New Jersey landscape and nature photographer, Greg Molyneux, shares his 7 best landscape and macro photographs made in 2020. Come for the rich imagery and stay for some insight into how these photos came to life amidst the upheaval of COVID-19 and societal upheaval. Were any able to bring you a moment of joy in the bitterness of 2020?
Up at Night
Ben Wurst, Jon Carr, and I made our way to the New Jersey Pinelands’ pygmy pine forest where we tried our best at making astrophotography on a clear, moonless night. The visibility was excellent, and shooting stars dashed the night sky on regular intervals. Honestly, I didn’t even care about the photographs I was making, I was just happy to be out having unexpected fun with friends.
Again?
I debated posting this photograph I made back on 25 August. It’s a an angle I have exploited on numerous occasions. And even though no two sunsets are the same, even I am growing worn thin by my lack of originality. (This coming from a notorious creature of habit.)
Stop the Clocks
Time may not be on our side and yet we soldier on and endure. We bide our time, turn to our strengths and cultivate purpose to prepare for the renaissance. Time will come to order again. The arrow of time, never directionless, will reassert its dominion and the universe will unfold as it should.
Safe Haven
Visiting the Cedar Run Dock Road salt marsh has been an essential go-to for the entirety of my adult life. Whether for storm chasing, leisure cruising with friends, or a solemn place to cleanse the mind palate. The later has been especially true since I began my landscape photography journey back in 2012. This is my spot to take a mental reset and make beautiful photographs.
Upright
With COVID-19 again on the rampage, and society disrupting as we take a long hard look at our centuries old problem of racism, we stand assaulted by uncommon uncertainty. The friction is causing extreme heat and pressure looking to loose. Not since the Second World War has the United States faced such intense difficulty. Riven and fractured it is essential we challenge ourselves to remain upright during such an extreme moment in history.
Out of Exile
Manahawkin, NJ based landscape photographer Greg Molyneux shares a wide angle landscape photograph of the beloved Cedar Run Dock Road salt marsh at sunset. It’s a photo he’s made dozens of times before, but here he reflects on what a return to the marsh out of exile from COVID-19 isolation means to his psyche.
Home Again
COVID-19 has given me time to work in the yard. With the cleanup has come better conditions for flower and plant life to thrive. Giving me ample opportunity to make macro photos without having to break any kind of social distance mores.
Whispers in the Dark
The exceptional thing about living through history is having, if only in a small way, the rare chance to shape it. By staying home, observing social distancing protocols, calling a friend, keeping a journal, checking on a neighbor, telling someone you love them, taking a walk, or making a photograph. Small acts when executed across communities and continents affect real change in response to an entirely new environment.
