Bygones

As the Thanksgiving break ended, I thought of previous winters, and one in particular came to mind. I was very young (five or six), and the winter snowfall had been unusually heavy for my area. A short drive to the local woodland revealed a magical white and green place, but the most memorable part was the sighting of fallow deer on the tree-lined path ahead.

Unfortunately I don't have a digital version of the photo that captured that moment. While searching online I was surprised that I was unable to find a similar shot. Instead, I'll leave you with this work by an artist local to the area:

I think it captures the experience of walking in a pristine, silent winter forest. I'm anxious to do it again, and this time, I'll be sure to capture a few of my own moments!

Reflections

A good photo is more than a pretty picture. It makes the viewer feel or think something. For this reason, photography is a blend of technical proficiency and artistry. As we are approaching the Thanksgiving holiday and the end of the year, an autumn photo still feels appropriate:

This shows some of the first trees to begin their autumnal display of color, while everything around them still looks and feels like summer.  The natural world moves on, whether we are ready or not! In a few days Thanksgiving will be over, so let's make the most of it, be good to each other and enjoy the ride....

Time

I'm a strong believer that time is the most precious resource of all. I know that anything can seem more important when it is in short supply, but time cannot be created, or banked, or replaced. The best that we can hope for is to use it wisely, such as spending it doing something you love (ideally with someone you love!).
It is hard for me to believe, but it has been almost a year since I bought my current camera. I 've already made a promise to myself to use it much more frequently next year. Here are a couple from the end of last year:

What started out as a camera test turned into a fun afternoon of exploration on the backroads of Texas.

This time next year, I'll have much more to share. What will you do next year? How can you make it something you love?

Details

Part of a photographer's job is to pay attention to the components of an image. A small piece of trash can ruin a good shot, while the capture of a feature or moment that many people might miss can become the focus of a great image.

The image above shows part of an archway to a cathedral entrance. The one below shows Nature's patterns in the form of a monkey puzzle tree.

Just as in life, it seems that it is the little things that really matter.