At the end of each year, we publish a post about our best travel moments and also our best photos of the year. While the post about travel moments is a personal one with pictures that awaken warm feelings in us, this photo collection is focused on (surprise!) photography.
I collect the best photos I’ve taken throughout the year, and I compare it to the collections from the previous years. While I’ve improved quite significantly since 2015-2016, the progress considerably slowed down in the past years. 2018-2019 looks similar to this year which means I probably reached whatever level can be reached with amateur experiments (and with my mirrorless Nikon camera). I’m actually happy with my pictures – and I’m satisfied with my photography skills for now.
Or to be more precise, I prioritize other areas of improvement (like writing or marketing) over photography for now. No travel blogger can live without photography, but that’s not the only important skill. Also, I’ve made peace with the fact that I’m not that person who gets up to catch the sunrise or stand still for two hours to create the perfect shot. I’m not that much into photography. I like experimenting with angles and settings, and I usually happily take thousands of pictures on any trip, but still I prioritize the travel experiences over creating the perfect shots.
With that said, here are the 18 best photos I’ve taken in 2020, and I hope you enjoy them. (Also, get inspired to visit Central Europe, because they were all taken here in Hungary and in our neighboring countries.)
Nature
Best beach photo
Plovanije Beach in Cape Kamenjak Nature Park, Croatia
Best mountain photo
View in Weisssee Glacier World, Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Best coastline photo
Coastal trail in Cape Kamenjak Nature Park (this nature park is by far the most scenic place we’ve found in Istria, with great beaches and snorkeling opportunities)
Best waterfall photo
Some of the many small waterfalls of Šunik Water Grove, Soča Valley, Slovenia
Best river photo
Instead of very famous (and truly magical) Soča River, I chose a photo of a lesser known but quite special river in Croatia: Kupa river in Risnjak National Park
Best canyon photo
Mostnica Gorge near Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Best forest photo
Foggy forest in the Northern Velebit National Park, Croatia
Best sunset photo
The iconic tree of Punta Rata Beach, Brela, Croatia
Best colorful photo
A lonely tree on the coast at Makarska, Croatia
Best reflection photo
Velické pleso in the High Tatras, Slovakia
Best macro photo
After a particularly rainy week in Velence Hills, Hungary
Seasons
Best wildflower blooming photo
Again, Velické pleso of the High Tatras where we enjoyed the peak of the Tatras’ blooming this summer
Best summer photo
Brseč Beach, Istria, Croatia
Best autumn photo
Beginning of November in the Kőszeg Mountains, Hungary
Best Christmas photo
National Christmas tree at the Hungarian Parliament
Cities & towns
Best street photo
Rovinj, Croatia (I’m in love with those cobbled streets with hanging laundy!)
Best park scene
Autumn in a small village in Kőszeg Mountains, Hungary
Best restaurant scene
Seaside restaurant in Tučepi, Croatia
