A Retiring Thought
Stepping away from one life and into another.
February 19, 2025 :: Happy Trails
I like happy endings. It's my turn to write one.
After 30 years of nature photography workshops and tours, I'm stepping into another landscape.
I'm changing my focus from how to make photographs to how to use them. I'll retire from teaching and touring and retire to writing and photographing for stories and essays. It's not a new environment for me, but it's one I'm eager to explore again.
The dictionary defines retiring as a verb that means "leaving a job" which is what I'm doing. As an adjective, retiring also means "fond of being on one's own" which is, in part, why I'm doing it. But Mr. Webster couldn't foresee my personalized definition: "fond of being with Mary, too."
She is my happy beginning. Mary has been my anchor through the workshop years, even in years when I was away for more than 200 days.
She encouraged me to take a big leap of faith long ago when I left the world of horticulture for nature photography. This next leap is a baby step in comparison.
What makes this story even happier is that Mary has retired from her work world all together. Now a new world awaits us. We have made an ambitious list of projects and adventures. Some are close to home, some are to restore our old home, and others will take us somewhere in the wild world.
For now I plan to keep this website's journal and galleries updated. Drop by now and then. When things I've written get published, I'll include them in the What's New? page. I'll add them to my social media pages, too, though I'll do more watching than sharing there. And I'll discontinue my newsletter some time this year.
I hope we keep in touch through social media. I'd enjoy seeing what you see and hearing what you think as you explore the changing landscape of nature photography. And I'm always happy to share what I know, too. If you follow me on either Facebook or Instagram, I'll gladly follow you back. You'll find me at: https://www.facebook.com/cliffzenorphotography/ and https://www.instagram.com/cliffzenorphotography/
Maybe you and I will cross paths again. I'd like that. Mary and I always enjoy sharing the view with like-minded people. That's been my biggest joy of the last three decades of photo trips. Until then, I encourage you to explore great places, learn new skills and create pleasing photographs.
Happy Trails,
Cliff
P.S. You can read about how Mary and I met in The Nature of Love.
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