Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Photo of the Year, 2007...and a Happy 2008 to You!!

I have been blogging with this community for only the past 10 days or so, so I chose my favorite personal photo from the past year.

It is my favorite because of the way it came about. I would admire some of the photos my online friends in Europe would post on their blogs, including the lovely sunflower fields that are found there. I sometimes would show my husband the photos, and we would discuss how we one day look forward to visiting abroad, perhaps after we've gotten our sons through college.

One day in late August, my husband picked me up from work, my camera in his hand. He said that he "had someplace great to show" me, and drove about 15 minutes outside of Memphis (quite a distance from work, and home). There we found huge sunflower fields, beautiful ones...breathtaking. He had brought me to this special place, just so that I could see the beauty of them, and take photos. It was spontaneous, and wonderful.

Now, I am new to photography, with no training and a fairly run-of-the-mill digital camera. The photos I took that day came out better than I ever could have hoped, making the day even more memorable.

There are 118 wonderful blogs participating in this Photo of the Year Theme Day...how fun, being able to visit places all over the world and see the best of their best, for free! Please visit each of these wonderful sites, and Happy New Year to you!!:

Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Torino, Italy - Susanville (CA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Memphis (Tennessee), USA

40 comments:

Clueless in Boston said...

Very nice photo. The moral of the story is to always have a camera with you:) Best wishes & Happy New Year!

lv2scpbk said...

I love sunflowers.

I couldn't decide for theme day and am leaving it up to the votes. I narrowed my down to seven. Yikes! Hate to say I just couldn't pick one. Come take a look and put your vote in.

Felicia said...

Beautiful photo and welcome to DP! Yellow is such a rich warm color.

Jim Klenke said...

Thank you for the nice comment on my site.

I am glad your husband took you to the sunflower field. No you have the bug.

I look forward to getting to know Memphis in 2008. Its been probably 25 years since I was there.

Gerald (SK14) said...

Great photo and excellent choice for theme.

I'm sorry you registered just a little too late to be included on my list of theme participents [sorted into the date they started their blogs] but good to see you here.

Just one little niggle - I do wish you wouldn't make the music on your blog play automatically. Some of us like to surf quietly and don't like having to hit the mute button on accessing a site. There are ways you can let those visitors who want the music to turn it on which is preferable to forcing others to turn it off.

Happy new year.

Jilly said...

Love the photograph - and the commentary. Lovely story. Happy New Year to you and your family, Southern Heart!

Anonymous said...

You are a special and I really like your photography. And in ten days of blogging here you are making lots of new friends.

This is a very nice photograph and well-chosen for this January theme day.

Thanks for all of your visits to my blog in 2007 and I hope and pray you have excellent health and are very happy all the days of your life but especially in this new year 2008.

Happy New Year from Patty and me.

edwin s said...

Beautiful shot to start off the year. Happy New Year filled with lots of love and smiles.

Annie said...

I'm loving your wish for a sunflower kind of year - our heads turning continually toward the light. Happy New Year, Southern Heart.

Janet said...

That's a great story to go with a great photo! Sounds like you have a wonderful, supportive hubby as well.
I have enjoyed visiting your blog and look forward to more from Memphis this year.
Happy New Year!

Rob said...

A pretty picture to share, and s wonderful story behind the photo! Happy new year from Minnesota, Rob

Josy said...

A few things:

1. Welcome to the City Daily Photo community!
2. Happy new year!
3. Lovely picture.
4. I love the story that goes along with it- it makes the photo that much more beautiful, because it actually MEANS something.

Bill said...

Lovely shot and story, unplanned trips can be the best!

Olivier said...

une très belle macro, très bon choix. Mes meilleurs voeux en cette année 2008.

A very nice macro, very good choice. My best wishes in the year 2008.

Unknown said...

WELCOME WELCOME! And a very happy new year to you. I love the flower, it's beautiful. And what a wonderful surprise from your husband! :)

Gerald (SK14) said...

thanks for turning the music off.

Dan said...

beautiful pic. Wonderful lighting.

Barbara said...

Great photo and blog-Hope you have a great "New Year". From West Sacramento Photo of the Day.

Lynette said...

Wonderful photo, wonderful story, from what appears to be a wonderful life.

I thoroughly enjoyed browsing the rest of your photos, particularly the Liberty Bowl ones. I too went to MSU, way back when, until finances and timing cause me to stop attending college and go to work. I ended up graduating from Miss. College In Clinton, 22 years after I graduated from high school in Jackson, Miss. but remain a Dawg fan forever!

My best bud and former co-librarian was in that crowd of cowbell-ringin' fans!

Glad you've joined the CDPB community. I shall return.

isa said...

Beautiful and your story makes this photo so much more special...

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Great choice of image, lots of detail. Have a happy New Year.

Lilly said...

I think that this is a beautiful picture. Well done.
Happy New Year!

Marie said...

Beautiful photo. I've read that bees are important for the survival of humankind.

Thank you for commenting on my blog. I wish you a very happy year 2008.

Unknown said...

Wow, I love sunflowers !
I have posted several this summer.
Happy New Year 2008 and long life to your blog !

Ham said...

That's a great story and a great picture - every flower picture should have a bee!

Chris said...

Happy New Year, Andrea! Welcome to CDP! I wish I knew you were in town yesterday. . .Let me know if you make it this way again, and I'll let you know if I get to Memphis. Maybe we can get together and do a TN-themed week or something!

Chandlermom said...

I love sunflowers, and this is a stunning picture of one - Happy New Year from Arizona!

Neva said...

welcome to CDPB!! I hope you enjoy your daily photo as much as I do.

Susan said...

Beautiful shot Andrea! Looking forward to more in 2008.

Happy New Year!

smilnsigh said...

Lovely photo.

How have I been missing, that you are part of City Daily Photo Blog too?!? Well, I'm happy to have finally realized.

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year.

"Miss" Mari-Nanci
Photos-City-Mine

Jenny said...

What a joyful picture! It really brightened my night!

And a belated welcome to this wonderful and overwhelming DP community! I am a terrible member because I rarely visit and comment o n others' blogs, but I'm always so glad when I do take the time - your pictures are terrific!

Happy New Year to you and yours and here's to a wonderful 2008 for the Daily City Photo Blog community.

Jenny, Sharon (CT, USA) Daily Photo

Halcyon said...

Nice picture! It's not easy to catch a bee in midflower. :)

Kate said...

You have a wonderfully thoughtful husband; it's a great story. And, the photo is as memorable as the story!

Unknown said...

Great photo!
This color make me feel better!
Happy new year to you!!

Gregous said...

lovely colors. Happy new year

Belgrade Daily Photo said...

I agree, it's a very nice story, and the photo's not so shabby, either (it's great, too)! :)

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Happy new year.
How lucky you are to be in such a city.

imac said...

Hi, I really love this photo, its amazing.
You have an interesting blog too.

R&R said...

Great photo & story!

Joy said...

Lovely flower shot! And the bee. Most refreshing.

I look forward to visiting your blog more often this 2008. And you're welcome to mine, too! For some reason, my link was not included in the participating blogs for the 1st of January 2008 theme day. Sorry I wasn't able to visit your blog sooner. I was in transit the whole of yesterday. I am now back in Norwich after the most fantabulous time at home in Manila.

Happy New Year to you and everyone you hold dear!


joy
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