There’s something about New Year’s Eve that naturally slows me down. Before the noise, the countdown, and the fresh page of a new calendar, it feels like a moment meant for reflection—looking back with gratitude and forward with quiet hope.

As this year draws to a close, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. Thank you to everyone who joined me on workshops, attended presentations, supported my work online, or took a moment to like, share, comment, or send a note. Photography may start as a solitary act, but it becomes far richer when shared, and I’m deeply grateful for the community that surrounds this work.

I chose this image of a Western Meadowlark in flight from my recent Better than Bosque Workshop for New Year’s Eve for a reason. Suspended in warm Southwestern light, it feels like a pause between chapters—neither here nor there, simply moving forward. In ancient and Indigenous cultures, the meadowlark was seen as a symbol of hope, renewal, and good fortune, its song believed to welcome light after darkness and signal better days ahead. That feels especially fitting tonight.

For me, this bird also represents what keeps me coming back to nature with a camera. These moments can’t be rushed or controlled. They ask for patience, presence, and trust—qualities worth carrying with us into the year ahead. As the meadowlark lifts on open wings, it feels like a gentle reminder to release what no longer serves us and step forward with curiosity and optimism.

As we say goodbye to this year, I hope you find a moment of calm, a reason to feel grateful, and something to look forward to. Thank you for being part of this journey and for sharing in the quiet magic that nature offers when we take the time to notice.

Here’s to closing this year with gratitude and welcoming the next with good health, golden light, open hearts, peace, and love.

Chris