Before I go, I wanted to share one more image from my trip to Hawaii in December; this was taken at the end of the Waimea Canyon that overlooks the Na Pali Coast. Truly one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen; and one that images just don’t do justice.

A new year brings the opportunity for new beginnings; many of us make resolutions to do things that we didn’t or couldn’t do the year before. Whether it be working out more or making more images, it is important not only to embrace what is possible during the coming year but also to allow ourselves to start fresh. By starting fresh, I mean forgetting about the failures or shortcomings of years past. While it is important to remember the things that those failures and shortcomings taught us, it is just as important to leave those things in the past.

To truly reap the rewards of new beginnings, we must learn to let go of the things and feelings that tie us to the past. We must learn to iterate and to carry only the best part of ourselves forward. Iteration in my working world is all about taking what works and improving upon what doesn’t. It is very much the same when it comes to finding our creative-selves. The only way we can make better images is to learn from the images that work and improve upon the ones that don’t. I know this may all seem simple enough, but it is sometimes harder than we think to let go of those images that simply don’t work; to let them move into our archives so we can move forward with our best and most promising work.

It has certainly been a year of new beginnings for me; professionally, personally, and creatively. I am looking forward to the things that await me in 2012 and I hope you all are too. Happy New Year!

The real key then, is to find a way to sustain that creative enthusiasm even when we don’t have a chance to get away. We must find a way to see the things we see everyday through fresh eyes; to maintain our love of photography even when we feel like there’s nothing interesting to photograph. For me, the secret is to continuously re-visit old places; places that I may have photographed dozens of times. While these visits may sometimes turn out fruitless and end up being nothing more than lens therapy, the mere act of getting outside with my camera is usually enough to keep me moving forward in my search for creative vision.

With the year winding down and the holidays fast approaching, we decided to head down to the beach for me to enjoy some lens therapy. I haven’t had much time this month for photography or posting to the blog so it was great to get out to see the world through a lens. I’m always amazed how quickly all my stress seems to ease simply by focusing on the act of making pictures. I’ve realized at times like these, that it’s more important to get out with my camera than it is to come home with great images. I guess sometimes it’s more about the act of making pictures than the pictures themselves, at least for me. Well, that’s all for now. I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving.