hey. yes, i've been gone for awhile, but i'm back. i've mostly been working on a new book, which will be a separate post, probably in a few minutes. this image, "my own backyard" was taken a few weeks ago while i was visiting my parents in Pittsfield, MA. yes, it was cold. thankfully! the snow stayed on the trees and kept its fresh-looking texture. so what's the deal with this image? well, it's one of those classic examples of finding inspiration for making images in your own backyard, in this case, literally! i've looked at this old wine barrel for more years than i can remember, in all seasons, it turns out, except winter... year after year, it was simply a planter full of "hens and chickens", and i never once thought of taking a picture of it. but when i saw it this time, it was transformed by the snow and the light into, for me, a poignant reminder that even in the depths of winter, the hope for spring remains...soon there will be blooms and grass and grandkids playing everywhere. i actually took maybe 20 shots of it over the course of 4 days, all times of the day. what do you think?