Where did 2013 go?

That's what I'm asking myself, and you may be as well.

These years seem to pass so fast. Sign of getting old?

Probably.

Oh well, onward and upward...

First and foremost, this has been a year of growth and success for me as a photographer. I'm thankful for that, and hope the inertia continues into 2014.

Last December, I put together a blog on my favorites from the year. So why not continue the tradition?

January was filled with lots of basketball shoots (see what I did there? Shoots? Ahh...).

The above photo jumped out at me because it appears to capture the peak of the players' motion. I also liked the composition, and how the fans are visible in the background.

In this photo, also shot in January, I did my best to make lemonade out of lemons since our date was a dreary and rainy one.

Weather days are common in south Louisiana, so a setting with a roof is always preferred.

This little guy had fun anyhow. I simply positioned myself at his level and captured his expression. Right place, right time.

I know, I know, more basketball.

This one stands out to me because it illustrates how aggressive the female game can be. Even in routine plays like this, you can see the determination in the players' faces.

From my personal file, I fancied this capture of our family's dog, Sassy. It grabbed me because it snatched a typical moment in time in a simple, yet direct way.

I may be a tad biased, but I think Sassy is one good-looking dog. She always seems willing to pose for me.

Here's another from my personal collection. I wish I could say I stalked the light for hours and hours, but the true story is that I happened to walk by and everything was just perfect.

All I could do is sabotage it, so I did as little as possible and hoped the simplicity would shine through it.

The photo above probably is meaningless to most. Early in the year, I assisted my grandpa with a task he undertook for a national magazine for antique car enthusiasts.

Digging through a shuttered, old building which once housed a Ford dealership decades ago, we felt like archeologists on a modern history excavation.

He framed the article and photos and hung it in his house.

As Ansel Adams once said, "Sometimes I get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

Sometimes I feel the same way. It's strange how the most benign scenes can be transformed by sunlight.

When I photograph weddings, I make sure to take lots of traditional photos. I like the images that stand the test of time. Those lame Instagram filters will look silly in decades to come.

One day in 2013 I spent time shooting around Grand Isle, Louisiana.

I had a difficult time narrowing down my favorite, but I really liked the above capture.

My brother was cool enough to put up with me for an afternoon shoot during the year.

We had a few nice shots come from our time in a Baton Rouge park.

Arguably a little cliche, but I like the idea of using framing.

I'm not sure, but I think he saw me doing the frame thing with my fingers. Either way, I liked the result.

In May, I photographed this wedding scene.

Beside the traditional images from wedding ceremonies, I always try to capture the simple details.

I was asked to photograph my first quinceañera in 2013. Prior to the celebration, we spent the day going around taking candid shots.

I'm a "keep it simple stupid" type of guy, but sometimes the "worth a thousand words" shot comes along.

A quinceañera is a celebration of a girl becoming a woman. I liked this shot because it shows that every woman hangs on to the girl they once were deep down inside.

Despite the elaborate party, the girls just wanted to be alone together for a while and enjoy their friendship.

What an awesome couple. While much of their wedding was traditional, bits of their personalities could be found throughout the day.

I loved this shot. It was so them.

This plays more like an outtake, but it captured a real moment in time.

The little guy must have noticed something more important than the photo opportunity.

I love photographing musicians, especially when they are completely consumed by their craft.

I worked with so many great couples this year. This shot reminds me of one my favorite weddings from 2013.

This summer, I snapped this photo on the Mississippi River levee front. The shot was used by our Baton Rouge CBS affiliate, WAFB, on its Facebook page.

I always credit my journalism background for my ability to see the story. When you have a great photo, coming up with words for a caption feels pointless.

I did this shoot for my relatives. This photo now canvases an entire wall in their house.

Wedding receptions are always a treasure trove for photos.

Everybody wants to shot of a star quarterback like Drew Brees throwing a touchdown pass, barking out signals, or shaking hands with Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. But what about when he's giving his boys a smooch?

I loved the light in this one. When I first started shooting sports, stopping a fast play like this blocked punt seemed impossible. My timing has come a long way over the years.

This year I traveled to Colorado for the first time. I've been wanting to go back ever since.

Who doesn't love a nice bokeh shot?

This little guy was a new addition to our extended family for 2013.

I don't have a ton of experience in photographing babies, but I liked the results. It just took lots of patience and determination.

In this shot, an overcast day proved to be the perfect setting.

This event I photographed over the summer had a perfect ending. Gangnam Style, that is.

I love a sports shot when they kick up some dust.

Awesome couple. I loved the shots we took around New Orleans.

I was a regular at a few "muddy buddy" events in the area. I snapped lots of photos, but none were as interesting as the one above.

You know it's love when you can go for a mud kiss.

Last but not least, I have to tell you about the little man who came into my life in 2013.

He was found running along a rural road surrounded by sugarcane fields. His fur was shaggy and his teeth were (depending on who you ask) described as anything from cute to cringe-worthy.

We tried to find his owner, but no one spoke up for him.

Even though I had never had a dog of my own before, I decided to take him in.

Now, he has a vet, a groomer, and his own personal photographer.