top photos :: 2023

It's that time of year, the time when I wander through the photos that I've published during 2023 to find my favorites. It's always an interesting exercise, one that takes time and changes day-to-day until I have made my final choices.

From the beginning of the year, here are my selections.

Malachite butterfly

hanging upside down


pooled water

at Halibut Point State Park


tulips

opening


dahlia delight

posed


coastal view

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge


dahlias

in pink


across the dunes

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge


petals

of a chrysanthemum


still water

at Pomps Pond


mirrored patterns

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

These photos are collected into the gallery top photos :: 2023. If you'd like to see larger versions of the photos or you would like to view them as a full screen slideshow, click here to jump to the gallery, then press the triangle-shaped button at the top.

calm

While rain is predicted for tomorrow, today's weather tempted me to walk at Harold Parker State Forest.

The calm waters of Field Pond created a canvas showing reflecting trees.

on the wall

Yesterday afternoon I headed to the Punto Urban Art Museum on the streets of Salem, MA.

My goal was to see the set of new murals on the walls around the power station in The Point. The exhibit is titled "A Dream Called Home", inspired by the book of the same title by a Mexican-American author, Reyna Grande.

YOU ARE NOT LESS, YOU ARE MORE, by @GORGONEIA

Click here to see more photos of the art on the walls in the gallery murals in Salem :: 2023. The first 29 photos in the gallery are from yesterday's visit; the rest were taken in March of this year.

beach walk

It was a perfect afternoon for a walk on the beach. I started walking about an hour before low tide; I even managed to keep my feet dry.

The low angle of the winter sun provided interesting light as it emerged from behind a layer of clouds.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

quiet water

The water of Pomps Pond is smooth and quiet, a match for the pure blue sky.

wet

What a crazy storm!

I know it would have been smart to stay in today but when the rain lightened up a bit I decided to head out for a walk. The rain continued for a while, then stopped, leaving the wind to dry my rain jacket. It was just a lull - I finished my walk in heavy, heavy rain.

I'm glad that today's precipitation was liquid, not frozen.

water covers a field that is normally dry

trees

Evergreen trees color the landscape at Pomps Pond in Andover, MA.

iridescence

A play of color emerges as sunlight hits a heart-shaped lock on a fence in Portsmouth, NH.

across the Piscataqua

The sky kept changing today, from blue with clouds to gray and back again. Even with a chill wind, it was a good day for a walk in Portsmouth, NH.

Ripples in the Piscataqua River show refections of the clouds.

skim ice

Temperatures have been cold enough to support the formation of skim ice on the surface of ponds.

This view of early ice is from a walk in Harold Parker State Forest this afternoon.

rust and green

A few trees wearing rust-colored leaves pop in a stand of evergreens.

in Valley Forge National Historical Park