2015 Favorite Images, White Mountains – Is 2015 really coming to an end? As I sit here and write this, I just can’t believe the year is almost over. With the end of the year approaching, it is time for me to look back on a years worth of shooting, and share with you the ten photographs that stand out to me from 2015. This year I am going to add some commentary to make it a little more interesting.

Generally speaking, you find that conservation and environmental photographers tend to have diverse image collections that cover many aspects of the environment. The reason for this is because we shoot many different subjects and issues related to the environment from year to year. This year my work focused mainly on an area of the New Hampshire environment that is not often photographed, and my favorite images of 2015 reflect this.

I only added a handful of mountain landscape scenes this year to my image archive because most of my time this year has been spent documenting culture and history subjects in the New Hampshire White Mountains. And though I love shooting mountain landscapes, the reality is unless it is tied to a project I probably won't being shooting many of them in 2016. It is a business decision.

I spent about two weeks this year shooting the abandoned Village of Livermore (above). Incorporated by the state of New Hampshire in 1876, Livermore was a logging town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak, the population of Livermore was around 150-200 people, but as time progressed more and more people left the town. The town of Livermore was officially dissolved in 1951.

The cascades and waterfalls in the White Mountains region looked better than ever this year and was I able to photograph a number of them. Blue Ravine Cascades (above) was one of my favorites that I visited in 2015. Blue Ravine Cascades are located along a tributary of the Wild Ammonoosuc River in Kinsman Notch.

I spent a month documenting the historic Sandwich Notch Road and the abandoned nineteenth-century hill farm community that once was in Sandwich Notch. During the early nineteenth century, thirty to forty families lived in the Notch. By 1860 only eight families lived in the Notch and by the turn of the twentieth century only one person lived in the Notch year around. It is amazing some of the cellar holes are still visible.

Here in the White Mountains, we have been spoiled with awesome autumn foliage seasons the last few years, but the 2015 foliage season can be best described as strange. It was not a bad season, just a strange season. I was able to find some great scenes along the backroads of the White Mountains and Kinsman Cemetery (above) was a stand out to me.

Much of photography was focused on the White Mountains region this year, so I did not have to travel much this year. And though I love to explore and photograph new areas in New England it was nice to be close to home. I did visit the abandoned mountain settlement in Pawtuckaway State Park to photograph one of the best preserved granite foundations (above) I have seen in the forests of New Hampshire.

The last few years I have come across a number of abandoned vehicles in the forest. Usually, when I discover these relics, the shooting conditions are poor, so I have revisited some of them this year during ideal shooting conditions. One my favorite finds is possibly a Nash (above) from the 1920s or 1930s. I am still researching this vehicle, and could be wrong on the identification.

As much I love the backcountry of New Hampshire I have to say the roadside attractions make great photo subjects. Many of them take on a new look during the winter months, and Sabbaday Falls (above) looked great during the winter of 2015.

Back in January, I challenged myself to write a blog article once a week, but there was a catch. Because I am in the business of photography, each article I wrote had to promote my image archive, create awareness for the environment, and also inspire people to explore nature. I am happy to say that I now only have one more blog article to write, and I will have completed this challenge.

During the December holidays is the best time to shut down for a few days so I will be taking time off to spend with family and friends, and I will be doing some hiking. And if you haven’t purchased one of my 2016 New Hampshire calendars yet, I do still have some available. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Happy image making..

To license any of the above images for usage in publications, click on the image.

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Erin Paul Donovan

Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC

Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.