A Closer Look at 2017

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.”
― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Many photographers post a collection of their favorite images from the present year as they look forward to the next year.  I have done this for the past several years.

This year is the first year that I have really taken time to look at commonalities of the images I have chosen as favorites for the year.   As I was collecting the images to make my slideshow, these commonalities came to light.  Some of the things that I noticed surprised me.

Of the 22 images I settled upon, I noticed that five of the images contained an animal.

I usually view myself as one who creates images with bright vibrant colors.  This seemed to be prevalent in four of my 22 images.

I was so surprised to see how many of my favorites were black and white or a monochrome image in some way.

More of the images within my selections were black and white than I would have expected.

Of the images I chose, there were strong diagonal features in nine of the twenty-two.

When I attempt to define myself as a photographer, I often say that I am attracted to the intimate landscape.

I was surprised to see many wide landscapes in my final selections.

I think I learned a great deal about myself as a photographer by putting together this collection of favorite images from 2017.  I invite you to really take a closer look at your images from the year.

Looking back at past images, I hope, will help shape the kind of photographer I choose to become in the year 2018.

Thank you all for your amazing support in 2017.  May you have a joyous holiday season as you put closure to 2017 and welcome the New Year!