It is Thanksgiving week in the US. It is a day that was set aside to give thanks for all that we have and take a moment to reflect on our year. It is also a time for being gluttonous, preparing for the biggest shopping day in the year and when family who may not speak much during the year get together for a moment of peace and reflection.
In my home we usually have the extended family over, and everyone sits in or near the kitchen chatting about things both important and superficial. It is social hours with turkey and dressing and cranberry stuff.
This year my family is bowing out of that big get together, preferring to do something a bit different. I think it will be a good day for us. We need some quiet reflection time and to just be “us”. Movies rented, dinner ordered… quiet and fun.
I look back a year and I see an amazingly productive time for me. And whenever I see productivity, I know I have to thank someone(s) for helping me along. There is too much going on for me to be able to manage it on my own, so I depend on other peeps to keep me focused and let me create. Sometimes working with me is like herding cats. My ADD keeps cutting in and there are times when… wait, check out that cool rainbow!
This time last year I was just finishing up my first book, and preparing the manuscript for the shipping process. I still had a few shots left to do and was planning on doing them at the Anna Maria Workshop. That workshop, when it froze on the beach, was the culmination of 2010 and I had some great people on hand to help out. Charles, Billy, Ernie, and Chris helped me keep my brain from frying while teaching a workshop AND trying to find the time to get a few final shots done. Thanks guys,
My partner Robin and I got moving on several projects and I resurrected my advertising agency. We have several clients now and we will be expanding a lot next year. It will mean a different path than the one I have been on, but it keeps me in the creative world and that is very important. Robin’s efforts toward keeping the projects on track has been fantastic, and is so appreciated. Thanks Robin.
I was able to finish book two earlier in the year, and my publisher, Amherst Media is putting it together as of this writing. It is a second part to the first book and looks at how subjects render light, and the ways photographers can control the light to make images they love. A big thanks to Craig and Kate at Amherst for taking a chance on a new writer. I appreciate it more than you know.
Today I am finishing up book three, and it will ship to the publisher next week. I have been blessed to have had the support of my family and friends that allowed me the time to concentrate on the writing. Thanks Marian, Alissa, Michaila and Shanna.
Sometimes late in the evening, I feel like chatting with folks to unwind and discuss the foibles and challenges of being a photographer and a designer. Eduardo, Jan, Bret and Selina are there, as well as David, Bill, Nick and Kirk. We chat and laugh and help clarify all the murkiness surrounding these unstable times. Thanks guys. You are very appreciated. There are more, but I cannot list everyone. I know you know how much I appreciate you all.
I have been blessed to have wonderfully creative people around me to bounce ideas off of, and to collaborate on projects and ideas. Steve (Photoshop Genius), Jeanne (musician. poet), Dave (studio mate), Ken and Theresa, Jerry, Megan and Scott. Thanks to all of you for being sounding boards and inspiration. And to my traveling companion, Charles… thanks buddy. Charles and I have traveled all over the country together shooting and creating general mayhem. Keith and I solve all of the worlds problems late at night on Skype… well, most of the worlds problems.
My clients are amazingly wonderful, patient and demanding. I love demanding clients – they keep me producing at the best level I can, and they appreciate the work. I do work hard, and it makes a difference when it is appreciated. Thanks to you all, my fantastic clients.
This past year saw quite a few workshops early on, and less so as the year wound down. To all of you who took the workshop, my eternal thanks. You gave me more than you know. Having your trust meant the world to me, and I will never forget that experience. I do not know what the workshop world holds for me in the following year, but it has changed. Change is inevitable. Change is what it is. LE Workshop students: you make me very proud to have been able to meet and work with you. The workshops would not have been possible without some hard working folks on the ground: Billy, Jason, Frank, Christine, Chris, David, Tom and so many more of you. Gracias!
That brings me to a very special group… you. The readers and supporters of this site. Your emails, comments, tweets and blog posts keep me energized and ready for more. I love doing this blog thing, and will continue on with a more structured posting schedule next year. More on that later, but it will be really fun and some of the changes will be an add to for the site – not a take from.
And of course a big shout out to my wonderful Project 52 folks. We have been working together for nearly a year now, and what started as an idea is now being brought to fruition. One year of assignments, critiques, ideas, and support from such an incredible group. A few have moved to photography as a career, some have started shooting more seriously, and everyone has seen such a huge growth year that it is amazing. Thanks for making that idea a reality, guys/gals. Tee shirts and caps coming soon!
For me, Thanksgiving is usually the portal to the next year, so it is sort of a delta, a line of demarcation. We move quickly after this week and into the holidays. I have more than enough work to keep me busy, my family is healthy and I have this fantastic group of people who stimulate me to write and produce stuff. Who could ask for more?
Thanks to all of you for your support. It is appreciated and so very welcome.
I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving, and if you are not in the states, have a wonderful week. I look forward to another year of the blog growing and changing and surprising us all.
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