Photos of 2023 on BSA – #14: Contemplate the Beauty of the Earth

We’re celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next by thanking BSA Readers, Friends, and Family for your support in 2023. Picked by our followers, these photos are the heavily circulated and “liked” selections of the year – shot by our Editor of Photography, Jaime Rojo. We’re sharing a new one every day to celebrate all our good times together, our hope for the future, and our love for the street. Happy Holidays Everyone!


This summer in Stavanger, Norway, at the Nice Surprise festival, a monochromatic stencil by Gary Taxali captured the essence of human curiosity and our fragile relationship with nature. Placed thoughtfully in the grass, this piece by a renowned commercial artist venturing into street art for the first time, speaks volumes. It portrays a small, spritely figure, bending down to gently touch a butterfly – a simple yet profound metaphor. This artwork reminds us of the delicate dance between humanity and the natural world, echoing the words of Rachel Carson: ‘Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.’

Gary Taxali. Nice Surprise Festival. Stavanger, Norway. (photo © Jaime Rojo)
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