On New Year’s Day, I don’t make a point of chasing resolutions or dramatic changes. I prefer to start the year quietly, paying attention to what’s already here. The landscape doesn’t know it’s a holiday. That’s part of the appeal.
The air is usually cold and damp. Sometimes there’s fog. Sometimes a break in the clouds. I might walk a shoreline or a quiet path, camera in hand, but I don’t go out with a shot list or a plan. I look for what the day has to offer. Soft transitions in light, the way water moves around old pilings, the patterns left by wind or tide. I notice how quiet it is, especially early, before most people are out.
I don’t photograph every year’s first morning, but when I do, I’m drawn to the same things that keep drawing me back to black-and-white. Texture, shape, and the place’s mood. The absence of color lets me focus on the essentials. I’m not trying to capture a perfect scene. I’m trying to see what’s actually there and to make something honest from it.
For me, the start of a new year isn’t about big declarations. It’s about showing up, paying attention, and letting the landscape set the pace. I find a kind of hope in that. Quiet, steady, and patient. It’s the same approach I bring to my photography all year long.
If you have questions about my process or want to see more of my work, feel free to contact me. Wishing you a calm and steady start to the year.
Further Explorations:
Happy New Year’s Eve: Reflecting on the Past, Embracing the Future
That Wall’s Giving You the Side-Eye, Isn’t It?
Rock, Snow and Limb, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
