady is thinking. Lumix 16-35mm f/4.
Porto bird lady by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
And lastly, an actress raises her hands in the spotlight of a show at Puy Du Fou Spain, a sort of medieval theme park with a very impressive night-time show. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art.
Puy Du Fou by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
There are a few other images I'd have liked to include, especially from Venice, but this is a nice representation of the year without overdoing it. Of course, it doesn't include any of the many portraits I shot, mostly of my daughters, which I don't publish online.
I hope you all enjoyed photography in 2023 as much as I did.
Starting with what I consider my best image of the year, this was taken in the Palacio De Cristal (glass palace) in the grounds of the Madrid Parque de Retiro. I took a day off work and headed into town with a brace of old manual lenses (nothing native L-mount) and had a great time shooting without any rush. The Palacio De Cristal is used as an art exhibition place and I've captured some interesting stuff here over the years. This time it was filled with artificial smoke and in fact was nowhere near as dark as the image suggests - it was a bright day but I exposed for the highlights. Taken with a Vivitar (Tokina made) 17mm f/3.5 in Pentax K mount).
Smoke in the crystal palace by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
From the very beginning of the year at the Reyes Magos procession in Segovia with the superb Pentax SMC 135mm f/2.5.
Angel by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
On a spring trip to Valencia. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art.
Valencia by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Another spring trip, this time to Edinburgh. Taken in the garden belonging to the parents of a friend who passed away twelve years ago now. We always visit when we're back. Lumix 50mm f/1.8 at minimum focus distance.
Ladybird by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
It was a very long and very hot summer this year. Pentax SMC 30mm f/2.8.
Dry summer II by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Taken in the Melissani cave on the Greek island of Kefalonia, which was a stop on our summer cruise. The Lumix 20-60mm was perfect for this - compact and wide.
Melissani cave by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Another stop on the cruise - Montenegro. This photo was taken from the launch we took on a brief tour of the bay and for me it really captures the beautiful surroundings and summer light. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art.
Montenegro by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
And another Greek island, this time Mykonos. A village street showing the traditional Greek colours of white and blue. Lumix 20-60mm.
Mykonos street by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Two newborn kittens sleep at the bottom of a friend's garden. The mother, a street cat, gave birth to at least four in the litter and moved all but these two to somewhere else while my family were there. Unfortunately the commotion of having children arrive and run around playing must have scared her off and she didn't come back for these two so they were taken to a shelter the next day. Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN.
Sleeping kittens by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
A butterfly perches on my elder daughter's hand in the summer. Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN.
Butterfly by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
I'm not much of a street photographer - I don't have the instincts or the bravery to really immerse myself and risk being called out for photographing, but something about this photo from an Autumn trip to Porto makes it stand out to me. I think it's a combination of the soft light and wondering what the old lady is thinking. Lumix 16-35mm f/4.
Porto bird lady by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
And lastly, an actress raises her hands in the spotlight of a show at Puy Du Fou Spain, a sort of medieval theme park with a very impressive night-time show. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art.
Puy Du Fou by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
There are a few other images I'd have liked to include, especially from Venice, but this is a nice representation of the year without overdoing it. Of course, it doesn't include any of the many portraits I shot, mostly of my daughters, which I don't publish online.
I hope you all enjoyed photography in 2023 as much as I did.
