A Year In Photos with Colby Brown – 2012

Another year has come and gone and all of us are left with memories of the last 12 months. As a photographer, I am fortunate that my art-form allows me to capture many of these moments and share them with the world. 2012 was a year of growth, travel and experiences I will never forget. I taught photography workshops in Death Valley NP, Zion NP, Nicaragua, Peru, Cambodia and Jordan. I also had adventures in Iceland, Bolivia and Alaska as I scouted locations for future trips and workshops. My wife and I were also able to watch my son, Jack, grow up (he is now 15 months old), which has continued to shape and reshape my view of the world and my place in it.

As I look back at these memories and experiences, I can’t help but reflect on the perspective they bring to my life. In choosing these 12 images to share, I am giving you some insight into the personal nature of my work as a photographer. While I love sharing my photography with the world, I try not to judge the value of my images based on how you respond to them. A favorite image of mine is still my favorite no matter if it goes viral on Google+ with hundreds of thousands of views or gets 5 likes on Facebook. In fact, many of these images have never been released to the public.

When you are choosing your favorite images of 2012 (or any year in the future), I hope that you aren’t swayed too much by public opinion. Too many photographers try to place a tangible quantifiable value on their work based solely off of social media interaction. Maybe I am out on left field on this one, but art has always spoken to me because of its personal nature. If the number of people that “Liked” images equated to their true value, then animated cat GIFs would be in museums and nearly all photographers would need to look for new jobs 😉

Regardless, I wish you all the best in 2013 and if you see me out in the field or on a plane heading somewhere, please don’t’ hesitate to stop and introduce yourself. I love meeting new people!

*click on the images below to view larger versions…

The Gullfoss Waterfall in South Western Iceland — “The Power of Gullfoss” – Hvítá river, Iceland

The Milky Way visible above the village of Coipasa in Bolivia — “The Bolivian Milky Way” – Coipasa Salt Flats, Bolivia

Sand Waves in Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park — “A Mountain of Sand” – Death Valley National Park

"The Jewel of America" - Sitka, Alaska — “The Jewel of America” – Sitka, Alaska

A candle lit shrine to Buddha found in Angkor Wat City in Cambodia — “A Homage to Buddha” – Angkor Wat City, Cambodia

A Boy prepares breakfast in his home in the slums of Granada Nicaragua — “Finding Perspective” – Granada, Nicaragua

Thousands of candles like the Siq leading to the Treasury in Petra, Jordan for Petra by Night — “Petra by Night” – Ancient City of Petra, Jordan

Reflected clouds over Laguna Colorada in Bolivia — “Laguna Colorada” – Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna NR, Bolivia

White Icelandic Horse captured in West Iceland — “Icelandic Beauty” – West Iceland

A beautiful purple flower from Peru — “Purple Infusion” – Oropesa, Peru

Dawn at Zabriski Point in Death Valley National Park California — “Dawn at Zabriskie Point” – Death Valley National Park, California

The celebration of Jack Hunter Browns 1st birthday — “Turning One” – Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Over the next two weeks, I will share each of these images individually on Facebook and Google+ to tell you more them and give you some insight behind their significance.

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About the Author

Colby Brown

Colby Brown is a photographer, photo educator and author that specializes in landscape, travel and wildlife photography. His photographic portfolio spans the four corners of the globe and all 7 continents. He has worked as a photo instructor for National Geographic and founded The Giving Lens, an organization that blends photo education with support for various non-governmental organizations (NGO) and causes around the world, such as child education, clean drinking water projects, and women’s rights.

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Upcoming Photo Workshop Adventures...

Discover Cuba

February 4th – 11th, 2024

With this adventure, our focus will be on capturing the beauty of the Cuban people, culture, and architecture throughout the Island of Cuba. From the classic cars and ocean side highways in Havana to the cobblestone streets of Trinidad and everything in between. With so much uncertainty in the US/Cuban relationship, NOW is the time to go!

Aurora Over Skogafoss in South Iceland from Colby Brown's Iceland Winter Photo Workshop

Iceland Winter Photo Workshop – Ice Caves & Auroras

March 4th – 11th, 2024

Winter in Iceland is one of those unique experiences that everyone should have at least once in their life. With this workshop, we will focus our time on the South of Iceland, focusing our time on Ice Caves, Northern Lights, and glaciers, but we will also photograph a number of waterfalls such as Gullfoss, Bruarfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss and more.

Wildlife Photography Workshop in Brazil Jaguars of the Pantanal

August 30th – Sept. 6th, 2023

The Pantanal region of Brazil is known as the land of the Jaguar. Nowhere else on Earth is there a higher concentration of these elusive big cats than this remote region of Southern Brazil, close to the Southern Amazon Basin. In addition to Jaguars, you will see Caimen, Capybara and a wide assortment of birds.

Leknes Northern Lights Lofoten Islands Norway Photo Workshop

Norway Photo Workshop – Lofoten Islands

February 24th – March 2nd, 2024

Join us this February as we explore this impressive series of Islands located above the Arctic Circle. While we will work hard to get you in the right spot for both sunrise and sunset, with over half the day steeped in darkness, we will make sure to chase any and all Aurora activity that presents itself throughout our time in the Lofoten Islands.