Out of all the national parks and other protected areas you visited the previous year, you've got certain favorites, right? How easy (or difficult) was it to choose those favorites? Sometimes, it might come down more to the feeling you had when capturing that image rather than just the composition. Continuing her New Year's tradition with the Traveler, contributing photographer Rebecca Latson shares her favorite photos captured during the previous year. Usually stopping at 5 or 7 shots, this year, Rebecca is sharing 10 favorite images to mark her 2018 visit to 9 national parks and 1 national recreation area, explaining why she chose each image and how she captured it.

If you want to capture great images yet cannot, or do not wish to, venture very far from your vehicle or lodging, then you've probably been following the Armchair Photography Guides for national parks that National Parks Traveler contributing photographer Rebecca Latson has visited. In her final Part 3 of this Armchair Photography Guide for Bryce Canyon National Park, Rebecca covers portions of Fairyland Canyon and Fairyland Loop Trail, complete with suggestions and techniques for fantastic photos in this smaller amphitheater chock-full of colorful scenery and amazing geology.

Following on the heels of last month's Canyonlands National Park Armchair Photography Guide, photographer Rebecca Latson chose to keep things in Utah a little while longer and pen a guide for Bryce Canyon National Park. In this month's article, she provides tips, techniques, and a general overview of the photo ops available within this geologically astounding national park. Rebecca's Armchair Photography Guides are for those who cannot or do not wish to venture very far away from car, camper, cabin or tent, as well as for those visiting this national park for the first time, or who are re-visiting the park and might find the advice listed here helpful for future visits.

How many of you have looked at national park images of the sun and viewed a golden-yellow or golden-orange orb with the shape and brilliance of a star? That’s called a sunburst. Some people think this photographic treatment is pretty cool, while others give it a thumbs-down. Whether you like the result of this technique or not, creating a sunburst with your camera is great for learning more about your camera’s manual settings. Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson shows you how this is done.