As a loyal reader of THEME it wasn’t hard to miss that my priorities since some time were less focused on maintaining the site than, well, doing other stuff. Been traveling a lot, exploring new ventures. I’ve been thinking a lot about what has been and what’s there to come. Instead of publishing daily about photography I came back to privately enjoy photography again, finding most pleasure in the human being and human nature. Landscapes and buildings yes, but it’s visually attractive children, men and women and the occasional odd human that keep me going. And, honestly, when publishing the site on a regular day-to-day basis there’s little time left to do what I enjoy so much doing these days and weeks. Which also means more time for the family and not becoming a slave of the Net.
It’s all a matter of cycles. THEME will be back with verve and enthusiasm. Maybe slightly different, maybe with a new focus, who knows. Tons of ideas. Just stay tuned. But take the evolvement of this site as a metaphor for one’s own cycles. The only constant is change. Change is never futile, be it for better or worse. We can’t however perform constantly. We can’t embrace the new and exciting continuously without honoring and remembering what we have and what made us become who we are. Or as Carl Sagan said, “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”
The same goes for photography. If you wish to make great pictures, you must first understand where you’re coming from and who you are. And in the universe of photography there is not one right answer or one right process or one right technique. Photography is a universal language, understood in many ways, with no rights or wrongs. And that’s what my 2014 in Retrospect is humbly about.
Me publishing this site is not about unique visitors or fame and fortune. There’s no fame and fortune in it. It’s about the passion and silent satisfaction to reach out to some likewise minds and/or encourage debate. THEME is a modest online appeal to encourage you to do what you have to do. Follow your heart. Isn’t it photography that makes the world go round. Quit the rat race for a while. It’s only a bad day, not a bad life. Doesn’t mean you live longer when you rush and hurry all the time. And, if you have a knack for photography, it’s only a matter of time to find and develop your very own language that hits that universal sweet nerve understood and enjoyed by who matters to you.
A joyous festive season and stellar 2015 to everyone.
Daniel