“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.
When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
~ Ansel Adams
I stood on shore as the sun closed out 2012 before my eyes. My mind filled with images from the past year and I’d like to share some simple thoughts with you. Two words—that’s about all I can get out. These two simple words echo from a heart filled with gratitude.
Thank You.
Initially it was quotes and a few thoughts. Then I added photography and a busy colleague offered a few of his articles, so I have a guest author.
SimplySage became my quiet corner to navigate thoughts and merge them with a love of taking pictures. I wanted it to be fun and filled with joy. On occasion I wanted to include some thought-provoking articles. My intent was to build and preserve a legacy for my family.
But then you showed up.
Over timeyou made the choice to stop, to look, to read. Perhaps you left a comment, clicked “Like”, or became one of my followers. Again, thank you.
If you blog with WordPress you received an annual report on your blog last week. Mine overwhelmed me. My numbers, like others, started small. But in April it all changed. WordPress encouraged us to share so here’s a couple of mine.
Since April you’ve come from eighty-four countries. Since April you dropped in over nine-thousand times. Wow—that made me a bit dizzy. I’m honored to share company with all of you. So many backgrounds and cultures—teenagers to grandparents, college students, writers, college professors, world travelers, moms and dads, photographers. The list doesn’t stop.
And your stories just amaze me. Transparency, kindness, manners. I’ve met the nicest group of people in the world.
I’m not a great writer and I’m not a great photographer but with company like you how could I not improve? I think you brought out the best in me and as the year moved along I grew more confident. Again—thank you.
I truly am at a loss for words.
The Weekly Photo Challenge this past week is titled “My 2012 in Pictures”. They asked us to post some of the photos from this year in a gallery format. {Click on each for a slideshow or larger view.} These are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them again.
“A good photographer must love life more than he does photography.”
~ Joel Strasser
In addition, I’m sharing the photo I think you’ve chosen as my best picture of the year. Aside from the holiday photos, this photo received the most views of any—a magnificent sunset caught with a Sony Cyber-Shot out my backdoor. Photography is art merged with science but we all know the real reason behind a good photograph …
“Of course, it’s all luck.” ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson
As 2013 is now upon us I want to give more of myself—to take the best picture, to choose the best words, to be a niche of happiness in your day.
A sliver of joy.
“Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”
~ David Alan Harvey
Peace,
Alexandria
Other responses to this photo challenge:
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/weekly-photo-challenge-my-2012-in-pictures/
http://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/weekly-photo-challenge-my-2012-in-picturessunday-post-2013/
SimplySage 
elleturner4
/ January 5, 2013What beautiful words and pictures 🙂
SimplySage
/ January 5, 2013Thank you, Elle. Nice of you to drop by!
laura@eljaygee
/ January 5, 2013A lovely nostalgic post Alexandria and its not so long since 2012. One of the best things about blogging is the way it raises our game and you high-jumped with this post.
SimplySage
/ January 5, 2013Thanks, Laura. What a nice compliment!
Tina Schell
/ January 5, 2013Love the Strasser quote :0) and the photos!
Where God Takes Me
/ January 5, 2013Thanks for such a lovely post. I really enjoy your blog. And I’m still reeling at the fact that your grandmother designed and made the dresses for your parents’ royal wedding. 🙂 Vivian
SimplySage
/ January 5, 2013Thank you for such kind words. Someone like you makes it all worth it. I really like yours. My grandmother was an incredible talent. Those were Great Depression days And she said they had no choice but to make all their clothes, even the patterns. My sister still has her seeing machine. She was a natural. She and my mom were so thrifty but they made us all look rich!
Thank you again for such kind words. Blessings.
lillianccc
/ January 6, 2013Thank YOU for sharing all these beautiful photos and thoughts! I’m a very visual person by nature and though I enjoy reading words, I like taking breaks now and again to just look at photos and enjoy the feelings they give me. Here’s to another great year of photography and blogging. 🙂
SimplySage
/ January 8, 2013Thank you so very much for the comments. As you can see I’m very visual as well. There are some photographs that say what words cannot. That’s what I look for. And these pictures do that for me. I hope they do that for my readers as well.
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Peace to you, my friend,
Alexandria
Anonymous
/ January 9, 2013You are AMAZING!! SUCH beautiful photography and INSPIRING writings!! Thank you for all the sharing!! As I looked back at these pictures, I remember all the posts that accompaned them!! Thank you for all the thoughts and all the inspiration!! I hope you continue your amazing work in 2013!!!
SimplySage
/ January 10, 2013Thank you for your enthusiastic comments. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog. Have a blessed year and thanks for reading.
Alexandria
The Retiring Sort
/ January 12, 2013Such a lovely post – Here’s to a wonderful 2013, Alexandria! 😉
SimplySage
/ January 13, 2013Thank you so much. You as well!
Zhang Wenjie
/ January 12, 2013For some reason, your posts don’t show up in my wordpress reader – I see I have loads of catching up to do. Amazing pictures!!
SimplySage
/ January 13, 2013Not sure what’s happening with the reader but I’m glad we could reconnect. Thanks for all your visits and compliments. I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. I sure enjoy yours!
frizztext
/ January 13, 2013good advice: “Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”
Inge
/ January 15, 2013Love this your article and very good photo collections. 🙂
Thanks for sharing the quotes…so inspiring and powerful. 🙂
SimplySage
/ January 16, 2013Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed. I think your photography speaks for the quotes as well. Your photography is outstanding.
Island Traveler
/ January 21, 2013A year of joy, blessings and beautiful images. 2012 may had it’s bad moments but the good ones shines brightly like these images to help us see the many great things it offered to us and the people we care about. Inspiring post!
SimplySage
/ January 23, 2013Photos remind us there are good things. We easily forget the blessings and focus on the painful events. I’m glad we have the pictures to look back and remember, aren’t you?
Have a great year!
Carole
/ March 3, 2013Beautiful pictures. So precious!
SimplySage
/ March 3, 2013Thank you. Nice of you to drop in!