In 2016 I set out to try something new with my Instagram account. I wanted to take a new photograph everyday and post it...a Photo of the Day type thing. A guy I work with is a photographer on the side and he has been doing it for who knows how long and I took the idea from him, as I enjoy taking pictures. Most of my pictures are from my runs or are of my family, but ultimately, I enjoy taking pictures. Pictures are tangible memories. They can bring back a very vivid and detailed story. I don't think there's anything else like them. That's part of the reason I love taking pictures. I enjoy going back and reminiscing of the past. Honestly, I've been looking forward to this post since I started doing it last year around this time. It forces me to go through every picture I took over the last year and pick my favorite photos. With setting out forcing myself to take a minimum of one picture everyday, I was left with exponentially more photographs than last year, so I had a ton of great pictures to choose from this year. This explains the lengthy "Honorable Mention" section. Oh, and I should mention, I couldn't rule out the final one, so this year, I am giving you my top 11 photographs - I hope you forgive me. So, without further ado...
The rules are the same, the criteria of what makes my top list of photos varies. Not every photograph is "beautiful" or "artistic." Some of the photos are, or so I think. But all photographs hold a special feeling or story with them which is probably the main criterion. Also, all pictures were taken on my iPhone, with no lens or other fancy things. And finally, you can click on each individual picture to see the full size version.
11.
With the goal of taking a photo every day, I began taking a lot of selfies of me running. Say what you will about that whole statement, but some of my pictures turned out pretty neat. I think in the end the scenery is part of the reason why I love running so much. So capturing the combination of the world around me and a still frame of a dynamic movement is pretty neat. This picture reminds me of some running shoe advertisement...but that's probably just me...
10.
This year Delaney really started taking to sports, which meant a lot to me, as a very driven and motivated parent. She isn't the biggest kid out there, nor is she the most talented, but this year I think she finally started to simply enjoy sport for what it is, and I think this photo captures some of that.
9.
I'm not really sure what it is about this photo, but I love it. I love the look of Delaney and the ocean and beach in the background. This is from our full family trip to Anna Maria Island in Florida this past May, which is definitely one of, if not the, best vacations I have been on.
8.
Our family has a tradition of allowing our kids to make a stuffed animal at Build-A-Bear Workshop when they finally give up their nu-nu (pacifier). I love how a child looks at the simple things in life and finds joy and wonderment in it. I think as adults we don't do this enough, or ever.
7.
My kids love the pool...and I mean LOVE. This picture was captured at just the right moment and I love how Harper is still laughing.
6.
Did I mention that our kids love the water. Here is another one that was taken at just the right moment. If only that dude in the pool was another 3-4 feet to the left. This picture just screams "summer fun" to me.
5.
This holiday season, our kids got reindeer to go along with their Elf on the Shelf. They couldn't have loved those reindeer any more than they did. It was a joy watching them embrace the holiday spirit and just soak up the magic of the season. Being able to capture this picture was just shear luck, as Harper was sitting perfectly with her reindeer AND watching Rudolf.
4.
This past year I tackled, most likely, my most difficult achievement of my life, completing a 50 mile race. I never imagined becoming or being a runner, but I have followed in my father's footsteps (pun intended). This picture is so much more than my dad and I running. In a way its a metaphor on my life. My father has always been there for me, no matter what. This picture was taken around mile 40ish and, without a doubt, the most difficult point in the race mentally...and look whose at my side, my father.
3.
This past September, my dad, brother, and I planned a three day trip up to Eagle River, WI to do nothing other than fish. It was the first trip we have ever taken together, but, I have a feeling it will become an annual trip for us. It literally rained 95% of our trip, which wasn't as bad as it sounds, but this was just at sunset of our first day up there.
2.
In September, Harper gave us one hell of a scare when she came down with appendicitis and needed emergency surgery. I have never been more scared in my life as a parent. I ended up being a full week at our local children's hospital and this was her first smile, which literally brought tears to my eyes.
1.
In July, just Sarah, the girls, and I took a family camping trip to Eagle River, WI (which sparked the whole fishing trip idea). One of the evenings, we brought the girls out fishing and saw 5 different eagles all right around us. All we were catching were small, like very small, pan fish. Unfortunately for them, they were all swallowing the entire hook and only a couple of the dozens we caught survived. Fortunately for us, the ones that didn't make it, became dinner for the eagles in that bay, which allowed me the capture this picture.
Honorable Mentions
