Moonrise over 2020
I was on my way home from visiting my mom earlier this week and decided to take a different way. I was looking for a scene to photograph that would include the rising almost full moon, the last full moon cycle of the year. Not content with what I was seeing, I took a side road, off a side road, ending up somewhere I had never been. As I rounded a curve in the very narrow road, this wonderfully worn, abandoned house appeared in front of me, with the moon rising behind it. As luck would have it, there was a perfect spot to pull over.
I photographed the house from several angles, but because I didn’t have a wide angle lens, I could not get the whole scene in one shot. Instead I took 7 images, one of each portion of the scene I wanted to include, so I could combine them to make one image. I left hoping I had something to work with to create the final image I imagined.
As I was making my way back home, I thought about this old house, and the people who had lived there. I don’t know the story, but I imagined when they left it, they took with them all their necessities and cherished belongings. They gathered up memories, wrapped them carefully in hopes and dreams for the future, leaving behind what would not be needed in their new home. I imagined there were tears, grieving what was and what would never be for them in that old house. I imagined there was laughter and joy in remembering the good times and all that made this house their home.
Like the family I imagined leaving this house, I will leave 2020 behind, bringing with me everything I will need, and leaving the rest behind. I hope you will be able to do the same. Wishing you Happy New Year.
