We asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Alpha Collective members to submit their most meaningful images of 2024. See Part 5 below featuring travel and street photography from Garrette and Amber Baird, Ira Block, Katrin Eismann, Renan Ozturk, Brian Smith, Max Boncina, Anthony Castro, Steven Irby, Tiffany Nguyen and Ivan Wong.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4

We're counting down to the end of the year with a selection of the most meaningful images taken by our Sony Artisans and Alpha Collective in 2024.

Garrette & Amber Baird

Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/200-sec., f/1.4, ISO 125

“While walking through the streets of Indianapolis, Amber and I stopped in front of a restaurant  window and saw our reflection in the window of the restaurant we were going to. A quick candid portrait, blending our image with the textures of the urban scene behind the glass, a spontaneous moment frozen in time—one of those rare occasions where the world aligned to tell a quiet, intimate story. It wasn’t planned, but sometimes the best photos aren’t.”

“Before going into one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate our 20th anniversary I captured this impromptu photo of Amber and I’s reflection in the window. A quiet moment that felt like a metaphor for our journey together. As I bent down and kissed my beloved, I found myself reflecting on the last two decades—the laughter, the challenges, the countless memories that have shaped us creating an unbreakable bond. That reflection wasn’t just an image in the glass, it was a reminder of how far we’ve come, side by side, building a life filled with love, meaning, and friendship.”

Ira Block

Photo by Ira Block. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/160-sec., f/4, ISO 2500

“We were driving along one morning at sunrise and I saw this farmer and his wonderful white horse. I have shot a lot of places and people in Viñales, Cuba, but this was a new scene for me as the farmer's fields were filled with Mogotes; the tower like geographical structures. When we started speaking with him I noticed his dog, who seemed totally devoted to the man. This one moment seemed to capture the relationship.”

“l love photographing people and their culture. This moment with the magnificent white horse, the farmer and his dog all came together against the terrific geographical landscape.Everything in this image captures the spirit of the Cuban people and their connection with the land.”

Katrin Eismann

Photo by Katrin Eismann. Sony Alpha 7CR. Sony 24mm f/2.8 G. 1/125-sec., f/11, ISO 100

“Photographed on the first morning of Ramadan, the captain of our small vessel welcomed me back on board after an early morning walk along the Nile River. A trip to Egypt had been on my wishlist since I was a teenager and my parents always wanted to go...they never made it. Traveling exposes us to new and ancient cultures, values, and experiences and is a privilege I cherish each time I pack my bags to leave for a new adventure.”

Renan Ozturk

Photo by Renan Ozturk. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II. 3/5-sec., f/14, ISO 640

“A shaman from the Yawanawa Tribe tribe in Brazil makes his first trip on a plane outside his village to Tokyo Shimbuya crossing as part of an art project on how travel affects the brain. This was a hectic slow shutter execution in the middle of the chaos of the crossing “

“To me this represents the indomitable spirit of humanity. Tuikuru was so brave to travel to and from his remote village to Tokyo for this project and when the scientist measured his brain waves for the art he was able to calm his mind more than any other character, a testament to his mental strength he has gained living so close to nature in the jungle.”

Brian Smith

Photo by Brian Smith. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/800-sec., f/2.8, ISO 250

“After spending the night at a lodge steps from the entrance to Manchu Picchu, I entered the park when it opened and waited for the sun to rise. I chose to shoot the scene using an Infrared-converted Sony Alpha 7R IV. On the morning of our thirty-first anniversary, my wife and I checked another thing off our bucket list.”

Max Boncina

Photo by Max Boncina. Sony Alpha 7CR. Sony 24-50mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/100-sec., f/2.8, ISO 200

“Meaning ‘Little Belt’, La Petite Ceinture, encircles completely the city of Paris. Abandoned since the 1930’s and overtaken by nature; including one tunnel which hosts a colony of 700 bats. Climbing over the high fence with my Parisian friend and model we eagerly walked as a gentle summer drizzle welcomed us. Soon we both knew we had found the perfect vantage point. She inside one tunnel, mysteriously veiled as the dystopian greenery lay ahead.”

“What makes this my favorite image for 2024 is twofold. Firstly, the absolute otherworldly sensation this image gives me. A mixture of post-apocalyptic vibes, accompanied by a large dose of intrigue. Secondly, this image is a celebration of both exploration and camaraderie. We accomplished this photo shoot with nothing but hand signals and my horrible French. Yet the adventure beckoned us and the results I simply could not be happier with…”

Anthony Castro

Photo by Anthony Castro. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/320-sec., f/3.5, ISO 400

“Knowing that this is a very popular spot during the day, we made sure to get here early. I planned months ahead of time to get an airbnb that was only a 7-minute walk so that we can get here quickly. We had it all to ourselves at 4am with a beautiful morning glow.”

“I took this image of my girlfriend right before I put the camera on a tripod and pressed record. I told her to face outward while I took a few ‘long exposure shots’. Little did she know (well she claims to have had a feeling) that I was about to propose. I am happy to say she is now my fiancé!”

Steven Irby

Photo by Steven Irby. Sony Alpha 7R III. 1/15-sec., f/2, ISO 50

“On this day, everyone was expecting for it to snow and it would be my first time experiencing a snow storm in Tokyo. As soon as the first drops of snow hit the streets, I was outside trying to capture every moment. I wanted to capture something classic on this day, so being able to go to the rooftop in Shibuya was my main goal. I feel like this moment is timeless and to me it will always resonate.”

“I’ve always been obsessed with anime and the architecture of Japan. So being able to capture this moment in a snowstorm was like me living out my dream as a child.”

Tiffany Nguyen

Photo by Tiffany Nguyen. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/400-sec., f/2.8, ISO 125

“I was in Oaxaca with the other Lightroom ambassadors and we got up at 3am to make the trek to this spot. It was well worth the early morning wake up call to have this place all to ourselves.”

“This is my favorite image I took this year because it’s from a place that was on my bucket list and I love the different elements in the photo like my friend as the subject, the perfect reflection of the tree in the calm pool, and the leading lines of the rock formation. It’s a unique take on a location I’ve always wanted to visit so I was really excited about it.”

Ivan Wong

Photo by Ivan Wong. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/8, ISO 100

“I captured this with my full-spectrum Sony Alpha 7R IV. I love watching planes and during the middle of the day, the lighting is often harsh and overexposed. But shooting in IR allows me to shoot during these types of conditions and still allow me to get the plane shots I want.”

“This past year, I’ve spent much of my time in self-isolation, navigating the challenges of my mental health. Only occasionally did I feel the spark to step outside and truly live. On this particular day, after some meaningful self-reflection and self-discovery, I found the courage to venture out. Palm trees and plane watching had always brought me peace. It reminded me of the beauty in reconnecting with the world. I hold onto the hope of creating more moments like these—where I feel at ease stepping outside, embracing life, and capturing memories that bring joy.”