Lookback on November

The Unsplash library welcomed an astounding addition of 92,357 visuals, with photographs capturing everything from a speeding comet to eclectic holiday decor. Join us in exploring 20 extraordinary submissions from the month of November.

“Last winter, I spent a week in the Chamonix Valley. While exploring the valley, I noticed one mountain in particular that caught my attention because of its size (The Drus). After taking many shots of this peak, I made the decision to share this picture that accurately reflects it for me.” — Martin Masson 🇫🇷

“At the end of November 2023, Berlin was unexpectedly blanketed by heavy snowfall—a rare and fleeting event for that time of year. Seizing the opportunity and eager to test my new 35mm lens, recently added to my photography gear, I rushed to one of the city’s most photogenic landmarks, the Berlin Cathedral. I worked swiftly to capture the scene before the snow was disturbed, striving to highlight its pristine, untouched beauty. This photograph stands as a testament to the ephemeral magic of snowfall and the creative possibilities that my new lens has unlocked for me.” — Nikita Pishchugin 🇩🇪

“A serene morning after the first snowstorm of winter.” – Xinyi W  🇨🇳

"For the image, I wanted to experiment with soft, pastel tones and minimalistic styling to create a dreamlike aesthetic. The use of frosted transparency over the model's face adds an element of anonymity and abstraction, which I thought would encourage the viewer to focus on the textures and colors. Besides, this composition combines modern fashion with an artistic backdrop which is always in demand. " – Anastasiia Pelikh 🇦🇲

“I was with a group of friends in Morocco. We were going to Merzouga with camels early in the morning. It was a very beautiful sunrise. The light changed very fast. I had 18-200 mm on my camera. I took this photo on 200 mm. There should be no time to change lenses if the light is beautiful.” — Wietse Jongsma 🇳🇱

"After years of planning and waiting, 2024 was the year I finally got to make a long-awaited first trip to Japan. Not only was it all I ever wanted it to be, it was so much more. Take this photograph for example, taken at Murou Art Forest -  a sculpture park (by Israeli artist Dani Karavan) - where there’s a perfectly symbiotic relationship between art & nature. A spiral surrounded by bamboo descends into a submerged steel corridor where you are completely removed from the world around you - there’s only silence and cold air around you and the only way back is the stairs you see in front of you. An amazing act of reflection - and an apt symbol of Japan - a country where technology, nature and culture come together as a serene whole." – Tom Swinnen 🇧🇪

"An abstract and colorful architectural facade captured in detail, showcasing a modern building's vibrant design." – Cheng Lin 🇨🇭

“This Image is inspired by AI-generated images out there, but most images are exaggerated, so I created this Somewhat Fantasy Architecture in the Woods. I made the Render using Houdini and Redshift.” — Anirudh Reddy 🇮🇳

“As an artist, I have a fascination with colour, and 'Camo', our son's pet, sometimes talks me through complementary tones! This particular shot captured him making its way past a primed canvas ready for paint.” — Pierre Bamin 🇬🇧🇸🇱

"For the creation and capture of the image I tried to simplify the freedom feeling that I was sure Pablo was feeling while riding the bike, working with him in the park was such a cool experience and I think the portrait expresses this sense of free movement pretty well! " – Ave Calvar 🇪🇸

“This photo is a striking blend of artistry and technical experimentation, showcasing a mysterious and dreamy aesthetic. It was created in a controlled studio setting with dramatic low-key lighting, featuring a deep blue backdrop that enhances the subject’s silhouette. A motion blur effect achieved using a combination of a slow shutter speed and deliberate camera movement adds a sense of fluidity and emotion to the image.T he inspiration draws from themes of introspection and surrealism, with the use of shadows and blurred motion symbolizing the interplay between clarity and mystery. The subject’s minimalistic pose and elegant styling, paired with the cinematic lighting, create an evocative mood reminiscent of abstract art or experimental portraiture. This approach pushes the boundaries of traditional photography by merging technical precision with an emotive narrative.” — Janis Dzenis 🇬🇧

“A captivating 3D render of a subdivided cube featuring four mesmerizing portals on each face. Each portal reveals intricate instances of various objects” — Shubham Dhage 🇮🇳

“Comet 2023/A3. I caught this with my telescope low in the western sky a few days ago. It is now speeding away from the Earth and Sun and fading quickly, to return in another 80,000 years if it can survive the long journey. So long buddy!” — Steve Busch

“I created this illustration the good old-fashioned way, with pencils and crayons. I was at college and was trying really hard to find my illustration style so I thought of just drawing whatever came to mind. This is what came out. I later digitized the same illustration and recreated it digitally for the Doodles brief from a few months ago. Needless to say, this is very different from my current illustration style.” – Beatriz Camaleão 🇵🇹

“My passion for photography actually started with drones, because they allow me to see the world from different perspectives. This photo is a great example of that. I was walking around Millennium Park in Chicago, crossed this bridge on foot, and noticed how curved it was. I decided to launch my drone to see what shape it could have, and when I saw the S shape, I knew right away it would be one of my favorite shots from the trip.” — Willian Justen de Vasconcellos 🇧🇷

“I captured this image on a camping trip in the mountains of Big Sur, CA. During the summer I camp in the hills of Big Sur near a river where you can cliff jump and sun tan all day. And the best part about it is you can camp under these gorgeous giant oak trees that have been around for decades. They're a spectacle to look at and they're different every season. “ — Jeremy Bishop 🇺🇸

“A Christmas wonderland in soft pastels and vibrant blue: the branch hanging low from the ceiling, complete with retro decorations; the comfy cushions; bubble-style candle holders; and gorgeous poinsettias in pots and small vases lend this Christmas brunch or coffee setting a relaxed feel that encourages you to unwind. Stars for Europe.” — Charlotte Cowell 🇬🇧

“This photo means a lot to me. It’s my brother, about to leave his job and home country for an uncertain future. I know he’ll face it with the same wonder he showed under this starry sky. After 3 years of traveling the world with very little time for family, this year we managed to meet in Canada and went on a road trip, we stopped at Wakami Lake, stranded without gas, food, or internet. With no tripod, I wedged my camera between the rocks to capture this moment raw and spontaneous, a moment of connection amidst our separate journeys.” — Daniele Colucci 🇮🇹

“It was a rainy day and I was looking for the perfect angle to capture St John Church from The Dolomites. Because it was raining heavily, the terrain was very slippery and muddy, so it took me a while to get next to the fence to capture the photo. I also didn't want to get rain on my camera, so my girlfriend helped me by holding an umbrella so I could take the shot. At first, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't capture the mountains behind the church because of the clouds and fog, but finally I was happy I was able to take this a nice shot anyways.” — Andrei R. Popescu 🇷🇴

“I was on a trip with the women's Swiss floorball national teams (A and U19) to cover their team life at a tournament in Karlovy Vary/Czechia. On Saturday the U19 team had some time to visit the city and asked me if I would come with them. On the way back - it was already dark - I saw this beautiful architecture and hoped that only one person would walk through the image. It was quite a bit of luck that that happened because there were a lot of tourists walking around.” — Claudio Schwarz 🇨🇭

See you in the new year when we take a look back on all of 2024!👋