SHOW & TELL - 2009 GOAL #5

On the very short list of things I am passionate about, photography has been close to the top for about 13 years.  I took three photography classes during my second year of college and was told that I have "a good eye" for the art.  I don't really know about that, but I do know that I get excited when I see an opportunity for a beautiful shot.  It could be the lighting, the subject, or even my own deep memories that draws me to capture any given moment.  It really just comes down to the fact that I like pretty things and photographing them lets me hold on to those pretty things a little while longer.  

I mostly enjoy photographing nature for beauty and my family for posterity's sake.  However, 2008 was a difficult year for me emotionally.  I resolved to find a new job and had started interviewing, but when Kev made a career move, I felt that in order to support him I needed to sign another one year contract to continue working the job that I suspect may have a slight impact on my fertility (mostly because of the incredible compacted stress).  I endured three failed Clomid/HCG cycles, and an even bigger disappointment with three failed IUI/injectable cycles.  One IUI cycle was even cancelled due to OHSS exacerbated by the anti-depressants I was taking.  These things, on top of other drama among my friends and within my family added up to the loss of my inspiration.  I didn't take my camera anywhere in 2008.  I didn't see beauty; I saw vast bleakness.   

So my fifth goal for 2009 is to get back into taking pictures again.  As hard as it may be to find it at times, the world is beautiful.  Truly beautiful.  And I want to capture the beauty that I see.

For the sake of Mel's Show & Tell, here is one of my favorite shots I've ever taken.  It was taken right before sunset in Canyonland National Park in Utah in 2005 (it may have been 2004 - the years are starting to blur together).