Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s hoping your 2021 is off to a bright start.
I certainly don’t need to remind anyone that 2020 wasn’t the year we had all planned. Yet, as I kept in touch with people across our virtual communications lines, I’ve heard so many stories about how we each still found moments of peace, of hope and joy, of awe and wonder. Those are the memories worth packing along with us as we move into a new year of opportunities–so I offer these images of mine, none of which were expected, but all welcomed, all where I found peace, hope, joy, awe, and wonder rolled together, as a celebration of the 2020, the Year O’Change:
Just Another Speck of Dust
Death Valley National Park, CA
January 2020
Those Ghost Trees
Yosemite National Park, CA
February 2020
Losing My Marbles
Acadia National Park, ME
February 2020
Graceful Transitions
Acadia National Park, ME
February 2020
Together Again
Tonto National Forest, AZ
April 2020
Christine’s Cactus
Tonto National Forest, AZ
April 2020
Happy Today
Sierra Ancha Wilderness Area, AZ
April 2020 (on my 45th birthday!)
Make Your Point
Sierra Ancha Wilderness Area, AZ
April 2020
Past, Present, and Future
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
July 2020
Ode to Desert Winds and Water
Bears Ears National Monument, UT
July 2020
Tartan of the Wheatgrass
Devils Canyon Campground, UT
August 2020
Commanding Attention
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
August 2020
The Looking Glass
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
August 2020
Green and Red Coming Together
Canyonlands National Park, UT
October 2020
Spinning in Infinity
Canyonlands National Park, UT
October 2020
Where Affections Lie
Canyonlands National Park, UT
October 2020
Jumping into Adventure
Kanab Creek Wilderness Area, AZ
October 2020
Take Center Stage
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
October 2020
The Edge of No Limits
Kanab Creek Wilderness Area, AZ
October 2020
More Than Sand
Jewel of the Creek Preserve, AZ
October 2020
The Desert’s Devotion
Cienaga Creek Natural Preserve, AZ (it’s Davidson Creek, though)
October 2020
The Trees for the Forest
Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog, AL
November 2020
Sea Shell Serenade
Gulf Shores, AL
November 2020
There you have it! If you wish to hear and see an in-depth review on eight of these images, swing over to Vimeo for a special presentation of “Making the Photographs: The 2020 Edition.” (Use discount code GROW2021 to get 20% off!) I cover what caught my attention, technical and creative challenges in the field, compositional decisions, and processing techniques. Hear the “what” and, more importantly, the “why” in hopes you get new ideas for your own work in 2021.
For more photographs, stories, and perhaps laughs–hey, if you cringe at your old work, you’re growing as a photographer and human, and that’s something to celebrate!–here are the links:
(I apparently took a few years off after 2017…)
- 2017: youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/cms-photography-favorite-photos-from-2017/
- 2016: youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/cms-photography-favorite-photos-from-2016/
- 2015: youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/cms-photography-favorite-photos-and-poem-from-2015/
- 2014:youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/cms-photography-favorite-photos-from-2014/
- 2013:youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/cms-photography-favorite-photos-from-2013/
- 2012:youcansleepwhenyouredead.com/wordpress/cms-photography-favorite-photos-from-2012/
I hope you too take a second or longer to reflect on your year’s journey. I hope you recognize how your kindness, generosity, perseverance and inspiration has made a difference for me–and for all of us–during this tough time. As we start 2021, let’s hang on to all of that. Let’s keep making the world a brighter and better place together through our photography and unique stories. Now, more than ever, I hope our paths cross “out there” safely later this year.
Until then, be well, be wild–and be safe! Hugs, high fives, and fist bumps to all,
~Colleen