We're counting down to the end of the year with a selection of the most meaningful images taken by our Sony Artisans and Brand Ambassadors in 2023. See Part 4 of 6 below featuring compelling travel, adventure and street photography from Renan Ozturk, David Burnett, Ira Block, Nino Rakichevich, David McLain, Ben Moon, Monaris, Dane Isaac, Gregg Jaden, Steven Irby, Anthony Castro, Sal D'Alia and Crissibeth Cooper. See more of our Most Meaningful Photos Of 2023 in Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 and stay tuned to Alpha Universe as we continue to countdown to the end of the year.

We're counting down to the end of the year with a selection of the most meaningful images taken by the Brand Ambassadors in 2023.

Renan Ozturk

Photo by Renan Ozturk. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/640-sec., f/2.8, ISO 800

"This image was part of the National Geographic expedition where we discovered a new lava lake in the south Atlantic ocean after climbing the first ascent of Mt Micheal in the South Sandwich islands.  We had to sail there across the worst section of the Drake Passage, the roughest seas on earth and most of the crew including myself was extremely sea sick like on this day, but I would pull myself on deck once a day every day to attempt to document the heavy seas."

"For me this shot represents true exploration not only for exploration sake for to help a team of scientists whose lives are dedicated to understanding our earth in new ways and a longer term dedication to a journey, one that lasted a few months of intense climbing and sea-faring and resulted in the discovery of a new lava lake which is very important for volcanologists."

Dane Isaac

Photo by Dane Isaac. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/100-sec., f/5.6, ISO 200

“This photo was taken during J’ouvert 2023. I, as most Grenadians, take part in the J’ouvert/ Carnival celebrations while they are happening. I carried my camera into the ‘mas’ as any ‘sane’ photographer would, and captured as many moments as possible without getting my camera destroyed from the oil, paint and water.”

“This image is meaningful to me for a few reasons. That day marked 10 years that I wasn't able to be home for the carnival celebrations. I became a photographer during that stretch of time and I always craved to travel back home and capture my homeland and culture, especially during Carnival (J’ouvert).”

Monaris

Photo by Monaris. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/640-sec., f/5.6, ISO 125

"While navigating the desert, this mesmerizing scene unfolded, captivating my senses with its beauty and leaving an indelible mark on my time in Abu Dhabi. This image, for me, embodies both strength and resilience. I recall sensing as though I were a character in a movie, one of those moments when the universe perfectly aligns."

Ira Block

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/8000-sec., f/2.8, ISO 250

“Earlier this winter, I visited India and photographed the Hindu festival of Diwali on the Ganges river in Varanasi. As I was disembarking a boat early in the morning, I saw this woman taking a holy dip in the river performing the rituals of purification to achieve spiritual liberation. From where I was standing, the sunlight made the river come alive and this angle brought out the sacred essence of the Ganges. It was a glorious moment to witness and photograph.”

“Witnessing the Hindu festival of Diwali in Varanasi was an incredibly powerful and moving experience. In this crowded city of devotees, this singular person represented all the spiritual energy of the Diwali celebrations and brought forth the divinity of the Ganges river.”

Nino Rakichevich

Photo by Nino Rakichevich. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/2000-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100

“This year I’ll be celebrating 40 years in my own photography business. Most people know me as a fashion and portrait photographer, but I'm also a street photographer. I always have a camera with me wherever I go. Perhaps that’s why I'm never bored and why I'm still passionate about photography after all these years? When I took this photo, I felt just as excited as I did in the early days of my career. Capturing this image just felt right. That feeling is what will keep me going for another 40 years.”

David McLain

Photo by David McLain. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/2.8, ISO 3200

“94-year-old Samurai Joe has been making his living as a tour guide for the past 63 years, and claims to have never turned down a job. He still works about 100 days a year and claims his boundless energy comes from sashimi, whiskey and vegetables. I shot this for coverage on a forthcoming book about healthspan. The average 75-year-old living in Kyoto, Japan is disease and disability-free. Writer Dan Buettner and I recently spent two weeks in Kyoto trying to understand why these people are so much healthier than their American counterparts. I've been covering the world's oldest healthiest people for the past 15 years and they continue to amaze and inspire me.”

Ben Moon

Photo by Ben Moon. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/8, ISO 640

"I was on Oahu to give a talk at the 25th anniversary of the Sony Open and heard that The legendary Eddie Aikau big wave contest was to be held the next morning. I had never seen Waimea Bay break at that size so I got up predawn to beat the traffic to the North Shore and met up with my friend Zoë McDougall, a pro surfer who grew up at Sunset Beach, and we biked to Waimea to watch the action from a friend's yard right at the break. The contest had been called off overnight because of inconsistent conditions, but there was still plenty of swell and thousands of people watching the action. I don't know who the surfers are in the image but the memory of witnessing The Bay break makes it one of my favorite images of the year."

Gregg Jaden

Photo by Gregg Jaden. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 800

“Sunset is never guaranteed. We almost packed up for the day on this one as heading back to the transport, I had a feeling the set was going to be incredible. It was pretty calm, but as the sun set behind the horizon the sky started to light up and change color. I was quickly shooting to get the model situated while snapping. The powerful glow lasted around 10 minutes then started to fade slowly and created the exact mood I wanted.”

“Patience is key for waiting for skies to change or weather to change. Maybe your landscape is too bright with sunlight, and so seeing rolling clouds come in for the perfect mood is a reward for being patient.”

Steven Irby

Photo by Steven Irby. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/15-sec., f/1.4, ISO 50

"Walking into the subway station, and seeing this man with his headlamp on his head and his digital clock behind him, while he played Beethoven in the midst of rush hour. I just found a position that I wouldn’t be a distraction, and ceased the moment as I felt it. This is one of my favorite images I was able to capture this year. Mainly because I feel like this really sums of the beautiful juxtaposition of what it means to be in New York City, my hometown. For some reason I was just so gravitated towards the moment but also the feeling that he wasn’t playing it but no one for himself. Pretty much sums up the ethos of New York in a way – that you really can recreate your own reality."

Anthony Castro

Photo by Anthony Castro. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/100-sec., f/4, ISO 100

"This Special Banyan tree on Oahu is only found on a secret hike. Fun fact it has also been used in a few Hollywood blockbusters. This is my favorite photo because I've had this idea for years and I was finally able to achieve it with my girlfriend @brittnicaitlin. We had to find the perfect (massive) dress in order for this to work and I couldn't be happier with the result! Honestly the craziest part was the fact that she was able to climb the tree with such a big dress!"

Sal D'Alia

Photo by Sal D’Alia. Sony Alpha 7 IV.

"This was taken on an assignment. The sunset view from South Ferry in Manhattan was incredible and I decided to switch from my model to Lady Liberty and capture that beautiful winter sun behind the statue. South Ferry is one of the first locations I ever shot in NYC when I moved here in 2010, after years I felt like I was watching the sunset and the Statue of Liberty for the first time."

Crissibeth Cooper

Photo by Crissibeth Cooper. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 

"Art begets art. This majestic staircase at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is a sculptural work in its own right, and it inspired me to create this photo. I wandered up, down, and around the silent, spacious architecture to find the perfect vantage. A wide-angle lens was absolutely necessary to encompass the grandeur and scale."

"Shooting photos is a very meditative exercise for me, and each time I revisit this image, I'm calmed by the visual rhythm of geometric order. The abundance of clean white with a symmetrical pattern leading to a focal point of contemplation embodies the profound stillness and tranquility I felt while capturing it. I hope anyone who sees it experiences a similar moment of inner peace."

David Burnett

Photo by David Burnett. Sony Alpha 7R III. 1/2500-sec., ISO 200

"This is a portrait from a small coffee grower in central Cuba, Artemio."