Best Photos of 2018
by Joseph Gruber
Another year come and gone. As we count down the final hours on the year 2018, I’m taking a look back on the best photos of 2018 that I shot. According to Adobe Lightroom, I took 11,368 photos over the past 365 days so whittling the list down was a bit of a challenge! In true New Year’s fashion, here’s a countdown of my ten favorite photos from the past year. And here’s to more great photos in 2019!
January 2018 - As winter wore on, a cold streak hit the Washington, D.C. area freezing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool allowing ice skaters, and even intrepid photographers, to venture out onto it's surface.
January 2018 - The Washington, D.C. area has some of the prettiest sunrises during winter with a multitude of colors over the memorials and monuments, in this case the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial.
February 2018 - SpaceX successfully launches the Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39-A at Kennedy Space Center on it's maiden flight, and in the process sends back stunning views of a cherry red Tesla Roadstar and our beautiful Earth.
March 2018 - Countless fun photoshoots throughout the year with the amazing Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppies in training. GEB Gwenyth here practically bounces for joy in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
May 2018 - Adventures in one of my favorite national parks, Badlands National Park, which has amazing dark skies allowing you to see the stars, planets, and Milky Way in their full glory.
August 2018 - I debated whether to include this photo of the white nationalist Unite the Right rally in DC this summer, however, it was the craziest and scariest protest I've photographed.
September 2018 - An Iridium satellite flares over the Washington Monument, one of the last times it would as the legacy generation of Iridium satellites was mostly deorbited in 2018.
September 2018 - An gorgeous bolt of lightning strikes behind the Washington Monument lighting up the night sky. I had tried for years to get this shot!
November 2018 - Many, many camping and hiking adventures were had in Shenandoah National Park this year with autumn one of my favorite times to spend in the park as the forest glows all shades of orange, red, and yellow.
December 2018 - As the US government shutdown began, impacts began to be felt far and wide including at the United States Capitol with limited visiting hours for the Capitol Christmas Tree.