Skip to main content

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)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

End

I don't worry about the world ending.  It has ended for me many times and always started the next morning. Until next time  Tim

Mentor

  When my photography journey rekindled back in 2015 with a trip to Maine, I never knew how far I would come and how important pushing a button on a camera would be. I have come a long way, but still have so much more to learn. A mentor is described as an experienced and trusted adviser (noun) . Also, as someone who will advise or train (someone, especially a younger  colleague ) (verb). Wikipedia also states mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.  Since I have gotten more serious about my photography, I have been looking for a mentor that fits these categories listed above. Seeking guidance, I reached out to a handful of “professional” photographers to inquire about mentorship. I received no response from one person, another person casually mentioned that they rarely mentor, and a third person kindly explained that they ...

Somewhere I Belong

  Music is so powerful. It is an integral part of my life. It often helps me express my feelings that I cannot do otherwise in any form. Yesterday this happened to me once again. I drove to Curby, Indiana for my massage. It is a nice smooth drive west on interstate 64 to exit 92. With the temperature in the upper 70s and the sun shining brightly, I had all four windows down and my sunroof open. Cruising at 78mph, my playlist on shuffle and the radio turned up. We have all done this. I arrived at my massage location and as it begun, my massage therapist referenced my latest post tiled 3am . She, however, had a different take on it. She mentioned that she had read waking up at 3am consistently was because of anxiety or anger, not creativity. The CALM app states, “ The mind has a funny way of kicking into overdrive just when you need rest the most. Stress and anxiety can activate your body’s “fight or flight” response, making it hard to stay asleep . ” For me, waking up at 3am h...