This is my favourite photo of 2024. It’s also the best photo I took in 2024, and it was taken within the last four hours of the year.

My partner and I went on our first holiday in six years. It was short, but it was pleasant. On the first day we drove to where we were staying (with a detour before we arrived at the motel), had a little rest. Went out for dinner, then soon after drove to this sand dune to watch the sunset.

I took a good few photos, and at one point turned around to my partner and saw her sitting as she is in the photo. I asked her to hold it, took a few shots and this is the best of those.

I think the photo captures how fatigued and in pain she was feeling, even though she was looking at and appreciating the colours in the sky and on the sand. It was a long year and we both were feeling it, but she was feeling it quite a lot. That said, I think she also looks comfortable, or at least like she’s trying to get comfortable. Trying to find a moment to relax.

This is my submission into the three hundred-and-thirtieth Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. The theme for this one is “Favourite Images of 2024“.

The host of the Lens-Artists challenges cycles weekly between the following people:

Tina

Patti

Ann-Christine aka Leya

John Steiner

Sofia Alves

Anne Sandler

Egídio

Ritva

This one is curated by everyone. The next one is curated by Anne.

I recommend joining the community and participating in the challenges. They’re pretty straightforward, allow room for interpretation, and provide a good way to think about photography in general. If not, however, then at the very least you should check out what others submit to the challenges.

I hope you enjoy.