2024 - A Year In Review
Every year feels different—and 2024 was less about chasing new destinations and more about returning with intention.
Instead of adding pins to the map, we revisited old favorites, taking our kids on long road trips, immersing ourselves in epic landscapes and vibrant cultures, learning new skills in vlogging and camping, and—most meaningfully—celebrating our 10th anniversary in places that hold deep personal significance across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Here’s a look back at the journeys, moments, and photography milestones that shaped my year.
A Summer of Waterfalls, and Open Roads
Háifoss, Iceland
Iceland: Two Weeks on the Ring Road
Both my husband and I loved Iceland—and experiencing it again, this time with our kids, felt especially meaningful. Unlike many of our longer trips that take me weeks of planning, this journey was spontaneous, booked just three days before departure.
Compared to our visit a decade earlier, this trip had a clear intention: to experience Iceland in a different season and fully embrace the midnight sun, maximizing long golden hours and photographic opportunities that stretched late into the night.
Two weeks of driving, hiking, and chasing light across the island reminded me why Iceland remains one of my favorite destinations for landscape photography:
the incredible density of waterfalls and natural landmarks, many just minutes from the road
the way extended golden hours allow for slower, more intentional composition without rushing
the freedom to photograph at almost any time of day, letting light—not the clock—guide our pace
I documented this journey in two parts:
Iceland in June – 2-Week Road Trip Itinerary & 20 Waterfalls (Part 1)
Iceland in June – 2-Week Road Trip Itinerary & 20 Waterfalls (Part 2)
Iceland didn’t demand rigid plans. Instead, it rewarded curiosity, flexibility, and the simple joy of seeing beauty everywhere you turned.
2-week Road Trip in the Northwestern U.S.
Almost immediately after Iceland, we continued traveling—this time closer to home.
A 2-week road trip took us through seven states across the Northwestern United States, revisiting places my husband and I first experienced during a 72-day national park road trip more than a decade ago.
This time, we returned with our kids, moving at a different pace and focusing on places that naturally lend themselves to both exploration and photography.
Highlights included: Glacier National Park, North Dakota and South Dakota, Grand Teton National Park. I later shared these trips in dedicated guides:
What stood out most during this stretch wasn’t how much we covered, but how photographable these regions are at almost every stop—from roadside pullouts to short hikes and expansive viewpoints. Great photos sometimes don’t require extreme effort, just awareness and thoughtful use of light.
Autumn in China: Culture, Altitude, and Adventure
In October and November, we spent a full month in China, moving between cities and remote highlands.
Chengdu & Western Sichuan
We spent time in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, a city that has evolved rapidly over the past few decades into a modern metropolis layered with history, culture, and everyday life.
Compared to other mega cities like Shanghai, Chengdu moves at a noticeably more relaxed pace. Its teahouses, local neighborhoods, and unhurried street scenes became some of my favorite photographic moments of the trip.
Beyond the city, the bulk of our time in Sichuan was spent on a road trip across the high plateau in the western part of the province, near the Tibetan region. Vast open landscapes, thin air, and remote villages introduced an entirely different way of seeing and photographing—one that demanded simplicity, restraint, and respect for the environment and culture.
These experiences became:
Chengdu Beyond the Pandas – A Travel Photographer’s Paradise
Capturing the Spirit of Western Sichuan – A Photographer’s Guide to the High Plateau Near Tibet
Eastern China: Stories Still Unwritten
We also spent time in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Yangzhou, where my parents’ families came from.
While I haven’t yet written detailed blog posts for these cities, they were deeply meaningful—less about dramatic landscapes, more about quiet observations, memory, and reconnection.
Some stories take longer to surface. I’m learning to let them.
Unexpected Light: Photographing the Northern Lights at Home
One of the biggest surprises of 2024 didn’t require travel at all.
In May, during a rare solar storm, I photographed the northern lights from my own backyard—something I never imagined experiencing without traveling far north.
See more details I Photographed the Best Northern Lights in My Backyard and the timelapse video below
That night was a powerful reminder of something fundamental: extraordinary moments don’t always live far away. Sometimes, all you need is an open mind, a bit of readiness, and just enough luck to recognize the moment when it appears.
Learning Something New: Our First Camping Trip
2024 was also the year we finally learned something I had avoided for a long time: camping.
It wasn’t about mastering gear or perfect setups. It was about curiosity, trying something new as a family, and learning to let go of control—embracing imperfection and working within real constraints.
I wrote about that experience here:
Camping shifted the way I approach photography in subtle but meaningful ways. With limited space and basic conditions, we were rewarded with easier access to nature and long, uninterrupted hours in beautiful light.
It reminded me that a small willingness to compromise on comfort can open the door to experiences—and images—that feel far richer than expected.
A Creative Shift: Returning to YouTube
Early in the year, a small decision created an unexpected ripple.
I picked up the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 as a lightweight vlog camera and shared a simple YouTube video in February. I didn’t expect much.
Instead, that video—and the few that followed—including the most popular “How To Take Great Travel Photos In Crowded Places” brought thousands of new subscribers to a YouTube channel that had been dormant for years.
The response surprised me and, in many ways, gave me a renewed sense of responsibility—to show up more consistently and share photography and travel insights that could genuinely help others.
Sometimes momentum doesn’t come from perfect planning, but simply from showing up honestly and letting the work find its audience.
Looking Back—and Forward
2024 wasn’t about doing more.
It was about doing what mattered, even when progress looked different than expected:
Fewer new destinations, but deeper experiences
New skills gained out of curiosity
Creative energy rediscovered in unexpected places
Thank you for being here, for reading. Here’s to more light, presence, and moments worth remembering.
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A reflective look back at 2024 through travel photography, family road trips, and creative growth. From Iceland and the Northwestern U.S. to China—and even the northern lights at home—this year in review shares the journeys, lessons, and photography milestones that shaped my year.