With all of the craziness happening in the world around us, we can all use some moments of solitude to reflect and re-focus.
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One of wonderful things about enjoying photography is that when things get to feel overwhelming, we can take our cameras out and experience the world around us with a calm, creative perspective.
Each of has our own photographic genre that sparks our creativity, yet provides some reflective solitude.
While I do not profess to be a landscape photographer, I do enjoy the feelings of calm that can come from enjoying the natural beauty captured in a landscape image.
Without doubt 2025 has been a tumultuous year. In some ways it feels like a complicated jumble of events.
And even though the future may feel obscured and uncertain… we can all hold on to dreams of a better tomorrow.
We are all still here in the stream of life. There may be obstructions, but life finds a way past them.
There may be immediate threats and darkness… but if we look out to the future there may be hope on the horizon.
The sun still sets and rises anew each day… bringing potential with it.
The road ahead may be rough… but it still invites us to continue our individual journeys of self-discovery.
Amongst the chaos we can still experience moments of serenity when the natural order reappears and gives us hope.
Oceans still move to their ancient rhythms.
We can stand grounded in our values… and face each new dawn with determination.
When we slow down and escape the intense pressures we may feel each day… we can rediscover moments of stillness.
Each of us needs help from time to time to get past things that may seem impassible. We are always stronger together.
We can take solace that others have journeyed before us… and have found their way through harsh times.
Looking back never moves us forward. What’s done is done. Tomorrow is just a promissory note.
Now is all we have. Let’s make the most of each of these present moments. Our futures… and the futures of those we love… depend on it.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,499 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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Lovely peaceful photography Tom, I get the same feeling when I go out on a local pond expedition. As you know I suffer from small fibre neuropathy and it’s hell today and pouring with rain in the UK .
I find peaceful stillness in nature is so good for my self and being in that moment is comforting. Sadly it’s very much a debilitating chronic condition. I found the Coton company through your review and I have to say thanks and thanks again!
I was almost at the point of giving it all up, this Coton bag I have is awesome I can carry my fold up walking stick – this means a seat and the camera and 100-400 are used on a monpod when I feel tired.
Hi Mark,
I’m glad that you enjoyed the images and have been finding some time with your camera. It is good to read that the Cotton Carrier has been extending the time you can spend with your camera.
Tom
Thank you for the gift of stillness and attention through your photos and words. I appreciate your steady presence and encouragement for those of us traveling together.
Hi Tom,
There is much that all of us can share as we journey through the human experience. Thank you for your supportive comment.
Tom
Great post. Best wishes for 2026 from a regular (but silent) reader.
Regarding technical merits, it’s really interesting that most pictures were from a one inch “dead” system with a super zoom. It really mirrors my experience that when I think back on travels and review past photos the modest equipment of the time was enough..
Nice nudge to keep real needs in perspective rather than simple desires
Hi Bruno,
I’m glad you enjoyed the article… thanks for your comment.
This article was quite nostalgic for me so I dipped back in my photo archives for the images.
Tom