Previously, I had been photographing flowers in botanical gardens, but had not seen large fields of wildflowers along the highways and backroads until moving to Texas.
As the year winds down, photographers often find themselves doing something quietly meaningful—looking back. Scrolling through the images we made over the past twelve months isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a reminder of how much we’ve grown.
Each photograph carries a story: the new technique you finally mastered, the creative challenge you pushed yourself to try, the moment in nature that surprised you, or the scene that made you stop and breathe. When we revisit these images, we start to see patterns—stronger compositions, bolder choices, more confident editing, and a clearer sense of our own voice.
At the Happiness Hour, we celebrate those little victories. They’re easy to miss in the moment, but when you look back, you realize how much quiet progress you've made. That’s the joy of photography: every frame is a step forward, even the ones that didn’t go as planned.
So as the year comes to a close, here’s an invitation: choose your favorite photo from the past year and print it. Hold it in your hands. Hang it on a wall. Let it remind you of the work you’ve done, the joy you found, and the creative spirit that keeps you picking up your camera.
Because looking back isn’t just reflection—it’s celebration. And you’ve earned it.
photography
Scanners used to be used only for making copies, faxing, creating PDFs, scanning slides, photos and photo negatives. But not anymore. They can now be used to create beautiful art with resolution and print sizes well beyond the size of the scanner. Perhaps even as large as a wall in your home. There is no other equipment to purchase or set up, then take down, making it easy to create this art within minutes of conceiving an idea. You are limited only by your imagination.
photography
If you only rely on your close friends and family’s feedback, you will not learn as much or become a better photographer. You need to share your photos with other photographers who are better than you to get their feedback on what you did right and where you can improve.
