2020 The Year Through My Lens
When 2020 began, I could not possibly conceive of the world we are now living in today. Neither could I have imagined that my camera would be a tool used to share the changing tides of a nation. From a global pandemic to an awakening of social injustice, I found a need to capture images that would visually tell our story of the historic time we are living through. I wanted future generations to have tangible visual evidence of the road that we are now traveling down.
In my current vantage point, 2020 has been a year of great loss for many and exuberate gains for others on some level. The year stretched my photography career in ways I am still trying to grasp and discover. Never in my life have I been pushed so much to leave my comfort zones. Photographing in enormous crowds of people during a pandemic, well I must say it’s the furthest place I would want to be. But this year taught me that there are events, concerns, and subjects much larger than myself. I am usually advocating for wildlife and global conservation. However, this year I began to look inward at myself and the country I live in. I could no longer be a passive participant in change; I quickly realize that I must be aggressively engaged. We are the change we seek. Change begins with each one of us.
As I took time this week to reflect upon one of the most tumultuous years of my life, I also found a new peace and optimism for the future. As horrible as it is, this pandemic has ushered in change. Citizens galvanized to participate in their civic duty to vote, removing a president from office. There was magnification upon inequality and injustice in all areas of our society. It is said, “Behind every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.” I do believe we are at a crossroads for our nation and as global citizens. We can live divided, without a thought for one another and the environment. Or, we can band together to solve the ills upon our planet and society. I choose the latter. We are stronger together than when we are apart. If anything, the year 2020 has proven this theory.
I leave you with a question, what will you do in 2021 to bring us together and to build a world better than how we came into it?
Make it a happy new year!