I like to think it’s because my star sign is Libra …
Side Note: I *believe* in horoscopes only when they promise the really good stuff
Where was I? Right: I’m a Libra and apparently that makes me indecisive — and diplomatic. Which means the task of choosing favourites, even from my own work, is daunting. But that is Patti’s challenge for this week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge | favourite photos of 2019, and I like the idea of looking back over a year’s work.
So here goes (with the caveat that today’s hot favourites could be tomorrow’s ‘also-rans’); images from 2019 that still speak to me.
January
Taken in early January when the Big T and I visited Rotorua, this shot reminds me of a peaceful afternoon on elevated walkways high in a redwood forest. I could use some of the cool, fragrant air right now.
February
It’s become a bit of a “thing” to photograph T’s car in scenic locations. Maybe I should ask Audi for a job?
March
One of the things that has brought me great joy in the past year is seeing native birds feasting on the bounty of our trees. With so much loss of habitat in the neighbourhood, the importance of maintaining a food source for our beautiful wildlife has never been greater.
April
In April, my friend Claire sold her house and moved out of Auckland. We’ve been friends since our kids were at primary school and I miss her company, especially as I’d spent much of the previous year documenting her work as an artist and teacher.
May
I chose this shot of oil storage tanks at sunset simply because I think it’s beautiful.
June
On a winter’s day walk in the Auckland Domain, I found this shot already staged for me, either by nature or another’s hand. Serendipity.
July
Definitely not the best shot I took in July, but a lovely reminder of a frosty morning in the central North Island town of Turangi.
August
I finally found the multiple-exposure setting on my camera and had fun with pohutukawa leaves and some other things. I love the colour palette in this shot.
September
One of the most photographed sculptures in New Zealand apparently. Certainly I can never resist trying to capture the changing moods of this powerful and beautiful work.
October
October was a month of flowers and new growth. I chose this particular image because I love the colours.
November
With all that seems wrong in the world, I need to hold on to what is good, like a week in New Plymouth visiting gardens — beautiful and productive — and meeting people committed to living simpler, better lives. Each evening while I was there, I walked through the city’s stunning Pukekura Park.
December 2019
A no-brainer really. My funny, kind and darling son.
And now a thank you …
to everyone who visits this blog, and especially those who take the time to share their thoughts and ideas and so often, kindness. I want you to know how much I appreciate your support and the community we have created here.
Wishing you all a happy new year.
Your pictures are wonderful and Libra is the most sociable and friendly of all the signs. I’d have to know where the rest of your important planets are, especially moon, venus, mars, and Jupiter. I lost all my calculating books. I miss them!
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I used to share a flat with an astrologer years ago. He did our charts, and we discussed them over dinner one night. I think the conclusion we reached was that some of us really shouldn’t have been living together. ๐
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You have a wonderful selection of images here, and so varied in subject and style too. Thanks for sharing them. Happy new photography year in 2020!
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Thank you so much. Photography has given me a whole new appreciation for the world around me, and it’s lovely to know that others enjoy the images too.
Happy New Year.
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All lovely, Su. Thank you. I remember especially the stunning wood pigeon. Or at least I remember a posting day in which you were able to capture some stunning shots of birds outside your kitchen window. I also remember that one of them was kind enough to stay in the tree while you changed lenses. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photography this past year. I’m looking forward to the photos to come!
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Thanks Hannah. It was that kereru which hung around long enough for me to change lenses. Those white berries on the tree were proving to be an irresistible buffet, and the bird was filling up.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my photos. I really appreciate your visits and comments, and am so impressed with where your photography is going. You have a very good eye and some of the shots you take are exquisite.
happy new year
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Thank you so much, Su. Photography seems to have been the magic balm after my husband died. Not only can I get utterly absorbed in it, it also enables me to notice again the abundant beauty in the world. And every time I’m able to capture something new, or see it in a new way, or look at a photo in editing where I can see that my skill is growing, I get so marvelously excited. Which, of course, is its own kind of balm. All of which is *exactly* what my husband would want for me after his death. Thank you, Su, for being present with yourself, your photography, and your encouragement. Happy New Year to you as well.
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I totally understand. My interest in photography grew out of different circumstances, but the joy is much the same.
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Wow, wow, and wow! Love your photo choices. I was like, ‘ohhhh, I like Jan, oh, and Feb’s good, too, and then…oh, never mind, they’re all great!’
And yeah, Libra moon here, indecisive is my middle name ๐
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Thanks so much Lani.
Happy New Year to you.
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โค
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Wonderful selection!!!
I don’t know exactly why but I love your “pohutukawa leaves”, may be for the colour or the atmosphere of mystery by the double exposure.
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Thank you Ana. I love that shot too — I’ve been trying to figure out how to turn it into a fabric print design.
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Gorgeous keep sakes of 2019. Lovely!
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Ha ha, guess what! I’m a Libra too….. on the 14th of October! You?
Totally agree with your wonderful and often very touching choices – the camellia on the statue, all the bokehs and your darling child would most certainly be amongst my personal faves too.
Don’t remember the great Audi+Bike shot but it COULD BE one of their publicities – it’s that good!
Happy, happy New Year to you and yours – it has been a joy to find you sometime during this year. I’m glad I did.
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Thank you so much ๐
Wishing you and your family much happiness, good health, fun and love in 2020.
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Still shying away from giving YOUR birth date?! ๐
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Nothing personal. I avoid putting that sort of stuff on the internet.
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Your photos are beautiful! I always look forward to receiving your blog posts.
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Thank you so much Andrea.
Wishing you and your family a very happy new year.
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Thank you for magnifying the beauty in your world and sharing it with us. May even more beauty be yours in 2020.
โค๏ธ ๐ โค๏ธ ๐ โค๏ธ
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Thank you so much Del. I hope 2020 will be a great year for you (starting with WP allowing comments on your blog again). ๐
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Thank you, Suโฃ๏ธ Yes, having comments back again is nice. Wish I knew why they disappeared in the first place. ๐คจ
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I couldn’t comment on the last post I saw, about the glue stick.
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Yes, I know, and I cannot figure out what is causing this. It isn’t anything I can locate. VERY frustrated. ๐คฌ
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I totally get that! โน๏ธ
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A gorgeous post Su, I loved the way you chose and ordered them. My favorite is the double exposure and of course your adorable son. That is a beautiful portrait showing so much personality, I really loved it. Happy new year to you
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Thank you so much Tina. I am very inspired by your photography, and love how WP gives us a chance to share and to learn from others.
Wishing you a very happy new year.
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I agree wholeheartedly Su – WP is a terrific venue for sharing and learning for all of us. Hereโs to more and better in 2020!
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I’ll drink to that (well, not really … it’s not quite nine in the morning and that’s a bit early for me).
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LOL Su, whenever the time is right ๐ฅ
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I am happy to say I remember most of these! Happy New Year, Su! May 2020 bring us all good health, happiness, and a better world.
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I’ll drink to that. Thank you Amy.
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BEST WISHES FOR NEXT YEAR SUE, CHINA
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Thanks so much China. Happy New Year to you.
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Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
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I’m Libra too Su. I think we sense injustice more acutely.
Happy New Year to you and your lovely family.
Leslie
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I think maybe that’s true; perhaps because we can put ourselves in others’ shoes easily.
Happy New Year Leslie.
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xoxo
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These are all so beautiful, Su. I love your January photo–what a cool, calm way to open the gallery. The horses–I immediately started a conversation between the two of them. The car–oh, yes–that photo belongs in a commercial. Contact Audi immediately! ๐ Your handsome son–my hair was that color when I was a child. I’m a Sagittarius–honest (tactless), adventurous (rebellious) and philosophical (cold). Gosh, what a lovely person I am. ๐ Happy New Year, Su.
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Happy New Year Lois.
Thank you so much for being part of my blogging whanau; for your funny, insightful comments (and posts). I’m sure 2020 will give us lots to write and talk about.
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What a great wrap up of the year. Happy New Year Su and all the very best for 2020!
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Thank you so much Aggie. Hope 2020 is a great year for you and your family.
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A gorgeous selection, Su. I canโt comment technically, but your images always lift my spirits. Youโre already in 2020 and weโre nearly there – just the small matter of Hogmanay celebrations to go! Hope itโs a good year for us all. Really hoping hard.
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Thank you so much Anabel.
Yes, it is a grey-ish Jan 1 in Auckland, after a very quiet night.
I’m hoping hard too, and trying to think of ways to do more than hope.
A guid new year to you and John.
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Thank you Su! All the best to you, Big T and your son.
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๐
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It was nice to see the boy child photo in color after the B-W version…
๐
—
and fav here is the Solace in the Wind, by Max Patte – because you noted how it has
“changing moods”
– oh and the car and bike shot – nice angle and love that adventure vibe
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Thanks Yvette. I’m glad you like Solace in the Wind. It is a magnificent sculpture, and in a wonderful location (that my shot doesn’t show unfortunately). He stands on the edge of the pier on Wellington Waterfront, leaning out over the water; his face unreadable. It is a stunning piece of art.
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Hence the reason you said many moods – because I am sure different photos show so many diverse takeaways
Really enjoyed your posts this week
Well I always like your signature style – but you know what I mean –
So much heart and soul in what you write and posted –
Moved
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Wonderful presentation of your year in photography! Beautiful photos too – You should make a real calendar with them –
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Thank you so much. ๐ I did think of mKing a calendar but left it a bit late. A project for this year perhaps.
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You can make it on Zazzle.com very quickly ๐
I made one for Las Vegas in about one hour.
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Thanks. Iโll check it out.
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You’re a brave woman to go through all those photos to choose just twelve. Every year I think I’ll do it and every year I find the thought of it to be too overwhelming and I just don’t. ๐ But I do enjoy seeing everyone else’s retrospectives and I enjoyed yours. I think the pink flower with the hand and the two horses are my favorites, but everything you do is lovely.
Wishing you and yours a most wonderful and wonder-filled 2020! Thanks for being part of my community.
janet
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I hope you don’t mind if I copy your idea and made a post like yours with my own photos…
I made one already for the year, but this idea is excellent! ๐
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Not at all. I did mine in response to the Lens-Artists challenge; you could link to that too.
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I made mine already yesterday, but differently: http://www.travelways.com/my-favorite-photos-of-2019/
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Love your gallery of favourites Su ๐
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Thanks Brian
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Oh Su, these are absolutely stunning! I couldn’t possibly pick a favourite. Mainly because [hand up] another Libran here. Happy New Year to you!
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Excellent photographs, not pictures. Best wishes for 2020.
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My star sign is Libra too! Seems a lot of your followers are, isn’t that weird? And you only need to ask my son about indecisiveness! (Dithering over paint in B&Q). He says I think too long. He’s right. I still can’t make my mind up which fridge freezer to buy – I even have a spreadsheet listing the features! Aside of that I’m certainly not dithering over your photos, some I have seen before, others not. All fabulous. And that boy of yours is going to get hearts fluttering, what a smile! He reminds me of my eldest grandson who has the same hairstyle (not the colour) and the same sweet face shape. Let’s hope for a better world for them. xx
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While I am very sceptical about horoscopes, I have to admit that the people I like and choose to spend time with do tend to be clustered in one or two star signs โ Libra being the overwhelming one.
I do decisions-by-spreadsheet too and wonder how people managed before Excel. T thinks itโs funny, until I threaten to organise our life in the military-campaign-minute-by-minute fashion a friend of ours uses. ๐คฃ
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I can’t remember the last time I looked at a horoscope.
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I think it was the last time I was in a doctor’s waiting room. And the magazine was way out of date; as if that matters.
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Each photo was a great choice, Su, but December and March get bonus points ๐ I remember the photo from March when you originally posted it and Iโm still enamoured with that tree!
Like you, I believe in horoscopes when they tell me what I want to hear … that everything will be awesome. Of course everything is awesome, itโs just that sometimes we have to look really hard to see it ๐
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Thanks Joanne. You are right, and I could look harder to find the awesome; I’m sure it would be good for my mental health. ๐
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You can’t help but smile back at him, can you? ๐ ๐ And Audi would be foolish not to offer you a job. Wishing for 2020 to reach its potential, Su.
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Thanks for that Jo. ๐
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A totally gorgeous post, Su – but I love your photography, always! August got my heart, September got my brain, and February caught my eye – but your son’s portrait got them all! And of course I’m a Libra. With all the advantages and all the shortcomings too. Sensitivity and love of beauty and serenity I am grateful for. Wishing you and yours the very best for 2020. Hard to tell what lies ahead of us, but I turn to the joy of the little things.
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Thank you so much. I feel the same way; focus on the small things that bring me joy, do what good I can, and pick my battles.
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โฅ
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Oh, dear, Su. What do I do now? I love them ALL!! Your images are wonderful!
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Thank you so much Patti
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Not sure how I missed this post? Anyway. Su, it has been a pleasure following you, enjoying your photography and witty remarks. Good to see another redhead as mine is now faded into a delicious shade of pale grey, redheads don’t grey as much as others.
Look forward to more, no pressure ๐
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Thank you so much Suzanne.
The boyโs dad was a red also but his hair faded to a sort of brown before starting to go grey.
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Pingback: Lens Artists Photo Challenge #78 – Special Spot Shots | Leya
A beautiful selection. The statue is the one I’d love to photograph. I don’t know how but let’s make it a great year.
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Each photo is so powerful on its own, and a beautiful gallery as a whole!
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Thank you ๐
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Tell me about indecisiveness!! Us Libras, eh? ๐ Such a beautiful post and I love each and every single photo – especially the horses, they look a bit like: “What you’re looking at? Mind your own business!” Hehe! And you really should ask Audi – maybe they’ll sponsor your petrol? ๐
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Thank you so much my friend. ๐
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Wonderful shots Su. I love the perspective you chose for the Wellington sculpture and what a lovely portrait of your son.
Happy new year.
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Thank you Wendy. Hope things are well with you.
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Beautiful year in review – thank you for sharing despite the difficulty in picking just one for each month. Looking forward to another year of your beautiful world!
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Thank you so much Ju-Lyn ๐
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