I am changing out my photo on my website. Mostly because I want a new picture with each changing season. And always somewhere out in nature.

My dear friend Kara has a great camera and is quite the gifted photographer! I tell her she can make me look like a movie star every time. We had so much fun trying different photo shots, walking around her beautiful back yard landscaped with trees, bushes, and flowers. I enjoyed reaching out and touching different leaves and blossoms and talking to the plants. Such a gift to me! Kara had fun too, enjoying her camera, setting it up in different spots because the sunlight we were dealing with caused too many shadows. We took a lot of pictures, probably too many, but hey! Who’s counting?

Then I got to thinking about photographs. Things have changed a lot since I was growing up. Back then a person had to buy a roll of film designated for the type of camera he or she had, then after taking pictures the film was taken to a local store for the film to be processed. Now we all simply use our phones! But I wonder, how many of those pictures actually end up in our homes to be framed and set on a table or hung on a wall? I believe technology can provide some wonderful and amazing things in our lives. Yet are we losing something precious by not displaying our photos? When I worked as a hospice nurse I would often see old photos hung on the wall, especially down the hallway, and families loved to share these with me. I called it their “Hall of Fame”. And always, always, the wedding photos of couples married back in the 40’s and 50’s, well, they looked like movie stars, with their elaborate wedding attire and a huge bouquet of flowers for the bride. Lots of these photos were in black and white and their faces appeared so expressive compared to color photos. Black and white seemed to pick up more detail, and for many things in life details are important.

I am encouraging you, Dear Reader, to go out with a family member or good friend and have your own photo shoot. It is so fun and you can definitely set it up with your own style. Wear that signature hat you always wear, or that special bracelet around your wrist. Dress up or dress down. Sit with the flowers and trees like I did, or maybe sit in that chair that is known as your chair. Have a cup of tea or a favorite book next to you. Allow this photo to share with the world something significant about yourself. And most of all just be YOU! The person who is the photographer should know you well and will be watching for that shining presence that only you contain. Smile, so big it reaches your eyes, and perhaps shows a little bit of your soul!

My new photo for this website will appear shortly on my About Joan page. Of course there is a tree in it. A River Birch Tall Being whose bark matches my hair. How’s that for detail? Something dear Kara picked up on. :O)

If you do go out for your own photo shoot I would love to hear about it. Post it in my comments. And by the way, plan to give some close friends and family a copy of your picture. I know they would love to have one sitting on the table rather than just saved on your phone. I have several framed photos of people I love on my shelves in my living room. I try to keep them updated, too. They bring me a lot of joy. I plan to give a few people I love a photo of me. A reminder to them that I love them!

c   Love, Joan