Greetings,

Issue 332? It is impossible for me to embrace even the idea of doing something this consistent in my life. It is a journal of my journey through my artistic photography. I am still focused on creating new art and enjoying the friendships that have meraculously wandered into my life story. Looking back will be a turning point, so I’m delaying it while I can. When my hand is no longer steady enough to make art, I can relive the times I could. I hope I can remember the sound of each personans laugh. To me, that is more important than remembering their name. Their laugh and how we interacted is far more significant than the label they were given at birth.

My journey started while Linda and I sat in a Paradise Bakery having breakfast, as we often did. The staff would often start preparing our meal when they saw us walking towards the door. I do miss those breakfast croissants.

It was 2009, a year before I retired from the City of Tempe. I was their Webmaster, so I could work from anywhere. As I perused the Best Buy ad to find the next geek toy I didn’t need but would surely want, I came across the camera section. They had Canon Rebels on sale. I had one already, of course, and I doubt I’d taken more than a hundred pictures with it. But, I saw a new one that had some new bell to ring or a whistle to blow, so, of course, I wanted it.

I messaged my son and asked him if he would like to have my old camera. His response changed my life, but I wouldn’t realize it for a few years. He said he’d love the camera and that he always wanted to try his hand at photography. I was a year away from retirement, and I thought this might be a good thing to do with my son. What an opportunity!

It wasn’t long before we acquired nice prosumer cameras and a collection of lenses. He jumped in with both feet and opened an account on Model Mayhem and picked up Photoshop and Lightroom. Before long, we were helping each other with almost every aspect of this ‘hobby’.

After a few years, he found other interests, as we all do, and today he’s a fantastic artist with wood. I loved taking pictures and felt there was a rewarding path somewhere in this thick undergrouth. I continued and grew, made friends, learned about styles, and pushed myself to find what was most satisfying to my soul. It helped considerably that I made two photographer friends from the start, Calvin and Colby. As we struggled to find our next level, we could see each other improving. We pushed each other, and after a few years, I was floored by the beauty they were creating in their fine art.

After a few years, I was surprised when I was asked if I taught photography. I was so new that I doubted I knew enough to share, but my love of teaching took over, and that started a new level of enjoyment of art and photography.

The growing never stopped. The wonderful people sharing my life and creating with me haven’t stopped. Any time, it seems, I can grab my camera and make something fun and artistic with a friend. Or sit at my editing station, put on some tunes, and create new art. That’s just applying sixteen years of discovered style to a photo. But the process and results have all of the finer points of love mixed in. What’s not to love?

Enjoying lifelong friendships, creating art daily, traveling to locations, and teaching new artists.

And to think it all started with a text.

Enjoy! I know I do.

It seems that summer went from 0 to 115 in 6 seconds. Stay cool and hydrated.

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