Playing favourites.

In the last WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge of the year, we’re invited to share our most meaningful photo of 2017, but – true to my indecisive nature – I couldn’t choose just one.

I’ve loved exploring photography this year. It’s been a year of learning to observe, to compose, to demystify the buttons on the camera… but also to gain patience, and practice perseverance, and to understand the value of a change in perspective.

To round up 2017, I’ll share some of my favourite photos along with links to the post (if applicable) in which they appeared.

Earlier in the year, I wrote more text to accompany my photos, while lately I’ve been focusing on images only. In any case, when I look at these pictures – each one, when I think about it, nothing more than an arrangement of pixels – I’m reminded of a place, a person, or an experience that has stayed with me. Maybe that moment helped me learn something about making pictures. Or maybe it taught me something more.

Here we go with the first twelve:

The time I fell in love with blue window shutters.

 

The time I was trying to make a photo of a farm field but made this one instead.

 

The time the sun pretended it was the moon.

 

The time two monkeys were encouraged to jump on the bed.

 

The time bubbles taught me life lessons.

 

The time spring arrived and I celebrated by lying in a ditch.

 

The time we thought it would be fun to tour the water treatment facility.

 

The time I chose a different point of view.

 

The time I thought a dandelion was pretty.

 

The time the Grand River got high and mighty.

 

The time I was wooed by the gardens of Stratford, Ontario.

 

The time I learned that a neutral density filter can turn a river into glass.

 

Are you still with me? Congratulations (and thank you)!

Here are twelve more:

The time I woke up at an ungodly hour to make a picture of a mailbox.

 

The time it was too cold to swim but not too cold to surf.

 

The time I wanted to sear this moment into my heart.

 

The time the wind turbines rose out of the mist to greet the sun.

 

The time I made my kid stare into the sun.

 

The time I was beckoned to a secret garden.

 

The time symmetry looked beautiful in the dark.

 

The time I had a birthday and I needed the Mr. to hold my hand.

 

The time the trees were on fire.

 

The time this cute guy let me point a camera at him.

 

The time these birds seemed to float out of a dream.

 

The time I wiggled the camera to make a painting in the snow.

 

Well, there you have it. Thanks for sticking with me. For those who have followed along over the past year: your visits and comments are truly appreciated. I’m touched when my words or photos resonate with others.

As for 2018 – I plan to make more pictures. I was going to try to write something deep about hopes and goals for the new year, but then I read a blog post by photographer David duChemin (a man of considerable talent with words, photos and inspiration). Anything I wrote afterwards just sounded like a really bad cliché. So I leave you with this link to David’s words, because there’s no way I could’ve said it better.

Happy New Year, all!