While I did not go very far in 2024, I’ve captured many great photos of which I am pretty proud of, limiting it to a certain number was pretty hard and I could have added many more scenes that I am really satisfied with. Some of my favourite moments were of the stunning Northern Lights that we had in May and August which gave us a stunning display in the sky. Another great time was the two weekend I spent at Manitoba Pioneer Camp which gave me a great variety of wildlife and weather. I also did a few hikes in Whiteshell that always give me plenty of great views. There are also varied pictures taken of rural landscape as I drove around and stopped to take a few shots when the weather gave me some eye candy. Giving them an order was pretty hard and it would probably change based on my mood and I also had quite a few similar shots (landscape orientation versus portraits, slight shift in viewpoint or angles etc.) but I opted for variety over similarity. So, here are my top 30 photos of the year! You can click on the pictures or title to purchase the prints.
Taken in May in St-Malo Provincial Park, they were to date the most intense display of Northern lights I had seen in my life, although I later had an even more intense one in August.
I was walking toward the dock at Manitoba Pioneer Camp on Shoal Lake one morning and saw this otter sunbathing on one of the smaller docks. It was clearly aware of my presence but despite that fact, it was very chill, observing me at times, grooming itself and later plunging in the water but slowly drifting near me and sticking around rather than fleeing. Such a cute creature.
Also at Manitoba Pioneer Camp, on one of the evening, the sunset appears behind a stormy sky, I love the different textures in the clouds and the contrast of the light coming through against the darker heavier clouds over the relatively undisturbed waters of Shoal lake.
Again at Manitoba Pioneer Camp, this white tail hare was calmly observing me as I took pictures of it. What a cutie!
5-Hay Bales Under a Cloudy Sky
Taken during the harvest season in the Red River Valley, these hay bales were standing against a pretty moody sky.
6-Seven Sisters Falls Spillway
I was participating in an upcoming climate report (stay tuned!) where one of the task of my mission was to capture Manitoba hydroelectric generation, on that day, I drove around and stopped at every dam on the Winnipeg River, starting from Powerview Pinefalls and ending here at Seven Sisters Falls, this is my favourite of this day trip, with the water rushing out against an intense sky.
This is another photo of the auroras I took in May at St-Malo Provincial Park, I love how that intense streak of light on the left looks like a comet falling over the horizon. I also love the stillness of the lake, reflecting the Northern Lights
The most crazy display of the Aurora Borealis I’ve even seen in my life, in August, after shooting what I taught were really intense Northern Lights already, as I was driving back past 1am I started seeing some intense burst of light through my side window, I knew that I had to stop for some more shots before calling it a night for real and so found a quiet gravel road and setup my tripod once again. By the time I was ready, the sky was in full bloom, from this straight up shot all the way to every horizon, a complete dome of psychedelic colors dazzled me for several minutes before slowly fading away.
Once again, this shot is from the water of Shoal Lake, late Spring. Several pelicans were calmly drifting on the lake and came by pretty close to the shore several time and gave me ample of time for some good shots.
10-Sunset at Pine Point Rapids
After a perfect fall day hiking at the Pine Point Rapids Trail, the sun was setting over the horizon it’s rays bursting just above the canopy, what a great way to end the day before returning home.
11-Lone Tamarack Tree Behind the Falls
This one is also from that same day at Pine Point Rapids but a bit earlier, a lone Tamarack tree stands behind the falls with it’s yellow needles, contrasting with the rest of the forest.
The Morris Bridge over the Red River during a dense foggy evening between Christmas and New Year.
Part of a project I was contributing for a Canadian wide climate report, I was tasked with capturing the various energy generation forms of Manitoba and on that day, headed for St-Leon to capture the wind turbines, I love the neatly harvested rows standing in front of the turbine and the atmospheric haze of the harvest dust in the sunset.
14-Hay Bales Under a Cloudy Sky
This is one of those shots where while I while I wasn’t expecting to go and take pictures, I was thankful that my camera was with me, there was something about the sky on that day that told me I should carry it. As I passed in front of those neat rows of hay bales, I thought, that’s it, I got to stop by the side of the road and take a couple of shots. I was near New Bothwell
On that fateful day in August, the auroras were just filling the sky for hours on end, I was happy to head out and drive to Alexander’s Ridge Park just up the hill from the Pembina Valley Ridge and overlooking the Red River Valley. The Northern Lights kept blessing me with their danse throughout the sky. The yellow glow in the center would be the distant glow of Winnipeg’s City lights.
Again one of those days where I was thankful to carry my camera in the vehicle. I stumbled upon that canola field under a perfect summer sky.
A small island on Shoal Lake surrounded by fairly still waters reflecting the shoal of rock and trees.
As I was hiking along the trail looping around the island at Manitoba Pioneer Camp, I fell upon that dark patch of forest with very bright green moss covering the roots of a fallen tree. It just felt surreal and took a moment to capture the scene.
The docks at Manitoba Pioneer Camp on a morning a changing weather, patches of blue skies, dark clouds and rain backlit by the sun.
20-Fog Rising Over Falcon Lake
On a relatively warm day for January, I headed out to Falcon Lake to hike around the trail systems near the ski lodge, at the end of my hike, as the sun was setting, the sky turned a nice pink and purple and fog started to steam from the snow on the frozen lake. I decided to take a walk on the lake before returning home and got that magical scene.
There is something about a frozen landscape but a yet to freeze body of water, you get the reflection of the scene that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to capture if it was iced up and covered in snow.
The low lying sun of January in Manitoba, surrounded by a full halo and flanked by it’s sundogs backlighting a couple of lone trees at the edge of a farmers field.
A ripe wheat field, ready for harvest under a cloudy sky
What a strange spectacle the clouds were giving on that day, seeing that odd cloud formation as I was driving, I kept looking around for a good place where I could stop and capture the scene, this watering hole in the pasture with the cattle minding their own business contrasted nicely with those otherworldly clouds.
25-Falcon Lake View
On that hike in January, I was still recuperating from a sciatic pain injury that had plagued me for months but I was feeling better and felt that I needed the time in nature, after hiking for several hours, I climbed that last hill overlooking the lake, the steep climb was a hard one but I managed, capturing that beautiful sunset over the lake. After resting several minute on the lookout bench, I was barely able to make a step, yet the view was worth it. Also, that day was a blessing as the day after, I realised that my sciatic pain was no more. To this day, while I can still feel that this leg is not as strong, pain has not come back and my lower back and leg has felt better than over the last 20 years, so thankful for that. Thank you God!
Same scene than the previous picture but with a close up of that odd looking tree which is recognisable from far away, I often have clients looking at my prints at markets asking me, is it that tree over at Falcon Lake?
Again on that same day at Falcon Lake but at the beginning of my hike earlier in the afternoon. The iconic view of the Top of the World Trail.
The massive ruins of the Old Pinawa Dam, the first hydroelectric dam of Manitoba to supply the town of Winnipeg during the tramway era. What a sight in the middle of the forest!
Another view of the wall and surrounding structures of the Old Pinawa Dam ruins.
30-Hazy Sunrise Above Corn Field
The silhouette of a cornfield contrasting against the sunrise on a hazy day
Did you have a favourite? Please let me know in the comments!
Marc Gilbert Photography 
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