Six Pix For The First Six Months Of The Year

Yeah, Another Blogger

During the 1970s and 1980s I enjoyed walking around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I lived at the time, and around many other places, snapping photos with my Kodak Pocket Instamatic of whatever caught my eye. I took a lot of family photos too. I haven’t looked at most of those pictures in . . . forever. Save for a relative few, they reside, way too many unlabeled, inside a large box or two or three somewhere in my house. The attic, most likely. I’d do well to locate and gaze at the pix. Who knows what good memories they’d bring back? Yeah, one of these days I’m going to get off my lazy ass and do just that. One of these days.

Anyway, fast forward to the tail end of 2015, which is when I purchased my first smart phone. Man, after 25 or more years of not being involved with photography — my wife Sandy had assumed the photographic duties — I took to the phone’s camera like Donald Trump takes to undermining democracy. In no time I was having fun shooting digital pictures and marveling at how easy the camera was to use.

And I couldn’t have been happier that the phone dated each shot and listed information about where the picture was taken. Even better, the photographs had no desire to leave the confines of their cozy quarters within the phone. They wouldn’t even consider wandering off to the f*cking attic or anywhere else. I love them for that, because I drop by now and then to take a look.

Sculpture outside a Mexican restaurant. Hatboro, Pennsylvania. January 2023
Artwork at Philadelphia Flower Show. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. March 2023

Like many of us, I’ve shot a large number of digital photos. Documenting our lives on a semi-regular basis isn’t the worst idea in the world, right? A recent stroll through my iPhone’s photo library revealed that my button-pressing fingers were pretty busy during the first six months of 2023, for instance, as roughly 250 photographs from that period are stored there. Being in a jolly mood at the moment, I’ve decided to bestow immortality upon six of those pix that I especially like, one from each month (I did the same thing last year). They are included in this story, and haven’t appeared in Yeah, Another Blogger before. Scads of worthy photos are not pleased about being snubbed, however. I have this to say to them: “Tough shit! Nobody ever said that life is fair.”

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. April 2023
Keswick Theater. Glenside, Pennsylvania. June 2023

I didn’t venture very far from home during the months in question. The photos herein, therefore, are restricted to the Philadelphia suburbs, which has been my home base since 2005, and to Philadelphia itself. And now a few words about two of the pictures.

Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. February 2023

I’ve witnessed numerous sunsets in my time, most of them in areas blessed with natural beauty, such as Cape Cod, Massachusetts. My town doesn’t come close to matching that description. However, my hilly neighborhood is good for sunset-watching from certain high points, like the one that is half a block from my front door. The view of the sky is nicely open there, not obscured by many houses or trees. One early evening in February I ventured out, and 15 seconds later was admiring a sunset whose yellows, oranges, pinks and greys, all delicate as feathers, made my day. A beautiful sight it was.

Willow Grove Park Mall. Abington, Pennsylvania. May 2023

And on a May morning I headed to Willow Grove Park Mall, an enclosed space not much more than a hop, skip and jump from my abode. I occasionally go there to engage in a cardio workout, walking the mall’s avenues and byways at a good clip. Such was the reason for my visit that day.

Hoofing around the mall’s second level, I approached a GAP clothing store. The posters in its windows always have impressed me, touching as they do on the positive aspects of the human condition. During the May walk, one of the GAP posters brought me up short. After staring at it for a few seconds I whipped out my phone. There was no way I was not going to photograph the poster, because its depiction of parental love was more vivid and pure than any I’d ever seen. His arms wrapped around his baby, a young father could not be more certain of his role in life than he is at that moment. Love radiates from him in gentle waves. He’s the luckiest guy in the world. And he knows it.

137 thoughts on “Six Pix For The First Six Months Of The Year”

  2. judyrutrider July 11, 2023 / 12:20 am

    I like the way my Google Photos account creates slide shows, complete with music to match, and spontaneously sends them to me. It compiled one of friends and family that actually brought tears to my eyes with the way the algorithm selected images showing different emotions, mostly happy but some bittersweet.

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. johnlmalone July 11, 2023 / 1:17 am

    I too am a happy snapper, Neil and pleased with most of my shots especially the one I talk during an afternoon walk yesterday when I came across this amazing tree trunk. I love that GAP poster: it’s a great celebration of fatherhood —

    Liked by 1 person

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      • johnlmalone July 11, 2023 / 5:50 pm

        I used my smart phone’s camera, Neil and I got an amazing shot of a neighborhood tree. Hop over and have a look if you get time. The post i called ‘Pineapples’ —

        Liked by 1 person

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  4. Chasing Potatoes July 11, 2023 / 1:34 am

    I love the title of your blog post! It’s creative, concise, and easy to remember. I’m inspired to find my own best shots from each month of the year. Thanks for sharing your creativity and inspiration!

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Lynette d'Arty-Cross July 11, 2023 / 1:51 am

    I’ve been taking pictures for a long time, but like you, I enjoy having my cell around, especially if something interesting pops up and I don’t have my camera. It even has a zoom on it (not a great one but helpful). We’ve downsized and don’t have either an attic or basement any more so most of the physical family photos have made their way to the next generation – they’re becoming heirlooms!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 12:04 pm

      Hi. I’m pretty sure my phone camera doesn’t have a zoom. I’ll doublecheck that, because maybe I’m wrong. A zoom would be a great feature.

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. shoreacres July 11, 2023 / 3:28 am

    The photo of the father and his child is wonderful, but being a great fan of sunsets, I enjoyed seeing that one, too. I smiled at those attic photos you mentioned. After my mother died, I was going through similar boxes of photos, and it was such a strange experience. Only a few offered the identity of the people shown. Were they friends? Family from the fringes? Neighbors? There was no way to know. At least our cameras record dates and times, even if they can’t tell us that cat belonged to Aunt Rilla’s best friend’s neighbor.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 12:07 pm

      I wish that everyone, including me, had dated and identified the subjects of every printed photograph. If they had, a lot of future head-scratching would have been avoided.

      Like

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  7. Kevin July 11, 2023 / 3:31 am

    Like yourself, I too have lonely pictures stored in shoeboxes. They’re on the floor next to my desk. I plan on someday, (probably not) scan them onto my hard drive. There they will rest never to be kicked around again.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. gabychops July 11, 2023 / 3:39 am

    Thank you, Neil, for such a lovely post, and interesting photographs, especially
    the moving photo of the father and his baby.

    Joanna

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 12:50 pm

      Afternoon, Joanna. When I started this blog, I wouldn’t have guessed that I’d end up writing about photography as often as I have. I’m glad it happened.

      Like

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  10. Anonymous July 11, 2023 / 3:59 am

    Hé does look like the happiest guy in the world. This shows the value of having a phone on you all the time to capture the unexpected.
    Alan

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. swabby429 July 11, 2023 / 6:01 am

    I especially like the architectural photos from April and June. The dad poster is really great, too.

    Liked by 2 people

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  13. Laurie Graves July 11, 2023 / 7:49 am

    Wonderful pictures of various aspects of life all around you, including advertising. Such a tender photo of father and son. That tall building against the sky is striking. And lovely sunsets everywhere.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 12:58 pm

      Hi. The tall building is in Philadelphia’s old, historic area. There aren’t many tall buildings there, but there are a few. That area has a lot of houses and other structures that were built in the 1700s.

      Liked by 1 person

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  14. eden baylee July 11, 2023 / 9:22 am

    The artwork picture is compelling, Neil. Love the colours! There are many negative behaviours associated with cell phones, but a positive one is the ability to take pix and share.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:08 pm

      You’re right about cell phones. They are all-consuming for some people, and reduce the amount of true human interaction that those folks have.

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:09 pm

      I don’t know squat about the technical aspects of cameras and photography, but I like taking pictures!

      Like

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  16. mariezhuikov July 11, 2023 / 9:37 am

    I love how walking around with a camera makes you pay attention to the world in a different way. Thanks for sharing your world with us!

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. Ann Coleman July 11, 2023 / 9:50 am

    I agree about the photo of the young man and his child….that’s father love personified. And yes, isn’t it fun how easily we can take photos now? I still print my favorite, though, because my phone gets too full of them and I’m also afraid of losing them if the technology becomes obsolete. Paranoid, I know, but I do have some photo cards that no longer fit in any existing slot, so the photos on them are “lost.”

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. adguru101 July 11, 2023 / 9:59 am

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful pix. I have far too many photos on my phone too, but I love how random ones pop up each day, reminding me of where I’ve been. Keep snapping! Alisa

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:24 pm

      I can’t be bothered with “real” cameras. So, smart phone cameras suit me perfectly.

      Like

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:26 pm

      That artwork display was at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Why, I’m not sure. But it looked great, so I took its picture.

      Like

      Reply
  21. Jacqui Murray July 11, 2023 / 10:51 am

    These are keepers, Neil. You have an eye for this. I even caught your typo–well, I assumed when you said “Donald Trump takes to undermining democracy” you meant “Joe Biden”. No worries–I got your back!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:28 pm

      Hi Jacqui. Yeah, I guess that taking photos is one of my hobbies. I don’t take photos every day, or anything like that, but it gives me a good deal of pleasure.

      Liked by 1 person

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  22. Sam Gridley July 11, 2023 / 10:58 am

    Hmm, boxes of old, undated photos somewhere in the house — can’t imagine what that’s like. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:31 pm

      Hi Sam. You and I and millions of others are members of the “people with old, undated photos somewhere in the house” club.

      Liked by 1 person

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  23. Joyce Christine HAMILTON July 11, 2023 / 10:58 am

    Always love your photos!!!! Keep them coming!😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  24. Mike and Kellye Hefner July 11, 2023 / 11:13 am

    Great post! I too have tons of old photos that I haven’t looked at in years. You just might have inspired me to dig them out. Phones make everything easier now, and I enjoyed seeing your recent photos.

    Liked by 1 person

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  25. sniderjerry July 11, 2023 / 12:02 pm

    Say cheese! Back in the day when Minnie Pearl was shown some pictures taken of her. She said, “These pictures don’t do me justice.” The fellow who had taken the pictures said, “You don’t need justice – you need mercy.” Nice essay, Neil. Keep clicking that shutter. Jerry

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:49 pm

      Hello there. Right, there’s usually something worth photographing no matter where you are.

      Like

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  27. Rosaliene Bacchus July 11, 2023 / 1:42 pm

    I was always shy about taking photos until I got a Smart phone. I also marvel at how easy it is to use the phone’s camera. No more excuses for cutting someone out of a photo. My favorite of your six photos is the GAP ad of the young father cradling his son. Perhaps one of these days you’ll treat us to your own photo of a real-life father and son and other such tender human moments.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 2:54 pm

      Trump eats it. He’s a scoundrel and a fraud and a liar. Sadly, those truths don’t bother millions and millions of people.

      Like

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  29. Debra July 11, 2023 / 3:11 pm

    A picture-perfect post…or is that a perfect-picture post?

    Liked by 1 person

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  30. jasonmcgathey July 11, 2023 / 6:50 pm

    Awesome photos and a great personal essay. Were you in Philly in ‘76 for the Bicentennial? If so it would be cool if you ever dug up any pictures from that!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 11, 2023 / 10:14 pm

      I was in Philly for much of the 1970s, but not in 1976. In any case, I really should locate the boxes of photos and see what’s in them.

      Liked by 1 person

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  31. Helen Devries July 11, 2023 / 7:39 pm

    You have a real eye for colour and composition…and now you’ve set me on to going through our old photographs.

    Liked by 1 person

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  33. Paddy Tobin July 12, 2023 / 2:36 am

    The ‘phone has the great advantage of convenience, being small, easy to carry and easy to use and I use it occasionally to capture fleeting moments – those which I encouner when I don’t have my camera in hand. Most of these are deleted soon after. On the other hand, I took almost 4,000 photographs in our own garden last year and many more in gardens I have visited and further of wildflowers. I label each photograph so as to be able to locate again if needed.

    Picking just one favourite from each month must have been a challenge for you and your choices are excellent and very enjoyable.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 12, 2023 / 7:38 am

      I know from your blog posts that you are an excellent photographer. Have you been into photography for much of your life?

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Paddy Tobin July 12, 2023 / 3:34 pm

        Since my late teens, Neil. In the “good old days”, early 70s!, I used buy my B&W film in bulk, put it on spools myself, process the film afterwards and print my own photographs. Digital is so much easier!

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  35. Dave July 12, 2023 / 9:00 am

    The photo from the Philadelphia Flower Show is a keeper. The bold colors mimic a burst of July 4 fireworks.

    Liked by 1 person

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  37. claywatkins July 12, 2023 / 11:07 am

    nice idea.. a review of where I’ve been.. food for thought. I have a couple of cameras but I rarely use them, it’s my phone that I use for my photos. I am on a bucket list our of ballparks and I’m on #23, heading to #24 next week. I was in Philly last year for #15 and I have to rely on my phone because I can’t take a camera or camera bag in the stadium with me! fun blog an blog post, glad I stumbled upon you.

    Liked by 1 person

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  39. J P July 12, 2023 / 4:32 pm

    These are all excellent shots! You remind me that I should make more of an effort to find interesting scenes and document them.

    My only disappointment is with the GAP photo, and only because they are using it to sell me something, however subtly.

    Liked by 1 person

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  40. lookingforthehigherself July 13, 2023 / 7:26 pm

    Aww I love that last photograph of the father with his newborn- pure unconditional love. Also the picture of your neighbourhood sunset- it would
    give me a beam no doubt if I could watch such rich sunsets regularly! About your old photos in the attic- you could also scan or take photographs of them on your phone and this way store it all in your smartphone. During the pandemic I unearthed so many old photographs from the 80s and 90s and it brought back so much joy! I took photos of them on my phone so its always with me ☺️

    Liked by 1 person

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  42. andrewcferguson July 14, 2023 / 2:11 pm

    Good photos! It’s funny – Alison used to be the main photographer, but like you, since getting a phone that could be at a stretch described as smart, I’m now the one snapping away. On the monkeys with typewriters analogy, some of them are bound to turn out ok.

    Liked by 1 person

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  43. tanjabrittonwriter July 14, 2023 / 2:50 pm

    Hi Neil,
    I’m sure these six photos are happy to be liberated from their storage space and shown to the world. Scrolling through old photos is fun and brings back (hopefully happy) memories. I was also touched by your last image of the dad holding his child. It’s so full of tenderness.
    Best,
    Tanja

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  44. The Wheelchair Teen July 15, 2023 / 1:18 pm

    “I took to the phone’s camera like Donald Trump takes to undermining democracy.” This gave me my first chuckle of the day xD. I love the pictures of the sculpture outside the restaurant and the sunset. You have a pretty impressive eye!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 15, 2023 / 5:17 pm

      Hi. That sculpture is outside the door of a Mexican restaurant in a town very close to where I live. I should go to the restaurant for lunch or dinner one day. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it.

      Liked by 1 person

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  45. snakesinthegrass2014 July 15, 2023 / 2:15 pm

    There is an inherent convenience of having an instant picture always available, isn’t there? I remember the Pocket Instamatic, which I guess is a form of what we have now with our smart phones. But the magic is in the storage — no boxes anymore! Great post, Neil. – Marty

    Liked by 1 person

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  46. Michele Anderson July 15, 2023 / 9:06 pm

    Love all the pics, Neil, especially the father and child. So precious. Oh, I love what you said about Creepy Trump. Very smart how you worked that in 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  47. Supraja Lakshmi N July 15, 2023 / 11:22 pm

    I really liked your idea of choosing six pictures to represent the first six months of the year. It’s a creative and fun way to reflect on your life and the world around you. Your pictures are very diverse and interesting, especially the father and child. I look forward to seeing your next six pix for the second half of the year.

    Liked by 1 person

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  48. Ally Bean July 16, 2023 / 9:42 am

    I like this idea of using 1 picture to embody your month. I am so reserved that I rarely take out my phone to snap a picture, so many of my interesting observations are just in my memory, not my photo stash. I love all your photos, the last one, of course, is so sweet.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 16, 2023 / 2:29 pm

      Hi Ally. Of all the posters I’ve ever seen in store windows, I think I like that father-and-child poster the best.

      Liked by 1 person

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  49. kegarland July 18, 2023 / 4:12 pm

    Taking to “to the phone’s camera like Donald Trump takes to undermining democracy” shows a huge level of commitment, Neil 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

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  50. juliefj1 July 18, 2023 / 7:12 pm

    What a great idea! And good pics as well. I need to clear out my phone but really, what do you do with all the photos? A feature I really like about taking pics on my phone is the ability to look up what things are.

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