Over 27,110 pictures taken this year.. how do I choose the best?? Somehow I managed to pare it down to my top 50 (that was so hard!!).

Top Pic(k)s of 2015

A Taste of Japan: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
A visit to Kyoto isn’t complete without a trip through the stunning bamboo grove of Arashiyama. There is nothing more humbling than acres of majestic trees towering above your head, cutting thousands of completely vertical lines 115 feet into the sky.
Bamboo has been revered for its durability for centuries, and it grows incredibly fast, making it a popular renewable resource; the wood is used in thousands of applications. It is particularly important to the Japanese, who view it as a symbol of prosperity and see its simplicity as representing purity. Bamboo is unique in its elegance, which is why stalks frequent many zen-hopeful desks, but they are seldom seen in such magnificence.

Photo of the Week: Candid Portraits
While I love beautiful scenic shots, my favorite type of shooting is candid portraits. A lot of people become self-conscious when a lens is pointed in their direction, or they ask if they need to get out of your shot. This makes these moments difficult to capture.. but all the more rewarding.

Photo of the Week: My Commute
I wake up at 5am every day (yes, even weekends). This means I always get to see the sunrise, which is a real treat, especially when Waterfront Park is almost completely devoid of all human life, save for the most devout joggers. I am fortunate to work close enough to home to be able to walk every morning, and this is my commute.