Well, it’s been real. At times fun, and sometimes even real fun. I’m calling it a wrap and hanging up my 365 project.

I hope some of you that have watched my photos through the year have enjoyed my efforts. There were times I really felt like I was gaining some creative thought in the process, and others where I simply grabbed a shot to fulfill my obligation for the day. I peaked at times doing fun shots, and felt like I was sliding late in the year. Still, I rate it overall as a fun experience and I’m glad I embarked on the effort.

I am still deciding what I want to do for the upcoming year, but I’m leaning to some weekly or even just periodic themes that are a bit less taxing on a daily basis. Whether I can stick to something less structured will have to be seen.

I appreciate the comments left on this site and others where I posted the photos. Here’s to a new year of creativity and making photos. I wish you the best in whatever goals and efforts you have planned!

I was in a hurry to get home, and too just a glance at what I thought was the after sunset sky remiss that I had missed a good one. Then, party way through the drive, the sun dipped under the clouds on the far horizon and BAM! We had an amazingly beautiful sky for about 5 minutes. I didn’t have my big camera with me and I really was in a hurry, so a quick iPhone photo had to suffice. I love these moments.

Here are a couple others I took within those few minutes.

I thought I’d make something fun for a Facebook timeline cover photo. Not sure if I got the order of these right, but it was fun getting the shots for the composite. I left in the shadow to hopefully give it a little realism between the three elements.

This is a Zack Arias term, G.A.S. or Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I admit I have it at times. I’ve been pretty good this year overall, but still I do like me some new things to play with. Fortunately I can attribute this acquisition to my wife picking on my less than subtle hint of a web site link. These are mini-lenses that you can attach to your iPhone (or any camera phone) for some creative options. They’ve been fun to play with so far and I hope to make good use of them for some differences in my camera phone shots.

This photo was made with the iPhone using the macro lens attachment from this assortment of lenses. Sharpened and processed on the iPhone as well using the BeFunky app.

Here’s another shot from the day using the wide angle lens for a little close up, distorted view of a Fender amp at the Sammy’s in Pleasant Grove.

A sign found at a nearby field. I’m really not sure who’d care to be out in the field other than us photographers when it is at full height! This would be a perfect late summer photo spot for those field shots in fact. Maybe I can find an owner and seek some permission.

I always enjoy getting up to see the beautiful colors of a sunrise. I’ve posted several photos from this exact vantage point, which happens to be second story my bedroom window. I never tire of it though.

Sometime soon I need to get out to some different vistas and catch the sunrise both in still and time lapse footage. On my list of soon to do to dos.

Merry Christmas everyone! We had a wonderfully relaxing day, enjoying all the typical presents, family time and some church worship thrown in. A wonderful day. Hope yours was as well.

This is an iPhone photo using an attached macro lens purposely throwing it out of focus for the colorful bokeh.

We have a now annual tradition we have kept going for five years now to go ice skating with our local extended family on Christmas Eve. It’s always fun and a great way to have the kids burn off some of their excited energy. Apparently the word is getting out though as it was pretty crowded this time, though still a lot of fun. I got out on the ice with Taylor in his wheelchair and even took some GoPro video & time lapse footage which was a fun experiment. Fortunately we were all able to make it home in one piece without any injuries to enjoy the second part of the tradition: nachos for dinner!

We took the family to see the “Thrillionaires” – an improv comedy troupe – at the Covey Center for the Performing Arts. As we were waiting for the show I broke out the phone for the obligatory Instagram shots to fill my time. I framed in the theater only to have this gentlemen walk through the frame right as I hit the shutter release. The slow shutter for the low light made foe the ghosting effect motion blur and actually made a better photo!

The show was fun, though our kids were a little lost in the humor at times. That’s improv for ya.

Another ornament for today. Our tree is chock full of variety as we choose to go for the family gifts given over the years instead of a cohesive look. It all works together. I actually shot quite a few ornaments planning to do a collage, but instead I liked this individual one best. Here’s another from the set.