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A Year in Photographs 2023 — A Journey's End by Adrian Galli

A Year in Photographs

365 Days, 12 Themes, 1 Creative Journey

Museo Soumaya — Day 98

I started writing this entry with some grand idea that there was a lot to say, stories to tell, and great insight I learned. While I do have many stories, evolved creatively, pushed myself hard to achieve this tremendous goal, and want to share so much of my journey, I didn’t find that I could completely convey what #AYearinPhotographs has meant to me nor engage it all in just a few paragraphs.

Instead, I intend to keep this short because, perhaps, minimalism is a certain type of valor. A photograph every day for a year is an undertaking. One sets out, like every journey, with the first footstep and from there, the Universe leads one on. Simply put, it is a lot of work. Sometimes hours spent crafting one photo—it is easy, and it is hard. One is excited to do it and one will be tired.

Then it is all over and there is pride, sadness, love, and even bewilderment. And it is absolutely something that I recommend everyone should do—whether it be photography, writing, music, art, cooking, fitness, or whatever your passion may be. Do it. Journal it. Blog it. Share it.

It is a wave that washes over you and you’ll either ride it great distances or it will stay your feet, and you will be left behind. It is a commitment that if you hesitate for merely a day, you can never draw level. But when you reach the end of every day, every week, month, and the year, you have an accomplishment that only those who have traveled this path can truly appreciate.

Over 11,000 photos, 365 days, 12 themes, thousands of kilometers, two continents, four countries, and one singularly fantastic camera later, #AYearinPhotographs comes to close.

Here’s to the journey’s beginning, the path, the light, the shadow, and to the journey’s end.

Until next time.

A Year in Photographs 2023

 
Go out and shoot!
— Adrian’s Life Rule #56

 

Shot on FujiFilm X-T5

Annual iPhone Photowalk — iPhone 15 Pro by Adrian Galli

Those who know me have seen my iPhone photowalks every year since iPhone 5. While some might argue each iPhone is merely a “minor upgrade” from year to year, I beg to differ. Every year I find new and incredible changes to the camera in iPhone. Some years are bigger than others—one that comes to mind is iPhone 6.

iPhone 6 had such a great change in the quality of the camera, I still measure output of mobile device camera’s against it. Perhaps it was the lens, or the sensor, or a combination of both. Perhaps iOS and those hardware features serendipitously made for an outstanding union. Either way, iPhone 6, iPhone X, iPhone 12 Pro, were devices with cameras that stood out to me.

Grasshopper Portrait

No, Grasshopper Portrait is not from this year’s iPhone 15 Pro, or last year’s iPhone, or that of the year before. Grasshopper Portrait is from iPhone 6—approaching nine years ago on a “measly” 8 megapixel camera. No special processing, no AI generating-whatever, no machine learning super resolution—just a good camera (and a good photographer, I like to think).

 
A camera alone only captures light. Through skillful manipulation does that light become cinematography.
— Adrian’s Life Rule #69
 

There is no denying that technology has evolved since then. iPhone 15 Pro is no different in its evolution but with new lenses, new sensors, new processing, I’ve rarely been as impressed with what I’ve been able to achieve with a mobile device camera as with iPhone 15 Pro.

This isn’t a review or a sales pitch, but a sampling of photos I have created using my iPhone 15 Pro over the past few weeks. From Chicago to Italy, I’ll let the image stand on their own.

Italy: Lucca, Bologna, Firenze

Chicago, USA

March — A Year in Photographs — Macro by Adrian Galli

Hibiscus Stigma — Day 60

Macro photography is some of the most fun you’ll have with your camera and lens. Seeing the things of the world through the perspective of a macro lens reveals details and an adventure one can’t see with the human eye alone.

While many photographers like shooting with natural light, being able to control and create the conditions of excellent lighting nearly always enhance the photographic subject. In macro photography, it is virtually a law of nature that you’ll need lighting. Shooting at an ƒ16 or ƒ22 any creature that moves or a flower in the breeze will almost certainly give you a blurry or muddy photo.

March is a long month and lighting is an exercise I love to enjoy. Macro photography is also something one can do at home, in the wild, or in one’s own backyard. While I move onto April and into another favorite subject, architecture, I sadly leave behind a month of macro photography.

Shot on FujiFilm X-T5 with the Fujinon 80mm ƒ2.8 Macro lens.