My Top 5 Photos of 2024 and Year In Review
2024 was quite a year in tech! AI remained at the forefront of conversations across industries as automation continued to advance. Since taking off in 2023, AI has vastly improved in generating images, creating videos, answering complex questions, and assisting with daily tasks. While exciting, these developments also bring uncertainty. The tech world saw several memorable launches: Tesla's Cybertruck finally hit U.S. roads, and they surprised us with the Cybercab unveiling. The highly anticipated Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin launched but fell short of consumer expectations. In other news, EV maker Fisker filed for bankruptcy, Apple entered the VR space with the premium-priced Vision Pro, and the Fujifilm X100VI became the year's hottest camera, staying sold out for months. Perhaps most notably, Nikon's acquisition of RED sent shockwaves through the camera and cinema industries. I’m excited for what Nikon has in store in 2025 as I’m predicting that it will incorporate RED RAW and features to its mirrorless cameras. It's been an exciting year for tech—I'm eager to see what 2025 brings to the industry.
Starting with some difficult moments this year, the beginning of 2024 was particularly challenging. I lost a friend at the end of last year and was still grieving during January. I'll never forget receiving that 2 AM text from my friend announcing her unexpected passing. I was in complete shock—I stared at my phone for a full 10 minutes before reality began to sink in. I had just seen her at my birthday weeks before, so how could she be gone? She had given me a leather journal as a birthday present, which now holds profound significance. I will document my life in that journal and cherish it forever.
Though I've experienced loss before, this one affected me differently. While we weren't extremely close, we saw each other frequently and stayed in touch. She had so many unfulfilled dreams—working with children in developing countries to improve their lives, trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and visiting Japan. I'm grateful that my friends and I were able to travel to Japan with her the year before her passing.
A few months later, I received news that another friend had tragically passed away. Losing two friends within months felt surreal. Rest in peace, Sanji and Cherlyn—you will be missed and forever remembered.
After doing photography for over a decade, I experienced my first unsatisfied client. While art is subjective, which was certainly a factor, I also overlooked an important detail during the session while focusing on other aspects. I ultimately re-edited the photos based on her feedback. It was a valuable learning experience, and now I pay meticulous attention to every detail during similar shoots.
Now, let's highlight some moments from 2024! I finally launched my YouTube channel after years of wanting to start one. I overcame my fear of filming in public by adopting a mindset of not caring what others think. Having friends who also started YouTube channels this year gave me extra motivation, but the real catalyst was getting the Nikon Zf. This camera has been an absolute game-changer. Its video capabilities exceeded all my expectations—I can now create cinematic-quality content on this compact camera. The autofocus is stellar, the colors are beautiful, and it excels at both stills and video. The ability to record 4K log footage internally is incredible.
Speaking of video, one of my most fulfilling achievements was learning DaVinci Resolve from scratch. Though it took nearly two months to create my first vlog while learning everything from the ground up, the effort was worth it. Seeing my finished product and feeling proud of what I created was one of the most rewarding moments I've experienced.
I've also expanded my gear collection beyond the Zf. The Nikkor 40mm f/2 Special Edition has been fantastic—while I initially bought it for aesthetics to match the Zf, it delivers excellent optical performance for its price. As I dove deeper into video work, I added the PolarPro Chroma VND/PL 2-5 stop Black Mist filter, which expertly manages harsh lighting conditions while adding a subtle halation effect. I use this filter extensively for both video and photos, especially during midday and golden hour shoots. Towards the end of the year, I bought the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S lens, completing my transition to all native Z mount lenses. Having owned the F mount version, I can say the Z mount version is dramatically superior. The autofocus is faster and more precise, while images come out sharper with gorgeous depth of field.
This has been a record-breaking year for my website with 23,956 visits, 21,401 unique visitors, and 33,022 page views! Most of this traffic came from my viral blog post: 1 Year Later: My 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range Review that I wrote last year. None of this would have been possible without you, the reader—thank you! I'm planning to write a new blog post about "My Top 10 Tesla Accessories That I've Used" early next year.
In terms of traveling, I had the opportunity to visit two new countries this year: South Korea and Taiwan. Until 2021, I had no interest in South Korea—nothing really attracted me until I saw aesthetic photos and videos on Instagram showcasing the country's beauty. I was immediately blown away by its natural landscapes and next-level cafes. As I researched more, I discovered there's actually so much to do there. From stunning scenery to stylish, minimal, and often grandiose cafes, even two weeks wasn't enough. For the first time ever, I loved a country so much that I extended my trip by a few days. I'm already planning to return next year.
Taiwan was a country I'd been wanting to visit for years, and I finally made it happen! While planning my Korea trip, I researched nearby countries to visit, and Taiwan being the closest, I booked a flight there. I spent about a week exploring different parts of the country, excited about the delicious food and countless photo opportunities. Though I didn't get to visit all the photo spots I'd planned, I had an amazing time hanging out with my friends Liz & Ghostbear and enjoying incredible Taiwanese cuisine. If you're curious about my observations of South Korea as a first-time traveler, here's a thread where I share my thoughts: https://www.threads.net/@makeetz/post/DDDRQR0T8Op
I experienced cherry blossom season for the first time in Japan. I've been wanting to visit during this time of year for ages but never had the chance. Fortunately, everything aligned perfectly for this trip. Although I missed peak bloom since it was later than average this year, I still had a wonderful time exploring Japan with amazing friends.
I made the spontaneous decision to fly to New York right after my Korea trip to celebrate my friend Andy's birthday. This was the most spontaneous decision I've ever made. After four years away from New York, it was wonderful catching up with friends during my brief visit.
I completed two international client photoshoots this year—something I never would have imagined possible when 2024 began! The first took place in Japan during cherry blossom season, and the second was in Taiwan. These opportunities helped build my destination photography portfolio, which has been one of my goals. I found both clients through a travel Facebook group, discovering there's a growing market for English-speaking photographers who can work with U.S. travelers abroad. This arrangement makes the photoshoot process much smoother for everyone involved. I'm thrilled to already have one international client shoot booked for next year in one of my favorite countries. I'm hoping to secure additional bookings there or in other destinations!
I also had the privilege of second shooting my first out-of-state wedding for my friend Sandy. The ceremony was held at the George Peabody Library in Baltimore —the most stunning wedding venue I've ever photographed. You can view the complete wedding gallery in this blog post: https://www.makitoumekita.com/blog/elegant-chic-wedding-at-the-george-peabody-library
This year, I landed my first paid behind-the-scenes photography gig, shooting a Vietnamese rapper's music video. Being on set was an incredible experience! I loved learning about the technical aspects—from rigging setups to achieve specific shots to various lighting techniques for both real and simulated scenes. I hope to do more shoots like this in 2025. I also completed my first spec-ad shoot with my friends Glen and CJ for Can-Am, where I had an amazing time capturing photos and videos of their impressive off-road vehicles.
Content-wise, I wrote 22 blog posts this year, up from 15 last year. I've recognized blogging's growing importance as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok's reach declines. In this ever-changing social media landscape, I believe blogging will remain the most reliable platform. This year marked my first experience with guest blog posts. While I initially offered these opportunities for free, I later received a paid inquiry from a credible website—an unexpected but welcome addition to my revenue streams. My photography services continue to thrive, with grad portraits leading the way, followed by events, engagements, and weddings. On the video front, I created 47 pieces of short-form content (down from last year's 82) and produced 2 YouTube videos. Though I hoped to create more YouTube content, time constraints got in the way. I'm committed to increasing both short-form and long-form video production in 2025. You can find my photography work on Instagram Reels and my tech, home, and Tesla content on TikTok.
For 2025, my goal is to maintain fewer working hours while increasing my rates. Although I haven't tallied my 2024 earnings yet, I plan to continue this strategy. I also want to expand into more international engagement shoots, with the ultimate goal of photographing destination weddings. Additionally, I aim to grow my YouTube channel to reach monetization status while carefully balancing video editing with client work.
Click here to see last year’s top 5 photos & year in review.
Here are my top 5 favorite photos that I’ve taken this year.
Note: These photos are not based on Instagram statistics; instead these are ranked based on personal preference. Although I loved every photoshoot I did this year, these are the ones that I would like to highlight. It was very difficult for me to choose which five photos I would include in this post as there were so many good ones to choose from.#5 Beauty In The Chaos
Starting the list off with this FIRE portrait of Maily. This was taken in one of the rooms at the new teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills. This was the most difficult portrait I've ever taken in my life. Two major challenges made shooting in this room incredibly hard. First, the extreme darkness—I wish I had my Nikon Zf for its excellent low-light capabilities, but I was using my Nikon Z7 II, which struggled to focus in such dim conditions. Second, the room's misty atmosphere kept fogging up my camera lens. After taking about 100 shots, only 7 photos came out in focus that I was happy with. This one stood out as the best of the bunch.
#4 Walking Towards A Moody Taipei 101
Capturing this self-portrait of me walking in the rain with a cloud-shrouded Taipei 101 in the background was one of my most challenging shots. When I arrived, several people were already photographing the iconic building. The clouds moved quickly, offering only brief moments—mere seconds—where Taipei 101 wasn't completely obscured. I spent 45 minutes attempting the perfect walking shot, but the building's top remained hidden each time. As my camera battery dwindled, I knew I had just a few shots left. Then I spotted a break in the clouds and seized the moment! With no one else around, I set my camera on a 5-second timer with 9 continuous burst shots and walked toward Taipei 101. Racing back to check my camera, I was thrilled to see I'd captured exactly what I wanted! Seconds later, my camera battery died. Talk about cutting it close! This shot earned its #4 spot on my list through pure determination and perfect timing.
#3 Sakura Light Trails
I've always dreamed of capturing long exposure light trails with cherry blossoms, and I wasn't sure I'd get the chance here—but I'm thrilled with how these shots turned out. I spent about an hour setting up my tripod and photographing passing cars. Through lots of trial and error, I dealt with common issues: blurry images, overexposed shots, and uneven light trails. After capturing about 10 different light trails, I finally got one with a perfect smooth curve. The quiet neighborhood location was ideal, with just one other photographer sharing the spot with me.
#2 Cruising Through Cherry Blossoms
One thing I love about street photography is its unpredictability. This angle and shot weren't even on my shot list when I went to Shibuya Sakura Street that day. Initially, I planned to capture a taxi driving through the winding street, but what I ended up with was far better. After taking numerous photos at street level (most crowded with people in the background), I decided to pack up and head home. On my way to the nearby subway station via an elevated bridge, I noticed several photographers with zoom lenses shooting toward Sakura Street. I immediately joined them and realized this spot offered an incredible composition! I pulled out my 85mm f/1.8 S lens from my backpack and started shooting. Suddenly, a white Porsche cruised through the winding street. I was ecstatic when I got the shot—the white Porsche perfectly complemented the pink sakura, and the lighting was perfect.
#1 The World Becomes Still: Totality In Ohio
April 8, 2024: The day the world stood still for 4 minutes and 27 seconds. This was my number one photo of the year because it was seven years in the making. The last total solar eclipse in North America happened back in 2017. During that time, I was stuck at my insufferable 9-to-5 job. I desperately wanted to travel to a state in the path of totality to photograph the eclipse but couldn't. I promised myself that the next time a total solar eclipse crossed the U.S., I would do whatever it took to capture it.
Fast forward to late 2023—I bought a plane ticket with my friend Deiner to fly into Pittsburgh airport early morning. From there, we drove 2.5 hours to Avon Lake in Cleveland, Ohio. Heavy rain during our drive made us doubt whether we'd be able to capture the eclipse at all. Fortunately, around 9:30 AM, the clouds began to clear as we arrived in Cleveland. We set up our gear around 1:45 PM to photograph the beginning of the partial eclipse.
The totality began at 3:12 PM, and it turned out to be the most stressful natural phenomenon I've ever photographed. I nearly gave up midway through shooting when I had to remove my solar filter and lost sight of the sun—but I eventually found it and got the shot! This was an unforgettable experience. This photo earned its number one spot because of the immense time, effort, and money invested in capturing this moment. Between the flights, driving, and renting the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens from my local camera store, extensive preparation went into getting the perfect shot. Even though we missed our return flight right after shooting the eclipse, it was absolutely worth it.
Here are my Best Nine for 2023 according to Instagram statistics:
For those curious, here are my top 10 favorite songs of 2024 (ranked):
Bilmuri - THE END
Jaron - WANTTHIS
Bilmuri - 2016 CAVALIERS (Ohio) (ft. Knox)
Bilmuri - SPINNIN’ YOU AROUND
Jaron - SPINNING
scro - leave me (ft. Underbelly)
Midnight Kids - Broken Things (Skybreak remix)
BMSG POSSE - Tokyo Night Dreaming (ft. No Rome)
scro - okay maybe i’m still just a little bit sad tho
Eyezic & demotapes - Part of Me (edit)
Honorable Mention: Tennyson - Crybird (Xavi Remix)
Released years ago but I just discovered this remix this year. Such a banger of an EDM remix that surely get your heart pumping.
Here are some of my favorite restaurants and cafes that I tried for the first time this year:
Steak Rice Center Beef Japanese Rice Bowl
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu
KUMONOCHA Kiyomizu Sannenzaka
Woomoolzip Changsin
Aji Yasu
Lee Jae Mo Pizza (best pizza I’ve ever had in my life)
Coffee Lusso Jusso
Myeongdong Kyoja
Cheongsudang Bakery
Ikseon Chihyang
Roast Beef Ono Akihabara
BAM BI COFFEE (best pancakes I’ver ever had)
Cremia
50 Lan
Shiny Tea
Asakusa Menchi
Chaya Tabanenoshi
Asakusa Kagetsudo
Maccha Houset
Gebangsikdang
Curly’s Icecream
Kei Coffee House
Bonsai Coffee Bar
ALittle Tea
Master Jim’s Beef Noodle (noodz that had a refreshing spice to it. I’ve never had anything like this before. So freaking good)
Nudake Cafe
Madam Hue
Honam Maeul
LEEDORIM Coffee
Passion 5
Ok Cafe
Kebuke Tea
Antidote
Kim Hoa Hue (the best Bon Bo Hue I’ve ever had. Shoutout to my friend Liz for the rec!)
Soup ‘n Fresh
Here are my top 10 favorite photo locations I’ve photographed for the first time in my life this year (ranked):
Hwadamsup Botanical Garden in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Roppongi Sakura-zaka in Tokyo, Japan
Haeundae, Busan in South Korea
Nami Island in Gangwon-do, South Korea
Jiantan Mountain Observation Deck in Taipei, Taiwan
Sakura Street in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Namsan Baekbeom Square in Seoul, South Korea
Gyeongbokgung Palace (West Gate) in Seoul South, Korea
Kaohsiung City in Taiwan
TeamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo, Japan
I hope you enjoyed reading these annual year in reviews and my top 5 photos of the year! If you want the visual version, check out my 2024 Year In Review Vlog on my YouTube. I can't thank you all enough for the incredible love and support you've shown me this year—I really appreciate it, fam! I'm deeply humbled and grateful to be able to do what I love as a job, and it's all thanks to you guys! Let’s make 2025 even bigger and better 🤝