David

1/365 stumps

New year, over a year since she died. I still feel the love. It is peace and happiness. She gave me these two gifts. One lucky man to be loved by a remarkable woman. My resolution is to honor our love. Always.

#griefjourney #griefislove #ihatecancer #grief

The evening sun dropped and the air became still. Light and wind conspired to show me the landscape’s beauty. What a way to end my last night.

The PCT never disappoints.

#pacficcresttrail #pct #pctsectionhike #desolationwilderness #hiker #pcthiker #walkingwithgrief

The Mourners. Trees standing over a fallen tree.

The end of the year is close.

No resolutions coming

No bucket list

No metrics to track

Just going to live every day like it is a gift

I owe that to her, this is my life debt.

#griefjourney #griefandjoy #loss #lovemywife #griefandjoy #newyear #grief #widower #photography #film #love

A workout
A run
A dog walk
My heart full of my Sweetheart
A rainbow
Some sprinkles.

A perfect day

Everything else is thick frosting on cake.

I am here, now; but I am looking forward to the new year.

#griefjourney #griefislove #griefandloss #rainbow #iknowlove

Heading South bound on the Pacific Crest Trail. Walking with grief and loss to better understand. First day. Starting from Donner Pass. The PCT is a great trail.

#paciccresttrail #pct #sobohiker #sectionhiker #pctsectionhike #tahoenationalforest #hiking #hiker #griefjourney #griefandloss #love

Boat half sunk on the rocks. No horizon or shore visible.

Love lost.
Lighthouse dark.
Love’s beacon out.
Blinded.
Boat rocks wreck.
Cannot spy land nor sea.
Only grief’s waves.
Crashing over the deck.
Rocks hold fast.
Breaching stern, hull, and bow.
Grief flows in.
Every compartment filled.
Abandon boat.
No horizon or shore.
Must swim.

#griefjourney

“ The meaning of life is to find your gift.
Purpose of life is to give it away”
~Pablo Picasso

Photography helps me work through grief, loss, and love.

Hopefully sharing helps you too. Pacific Crest Trail tree.
#photography #pacificcresttrail #gift #grief #griefjourney

I had the privilege of innocence about grief for so long. I had no clue about grief’s effects on a person who has been fortunate to love and be loved. Words cannot describe the trauma of loss.

Luckily for me I have photography and my darkroom.

#grief #griefjourney #loveandloss #darkroom #film

Images are closer than they appear. #loss is a giant that casually picks you up and tosses you into the #grief pile. Our loved ones can seem so far away from us after their death. But they are always in our hearts, which there is no closer space they could inhabit.

#griefjourney #cancersucks

Morning moonset. Unfortunately, clouds on the horizon. Fortunately, I got to this view of the CA coast. Slight breeze, perfect morning. Enjoying the beauty, embracing the grief of loosing Reneé. The grief reminds us that we loved and are loved by those we mourn.
#griefjourney #loss #grief #widower

What is left of #Autumn. A Few leaves on this persimmon tree noticed on my #walk.

I find that exercise is a great way to combat #trauma, #grief, and #stress. My wife passed last year and #exercise has been a comfort for me. If you are a #widower hang in there, walk and exercise if you can. #healing

It’s difficult to enjoy Thanksgiving without the love of my life. But, I will continue to try. So I decided to make turkey stock out of the bones. That is something we never made with the leftover bones.

I hope all who have lost their person find peace and joy.

#griefjourney #loss #Ihatecancer

Almost have the final print of Fly Free completed.

Went through some paper on this print. (The photo paper sellers will be happy with me.)

The new negative holder and masking method that I learned at the Alan Ross Yosemite Workshop is a game changer. But, I have a lot to learn. Practice practice

Sunset watcher. A coyote watches me make images of Piedras Blancas Light Station. Nice to have a supervisor nearby.

The evening was incredible. Weather was perfect for moonset images.

#moonset #coyote #piedrasblancaslightstation

Lotsa reasons, too many to list.

San Simeon Pier shown in the review mirror .

San Simeon Pier in the review mirror.

#sansimeon #hurststatebeach #sansimeonpier #imagemaking

In the darkroom for the first time in over a year. It’s time. Made a fresh batch of Dektol developer. All systems are go. Time to fly.

First print will be for my love.

Fly free

#largeformatphotography #darkroom #darkroomprinting #silvergelatinprint #analogphotography #foma100 #4x5photography

My beautiful bird is free from the tangle.
Fly on, you are soaring high
You soared into my heart
You will be there forever.
It’s been a year since you took flight
And I miss you everyday
Fly free, fly high
You are in my heart, forever.

Yosemite Valley, Happy Isles, 2025.
#griefandloss

Went out to the southern Big Sur. Set up for an image in Redwood Gulch. Inspired by my love for Reneé. Joy and love are such powerful emotions. More powerful than I ever knew, I feel them now as the inverse of grief.

#grief #healing #photography #joyandlove #widower

Ferns in the Merced River, Happy Isles, Yosemite.

Loving 4x5 format photography and shooting the intimate scene.

#largeformatphotography
#4x5filmphotography
#monochrome #film #photography #yosemite

Poetry and photography mix well.

I hear you. I think the depth of our grief is proportional to the height of our love. Peace to you.

Pearly Everlastings? Nice image. These flowers have a fragrant smell.

Picture of ruby throated hummingbird sitting on a feeder

It’s been almost a year since my wife died. I finally put out the hummingbird feeders again after so much trauma and grieving over the last year. It felt right and great. Also, the hummers came back!