My Favorites Photos of 2013

While early morning fog isn’t all that unusual around here, I’m not much of a morning person. On this day, we had a lot of fog right around quittin’ time, so I rushed over to the nearby Lake Crabtree armed with just my X-Pro1 with 50mm equivalent lens.: While early morning fog isn’t all that unusual around here, I’m not much of a morning person. On this day, we had a lot of fog right around quittin’ time, so I rushed over to the nearby Lake Crabtree armed with just my X-Pro1 with 50mm equivalent lens.

I’d scoped this spot out a year before for a shoot with a model who flaked. It all worked out because Emily was the perfect model for this shoot.: I’d scoped this spot out a year before for a shoot with a model who flaked. It all worked out because Emily was the perfect model for this shoot.

I got into Street Photography in a big way this year, and it accelerated after I purchased the X100s. This one is a favorite using my shoot-from-the-hip method.: I got into Street Photography in a big way this year, and it accelerated after I purchased the X100s. This one is a favorite using my shoot-from-the-hip method.

Joie is one of my favorite models (and photographers, for that matter). I got so many good ones from this shoot, but this one, taken with one of her polaroid cameras, was my favorite.: Joie is one of my favorite models (and photographers, for that matter). I got so many good ones from this shoot, but this one, taken with one of her polaroid cameras, was my favorite.

It was really dark in this old church during this show. I’d mainly tried to shoot from my seat, but as it was winding down I moved to spot up closer on the floor, out of anyone’s way. This moment just perfectly captures the mood. I just wish there’d been a little more light, I was at the limits of my my gear.: It was really dark in this old church during this show. I’d mainly tried to shoot from my seat, but as it was winding down I moved to spot up closer on the floor, out of anyone’s way. This moment just perfectly captures the mood. I just wish there’d been a little more light, I was at the limits of my my gear.

I got fascinated by the X-Pro 1’s ability to shoot in-camera double exposures and let you frame them so precisely. I explored double exposure a lot this year, but this one stands out. This one went viral on Google+ with nearly 30 Million views so far.: I got fascinated by the X-Pro 1’s ability to shoot in-camera double exposures and let you frame them so precisely. I explored double exposure a lot this year, but this one stands out. This one went viral on Google+ with nearly 30 Million views so far.

One of the few mornings I awoke before dawn to shoot this year, and so worth it. We were returning from Disney World and stopped off for the night at Jekyll Island, where I’d spent so many vacations as a child. This is from an area called Driftwood Beach. I shot a lot of digital that morning, but this film one, taken with my Yashicamat TLR, would prove to be my favorite. I love being able to get so low to the ground with that camera and still frame how I want.: One of the few mornings I awoke before dawn to shoot this year, and so worth it. We were returning from Disney World and stopped off for the night at Jekyll Island, where I’d spent so many vacations as a child. This is from an area called Driftwood Beach. I shot a lot of digital that morning, but this film one, taken with my Yashicamat TLR, would prove to be my favorite. I love being able to get so low to the ground with that camera and still frame how I want.

I laugh every time I see a photographer complain about the rain making it a terrible day to photograph. You’re doing it wrong. I’ve gotten so many great images on rainy days. For this one, I’d found the reflection of the Lucky Strike water tower in a puddle a the American Tobacco complex. I took a few shots of it, but I really wanted a person in the image. Over the course of the next hour, I had about 5 people walk by, but only this one really was positioned such to make a great photograph.: I laugh every time I see a photographer complain about the rain making it a terrible day to photograph. You’re doing it wrong. I’ve gotten so many great images on rainy days. For this one, I’d found the reflection of the Lucky Strike water tower in a puddle a the American Tobacco complex. I took a few shots of it, but I really wanted a person in the image. Over the course of the next hour, I had about 5 people walk by, but only this one really was positioned such to make a great photograph.

I wish I could say I planned this around the “PACE” sign, but I couldn’t see it clearly from across the street. When I was processing the photo later, I saw the sign and the person’s pace and knew I had a winner.: I wish I could say I planned this around the “PACE” sign, but I couldn’t see it clearly from across the street. When I was processing the photo later, I saw the sign and the person’s pace and knew I had a winner.

I worked with Cortney a whopping 3 times this year and we always got magic. I can’t tell you how hard it was to pick just one for this list. But this one is my favorite.: I worked with Cortney a whopping 3 times this year and we always got magic. I can’t tell you how hard it was to pick just one for this list. But this one is my favorite.

I wanted to combine some of the street photography I’d been doing with a model shoot. I met Courtney to walk around downtown and do a real impromptu shoot. This was the first shot of the day and would prove to be the best.: I wanted to combine some of the street photography I’d been doing with a model shoot. I met Courtney to walk around downtown and do a real impromptu shoot. This was the first shot of the day and would prove to be the best.

I assured Nicole it was safe to stand in the lake. We started shooting and all was good, but then a little snake popped his head out of the water. So much for that idea. Luckily I’d gotten this shot already.: I assured Nicole it was safe to stand in the lake. We started shooting and all was good, but then a little snake popped his head out of the water. So much for that idea. Luckily I’d gotten this shot already.

I could have filled an entire top ten with photographs from my shoot with Echo. She is just a fantastic model. In a year when I shot so much B&W, this stood out as one of my favorite color images.: I could have filled an entire top ten with photographs from my shoot with Echo. She is just a fantastic model. In a year when I shot so much B&W, this stood out as one of my favorite color images.

My trip to New York in the spring yielded so many great images and got me hooked on street photography. This is another favorite, although there is a companion photo of another passerby with an umbrella that I like nearly as much. I have beautiful prints of both above my bed.: My trip to New York in the spring yielded so many great images and got me hooked on street photography. This is another favorite, although there is a companion photo of another passerby with an umbrella that I like nearly as much. I have beautiful prints of both above my bed.

We had some beautiful light on this hot summer evening. I grabbed the camera and headed up to the elementary school which has a cool little garden. This one feels do dreamy to me.: We had some beautiful light on this hot summer evening. I grabbed the camera and headed up to the elementary school which has a cool little garden. This one feels do dreamy to me.

I saw this sunbeam popping through the clouds and knew I had to act quickly. I got Spiro to go inside this building and she struck this haunting pose. Shot with my lensbaby, which gives it the dreamy look.: I saw this sunbeam popping through the clouds and knew I had to act quickly. I got Spiro to go inside this building and she struck this haunting pose. Shot with my lensbaby, which gives it the dreamy look.

So hard to pick from the live music photographs I took this year. I had about 8 that were in contention. I knew the Lonnie Holley one had to be on the list. This one of Sam Madison just grabs me, too, as being special because I nailed the moment. I don’t even think I noticed the finger pointing at him at the time: So hard to pick from the live music photographs I took this year. I had about 8 that were in contention. I knew the Lonnie Holley one had to be on the list. This one of Sam Madison just grabs me, too, as being special because I nailed the moment. I don’t even think I noticed the finger pointing at him at the time

We were walking the High Line in Manhattan and I came across this and immediately loved the angles. But it felt a little empty without anyone in the shot, so I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally this guy walked across and I got the shot.: We were walking the High Line in Manhattan and I came across this and immediately loved the angles. But it felt a little empty without anyone in the shot, so I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally this guy walked across and I got the shot.

My favorite portrait yet with my medium format Yashicamat TLR.: My favorite portrait yet with my medium format Yashicamat TLR.

I’d shot Ava a couple of times and wanted to do something a little different for this one. We walked around NC State and just looked for interesting light. This beam of light was perfectly falling on this bench.: I’d shot Ava a couple of times and wanted to do something a little different for this one. We walked around NC State and just looked for interesting light. This beam of light was perfectly falling on this bench.

A few notable things happened with my photography in 2013. I started shooting Fuji X cameras more and more, I started shooting street photography in a serious way, I started looking at my photography more as an artistic outlet with less focus on making money, and I think I really started to see my style come together in a natural way. These things aren’t necessarily unrelated.

At the end of 2012 I’d purchased the small Fuji X-Pro 1 mirrorless camera, thinking it would be a nice niche camera for some of my shooting. I didn’t expect that at the year end, 13 of my 20 favorite images would have been made with small Fuji cameras (some are with the X100s that I added later in the year). These small cameras really changed my approach to everything. I slowed down and became more methodical. In interacting with portrait subjects, I was no longer stuck behind a huge camera body and lens anymore, which changed the nature of the interaction, resulting in better photographs.

For the last several years, my wife and I have taken a trip (sans children) to New York City. On previous trips I’ve done a little street photography with a big DSLR, but it was not ideal. In 2013, I left the DSLR at home, traveling with just an X-Pro 1 with 18-55 zoom lens and a couple of primes, and also with my medium format film camera. For much of the trip, I walked around with the camera around my neck with lens at 18mm, camera at f/8 and auto-ISO and just started looking for interesting people. I quickly became hooked on street photography. I’d been frustrated for awhile that I haven’t been able to shoot much landscape, and the street photography fills that void perfectly. All I need is a couple of hours to head downtown to Raleigh or Durham and just walk around. No getting up early. No scouting for the perfect view. I do hope to return to landscapes someday, but in the meantime street photography makes me very happy. That said, one of my absolute favorite images of the entire year was my landcape image of Lake Crabtree in the fog.

In the fall I decided to add an X100s, Fuji’s all-in-one camera with a 35mm equivlent f/2 lens. It has quickly become my favorite camera ever. Absolutely perfect for street work. There is a reason that so many photographers have been raving about this camera. Did I happen to mention that I love this camera?

I continued to shoot film in 2013. Three of the 20 here were shot on film. I wish I’d shot more. I wish more had turned out better. I have a love/hate relationship with film. But when magic happens, lots and lots of love.

My DSLR, the Nikon D700, only accounted for 5 of the photos that made this list. Two of those were concert shots, where the Fuji just comes up short in the autofocusing in extremely low light department. One was with the Lensbaby lens that I have for the Nikon. I could have easily have used the Fuji for the other two. The D700 has become my niche camera. I did not see that coming at the start of the year.

I look at my work now and definitely see a style. I didn’t go in search of it, but it found me. It developed very naturally, and I suppose my interest in a lot old film photographers played a large role. It took me a long time, but I think I’ve finally gotten to the point with digital photography where I can create the film-like look that I want out of it (without having to spend hours in post).

Finally, it was really hard to pick and choose what photographs made this list. There were a handful of no brainers that easily made the list, then it got difficult. The portraits were difficult as can be. I still can’t believe I’m leaving off some of them. The live music photos were almost impossible to choose from. I could have easily made a top 10 just for those, but so many of them stood equal that I just couldn’t narrow further, so I only picked two. And I don’t even know that they are my best two, just two that resonate with me.

Anyway, that’s my rambling thoughts about the year. I’m excited about where I am creatively on this journey and can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store.

Rodney Boles

Music and Street Photographer in North Carolina

My Favorite Photos of 2013

While early morning fog isn’t all that unusual around here, I’m not much of a morning person. On this day, we had a lot of fog right around quittin’ time, so I rushed over to the nearby Lake Crabtree armed with just my X-Pro1 with 50mm equivalent lens.

I’d scoped this spot out a year before for a shoot with a model who flaked. It all worked out because Emily was the perfect model for this shoot.

I got into Street Photography in a big way this year, and it accelerated after I purchased the X100s. This one is a favorite using my shoot-from-the-hip method.

Joie is one of my favorite models (and photographers, for that matter). I got so many good ones from this shoot, but this one, taken with one of her polaroid cameras, was my favorite.

I got fascinated by the X-Pro 1’s ability to shoot in-camera double exposures and let you frame them so precisely. I explored double exposure a lot this year, but this one stands out. This one went viral on Google+ with nearly 30 Million views so far.

I wish I could say I planned this around the “PACE” sign, but I couldn’t see it clearly from across the street. When I was processing the photo later, I saw the sign and the person’s pace and knew I had a winner.

I worked with Cortney a whopping 3 times this year and we always got magic. I can’t tell you how hard it was to pick just one for this list. But this one is my favorite.

I wanted to combine some of the street photography I’d been doing with a model shoot. I met Courtney to walk around downtown and do a real impromptu shoot. This was the first shot of the day and would prove to be the best.

I assured Nicole it was safe to stand in the lake. We started shooting and all was good, but then a little snake popped his head out of the water. So much for that idea. Luckily I’d gotten this shot already.

I could have filled an entire top ten with photographs from my shoot with Echo. She is just a fantastic model. In a year when I shot so much B&W, this stood out as one of my favorite color images.

My trip to New York in the spring yielded so many great images and got me hooked on street photography. This is another favorite, although there is a companion photo of another passerby with an umbrella that I like nearly as much. I have beautiful prints of both above my bed.

We had some beautiful light on this hot summer evening. I grabbed the camera and headed up to the elementary school which has a cool little garden. This one feels do dreamy to me.

I saw this sunbeam popping through the clouds and knew I had to act quickly. I got Spiro to go inside this building and she struck this haunting pose. Shot with my lensbaby, which gives it the dreamy look.

We were walking the High Line in Manhattan and I came across this and immediately loved the angles. But it felt a little empty without anyone in the shot, so I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally this guy walked across and I got the shot.

My favorite portrait yet with my medium format Yashicamat TLR.

I’d shot Ava a couple of times and wanted to do something a little different for this one. We walked around NC State and just looked for interesting light. This beam of light was perfectly falling on this bench.