The End

I have blogged each day in one complete year. 365 posts. Beginning September 22, 2009, I started this little blog adventure because I knew that I liked photography. I decided that I was going to blog everyday to show people my interest in the things all around me and my slightly eccentric perspective on life. Beyond anything else, I think the bottom line is that I did it. And quite honestly, I can't believe that I did it. Does time really move that fast? Am I really still in Tucson? Do I really take that many photographs (almost 5900 since I got this camera in May 2009). Is this blog really over?

The short answer is yes. It boggles my mind. It doesn't take a lot to get me all worked up and confused, but seriously, it is hard to believe that this blog has taken me through a complete year. I think that it was one of the only constants in my life over the last 365 days. The only thing I knew everyday when I woke up was that I needed to grab my camera and blog something.

I really learned a lot. Through the Lens has been a reminder to myself that putting your mind to something can really bring about results. Because I had this notion in my head that I was going to blog everyday, and I worked to make that happen, I showed myself once again that goals can be accomplished. Sometimes I lose sight of that... okay, often times I lose sight of that. But it has been fun to hear people ask me, "Are you still blogging?" It's been fun to reply, "Sure am."

I'm not the same photographer I once was. I'm definitely a harsher critic of my own work. I think that helps me keep learning and finding exactly what I like and what my style is, but it has been a frustration. Those moments when you take a good photograph and say, "Holy crap! That's a good one!" You know, when you just can't help but love that photo? Yeah, those are way fewer and much farther between. But I think I cherish those photos even more because I was able to find something, take a picture of it, and even please myself, which isn't very easy to do anymore. But it has been a fun adventure trying to capture new things in different ways and keeping this blog fresh.

The bottom line is that I still really enjoy photography. I think I'll take a little break from it just so that the next time I pick up a camera it can be a special experience. I love to pick up my camera and document things. This blog is evidence of that. But it'll be all the more exciting to get a photograph that I am truly proud of once I've taken a step back from the camera. This is the end of this artistic adventure. I know the future holds a lot more in terms of photographic potential. I look forward to those moments. I'll keep you posted on when I have those experiences. For now all I have left to say is thanks. Thanks for looking at my photographs as I try to call myself and "artist." Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. Thanks for inspiring me to be a real photographer.

A special thanks goes to my friend, Kendle. This blog wouldn't exist without your suggestion to post the daily experiences in my life. It has been a great ride, and I'm glad you've been here to share this with me.

Enjoy my photos from downtown Tucson. I went there today and thought it was a fun place to photograph a few things as a last post here on Through the Lens.

:)

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Afternoon

Today everything was looking really awesome as the sun was sinking lower in the sky. I still really love the Mexican bird of paradise (particularly this post).

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What Are Crepes?

This is a fun tree called Crepe mertle (or Crape myrtle), also known as Lagerstroemia is super cool. I love it. What are crepes, anyway?

Land Speed Record

This one time (I think it was Easter time...) my family made a stop at a Scottsdale car dealership. This was no ordinary car dealership. It sold high-end automobiles like Aston Martins (ohhh) and Bentleys (ahhh). Well it also sold one other thing... the fastest production car ever. Said car, the Bugatti Veyron, goes a staggering 253 miles per hour, costing well over $1,000,000! That's a lot of zeros on the end of that price... Crazy right?

Well my family just so happened to stop at that same dealership and see another Bugatti Veyron. This one differed only slightly from the previous one (maroon v. green) but was equally as impressive.

If it weren't so outlandish I think I'd be in love. I'm just a bit more understated than that... usually. Check out this awesome video from one of my favorite shows, Top Gear, when one of the hosts takes the Bugatti to its top speed.

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Home is Where the Heart Is

Once again we made the trek to the greater Phoenix area to see some family. Once again, Picacho Peak made for really wonderful scenery in the early evening light as the sun sank lower on the horizon. I really like Arizona for a lot of reasons. A lot of people have a hard time appreciating the beauty in the desert. Maybe it's because I was raised here, maybe it's because my dad's a landscaper, but I have really come to like the desert. It offers some of the most amazing things. I like lush, green places too. Someday I'll live in a lush, green place. But no matter where I go, the desert will always be home to me.

Also, happy birthday Macki! You're the best. :)

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Tempered

I don't know if I've blogged my front door before. If I have, I don't remember. My whole life is jumbled up in this blog and it's hard to keep track of things sometime. Anyway, my front door is positively fantastic. I really do love everything about it.

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Genes

I've referenced my nostalgia before. I think it's a disease or something. Nevertheless, I think I see where I get it from. Here is a stack of magazines, church, car, etc., that we haven't parted with. Why? I dunno. I blame the gene pool I was born into. Lol.

Leafing Out

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Rustic

We had the concrete stained on our front porch. It isn't really the right color... at all. But whatever, because it's still pretty cool. I like that it isn't just one big slab of concrete all colored the same, but rather has shades and highlights to make it more dynamic and interesting.

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Prescription

So there I am getting read for bed... I look down and see my glasses looking all types of cool in the dark room, illuminated by the reading light on my nightstand. I mean, it was after 12 midnight when I took this picture, which makes it technically Sunday, which means this is totally legitimate. It also makes it probably the photo I too the latest at night for this blog. Just sayin.

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Rotors

Hank and I did a little car shopping today, which really just means Hank since he's got a job and can afford the cool stuff. But I was present to give the Zac stamp of approval. No deal, but lots of good ideas. I even drove a beautiful new truck. Anyway, at the Chevy dealer there was a gorgeous Corvette ZR1. It was only the second one I had ever seen and I definitely am in love.

Recognize

Holy crap. So, we put together the dance right? Yeah, well it looked so dang good! It was slow to get moving but all dances are so it was pretty normal. By 9ish things were really great. People were loving it, and there were a number of really really good costumes, including mine and Nicole's. I got to wear my dad's old Air Force coat, which I thought was really cool. Nicole found a nurse's outfit that was seriously perfect. We were looking great!

The highlight of the night was when we stopped dancing and everyone stopped to acknowledge the giant American flag that we hung on the wall. We read a poem called I Am Your Flag that is positively amazing. So great. After, we all said the Pledge of Allegiance. It was so powerful to have group of young people salute our flag and acknowledge our dedication to this country and the things that it stands for. It is such a wonderful blessing to live here. More and more I am recognizing that America is truly a place like no other. Despite the riffraff, this country is inspired of God. There is no other place that can make that claim.

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Star and Stripes

We're setting up for this big YSA dance at the institute, right? Well, we hung this freaking giant flag (30' x 50') and it's so cool! I love America.

Rays

Nature really is one of the best things to make a stupid day a whole lot better.

Adios, Amigo

I feel like this was the last of the beautiful summer sunsets that I've been enjoying. I really love fall, but there are just some things that a Tucson summer has got that nothing can replace, and sunsets are one of them. See you next time.