Each year brings joy, heartbreak, triumphs, and challenges as we journey through life. With every experience, we are shaped and transformed by the world around us. When January arrives, we gaze ahead, wondering what the future holds while reflecting on the year just passed. Did we achieve what we set out to? Were there unexpected twists?

Reflecting on my travels, I’ve learned to adapt better to each new adventure. With each flight and each train ride, I discover more about how to make the most of my time and worry less about how to do so. Travelling for just a few days often brings common challenges, but it is possible to enjoy a destination in a limited time fully.

I have been fortunate enough to remember when digital cameras did not exist. And then, I remember using one for the first time for a college project. The school owned the camera; I needed to borrow it because when I was introduced to digital photography, cameras were not exactly affordable. They were niche. I still remember that early Sony Mavica digital camera that stored 1.3MP images on a floppy disk.

I am thrilled that my first official book, Here and There, is now in stock and shipping. I am so happy with how this book turned out. It was exciting the moment the package arrived, and I finally saw this in physical form. The beautiful, glossy cover, the crispness of a brand-new book, and looking at each photo and how fantastic everything looks with this book overall.

2024 is now behind us, and I’m counting down the weeks before Spring arrives. It’s time to look at what is ahead for travel destinations 2025. Recently, while browsing locations for potential trips, I found my home of Nova Scotia, which secured a spot on Travel + Leisure magazine’s “50 Best Places to Travel in 2025.” There were 120 contenders, and the list was determined by their remarkable access to the outdoors and unique cultural immersion.

I’m excited to say that I received my preview copy of Here and There, and I’m delighted with the presentation of these books. One final tweak was required, and the book is now in production. It will take a few weeks to arrive, but with a release window of February, I am now taking pre-orders for Here and There. Here it is in final form, and I can’t wait to get more of these in hand.

I’ve been behind a computer editing images for over 20 years now, and I’ve used many iterations of Photoshop and have adopted Lightroom since its introduction. It’s been interesting to witness the growth of these platforms and how they become more and more capable with each generation. What could be once a lengthy process can now be done by dragging a slider.

Digital photos dominate our screens, and the amount of inspiration available to anyone interested in photography is endless. With an abundance of content available, unfortunately, much of it is quickly forgotten. Any online content has a chance of being removed, and that’s especially true of a photographer’s online portfolio as they revise and pivot during their career.

It’s late December, the day after Christmas. My last post of 2024. Our first significant snowfall occurred this week, which was perfect timing for that picture-perfect holiday. It’s cold, too. It’s not extreme, but enough to be uncomfortable. I’m not a fan of the cold; I prefer a temperature bordering on too hot for many.

I’m happy to say that I am well into the process of creating a book that focuses on my travel photography. Right now, I’m tweaking a few final details in the design toward the final step, production. I have had this idea to create a book for over a year, but those initial stages raised some questions: most importantly, do I have a body of work that warrants creating a book?

When we travel to a new location, our camera is constantly used. It is in and out of our camera bag and can sometimes be used in hazardous conditions. Because of this, protecting it while capturing your precious memories is essential. Some cameras are excellent in weight and feel and have a good grip built into the body’s construction.

I’ve been thinking about a previous post discussing how taking a break is good for your photography. It’s still on my mind, even more so as we move into the winter months. I find it very challenging to feel motivated to take photos when it’s cold and dark. And this period lasts for months. We’ve all been there: where you were once excited about the prospect of photography, now seems more of a task and maybe even a hassle.