As I readied to leave the homes of my siblings, Cori and I agreed to try for the "365 Days of Art" thing again. In 2020, I had only managed to post 165 images to our shared album. But the Pandemic, right? Surely 2021 would be easier. How could it not be; I bought my sister's car. This was going to be great year. 365 images or bust.
It would bust. And also change my life.
Dad and I drove the 22 hours from Portland down to Denver, staying overnight in Salt Lake City. I woke up before dawn, hoping to grab some night photography.
I walked around the abandoned streets at four in the morning and managed to only get a bad take of the temple.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/e4488c36-4d08-4e39-b46e-6dca8ee99eb7_rw_1920.jpg?h=ad79f01e26d8913202853f51c535d5ad)
Turns out, the best shot of the morning was out the window of our hotel room.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/dcfa5b29-29dc-413c-bb88-58feae566ae9_rw_1920.jpg?h=fdcae07b161282b5954367fcf59c7fd2)
Thankfully, there were still street shots to be had at breakfast.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/1f006842-75ba-47f6-aaeb-dacee447ccc1_rw_1920.jpg?h=1f5e07a22c66d72faa05aafb02c0d7db)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/28940741-5040-4b40-91c5-64742936f618_rw_1920.jpg?h=1d938059f0cb4adcd4de5183078a94eb)
You'd think I wouldn't have to learn the same lesson twice, but here I was again, learning how much work this "365 Days of Art" project would actually be.
The first six months of 2021 were insane. I had several music gigs, three of my siblings brought their families to Denver for visits, I caught a light case of COVID, and my parents moved out of our childhood home.
Somehow, amidst all of that, I managed to take a swing at some wildlife photography.
Like some hilarious prairie dogs
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/caaddcd7-4ae4-489c-a409-92e685a29def_rw_1920.jpg?h=705cb6888b1f9ac12ad8d7ae5cf56afe)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/f611e871-46a1-4443-abd9-80608a83412f_rw_1920.jpg?h=04549f6309bc0e25f5d856350540b914)
An uncomfortably extroverted squirrel.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/ae526683-9d3c-478a-a779-544528212699_rw_1920.jpg?h=0a0481ce432223e78b1885b61fbcf500)
An upside-down niece.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d7d804a4-37d3-4294-983c-da800328c451/bf47645a-e587-48a3-af6f-8f6fa974961e_rw_1920.jpg?h=56a50122459473c97c79babcb3f35d42)
I was taking lots of pictures, but nothing really clicked. After spending a year taking still life photos, those weren't inspiring anymore. I guess self-consciousness and introversion were keeping me from pressing my lens into the newly re-populating world.
All of that would change in July.