My Top Ten Photos of 2012

I didn’t move around a lot in 2012, spending the year in Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Moving slowly did allow me to dig a little deeper into the places I visited than I might have otherwise. Here are ten of my favorite shots from the last year.

Weathered window in Utila, Honduras — I love texture and color and this wonderfully worn shutter has both. I had to wait for a cloudy day to get the shot I wanted, avoiding direct sunlight that would have washed out the color.

More Texture and Color from Copán de Ruinas, Honduras — This beautiful mountain town is home to the Mayan ruins of Copán and dozens of delightful details like this.

Morning light on the lake at Coba, Mexico — While waiting for the park to open so I could go roam about some Mayan ruins, I was drawn to the warm colors of this small lake.

Day’s end at the Temple of the Great Jaguar, Tikal, Guatemala — I had just enough time to capture the last of the light on this massive pyramid before the security guards ran me out of the park.

Sunset on Lake Peten, El Rematé, Guatemala — Sometimes the photos take themselves. I stepped out of my hotel room and found this nice conjunction of color and composition. All I had to do was push the trigger.

Beans for sale, Antigua, Guatemala — I can’t visit a market without taking a hundred photos. I love this one for the clean lines, wonderful textures and muted colors.

Lakeside dock, Flores, Guatemala — Flores manages to pack a lot of visual impact into a tiny island. I passed this dock every morning as I walked about — later in the day it would be packed with backpackers and tourists sunning themselves.

Yucca plant, Antigua, Guatemala — It was midday when my buddy Joe and I decided to explore this ruined church so most of my shots from that day were washed out and bland. Luckily, I discovered this lovely yucca plant sitting quietly in the shade so I walked away with at least one ‘keeper’.

An intricate alfombra, created for Semana Santa (Easter week) , Antigua, Guatemala — I’m still astounded by the amount of color and detail visible in these ‘carpets’ made of sawdust and other organic materials. I’d like to tell you that the gentleman in the middle of the shot was praying or meditating, but he was actually taking photos just as we all were. More photos HERE.

A penitent and incense burner, Antigua, Guatemala — Easter week in Antigua is an experience unlike any other, you can find cheap Caribbean vacations on Expedia to visit the country at this time of the year. Thousands and thousands of Catholics parade though the cobblestone streets at all hours of the day and night — astounding.

What was your favorite photo of 2012? Leave a link in the comments. And have a happy 2013.

-Wes