It is that time of year when we reflect on the year behind, the highs and lows. The collage of images above show some of this year’s highlights from CFP. The paragraphs that follow touch on the highs and lows of 2018, as well as my hopes, and goals for 2019

HIGHS

It has been a great year for me personally. We had a grand family reunion around my niece’s wedding, which included a trip to the UK and a wonderful family holiday. My adult and soon to be adult children all racked up significant accomplishments and I could not be more proud of each of them. As some know, photography is not my full-time profession (yet). I work in the tech sector in product marketing and it has been a good year for my company and for me professionally.

LOWS

In terms of lows on the year, thankfully, there have been few. We weathered hurricanes Florence and Michael with little damage, aside from some yard clean up and putting back a shutter that was blown off. Probably the biggest downer of the year for me was my lack of progress in my photography. I had little time for either the creative or business side of things. I had planned to exhibit at a few art fairs this year and that was just not in the cards. I only had a few additions to the portfolio, driven mainly by a lack of time in the field. If I am not out shooting images don’t get made.

HOPE

If you follow me on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), it will be no surprise that I am an environmentalist. It has been a tough slog this year with the change in policies in Washington, favoring short-term business interests over long-term sustainability. But among all of the bad news of continued global warming, renewed whaling by Japan, and pro fossil fuel politics, there is reason for hope. I need look no further than my backyard.

I have been a supporter of Triangle Land Conservancy for many years. TLC works to conserve and monitor natural areas and agricultural lands around the Raleigh-Durham area. The past year has seen some notable achievements by TLC as noted in their year-end mailer to the right. The observant of you who know my work will recognize Dawn on Rocky River as the background image of the flier. Check out the Image Story to learn how this image came about.

I am hopeful that there are more people who care about having clean water to drink, clean air to breath, and a sustainable future for their children than there are individuals that focus solely on short-term profits and power. I encourage you to find your local land conservancy and support them and their work. Caring for the natural areas around and within our cities not only provides a more enjoyable and livable community, it also helps protect our water supply by using natural filtration and riparian buffers to reduce runoff and increase ground water.

GOALS

I am generally not one to make New Year’s resolutions. I prefer to set a few attainable goals. As I look forward into 2019, I will make a renewed effort to exhibit my work at local art fairs. I am also beginning to plan my first major project. It will be a collection of images that tell the story of water and the human relationship with it. As the plan comes together and the images and final product come into focus, I will share it hear in my blog. Thank you all for you continued support and interest in my work.

Best Wishes and a Happy New Year to All.