Thankful for 2024

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”
― Alfred Tennyson

Each year at this time, I take a look at the photographs that have made an impact on my year.  Yesterday it became clear  which photographs I would choose for 2024.

2024 was a year in which I was really intentional about how I used my time.  Most of my time was spent with my students and those who mean the most to me.  Each year real connection becomes more and more important.

Although, by no means all, here are some of my favorite photographs for the year.

I took this picture of my lifelong friend, Dena, during her son’s summer wedding in Aruba.  I love the emotion that I was able to capture in this photograph.

This is just one of the memories captured of my first friend in photography, Joe, and his wife Barbara.  I enjoyed spending time with them at their home in Alabama this year as well as sharing a river cruise experience with them in Austria and Germany.

This summer, my son, Jeremy, and his wife, Abi, joined us for a wonderful family vacation to New York City.  I enjoy every second they share with us.

I am grateful for a new tradition to reconnect with high school friends every six months.   This meetup was even more special because my lifelong friend, Larry (far right), was able to join us while visiting from his home in Israel.

Spending time with my photography mentor, Les, and his wife, Janet, always brings light to my life.

We are so thankful for Abi’s family, which has now expanded our own.

Slow Exposures was very special this year for two reasons.  Not only was I able to exhibit my work in a solo pop-up exhibition, but I was also there to see my good friend, Mike, win first place in the main show.  He is spending this year preparing for his solo show for next year.  I am looking forward to it.

In the fall, I enjoyed a wonderful week of photographing in the Outer Banks with Athena and Tony.  I am most grateful for the friendships my camera has led me to through the years.  Athena, Tony, and I look forward to another great adventure together in February.

We always look forward to our time in Florida with family.  The chocolate pinata is just a bonus.

My friend Patty, who I met while we were working as balloon girls at Carowinds when we were teenagers, and I spend every Tuesday together doing some kind of activity.  We go to museums, hike, work out, visit the library, and share meals.

Developing and strengthening new friendships is important to me, as well.  I am thrilled for the friendship with my teaching partner, Jamie, and look forward to many adventures in the years going forward.

I am so thrilled by all of the pictures I have taken of Maui through the years, and I spend time with them often.  This is one of the last pictures I took of her.  We were so blessed to have her as a family member for so many years.

I have become more intentional about taking pictures of Randy, even if he doesn’t like being a subject.

I absolutely love these photographs and the people and memories they represent.

These are by no means the only people who have made 2024 special.

I am grateful to all my friends and family who shared their time and love with me in 2024.

Thank you to everyone who helped me as subjects with my current photography project.  I look forward to sharing those photographs sometime in the future.

Many thanks to all of my students in 2024.  Thank you for sharing your journeys with me.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  I hope you will spend time creating and capturing memories that mean the most to you in 2025!

Cheers!