The Lens-Artists Team is back from our December hiatus with our favorite image shares of 2024. This week, no single host will present the challenge. The entire team will share the challenge topic today. You can link to any or all of our team posts with your favorites of 2024.

As I prepared for our South African journey, I stopped at a camera store in Tempe, Arizona, to look for a used super-zoom lens. I purchased a Sigma 50-500 mm lens with a 5-day return privilege. I took it to the Phoenix Zoo for some test shots the next day. I wasn’t dissatisfied with the lens but opted to exchange it for a used Nikon 200-500 mm lens. One of my favorite shots of the Sigma test series is the opening photo, a close-up of a flamingo’s eye at 500 mm.

At the Fargo Air Sho 2024, I took that long, heavy Nikon lens to train myself using a monopod with my D500 on fast-moving subjects. I captured the condensation that sometimes occurs when conditions are right. As the jet moves at high speed, air flows over the aircraft’s surface, and if there’s enough moisture in the air, airborne water vapor will condense into tiny water droplets, forming the visible condensation you see.

This photo was taken around 1:30 PM in the afternoon on April 2023, but in the summer of 2024, I practiced some techniques for converting a scene taken during the day to emulate a night shot. I was happy with the color version, but after running it through Silver Efex, the black-and-white conversion made the photo one of my favorites for the year.

In October 2023, we visited friends in Wyoming and took a day trip to Flaming Gorge in Utah. I published the photo set of our journey on the Sheep Creek Byway in September 2024.

In June 2024, I published this cellpic photo of the interior at Fort Jefferson, an island fortress off the coast of Florida in Dry Tortugas National Park. The park is only accessible by boat or seaplane. We took a ferry from Key West.

In July 2024, this proud grandpa took a photo of my grandson after Owen completed his first flight lesson. In January, I decided to no longer keep my pilot credentials current. Approaching 75 years young, I concluded that my travel schedule prevented me from flying enough to remain competent. Coupled with the failings of old age, I felt it prudent to retire my avocation. As much as a treat for me as it was for Owen, I rode in the back seat while he got an initial flight lesson. I don’t know whether or not he’ll take to the sky in earnest, but he got the opportunity to see what flying a plane is like.

I couldn’t finish this post without sharing two favorite wildlife photos from Kruger National Park. What seemed like an idyllic scene to me was countered by our tour guide, who noted that two of the impalas and the kudu were intent on looking at what they might perceive as danger.

As we drove the road paralleling a river, we noticed a lion sitting on her haunches and eyeing a nyala we’d just passed. We stopped for a moment to see what might happen. After a few moments, the lion started stalking the nyala. Though it appears we’re very close to the lion, this photo was captured with a zoom setting of 480 mm, almost the maximum focal length of my lens. She paid no attention to our vehicle as she was intent on her target. Unfortunately for her, the nyala sensed the danger and quickly disappeared into the bush.

That’s all for my response to this week’s challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone else’s favorites for the year. Be sure to tag your post with the Lens-Artists tag or link to any or all of our team members’ posts to ensure everyone gets a look. It’s a new year; if you haven’t shared a challenge response before, why not share your favorites? To get started, you can find more information here.

Next week, Anne will host the challenge, with her post going public on Saturday, January 11, at noon EST. Be sure to subscribe to her site here so you don’t miss her challenge post.

John Steiner