Top 22 Photos from 2022

That’s a Kodak moment!  I wonder how many readers remember this popular saying.  The “Kodak moment” tagline came from a popular advertising campaign for Kodak cameras in the latter half of the twentieth century.  That was back in the heyday of film photography when the Kodak company dominated the market.  The expression evolved to mean “a moment in time that is so precious because of its sentimental value or its beauty, one wishes to preserve it on film” says Grammarist.com.
Sharp-eyed readers might notice a couple of personal Kodak moments in the featured photo, that’s me with my Dad, Mom and big brother, taken at a time when my Dad actually used a Kodak box camera similar to the Brownie Hawkeye shown.
Of course, nowadays with the ease and affordability of digital photography, it’s not necessary to be so choosy about the photos we take.  Instead, we simply decide which shots are worth keeping after the fact.  At least, that’s what I tried to do while selecting my favorite photos to include in this Top 22 Photos from 2022 blog post.

About half of these photos are new to the blog while the other half have been shared previously.  I’ve included links to relevant blog posts in the photo descriptions and in the More Info section below.
The majority of my favorite photos for 2022 were taken while exploring places away from home.  I’m so grateful to have been able to travel again this past year.
In this first favorite, the historic facades along the Korenlei (Corn Quay) are reflected on the Leie River in Ghent, Belgium.  (See Expected and Unexpected Delights of Ghent)

Several of my favorite photos were taken during a visit to the Netherlands.  The windmills of the Kinderdijk are particularly photogenic.  There are 19 windmills—all nearly 300 years old—marking over seven centuries of water management on this outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This iconic view of five identical windmills was spectacular at sunrise.  (See Milling the Water of Kinderdijk)

The gabled canal houses of Amsterdam’s historic Jordaan district are beautiful but, surprisingly, difficult to photograph.  I love how the stepped gables caught the afternoon sunlight in this shot.

Another favorite shot from Amsterdam comes from this work in process by Dutch artist Tymon de Laat.  It was spotted at STRAAT: the museum for graffiti and street art.  (See Artworks as Big as Walls in Amsterdam)

Undoubtedly, a springtime visit to the Netherlands wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the tulip fields.  In this photo a field of gorgeous blooming tulips in Noordwijkerhout sparkles in the evening light.

The magical golden light was equally beautiful close up.

Speaking of tulips, this grouping of Sweetheart Fosteriana tulips reminds me of a Renaissance painting.  (See Come Tiptoe Through the Tulips)

A summertime trip to the state of Kentucky, USA was educational and entertaining.  I spotted this old, weathered tobacco barn while chasing down barn quilts.  (See Have Barn Quilts Made a Comeback?)

An extended visit to the Canadian Maritimes in the late summer/ early fall was the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and enjoy this beautiful part of the world.  One highlight of the trip was a 3-day walk along Prince Edward Island’s Island Walk.  This peaceful scene of a simple wooden bench tucked into a grove of birch trees is one of my favorite shots from that adventure.  (See 79,000 Steps and a Whole Lot of Apple Seeds)

Another highlight of my visit to the Maritimes was visiting Sable Island.  Flying by helicopter to this remote island, over 100 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia, and spending the day hiking and exploring was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience.  It wasn’t easy to choose a few favorites from the hundreds of photos I took but, in the end, it was the wild horses and seals that stood out.  (See 6 Fascinating Facts about Sable Island and Wild and Free on Sable Island)

I could have photographed this young foal all day!

Gray Seals (Halichoerus grypus) are common on Sable Island.  We got a good look at a few of them lounging on the beach.  This one put on quite a show with its flipper maneuvers!

Having patience, and lots of luck, is key to getting good photos of birds and animals.  I spent over an hour photographing Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra) on a visit to the Ghent University Botanical Garden.  The effort paid off with this delightful shot of a parent duck feeding its baby.   (See Expected and Unexpected Delights of Ghent)

Good luck was the biggest factor in catching this shot of two magnificent Great Crested Glebes (Podiceps cristatus) showing off their fine plumage.  We were unbelievably fortunate to have witnessed their courtship dance.

Luck wasn’t such a big factor in this next shot.  I was able to take this incredible photo of a Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) at the Green Mountain Falconry School in Vermont, USA.  (See Eyes Like a Hawk)

Domestic animals, such as these adorable lambs spotted in Delft, Netherlands, are also fun to photograph.  But, again, waiting for that one good shot is key.

I laugh every single time I look at this alpaca’s expression.  (See An Alpaca Photo Shoot)

Many of my favorite photos feature ordinary subjects caught in an extraordinary way.  This flock of birds, resting in front of a stormy sky, are a case in point.

The vibrant colors of sunrise turn these ordinary clouds into a work of art.

In this next shot, an unidentified man carries a recently-purchased vintage suitcase.

The final photo I selected for my Top 22 is this staged and styled shot of one of my clay projects.  The vase, featuring a cheongsam collar, is one of three collared vases I designed and made.  (See Clay Play Days)

This brings me to the end of my top 22 photos selected from the hundreds of Kodak moments I chose to preserve on film this year.

More Info

I hope you’ve enjoyed my favorite photos from 2022.  You may also like these blog posts from previous years.
. Top 21 Photos from 2021
. Top 20 Photos from 2020
. Top 19 Photos from 2019
Many of the photos in the Top 22 Photos from 2022 were shared on the FanningSparks’ blog previously.  Here’s a summary of the blog posts mentioned.
. Expected and Unexpected Delights of Ghent
. Milling the Water of Kinderdijk
. Artworks as Big as Walls in Amsterdam
. Come Tiptoe Through the Tulips
. Have Barn Quilts Made a Comeback?
. 79,000 Steps and a Whole Lot of Apple Seeds
. 6 Fascinating Facts about Sable Island
. Wild and Free on Sable Island
. Eyes Like a Hawk
. An Alpaca Photo Shoot
. Clay Play Days

Today’s Takeaways

1. A Kodak moment is “a moment in time that is so precious because of its sentimental value or its beauty, one wishes to preserve it on film”.
2. The more photos you take, the more likely you are to get a great shot.
3. Reviewing your photos from the previous year can be a fun year-end activity.