Year One in Review
Looking back on our first year of art drops...
An Honest Assessment
Photographically, it’s been a good year. We’ve brought into being some new favorites influenced by literature, music, television, fellow photographers, wilderness, rivers, construction, moonlight, winter sunlight, dumpsters and flowers and more… so many disparate interests and curiosities made their way into finished photographs, and some of those ended up making the leap from pixels to ink and paper with art drop prints.
We began our newsletter in June 2023 with 0 subscribers and a politely worded email to our family, friends and work associates. We are now pleased to be sending this newsletter out to 179 people, not including ourselves.
The questions that began this endeavor are as relevant now as they were a year ago: is it possible there are people looking for a newsletter like ours – a novel way to get to know us as artists while having the opportunity to view and possibly acquire new artwork? And are we up to the task of creating new work and writing a newsletter worth reading on a monthly basis?
Maybe next year we can answer these questions decisively, but right now it still feels like this newsletter is in its nascent days. Let’s answer some other questions instead!
A Conversation
Tom: How would you say this first year of photography/art/Substack has gone?
Diana: Without question it has been a worthwhile experience thus far. There are some very thoughtful, interesting, and talented people in this community and that really raises the bar for us to put our talents to work in a very intentional way. It’s the opposite of that hollow feeling of tossing a photo onto Instagram and getting some likes and a few emojis. We’re participating in a bigger, more substantial conversation here and our work and worldview has expanded as a result. I’m proud of the work we’ve created here, both in photographic and written form.
Side note: I learned today in one of my Greek lessons that the etymology of ‘photograph’ is φῶς (light) and γραφή (writing). I can’t get it out of my head now that photography is writing with light. Maybe we should rename our newsletter to Writing with Light?
Tom: Sure. Let’s just do that now. We wanted to rename it anyway.
Which photograph of yours are you most happy with from the last year? Speaking for myself, I still really like This Way from Art Drop #3. I feel a little sense of satisfaction each time I see it.
Diana: For me, it’s got to be Moonlit Gulf from Art Drop #10. I just felt so at peace when I took this photograph and I will always channel those feelings, the sense of being one with the Gulf of Mexico and the universe at the same time, just the thought of it calms me down. I think everything I felt comes through in the photograph and as a result there is something grounding about it. It also took me out of my comfort zone – I don’t often take 30 second exposures! Also a dear friend of mine bought a big print of this piece, so I always think of her now when I look at it.
Do you think you are the same photographer as you were when we started the newsletter back in June 2023?
Tom: No, I don’t think so. After years of not really participating in Instagram (see Start Here), I’ve immersed myself in photography a little more due to the time spent on Substack and Threads. I’ve gotten to know other photographers that I admire, and I think that’s informed what I like to make photographs of, how I shoot, how I process. So there’s a subtle influence there that I appreciate, thanks to this amorphous photography peer group. I think you and I have pushed each other at times too.
Diana: I can still remember you showing me some photos you took in the Adirondacks last August, it was late at night and I was reviewing the images in camera looking through the electronic viewfinder. One picture absolutely stunned me and I have to say it is my standout favorite of yours. Looking back, it only got sent out to 58 recipients so there’s a chance this photograph is new to a lot of people viewing this newsletter right now. It’s part of Art Drop #4 that came out on September 1, and is titled Dusk Falling. It swells my heart with good feelings, serenity and peace and a little jealousy too because I wish I had made that picture. I would love to see it big and hanging in our new house when we get there so it can be part of my everyday.
Do you have a favorite of mine from the year?
Tom: That’s tough, I don’t think I could pick just one because I really like Rusted Pollock, Behind the Supermarket, and Pulaski Skyway – and with those all appealing to me in different ways it feels impossible to choose one over another. I could give you an answer now but I would probably give you a different answer next week! What’s interesting though is that we have photography and writing to deliver here, and ideally they get wrapped up nicely in a tidy package. But sometimes one element comes much more easily than the other, while other times it can feel like the whole thing flowed well and just worked. I think one example of the latter is your Art Drop #12: The Pulaski Skyway and the follow-up post. So much work went into that and I think it stands out as being slightly different in how it was a combination of art and editorial.
Diana: Yes that 12th art drop took a lot out of me, but in a good way! I was satisfied how it all came together in the end. I think we should look at the full year of art drop photographs chronologically, just to see them all at a glance. I know it’ll be a varied selection but I think I’d like to see them all together, and maybe we’ll see some continuity (or not).
So that’s our first year, everybody! Thank you for being a part of this journey. We’ll be kicking off Year 2 with Art Drop #13 on June 1, see you then!
Until next time,
SUPPORT
If you enjoy what we do here, it would mean a lot if you can support our newsletter in some way. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or perhaps make a one-off tip via Buy Me A Coffee or better yet, add some art to your space and buy a print from our permanent collection or a future art drop. Even just recommending our newsletter to others, or liking this post, commenting, forwarding it on – it all helps and we appreciate it.
Nice. I love Tom's This Way image and how it is so strangely similar to my first post The Road Ahead back in February. Congratulations on your first year. It's a joy to find and follow photographers who seem as kindred spirits. You both have captured lots of great moments, but Diana stealing time away from being a caregiver to do some long exposure reconnaissance on the beach stands out for me because I find that I often have to steel time for photography. Time away from other demands. Time when I just have to put myself first. The self portrait and a delicate wave both hit the mark for me. Isn't it amazing how even a short time away from normal can pay such big dividends. It reminds me I must remember to make time. Keep writing with light!
I love the name Writing with Light and the story behind it! ❤️