A photo assignment - part 1

Photo by: Tim Bindner

I was recently featured on a podcast. I wrote in because the host Neale James had a photo assignment for his listeners, upon which he wanted one to three pictures that defined 2022 for each listener. Specifically, “what 2023 is, was or did for you?” With my recent “event” on Thanksgiving Day, I listened to this assignment podcast and wrote in. This link provides the story (and others), as well as the audio portion of the podcast. I HIGHLY encourage you to listen to the entire podcast, but my portion is from 24:55 to 29:05. https://photowalk.show/episodes/wild-water-alex-dawson

After hearing the above podcast, I took the assignment a little further. I am going to review my 700+ pictures I have taken in 2022 and pick three that meant the most to me. I will do my best to steer away from the technical aspects of each picture, but spend the time in the posts to discuss my feelings, situation, location and why I chose the three as my most memorable photos of 2022. These may or may not be my best technically, but pictures are about stories or memories to me.

Before I move forward, I want to challenge everyone reading this to do the same thing. Whether you take shots with your phone, of a “fancy” camera, I think looking back is a good way to reflect on your year. I want to point out my photographer friends, Kim, Mark, Miranda, Lisa, Amanda, Chris, Alan, Tricia and Sister Rose. This challenge is aimed at you specifically.

Today’s picture seen above is the oldest of the three I took this year. It was taken 4/3/22 and if you are a regular reader; you have seen this before. This shot was taken on a Sunday not long after my buddy Kota passed away. The full story can be read here.

I took this with my favorite camera, the Fujifilm X-T1, using a newly purchased lens, the Fujifilm 16mm-80mm f/4 lens. The shot was taken on Highway 62 in Lanesville, Indiana, and a sight I see almost daily. Normally I am driving, but today Marcie drove. I could take this from the car while she slowed down.

So why do I like it? Well, first being a black and white lover, the colors that day spoke to me. I saw the three grouped trees and one lone tree off to the left. Being up on a hill, they appeared to stand tall and reaching up to the sky. The top of one small tree was slightly visible and would normally be a no no in a picture, but I didn’t care. I loved the calm blue skies, few white puffy clouds, orange grass that used to be crops, and slight patches of green gently painted in. The wavy hilltop also provided a flow to the picture. In short, it brought and brings me some peace and calmness. This photo technically is not great, heck maybe not even good, but it combines two of my favorite elements, trees and clouds.

I hope you enjoyed the picture and the podcast above. I hope this brief insight into my photo and the upcoming ones also brings you pleasure. As stated above, photos are made to tell stories and capture emotion. This one brought me much peace at one of the worst periods of my like. I still miss Kota every day.

Until next time.

Tim (Kilmer)