New Year, New Post

Alas, the blog continues into another year. I didn’t post quite as much in 2023 - we spent most of the it driving around North America - but that’s okay. The value of this blog is that of a time capsule; the slower frequency of posts tells me something too. I find old posts - snapshots of myself but in a different time and place - to be valuable.

So, in that spirit, here are a few bits and bobs from 2023. Not really a “best of” post; more like “rambles and random shots”. Let’s get the wheels moving.

An Wedding

My wife and I threw a wedding.

Well…she did. I showed up.

I’m not going to post any photos - it’s our event, our slice of family, our moment - but I will post some things in the lead up. The wedding was in early June; we spent the three months before that in a rented house in Bellingham, Washington. It’s a weird and beautiful city. I deeply wish we could afford to live there.

img Minolta TC-1, Ilford HP5+ @ 800

img Minolta TC-1, Ilford HP5+ @ 800

img Minolta TC-1, Ilford HP5+ @ 800

For whatever reason I shot a lot of black and white when we were there. (It’s also where I shot my Sunnyland photos.)

Travel

A few weeks before the wedding I quit my job; a few weeks after we took off in our car for Alaska. We’ve been on the road since! Sans a few trips to Europe. All in all we stopped by Alaska, British Colombia, Yukon, NWT, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, and Colorado.

It’s been a lot! And it’s difficult to summarize our travels in a few photos? These places are all very distinct from one another. The constant was Casey - she and I learning to be together, to travel together, to make life work together.

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

img Ricoh GRIIIx

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

I also did a few trips to Europe with a close friend; he and I spent 10 days in Scotland in the spring and, some months later, Norway.

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

img Fujifilm X-T5, Viltrox 13mm f1.4

img Leica M10-R, Summilux 50mm f1.4

I suppose the main takeaway from a year of travels is that it’s the company that made it what it was. My photography has generally reflected that: it didn’t matter what little town we drove through, I was with my wife. Or friends, or family. It sounds obvious to say I guess but…you don’t stop being you, even when you’re abroad.

Speaking of

Photographically, I would describe 2023 as “aimless”. That seems negative but really it was just trying things and being happy with the results. I discovered that Gold 200 is incredible - unbeatable! - in certain light. I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’m just not a B&W shooter. And that I should not drop my Leica M10-R on a rock during a hike.

It’s been an adventure, I’m hoping 2024 provides a little more focus and joy. We have a hike-heavy year coming up and I’m looking forward to the landscape photography that enables. Not to mention a bunch more travel.

Fin

I wish I had more to say about 2023. It seems wrong to assign a good or bad label; I am immensely grateful and tired and lucky and hopeful. It’s all in there. Welcome to 2024.