The last day of 2022 is approaching. With all that was going on, it was a tough year for the world. And it’s certainly been a busy and special year for us as a family. But like every year, New Year’s Eve is a time to look back and reflect on my photographic journey in 2022. Am I growing as a photographer? Not too. It feels like “more of the same”. For various reasons, photography (as well as this blog) took a back seat in the last 12 months. My own perception is that I don’t even make half as many pictures as usual. But when I look at my 2022 Lightroom archives, I find that I took as many photos this year as I did in 2021. What is noteworthy is the shift in tools used, from mirrorless cameras to my iPhone. I just don’t have as much time to explore with my camera as I did in previous years. But I seem to make up for it with the many photos I take with my iPhone 12 Pro Max which is always with me and its very good camera. Contributing to this change was also the fact that during our only real vacation this year, our trip to Israel, my new Leica SL2-S broke on the second day, so I had to record the entire trip on my iPhone.
So, photographically, what a tough year. But going through this year’s archives, I still found 15 photos that sparked memories of the places, moments, and emotions that made 2022 my year. And that’s what makes me so happy. Spoiler: My photos this year are not among them. For my „POTY“ and the story behind it, check back on January 2nd ;-). My second favorite image of 2022 is the one above the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. For me, this is as close as I can get to copying shots of Steve McCurry, one of my photography heroes. For the rest of the gallery, continue after the jump….
These two monochrome images were among the first shots I took with the Leica SL2-S, which I acquired earlier in the year. I immediately fell in love with this camera. This love lasted until I was crushed by an electronic shutter failure on the 2nd day of our trip to Israel. But shooting on a Nuremberg night street (with Covid restrictions still in place), I was blown away by its capabilities in low light and monochrome rendering.
Another photo this year is a shot of Big Girl’s iPhone in her window. He is the first family to contract Covid and must be quarantined. For me it was hard emotionally, not being able to hold him and having to talk to him off the cold, wet street. Thankfully, he made a full recovery, and by the end of the year we had all finally come down with our own cases of Covid. But as Big Girl, we all got through it just fine.
In spring, Covid restrictions finally eased. Finally, we were able to continue our frequent short trips to Italy, seeing French Impressionist Claude Monet’s unforgettable exhibition in Genoa, with everyone still wearing masks. A few weeks later, Nuremberg hosted its first post-covid fun exhibition, a great opportunity to enjoy the low-light capabilities of the new Leica.
In June, The Significant Other and I were finally on vacation again, with a memorable two-week trip to Israel. And with everything we saw and experienced it was a great trip. Despite my Leica debacle (no, I won’t mention it again – promised).
Israel is full of iconic places, with so many different aspects and perspectives to experience. From looking back on the horrors of the holocaust at Yad Vashem to visiting the holy tomb sites in Jerusalem.
Israel is great for shooting some street photography. I’m used to using my iPhone instead of my bulky camera, allowing me to blend in and get those unobtrusive images.
On the Tel-Aviv/Jaffa coast I took my own personal version of the immaculate reception (the impossible pass that Terry Bradshaw’s Steelers Runningback caught Terry Bradshaw on Dec. 23, 1972). Only this time a dog caught a frisbee below on the beach, and I managed to capture the shot with my iPhone!
One of my favorites in 2022 too is this simple shot of Nuremberg’s main square, showing the newly installed trees and patch of vegetation the city put up the day before to fight the summer heat. It’s also highly liked on my social media, and even featured on the city’s official instagram account.
Also in 2022 I did some commissioned portrait sessions, like this one from Big Girl and her best friend. This was my favorite session on a beautiful summer evening in Dillberg southeast of Nuremberg. The girls must have had a great time, and so did the photographer….
Summer and Autumn bring us lots of trips to Italy (you’ll find out why on January 2). We enjoyed a few nights in Viggiona over Lago Maggiore if we were to enjoy a two night local festival – summer, if I had my Leica and my “China Noctilux”, the TTArtisans 50mm f/0.95 to good use.
The last image of my 2022 gallery is from a Halloween tour of Genoa’s medieval old town. Also here, it was the Leica SL2-S and the TTArtisans 50mm that allowed me to shoot street photography in the dark.
Here it is, my photography journey 2022. Wishing you a peaceful last day of 2022, a pleasant New Year’s Eve and a wonderful start to a happy and healthy 2023. May the new year be memorable for all of us! And may it bring more peace to the world!
See you “on the other side” in 2023
Marcus
Related post:
My photography journey in 2019 (5)
My photography journey throughout 2017
Happy Birthday, Nuremberg Street
My 2016 photo
baresi