Ah, here we are again. It’s past time to assess my work from last year. The annual challenge issued by my Tremont family is always a good one. Even in less-than-stellar years of creativity.
Or perhaps it’s more important to look back when you’re not where you want to be. To remember where you were in your creative pursuit and what you’re capable of. And to celebrate some successes under the circumstances.
Unfortunately, other pursuits commandeered most of my attention in 2019. Between the effort to launch Sierra Mountain Passes and deciding to blow up my life by becoming a full-time RV-er, there really wasn’t a lot of room for anything else.
The flip side of not making photography a top priority is that I was at least deliberate about it. The decision (or acceptance) that photography simply had to be largely back-burnered was a thoughtful one. In doing that, I gained some space to not beat myself up about it.
Having that mental space was a sort of freedom that resulted in some unexpected successes, though. Because when I did have the camera in my hand I branched out more in exploring different styles. More studio still life, action shots (ok, mainly motorcycles), abstracts, and more people. I’d taken the pressure off of myself and was able to take advantage of the opportunities without forcing the issue.
In the end, I grew my photography mojo in 2019 as I expanded my skills to different subjects. I still have a lot to refine, of course, but I enjoyed the process of becoming more than a nature photographer. So with that context, here are my favorites from last year.
Top five
From Cuba to Nevada—food, people, and nature. These are the images I keep coming back to in reviewing my work from last year.
Runners up
Indulging in more review, I gave myself some runners up to fill out the field of 19 images from 2019.
Subjectivity
Creativity is subjective, as we all know. Even my personal choices shifted through the review process. And you will see them differently from me. My experience is intimately connected to the memories of making them. There’s no way for me to separate that. So without me revealing why I chose these particular images, give me your thoughts as impartial observers!
And if you like any of these shots, they are available in a variety of prints and products in my stores at RedBubble and Society6.
Create on, my friends!
Thank you, Stevie. Yes, I embrace the evolution. It’s been fun to explore new genres, even as fleeting as it has been. And maybe I’m apologizing to myself for photography having to take a back seat of late. Much love to you, dear friend!
Maybe it’s just me, but your narrative about the images seems almost apologetic to me. You’re images are great. The subjects may be different than in past years, but I call that evolution, not lass creative. Just my 2€. ?