Photography Lovers End of Year Contest
It is pretty rare that I post more than once in a day, so you know when I do, it has to be something good. In this case, it manifests as the latest challenge/contest from @derangedvisions in the Photography Lovers community.
I am not going to bore you with all of the specifics and rules. If you want to participate or review all of the logistics, you can view the original post here.
If you are looking for the TLDR, you basically post some photos from the last year and write a paragraph about each one. Easy right? So let's get to it.
The opening photo comes to you from the great state of Ohio. That is difficult for me to say since I live in Michigan, but due to some of my inlaws living in Ohio, I have grow to have a fondness for the state. I am sure @ericvancewalton and @nuthman will appreciate my change of attitude.
This pedestrian bridge is just short walk from where my inlaws live outside of Columbus, OH. It crosses the Sicoto River and if you had been to this area even three years ago you wouldn't have been able to walk across it. This area has grown immensely in the past five years. The buildings you see across the river are brand new, and the bridge was just completed a short time ago.
Mainly, I am sharing this photo because I think artistically it is one of the best I took all year. The other photos I am going to share will have less technical and more personal merit.
Ask @steevc, @bdmillergallery, or @fbpowers and they will attest to the fact that I am a bit of a whiskey aficionado. In fact, I am a moderator of the Whiskey/Whisky community here on Hive. If you love any of the varieties of this distillate, feel free to write a post in that community, we would love to have you.
This is a bottle of Blanton's. It is typically considered a unicorn bottle. Sometimes because it is hard to find, other times because you can find it, but it horrendously over-priced due to the scarcity. It is one of the most unique bottles of liquor I own and I am trying to make it last as long as possible.
I share this because of the fact that I was actually able to get my hands on two bottles for the relatively low price of $70. This was back earlier in 2021 and there is a good chance I will never find it or purchase it for that cheap again.
I share this photo because, well... just look at her. Next to my wife @mrsbozz, our dog Jovi is my heart. She is getting to be an old lady now and napping is pretty much what she does best. Her days of chasing squirrels are falling behind her, but she still enjoys camping with us (at least we think she does), and this cot we got her a couple of years ago is one of her favorite places to crash.
Speaking of camping, I am going to hit you with a two-fer here.
In the Summer, this is what we do.
We even camp into the Fall as a matter of fact. This year it was much later into Fall than usual... Our home state of Michigan has some fantastic state parks. In the past couple of years our nephew has started coming camping with us.
That is him above with our friend's son who camps with us as well. They are like two old men who have been friends for years when they get together. It is an absolute joy watching them ride around and play in the campgrounds like we did when we were kids.
The first picture is @mrsbozz, her "bestie" Sarah, Sarah's husband David hiding out in the very back behind the umbrella. Remember that second bottle of Blanton's I mentioned earlier. It went to David.
So if camping is what we do in the Summer...
Then this is the perfect example of why we do it. Taken from the same vantage point where you see @mrsbozz and friends sitting in the photo above, this is a sunset on the shores of Indian Lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I honestly think this photo speaks for itself and quite honestly if I haven't hit the one paragraph per photo by now, I guess I don't know what else I need to do.
I share this photo because even outside of the Summer, my wife and I do a lot of grilling. Charcoal grilling to be exact, none of that suburbia yuppie gas stuff, or the more recent lazy Traeger trend. I joke of course, but I was raised on charcoal grilling, so it is just as much a part of me as anything else.
I feel there is a real art to it and that is part of what draws me to it. It takes more time and care, plus there is an uncertainty that makes it more of a challenge. I typically stock up around the Memorial and Labor day weekends. The local Ace Hardware had a really good price on the 16 pound bags, so I decided to grab ten of them. These are almost all gone now...
Due to Covid-19, travel for Spring Break was pretty much out of the question this past year. The cool thing about Michigan is you don't necessarily need to take a flight or drive for days to get views like this.
@mrsbozz and I took a day trip on the last Friday of our Spring Break (we both work for a school district) and drove the 2.5 to 3 hours to the West side of Michigan. This photo was taken in Pentwater on the East coast of Lake Michigan.
It is a beautiful little town. As you might be able to tell, it was a bit windy (and chilly) given it was late March. I just like how my wife and I look in this selfie. Despite everything going on in the world, we carve out special moments like this to embrace our happiness.
It's with a bit of a heavy heart that I share this photo. In fact because I have a heavy heart about it, that is why I choose to share it... This tree used to stand proudly in our back yard. This past year we had it cut down. This is probably the last photo I have of it before it was removed.
It was a long hard decision for me to have this tree cut down. Ultimately, I knew I had no other choice. It had already lost a limb last year that destroyed a good portion of our deck and all of the furniture on it. In fact, Jovi narrowly escaped the limb fall as she had just been outside before it came down.
I had the "tree people" look at it to see if they could trim it to make it safer, but there wasn't much they could do. Ultimately, we decided to have it removed for the safety of our house and the neighbors next door. Any further limb falls could have hit either house and proven fatal.
I miss the shade that this tree used to provide, but in the end, I know we made the right choice. It won't make me any less sad each time I come across this photo though.
Another two-fer for you
Heading back to Ohio...
My wife and I took a trip with her family down to the Hocking Hills area of Ohio this past Summer. It is a truly beautiful area and a stark contrast to the normally flat lands that you expect from Ohio. Tucked just about an hour South East of Columbus, the Hocking Hills area is full of "caves", gorges, hiking trails, waterfalls, and all manner of nature.
It is absolutely stunning. I am so glad that we made the trip down here. We rented a large house that could accommodate all sixteen of us and spent the good part of a week exploring and enjoying each other's company.
Hocking Hills left such an impression on us that my wife and I hope to visit again in the near future. Next time we plan on taking our travel trailer and camping at one of the many campgrounds in the area.
With all of the camping and other travel to Ohio, it is pretty rare that @mrsbozz and I get to spend time just relaxing at home. This photo was taken on one of those rare weekends where we were able to just "chill" on our deck and enjoy everything we have worked so hard for.
We bought this propane (don't worry, I don't cook on it) fire pit to replace the one that got destroyed by the fallen limb I mentioned above. It puts off a good deal of heat and it sets the mood really well. We have woods directly beyond our property so the views in the Summer are quite nice. In the Fall/Winter not so much since someone just bought the property and built a house a little ways into the woods to the left of the picture above. Now that the leaves are off the trees, you can just make out the house and at night their porchlight.
Finally, I am going to leave you with this. Besides camping, my wife and I love going to concerts to watch different bands. With all the stuff happening due to Covid the past couple of years, attending concerts have been out of the question. In fact, many of the shows we were scheduled to attend have been pushed into 2022.
This was an Alice Cooper concert I attended with my friend David, and it was the first show I have been to since the whole Covid thing started.
I felt it only right that I should share this. Mostly because for me, heading back to concerts triggers a return to normalcy for me. Of course with Omicron who knows what is going to happen, but I will still look back at these photos with fondness because as I said... It's almost like we are back to normal. Finally.
So there you go!
Those are just a handful of my favorite photos from the past year. With the advent of smartphones it is so easy to capture so many of the moments that make our lives truly unique. It's a great time to be alive! Savor it!
Sports Talk Social - @bozz.sports
It looks like Ohio is in between your state and mine. I've been to that exact same place in Hocking Hills, it's pretty awesome. I will say that the last time we went, it was so busy that we couldn't even really enjoy ourseleves. Imagine going to enjoy some nature and all you hear is kids screaming the entire time.
Haha, did you go when we went? We did have three under 10 years old in tow with us! It was very crowded when we went too. I think it would be pretty go to in the fall when the leaves are changing color.
It was August of 2020 the last time I was there. I've been to Red River Gorge in KY since then and it was a lot less busy and equally as gorgeous, if not more.
Ah, good to know. We were off by about a year then. I used to go down to the Lexington area quite a bit when my sister lived down there. Not so much anymore. I will be driving through KY in a couple of months on our way to Nashville.
I've been to Lexington more than Lousiville, but both places seem to be pretty popping cities in KY. Nashville is equally as busy, if not more. Newport, KY is another cool place in KY, just across from Cincinnati, OH. All are enjoyable places to visit with plenty of things to do. Have fun on your trip to TN!
Thanks!
Wow lovely, I hope you had fun
Thanks, it has been one heck of a year!
This is a challenge I would like to have a bash at. How long does it run for? Do I need to tag my post in any particular way?
Until the end of the year. Take a look at the post I linked to at the beginning. That has all of the details.
Thanks @bozz
Nice shots. you have a good eye. Keep it up.
Thank you!
Awesome entry man. The cool thing about this contest is seeing all of the memories that people have made throughout the year. That is the most important part. Making memories with your loved ones.
I would have to agree with that wholeheartedly! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Those are some beautiful photos! You're making me homesick @bozz! Ohio has a way of getting into your blood, doesn't it?
I just watched a video last night about Detroit that made me want to visit your state.
There's a real renaissance going on in the downtown area that I hope ripples out into the neighborhoods. After a little research today I discovered you can purchase city lots for $250 apiece. If I were a younger man I would consider investing in some. If the revitalization continues it could make some people very well off.
Detroit really does have a ton to offer. Personality I think it would be cool if they got back to their roots and did the whole urban farm thing. Detroit was originally long strip farms that extended inland from the river. I have read about other places where they let goats run free to eat the grass on the overgrown lots and stuff like that. It would be cool. I think going the way of Miami and starting a Detroit Going would be cool too. Make The D a crypto hub now that the auto industry is waning.
I could feel the love you have for your wife, dog, friends and trips from your post. It is refreshing to see that at the end of the year people choose to remember the good times, the times filed with joy, charcoal, laughter, whisky and napping. You know that the first time I saw that bottle I thought of perfume lol. We could consider whisky a perfume for the tongue haha. It is indeed a unique bottle.
I can totally see why you would think that was a perfume bottle. It definitely has that look. It was a real joy going through all of these memories from the year. Credit to Google Photos for making it so easy!
I think this is the most interesting challenge at the end of an old year. It gives each person time to look back and reflect on what was difficult and happy for them. And I bet they'll smile when they write about it
I agree, like I said, I don't typically post twice in one day, but when I saw this challenge I knew I had to bring something together while I had the time!
Love that first shot and a great entry for the contest, good luck
Thank you! Much appreciated! I didn't realize quite how good that photo was until I revisited it for this post myself!
Have a great weekend
looks like real, very beautiful results from your shots,
Thank you! I appreciate that!
You really have a magic trigger finger there. Some really stellar shots. I love the first one in Ohio! Looking through! It is a great shot!
Thank you!
Wow fabulous moments captured and put into your 2021 memories, really like the look of the Hocking Hills region. Getting to see a live show, I have forgotten what that is like!
Enjoyed your photography throughout, have yourselves a wonderful Christmas and yes let 2022 be the year to go back to normal.
Thank you! You as well! Yes, Hocking Hills is pretty awesome. We have some more shows on the calendar for 2022, but we will see what Omicron has in store for them!
Hope to see Hocking Hills photography soon, we cannot sit on our hands forever waiting to live, life is too short so glad to see you got out quite a bit during this year.
I did a series of posts about it back in August after we returned from our trip. You might have to search a bit, but if you look you can find it.
Will go take a look, love natural rock formations, caves that open out, thanks!
Djeez, why didn't I see this before. And how comes that I didn't even know that photography is a passion of yours? I love it, everything about this post!
Thanks, I appreciate it!
wow..happy family..lovely children..well done and i know you will enjoy your kids childhood as they grow...well dne and nice shots of the places ..looking forward to seeing more of you here on listnerds
Great photos. I hope you found a good sale on charcoal. I am right there with you aith my feelings toward my dog. Thanks for sharing.
Still looking for the right sale. I'm good for a bit yet.