BEST PHOTOGRAPHY WORK OF 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past year from a photographic perspective. Taking a critical look at your own work can be both a rewarding and challenging exercise—often more difficult than it seems.
What’s particularly fascinating is how these personal favorites often differ greatly from the images that gain the most attention on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook. This contrast highlights the difference between creating for yourself and creating for an audience.
Like every year, I try to come up with the best 3 images of the four main categories I typically shoot;
Click on the respective links above, to check out the Portfolio galleries of these on my website.
The image below was shot during a short layover while being on my airline job in Melbourne, Australia. Obviously it was colour that attracted me to this scene!
My second dedicated Street Photography trip of 2024, was a weeklong trip to Istanbul Turkey. While this is my favourite image of the trip, the entire gallery can be found here. As I was walking under a bridge, I could see a couple posing during a wedding shoot. By pure coincidence there was an interesting sign to their left, which gives the image a complete different meaning.
AERIAL
After Street photography, Aerial photography from both fixed wing aircraft and drones, easily takes a second place. This year, all three images are however shot from our 1954 Piper Super Cub; a vintage two place aircraft I regularly fly out of Belgium.
I like abstracts a lot in my personal Aerial photography. The scene below was framed over "'t Zwin" a Nature reserve in northwestern Belgium.
The next one is of the railway yard at Gent-Dampoort in Belgium, where I was attracted by the multiple lines.
Staying with patterns and lines, the image below is of a greenhouse in Flanders (Belgium). I've tried capturing this one for some time in a creative way and finally came to a good one. For me the power sits in the diagonal lines and especially the large numbers of triangles in the frame.
TRAVEL
As there is an overflow from Street and Aerial photography into Travel, I've been playing with the idea to bin the Travel section entirely.
Working as an airline pilot means I normally get to shoot in a lot of interesting places all year round. This year however, travel was limited in the second part of the year, as I added another aircraft type (from Airbus A380 to A350) to my license, which meant I spend more time in Dubai than normal.
The first image was part of a project for the launch of the new Fujifilm GFX 100S II camera at the start of the new year. It was shot at Dubai Creek Harbour, a great place to shoot the sunset over the impressive Dubai Skyline. To me, a successful travel photograph inspires the viewer to visit the place it depicts—I hope this image accomplishes that!
Over the years, I’ve visited the Al Marmoom Camel Race Track countless times. Even when there’s no race happening, camels are regularly taken out for walks in the early morning and just before sunset. The image below captures one of those moments. I love how it conveys a timeless quality while unmistakably reflecting the unique character of the location.
This final image was captured during a two-week trip to Sri Lanka in November. Among the many travel photos I took, this one stands out. I love the juxtaposition of the tuk-tuk against the massive elephant, highlighting a sense of scale and coexistence. The heavy rain adds a dramatic atmosphere, making the moment even more compelling.
AVIATION
As a pilot, I'm always on the look-out to do some Aviation photography. Sometimes that's by attending an airshow, fly our 1954 vintage Piper Super Cub to one of the many "Summer Fly-ins" (get togethers) or photograph business aircraft and airliners whenever I see an opportunity.
Early this year I started a new "Fine-art Aviation" gallery; black and white images which make for great prints to hang on a wall. The first image comes from this collection and shows our 1954 Piper Super Cub aircraft at a Fly-in in eastern Belgium (Hasselt-Kiewit). I like how the approaching storm adds to the drama of the image.
The best airshow of the year I attended was at Cambrai (Northern France) at the end of the summer. What made it more special is that I was able to shoot the show from under the display line itself; a rare vantage point. Being right under the synchro pair of the Patrouille de France was a special moment!
As an airline pilot, I’ve had the privilege of flying the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, for over a decade. Since last summer, I’ve also taken on the role of instructor and examiner for the entry into service of the new Airbus A350. The final image was captured from a brand-new A350 and showcases its elegant wing alongside a man-made island located about 30 miles offshore in the Arabian Gulf. To me, the A350 isn’t just one of the most advanced modern wide-body airliners—it’s also the most beautiful.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The highlights of the year were two Street photography trips to Tokyo and Istanbul, several workshops for Fujifilm Middle East and shooting the Fujifilm GFX100S II for the launch of this new Larger than Full frame camera.
My 2024 Lightroom catalog is presently holds 10.855 images which interestingly enough is very similar to previous years. Of these, I've tagged just under 800 images as "five stars" images; a classification of an image which makes it portfolio worthy. Call it the best of the catalog!
Lastly, I wish all my readers, Happy Holidays!
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