LIFE’S CHANGES is an interesting challenge and has been set for us by Anne from Slow Shutter Speed. On her post she has talked about photography and what it has done for her, but here I want to concentrate on one year and how photography saved me. I wasn’t new to photography, but the year I’m talking about was important for other reasons.
I think I have picked only photos from 2012, though a couple might be from 2011, but overall it is roughly the same time. I am fairly certain I have spoken about this before, but for a brush up let’s go. In 2011 we found out someone was sick who was family to us, and we were so worried that this person might die. Then we found out at the beginning of the following year that it was a lot worse than we thought and police had to be involved. The year of 2012 is a bit of a blur for me. It was a struggle to get through it. It was a year of upheavals and not knowing what was going to happen. A year I would never like to relive.
One thing that really helped me was getting out and taking photos. I could just forget for a short time and look at life through the lens of my camera. I will always be so grateful that I loved photography.
When I was at home I also spent a lot of time learning how to use Photoshop so I could get the best out of my photos. I do have to admit that when I look back at many of them I do cringe, but I think that it is a process we all go through until we get more confident. I know there are aspects of my images that I still do and there are things I definitely don’t do anymore. Other things I would like to do again and keep forgetting.
Life really changed for us in 2012 and didn’t really get back to normal until about 2019. Everyone is fine now and the person who caused all the chaos went to gaol and then was deported, so everyone was very happy. I’m not sure how I would have made it through if it hadn’t been for photography.
Thank you to photography for helping me stay grounded. Here are some of the photos from that time.
Thank you Anne for being our host, it was nice to read yours as well and I hope mine fits the brief you set.
Please use the link at the start of this post to go and see what Anne has to say and her photos.
If you would like to participate in this great challenge then go to the following link to find out how to join the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. Don’t forget to put a link in your post back to the host.
I remember seeing you posts in the beginning of my blogging journey. Your images always inspire me.
Oh yes, I’ve been blogging for a long time. Thank you, that is always nice to hear.
It’s good to have something creative to distract our minds when going through difficult times. I am sorry to hear that you had to go through that phase, but glad that you found some peaceful moments with photography.
It really is, it is such a good outlet. It was hard, but hey we got through it, life is always full of times like that sadly. Thank you PR.
It was either 2012 or 2013 when I met you. I had just started blogging. You taught me a little about editing photos using camera raw. You taught me about the rule of thirds, which seems like basic duh now, but I had never heard of it. You taught me not to put people’s faces in the shadows. Most of the information you shared was way over my head at the time, but I have grown in my ability and knowledge of processing, so what you say now makes a lot more sense! LOL I am grateful for the times that we had together in the 20teens. You opened my eyes to another world. Sadly, I didn’t even know that you were going through such a hard time. I’m glad things are better now. I still think about our trip every time I see the Australian stuffed animals you got me. That was such a generous gift, and they are precious to me.
That sounds about right Marsha, I remember our talks over the internet. That’s good to hear that the things I told you have become clearer over time, sorry if I confused you. Hahah, all those stuffed animals, I still can’t believe you were able to get them all back. I hope they will have a home in your new home. Thank you Marsha.
I had to throw one of my suitcases away to do it! Fortunately, it was old, and I bought that backpack that held a lot of stuff, including stuffed animals.
xxx
Hahaha, well it all worked out and you got them home, so that is good. You should send me a photo some time so I can see them. I think I’m going to that zoo again this Thursday.
Once we get moved, I will. They are packed right now.
We leave Thursday or Friday.
Good luck with the move Marsha.
Thanks, Leanne!
I’m sorry you had to go through such a rough period, but it’s great to hear how photography helped you. Many of the photos you share from that year already have your distinctive style, although not all of them, so they illustrate well your progress in editing in particular since that time.
Thank you Sarah, it was tough, but ultimately a happy ending. I think my style really started then, though I’m curious to see if I did them again what would I do now.
I’m so glad photography helped you through this difficult time in your life Leanne and it’s good to know it will always be there for you
Thank you, I agree, it is great and going forward will always be for as long as I can hold a camera.
This sounds completely awful and especially as it took seven years to resolve. Good that you had photography to provide solace and serenity, even if only for short periods.
It didn’t really take that long to resolve, but more like it took that look before we thought, you we are back to normal. If that makes sense. It was great to have photography, it really helped me. Gave me something else to concentrate on.Thank you Lynette.
I’m so glad you got through what sounds like an extremely distressing time! Having creative outlets has always helped me, too.
Re: photography, it’s something I really want to get into more. I do have a few DSLRs locked away in storage, and I can’t wait to be able to use them again! In the meantime I’m stuck with the limitations of a low quality phone camera
. Surprising how that limitation forces creativity, though. And I’m deriving a lot of inspiration from sites such as yours, so thankyou for sharing with us! Even just looking at a photo i love and observing what exactly it is that draws me to it teaches me something. So thankyou!
Thank you, you are right creative outlets are so good for those times.
I hope you get those cameras out again. Phone photography is a challenge in itself, you can learn a lot from it. I’m happy to hear you get some inspiration from my blog. I like hearing that.
I’m glad you had photography to help you
Me too Nora, thank you.
A beautiful story of finding strength in difficult times. The photos, as always, are great.
Thank you so much Egidio.
Stunning photos! Photography is definitely my go to for getting through the tough times. Thank you for sharing your photography. It is wonderful to see so much beauty!
It is a great go to, isn’t it. YOu’re welcome and thank you for stopping by and commenting.
What a wonderful series of images. So diverse and yet so powerful due to the various editing techniques you’ve learned.
You obviously have a gift in Photography and sharing the Australian Landscape (in general), be it a cityscape or the Australian countryside. How I wish I still had a car and could drive.
Thank you so much Vicki. I like to think that I do, but you never really know, I think passion helps a lot. I wish you still had a car too Vicki.
You’ve been through horribly difficult times. I’m glad photography has been able to keep you sane, as well as enabling you to develop a range of new skills.
We did, but it was a long time ago now, and it is important to remember that go through it. Photography was a great distraction, it so good. Thank you Margaret.
So much feeling in your words and photos. thank you
Thank you Rebecca, good to hear.
A nice collection today. Thank God he has given us our art to calm us in the hard times.
Thank you so much Jean.
Wonderful post, Leanne. It’s so important to have something to hold on to when everything else keeps shifting around us, and I think will see photography as that life saving/changer for many of us.
I agree Sofia, it helps to keep you sane. I think the same. Thank you.
Leeanne, good on you for finding an outlet during a difficult time and for pursuing it until it became a passion and you became one of the most accomplished photographers I know. Turning a terrible negative into an outstanding positive – well done!
I think it was already a passion, but I had been trying to do something else with it, but during that time I started doing more landscapes and such. It was fantastic at that time, a great distraction. Thank you so much Tina.
That’s a story I’m sure nobody would want to experience, Leanne. I’m glad it’s all behind you now.
You are right, no one wants to experience it, but sadly too many do. It is very behind us now, thank you John.
This is wonderful, Leanne. The photos are gorgeous (I’m especially drawn to the brick columns and arches). And your message about photography as therapy is one that probably resonates with a lot of us. Definitely myself. Cheers!
I am sure it does, having something to distract you when your world feels like it is falling apart is a good thing. Thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing, Leanne. So glad you came through what must have been traumatic. I can see how photography helped save you. These are all very nice pictures. I especially like the one of the field with the fence in front.
Thank you Joanne, we came through it stronger I think. Painful times always come to an end you just have to be prepared to put up with stuff and work through it. It was interesting to look back at that time, they are different.
I loved your images from 2012. They are different from your current style, yet the same. It’s amazing how a single passion can bring us out of life’s chaos and re-center us.
They are different, I have changed a lot since then. That is very true, it can really do that. A distraction for a little while. Thank you Anne.
this is horrible that this happened and glad there was a resolution. loved your story of how photography saved you and I think the arts can really do that for us in challenging times
It was horrible, but all good now and only scars remain. Thank you Beth, it was a great distraction. I think the arts certainly do.