Looking Back: A Year of Photography

I took a LOT of pictures in 2017. I don't know how many of them I will actually print, but it was fun. Here is a sample of some of my favorites. It's HARD to choose a favorite. Who is your favorite child? That's what my photos are to me in a lot of ways. 

Happy New Year

2017! Are we really saying goodbye? It was a momentous year. Donald Trump became President. Ugh. Not sorry to say that either. Once upon a time protesters crashed the Democratic Convention in 1968 shouting "The whole world is watching." They were right. The world is watching again. It's not a pretty sight. 

On the other hand, 2017 was momentous for me in two very significant ways. I turned 70 and my grandson, Nolan, was born. I wished for a grandchild for a long time. I had given up until I opened a coffee mug that said "Grandma" Christmas Day 2016. 

Nolan was born April 19, 2017 weighing only 2.1lbs. His development had been slowed. Despite the setbacks he is a healthy happy baby boy. He is a little behind in his physical development, but seems right there mentally. I hope so. He is certainly a gregarious little guy who loves new things and people. I couldn't ask for two better parents for him either. They have been amazing. 

I had ignored this blog for a long time, but it's back. I hope someone's reading. If nothing else, I'll be reading it. 

Color Power

I love black and white. I admit it. I think it brings out the details. However, some things just beg for color. I converted a color photo of a carousel with a mother and child to black and white and gave it a soft look. One critique I got was that it would have been better in color. It WAS lovely in color, but for me that black and white conversion seemed to zero in on the love between the mother and child. So here's to color. Whether dainty pastels or full saturated color (my personal choice) color is all around us. This is a selection of color from a year of photos - one from every month. What colors get you excited? 

One Little Word: Laugh

I enrolled in a class called One Little Word. You pick a word and express it in writing, photography, collage, etc. Of course I've chosen photography. There is an option to buy a journal and do a lot of writing in that journal and cutting and pasting of words, etc, but I know myself. That's not going to happen. 

For me 2017 is starting out in two directions - one good, one horrible. I'm hoping that the good will drown out the horrible as much as possible. I've also decided to read more of everything - the newspaper, online stuff, and above all books, books, books. In the meantime, I'm looking to keep that one little word Laugh in the back of my mind. Here I get political - wait for it - Because with this new incoming administration, if I don't laugh, I'll cry. Crying too much won't do any good at all. 

Happy New Year: Looking Back

“To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in someone else's.” 

― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment

I admit it. My worldview can be a little skewed. The things that attract or interest me aren't always the ones that others like. I see beautiful landscapes and, I admit, I am a little jealous. I don't have the equipment or the expertise to do what these people do. However, I've discovered I like my own smaller viewpoint just fine. So here are a few of my favorites this year. You may or may not agree. There are probably some that you like better. Or you may not like any of my pictures. I've put them all in square format to keep it simple. Your comments are welcome. 

Happy Winter Solstice

As I write this, I am reflecting on a year that has been less than stellar in a lot of ways. A lot of good people died. A man will be the next President whom I fear will be a bad fit and cause a lot of problems. I can't help but wonder what the next few years will be like. I can only cling to what I know: my husband, my son and daughter-in-law, my brother and his wife, my mother, my extended family. 

As I write this, one of the last of my uncles is dying. He's actually younger than his older sister, my mother. When I was a little girl we used to visit my grandparents on Sundays. For several years he was living at home and going to college. He had been in the navy, had been a football player in high school and in the navy. When we visited on Sundays, he was usually sitting on a chair with his feet up. I would go over to him and he would put a nickel between his thumb and forefinger and tell me to try to take it out. Of course I never could. Sometimes he let me have the nickel. Sometimes he didn't. He was there for Christmas dinners as were some of my other uncles and aunt. 

I used to enjoy Christmas. I often wondered why my parents didn't. It wasn't such a big thing when they were growing up. They didn't have a load of presents under the tree. There were always lots of presents under our tree, but I was always reminded how lucky I was. Do you really want to hear that constantly when you're a kid? That came from my Dad. He didn't mean to be that way, I realize. He was really a good father in a lot of ways, but I think the whole excesses of the season that he saw after the war ended in 1945 got to him. 

When our son came along, I decided to do things differently. I wasn't always successful. Sometimes I made things more difficult than they should have been. I wanted a storybook Christmas. That's the problem with stories. They aren't true. Yet you start believing them. 

There are some lovely things though. This picture is one of them. When my son was in cub scouts he made this sled ornament out of Popsicle sticks. It's a fairly common craft. What made it special was that "Rosebud" he painted on. I was in one of my period "I adore 'Citizen Kane'" moods and had told him about it. If that seems a little young to some of you, I wanted him to learn about good films even then. He watched a couple of years later. He was still young, but he got it and liked it. It's still one of my favorites. 

So this is one ornament I will NEVER EVER throw away. Maybe I will arrange to have it cremated with me unless Rob wants it. 

Sometimes I talk to young women with their children. I hope they realize how lucky they are. I hope they realize how fleeting it is. I hope they are ABLE to have the time to enjoy their children to the fullest. Because it just goes by so damn fast. One day you're holding a baby in your arms, the next you're taking them to college and the next they are visiting you and helping you with some of the chores that you can't do yourself anymore. I hope my son looks back on his life when I'm not around and remembers more of the good things. 

As for my greeting, I'm feeling contrary. No Merry Christmas for me this year. I'm sticking with Happy Solstice. My cards are going to be a Philadelphia scene with a Happy New Year sentiment. 2016 Has been a crappy year. A lot of good people died. My Uncle John is dying. That will cap off the year although we still have this month to get through.