Reflections

December 2024 — 52 Week Photography Project

December did not unfold as planned. The 71st birthday came as expected, but it brought in a new acquaintance, a shiny new pacemaker and four weeks of recovery. All while in Santa Cruz with my son’s family.

My thoughts were scattered and distracted. The camera mostly sat idle. Yet there was time to reflect, and these photos mirror my mood. Subdued, reflective and thoughtful.

I snapped two photos (pelicans and sign) but drew the others from the archives.

So ends 2024 and this year’s challenge. I am looking forward to 2025 and what it will bring.

Hard to Explain

The magic of flight — it is always a marvel. Yet for birds, it is not magic at all, they just do it.

Some birds make it look effortless; others beat the air with frantic energy. Yet their natural ability to soar above our heads leaves us to wonder.

These three are in the “effortless” class. Along the beach, they glide while keeping an eye out for schools of fish. Their source of substance.

As I watch them sail by, I wonder how they do it? These are big fellows, weighing 8 pounds or more, with a wingspan of over 6.5 feet. Not small, yet their stately progress to their next feeding spot looks…