John’s Top 5 Photos
A camera’s view of 2022
I find joy and solace in taking photographs. My internal world expressing itself through shapes, colors, textures, and movement. Photos are the catalyst for me to tell others about how I feel, think and believe…the depth within myself.
My wife always talks about how it’s safer to talk about the image on the wall instead of talking about ourselves and yet something of ourselves is revealed in the conversation.
Black Butte
I took this photo while on a three day personal retreat in early January. I was using the time to reflect and think on some major transitions that my family was in and going to be going through….I was looking for peace and calm for my soul, but did not know it at the time. This view was what I was greeted with every morning on my daily walk. The beaten winter landscape full of beauty. This view was the perfect antidote that this season of my life was needing.
Agate Beach
I could have made a top 5 list of photos from this beach trip alone. February brought unseasonably beautiful weather to the Oregon Coast and we jumped on it as a family. This photo feels otherworldly. The long wide flat beach provided the perfect slate for the reflection of the sky overhead…it was as easy as point and shoot to capture my daughter and our dog adventuring toward a magical place with new and unseen possibilities.
Arches National Park
This shot was taken inside Arches National Park. Ironic then that the photo I chose to share is not of an arch! I’m drawn to the glow of the upper part of this sandstone mass and find the sunlit vertical lines on the left quite fascinating. The subtle black ribbon of rock that snakes its way across its base is an intriguing feature. On this bright spring day it seemed that this rock formation was beckoning to be noticed and wanting not to be lost among the midst of so many other naturally carved wonders.
Wahclella Falls
I feel fortunate to have grown up and now live near the Columbia River Gorge, where waterfalls abound and are only a short drive away. This photo reminds me of my early years of traversing this area with friends, trying to find the next waterfall plunge pool to jump into! I’m glad I get to share this beautiful area with my family. This is my happy place: hiking through woods with a meandering creek criss-crossing my path…and at the end a relaxing place to ponder, smile and cool off!
Providence Park
Being with friends and enjoying a football (soccer!) match…a wonderful way to spend a summer evening. After being drenched in direct sunlight for a good couple hours we were welcomed with a wonderful sunset. Clouds stretched across overhead, changing color with each passing minute. A bonus of our time was my daughter being a player escort and walking out onto the pitch, hand in hand, with one of the Thorns players.
