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Happy New Year to all my family and friends. It is my sincere wish that 2026 brings you Love, Light, and Laughter!

2025 was an interesting year for me, both personally and creatively. I began the year by traveling to Wellington, New Zealand, to visit my daughter, who was working at Wētā Workshop as a Creative Director. Wētā Workshop brings imaginary worlds to life. It creates concept designs, physical effects, collectibles, immersive visitor experiences, and games for the entertainment and creative industries. Its most famous works include 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, 'Avatar', 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', and 'Dune'. Wētā has been recognised with five Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, three Thea Awards, and over 30 other national and international accolades.

We are planning to go back to New Zealand’s south island in December 2026, to complete a photography tour, one we had planned to do this year but unfortunately had to be cancelled. I got the opportunity to visit the Eastern Sierras in June this year for a night shoot in Bodie State Historic Park, and a beautiful sunrise in Mono Lake. I also visited Yosemite National Park in May, as well as early November, and a number of my images made during those trips have been voted in to this years Top Twelve.

I’m also fortunate to live in a small town named Gold River, California, 20 miles east of Sacramento, that allows me to walk on a daily basis, the miles, and miles of local trails, built into acres of thriving Oak trees. Annually I look forward to photographing California poppies that bloom in amongst the trails, as well as other local flowers where I get to have fun with my macro lens.

“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” – Ansel Adams

It is that time of the year, once again, for me to share with you my Top Twelve Photographs of the Year, 2025. This is the 13th edition of a tradition that began in 2013, inspired by the Ansel Adams’ quote above. Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984), is one of the most recognizable names in American landscape photography. His black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West, especially Yosemite National Park, have been widely reproduced on calendars, posters, books and prints.

As in previous years, I determine my Top Twelve, and the order of the selections by the number of unsolicited responses, or Likes, each of the images shown below received on my social media Facebook page. Hardly a foolproof or scientific way to do this, but I use it so I don’t have to sift through hundreds of images and make these choices arbitrarily by myself.

So, let’s begin with Number 12, its title, some background about each image, and some basic EXIF data.

#12. 'Drink The Water’' – This is the sweet, tiny gem that is Fern Springs in Yosemite, that is located just after crossing Phono Bridge. I’ve seen a large number of people stop here to fill up their water containers and drink the water. There are several schools of thought about is the water safe to drink, and finally earlier this May for the first time I drank the naturally filtered water. Tasted great!

*May 5, Fern Springs, Yosemite NP, CA; exposure 1/20 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800; lens 24-105mm @ 2 50mm.*

#11. ‘Alone Again Naturally’- I love it when there’s fog in Yosemite Valley, as it was this day, as seen from Tunnel View. This lone pine tree, somehow always manages to catch my eye.

*May 13, Tunnel View, Yosemite NP, CA; exposure 1/250 sec @f/11, ISO 640; lens 18-300mm @ 147mm.*

#11. ‘Summer Time’ - This year I have two images tied at #11. When the wildflowers bloom in California, it is always a joyous time of the year for me. I love having to get down to ground level, isolate, and selectively focus these beautifully colored poppies, the official California state flower, the Golden Poppy .

*April 17, Gold River, CA; exposure 1/1,250 sec @f/4.0, ISO 1000; lens 70-200mm @ 191mm.*

#10. ‘Ring of Fire’ - This is the Fair Oaks Bridge, now used for pedestrian and bicycle traffic only. This evening I set out to capture a full moon rising, but clouds got in my way and I ended up at this bridge, with sunset colors making it a good night!

*November 4, Fair Oaks, CA; exposure 0.3 sec @f/11, ISO 100; lens 14-35mm @ 15mm.*

#9. "Love is the flower you've got to let grow." — John Lennon. A daylily in my front yard that caught my eye. It has been famously said ‘The earth laughs in flowers’ , by Ralph Waldo Emerson, from his poem "Hamatreya," suggesting flowers are nature's beautiful, joyful, and resilient expression of life, often seen as a gentle mockery of human arrogance and fleeting control over the Earth, with blooms symbolizing renewal and beauty against the backdrop of life's impermanence.

*May 22, Gold River, CA: exposure 1/640 sec @ f/11, ISO 400; lens 70-200mm @ 200mm.*

#9. 'Jonathan Livingston & Friend' - This was shot on our first evening in Wellington, at Red Rocks Beach, where we spent sunset getting a feel for being in New Zealand. I was left with an initial feeling that New Zealand has a quiet, beauty, that is definitely unique and different to any other country I have visited previously. This again is a tie for this rating, #9.

*March 14, Red Rocks Beach, Wellington, New Zealand; exposure 1/120 sec @f/1.8, ISO 80; iPhone 14 Pro Max lens 6.9mm @ f/1.8*

#8. ’Fire in the Sky’ - Another sunset shot, also in Wellington, this time we were at Princes Bay on our last night before we headed home. I left Wellington with the impression, that New Zealand has a unique, ancient, and English in many ways beauty that I do hope that I get another chance to see and photograph again, especially in the south island next time.

*March 20, Princess Bay, Wellington, New Zealand; exposure 1/120 sec @f/1.8, ISO 80; iPhone 14 Pro Max lens 6.9mm @ f/1.8*

#7. ‘Spring Reflections’ - I still love walking in the rain, and on clear days using my iPhone to capture reflections at puddles of rainwater. Most of my recent images have been captured during my daily walks, which continue come rain or shine! This reflection in this image is created by holding my iPhone upside down, placed right next to the puddle of rainwater.!

*February 20, Gold River, CA; exposure 1/320 @ f/2.2, ISO 40; lens iPhone 14 Pro Max 2.22m @ F/2.2.*

#6. ‘Angels Flying Too Close To The Ground’ - this image was made by blending in Photoshop, an image of golden poppies, and an image of two white calla lilies shot in my front yard. . Thanks Willie for the use of your beautiful song title...

#5. ‘Golden’ - Right place at the right time. Alpine glow on Half Dome, sunset from Sentinel Bridge, with a touch of clouds placed in a perfect position to enhance the composition.

*November 12, Sentinel Bridge, Yosemite NP, CA; exposure 1/200 sec @ f/1.8, ISO 125; iPhone 14 Pro Max 65mm @ 1.78mm.*

#4. ‘Magnifique!’- We arrived in Yosemite at least two weeks late to capture the prime fall colors. Hence, I was extremely grateful to be able to capture this image at Valley View, the tail end of the fall color leaves, and in between breaks of heavy rain falls.

*November 11, Valley View, Yosemite NP, CA; exposure 1/800 sec @f/11, ISO 500; lens 14-35mm @ 26mm.*

#3. ‘Dreamland, Dreamland’ - I have been blessed with some beautiful landscape conditions at Tunnel View over the many years I’ve been coming to Yosemite. This is my favorite single location on planet Earth, which John Muir describes iso well in one of his many quotes about Yosemite. “But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life. Some lean back in majestic repose; others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, giving welcome to storms and calms alike, seemingly aware, yet heedless, of everything going on about them.” ― John Muir, The Yosemite

*May 4, Tunnel View, Yosemite NP, CA; exposure 1/250 sec @ f/11, ISO 640; lens 28-300mm @ 40mm.*

#2. ‘Light My Fire’ - I saw the night before, a possibility of clouds in the sky at sunrise in Mono Lake. We woke up at 4:15am, to be in place to shoot the sunrise at 5am. What we were given made it so worthwhile! What you see in the foreground, as well as the mid ground are called tufas. Tufas are stunning, calcium-carbonate rock spires and towers formed underwater by freshwater springs rich in calcium meeting the lake's salty, alkaline water, creating limestone that builds up around the spring vents over centuries, most visible at the South Tufa area where they rise dramatically from the lakebed as the water level dropped due to diversions, making them a unique geological marvel for photography.

*June 22, Mono Lake, CA; exposure 0.4 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 50; lens 24-105mm @ 19mm.*

#1. ‘She Comes in Colors…’ - Valley View has changed over the years, and I found myself standing in this particular spot, which I thought gave me the best chance to maximize the fall colors, and the reflections in the almost still Merced River. Grateful for what I captured, this being the most liked image of mine in 2025.

*November 11, Valley View, Yosemite NP, CA; exposure 1/160 sec at f/11, ISO 400; lens 14-35mm @ 19mm.*

And there you have it, my Top Twelve Photographs for the 2025 year. I always have fun looking back at the past year, as it gives me an idea of what I created, where and when, and reflect on any creative ideas that I can come up to use in the New Year. In retrospect, deep gratitude to what I was given by Mother Nature, what I managed to do with these gifts, and now look forward to the future with measured anticipation and hope!

In 2026 I will be leading a photography tour into the land of my birth, Sri Lanka. Come join me for a once in a lifetime journey into this ancient kingdom originally named Ceylon, August 19 through August 28, 2025. I have a two seats available, with discounts on the tour pricing through the end of January, 2026. To see a more detailed itinerary, and to register go to: https://www.davidjgrenier.com/2026-sri-lanka-photography-tour

A couple of observations looking back after compiling this list of my Top Twelve images (a total of 14 this year including ties): 1. Six of this year images were shot in Yosemite, a first, 2. five of the images were shot within walking distance of my home, and finally 3. two of the images were shot overseas, with the remaining 12 shot in location within California.

I’d also like to say a big Thank You to all those who expressed their support of my photography on my Facebook page, and for taking the time to do so – it is greatly appreciated! As always, I also owe a great deal of gratitude to the many people who support my art by purchasing my images in various print formats, and especially those attending my private workshops.

I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to a handful of my closest friends who travel with me, help arrange the logistics of our journeys, that then gives me the opportunities to create beautiful images. In no particular order they are, Eric, Michael, Kim, and Rena. I’m extremely grateful for our lasting friendships!

I am looking forward to 2026, again with optimism and hope for us as Mankind. Lots of work to be done in various parts of a troubled world, and my hope again is that we can work together to look after the environment, and leave it in a better place for the next several generations to come, so that they can enjoy and marvel at what we have been given on this beautiful Blue Planet we call Earth!

Here’s to a Wonderful New Year!

2025 Top Twelve Photographs

2025 Top Twelve Photographs