I haven’t counted, but I feel sure I’ve made more photographs in 2020 than in any other year of my life. Making photographs has been a way I’ve coped with the stress of the pandemic and of some heavy difficulties in the family. I photographed for the pleasure of it, anything I wanted, which made me sure I’d have trouble finding ten worthy of my annual post of favorite photographs. I shouldn’t have worried; I had to cut the set down from about thirty! Here are the ten, in no particular order.

Approaching. Kodak EasyShare Z730.

George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge. Pentax K10D, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SMC Pentax-DA AL.

On the tracks. Nikon F3, 35mm f/2.8 AI Nikkor, Adox HR-50, Adox HR-DEV 1+49.

The Berghoff. Olympus XA, Film Washi D.

Power lines. Polaroid SX-70, Polaroid B&W SX-70 film.

Central Indiana Telephone Co. Yashica-12, Kodak Tri-X (x-6/1981) @EI 200, Legacy Pro L110 Dilution B (1+31).

Ingredients for Lemon Pie. CanonPowerShot S95.

Kimmel’s Shoe Repair. Pentax IQZoom 60, Kodak T-Max 400, LegacyPro L110 Dilution H (1+63)

Chicago Union Station. Olympus XA, Kodak T-Max 400.

Tree Tunnel in Autumn. Olympus OM-2n, 50mm f/3.5 Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-Macro, Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400
If you’d like to get more of my photography in your inbox or reader, click here to subscribe.
I think my favorite among all these photos is the Chicago Union Station. Nice composition and contrasts.
Thank you! It’s probably my strongest photo of the year. I wasn’t sure I even liked it at first but it’s grown on me.
I’m glad it grew on you, Jim! I remember myself and fishyfisharcade telling you that one was something special when you originally posted it on your blog, despite your uncertainty about it. And it is something special. I agree with you that it’s your strongest photo of the year. Great stuff!
It wouldn’t have had a chance had you two not championed it!
:)
Fabulous, all. It is the first and the last that jump to the top of my list today. Ask me tomorrow and my answer could be different.
I made those two photos within about a mile of each other, out in the cornfields north of my home!
Nice selection. I also like the Union station shot the most.
Thanks! That one really is lovely. I especially like the light play in the lower corner.
Nice picture of the Berghoff sign. I have one shot during the day with my Dad standing in front of it, on his 80th birthday! He spent many years eating lunch there before he was transferred to Milwaukee, so on his 80th, I took him on the train down to Chicago, we had lunch, and went to the cigar store and bought cigars! A “Chicago” day! If you haven’t eaten there, it’s a trip back to the past!
I got to take a meal there in 2018, it was lovely. But different from how I remember it from the 1980s — somehow more contemporary.
When I was there with my Dad, it was 1994. It was still all old world, including waiters that looked like they had been there since VJ-day! If my memory serves me right (and many times it does NOT), in order to be a waiter there, you had to “buy the job”, i.e. when I waiter retired, he “sold” someone else the position: like a cab medallion! Different times….
Oh wow, that’s brutal! I had no idea that was a thing.
It’s a fine selection of your photographic work … well done ;)
Thank you!
Really handsome photos, Jim. I love your work.
I’m so pleased you feel that way, John! Thank you.
TEASER!!!!! So, ask Ms. Margaret if she will share her recipe for us home baker goodie folks. LOL
BTW… I enjoy seeing all your photos but my fav photo of the 10 is the black n white railroad tracks. Makes my wandering thoughts long for the old days.
You’re going to have to wait on that recipe — it’s part of a project she’s working on and hopes to publish!
I’m happy you like the railroad tracks. I’ve shot those particular tracks a number of times. I just love that scene.
I too like the Union station and the Berghoff. Going to the Berghoff was a real treat back in the “old days” … not so much now. I also like the tunnel photo. All are good.
I really enjoy the Berghoff sign shot too. I made that with this strange experimental film and so I didn’t know what I was going to get!
Jim, this is a diverse set of subjects you photographed. How did you chose? Were these emotional choices; ie the images have emotional significance? Or was the choice technical?
I tried posting just but I ended up posting almost twice that.
No, I just photograph what looks good to me as I walk/ride/drive around with a camera. Simple as that.