For those of you who might be new to this web site, or others who may not have realized, this site has gravitated to a new location where blog posts and other content has originated since the middle of 2019. Some of the content has been duplicated here from time to time, but will only appear in the new site going forward. So please sign up to get notifications of when new content is published by clicking on the “plus” triangle at the bottom of the home page in the new site. Thank you… j.j. raia
There is a general feeling throughout the country, and I’m sure throughout the world, of some measure of relief and joy that 2020 is finally behind us, and looking forward with hope and anticipation to improving circumstances as we progress through this year. It’s a time for us to reflect on these past 12 months, identify and give thanks for our blessings, and do all we can to make this year healthy for not just ourselves, but for everyone.
I hope that this final video of photos taken this year will encourage folks to take notice of the under appreciated people and little things in our daily lives, and realize they are more deserving of our thoughts and attention. I also hope that, after watching through to the end, and listening to the music, your spirit might be lightened a bit from the darkness we have endured for what seems like such a long time, that you will feel as uplifted and joyful as I did when making these photographs, and that it might serve as a few moments of escape from time to time when needed. Even the simple exercise of putting it together has helped me feel encouraged about the prospects the future holds for us. I pray it will bring that same feeling to you…
j.j. raia —
Click the photo to go to the video
The image above was not what I had in mind when I tripped the shutter. What was there was something completely different from the final vision I wanted it to become; the frame is simply how it appeared to the camera.
On the day in December I went out, it was supposed to be a foggy morning, and there was fog around after some pretty heavy rains the previous day and through the night. But the fog never really reached ground level, remaining just above the treetops when viewed from a long distance. So I drove around, searching for a location where there was thick fog at ground level, but just never came across any. So that idea was a bust.
j.j. raia | photo 