Before putting this story together, I read back through my 2022 journal. The journal paints a picture of a year with two distinct halves. The first half was intensely, maybe insanely busy. I was exhausted. I was also happy. It’s a good lesson learned. I’m happiest with lots of commitments.
Creativity is a reciprocal process. Creative output increases creative inspiration. I've known this for some time, yet for various reasons, I struggled to find focus and creativity in the second half of the year. There were some highlights though, and from those highlights I learned how important it is for me to get out and experience new things. Fortunately, thanks to vaccines and the diminishing threat of serious illness, that was possible again.
60th Birthday
2022 marked a milestone birthday. I had planned to celebrate my birthday with family and friends at our home. Unfortunately, Covid fears called for a plan B.
Instead of throwing a big party, I spent the morning of my 60th birthday, January 1st, in the ocean attempting to surf. After getting tossed around in the water until I was too tired to keep trying, we ate birthday cake for breakfast on the beach. It was a memorable and perfect way to celebrate. The beautiful cake was baked and decorated by my good friend Carey, Love Sweet Designs.
Coastal Road Trip
The saga of failed birthday plans continued.
We had a for a four-day visit to Bend, Oregon, planned for the second stage of my birthday, but we never made it there. Covid intervened again. The first leg of our flight to San Francisco went smooth, but our plan fell apart after that. The connecting flight was canceled due to airline staffing shortages caused by Covid. Subsequent attempts to rebook were also canceled. After several frustrating hours at the airport, we agreed to spend a night at a nearby hotel courtesy of the airline, and fly out the next morning.
Tired and frustrated, we boarded an airport shuttle for the hotel. Our spirits sunk even lower when we arrived at the location. It wasn’t what we expected or hoped for.
The clerk handed us a plastic bag at check-in with hotel soap and shampoo. That was weird. The whole situation felt unsound, but I wasn’t ready to speak up yet.
The room was clean but spartan and cramped for space. No way I was going to sleep there. I began privately weighing my options. Also, we needed to eat. The only nearby dinner option was Popeyes. I'd rather skip dinner than eat there. I searched the Maps app and discovered an Embassy Suites within a mile.
As we walked to Embassy Suites in silence, I privately made my plan to switch hotels. I kept calm by telling myself that in the not-too-distant future this would be a funny story.
I hope you are laughing with me now.
I walked directly to the front desk when we entered. Yes, they had a room available, and no, I didn’t care what it cost. Over dinner I convinced Blaise to retrieve our bags from the sketchy hotel and check in at the Embassy Suites.
I laughed, as we rolled along the crumbling sidewalk in the dark.
We never made it to Bend Oregon. The early morning flight was canceled too. Instead, we rented a car and took a beautiful meandering drive back down the California coast to home. It wasn’t the 60th birthday celebration I planned or wanted, but it was memorable and special.
The Intense First Half of the Year
Between January and May of 2022, I was extremely busy. I completed my master’s degree, prepared and delivered four sessions for the Creative Pro Week conference, gave a presentation for the Adobe Experts community, and published two new LinkedIn Learning courses.
During this time I was also teaching two college courses, providing one-on-one coaching, and designing marketing content for a few clients.
Completing the master program required writing a fifty-page research paper, creating a final project, and collecting feedback. Preparing for Creative Pro Week required planning the presentations, creating assets for them, and writing workbooks for the attendees. The LinkedIn Learning courses required planning, script writing, asset collection, and recording.
Family put demands on my time too, but that was time I was happy to give.
Instructional Design and Technology Master’s Degree
Earning a master’s degree was something I always wanted for myself. I did it and I am proud of the accomplishment. However, at the end, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the experience. I thought I would feel elated, but I struggled to feel anything. Perhaps I was too exhausted.
School confirmed that I already have exceptional skills. Many of the lessons weren’t new to me. School was tedious but not hard. My contributions earned the respect of classmates and instructors and that felt good. So, overall, going back to school was a confidence boost for which I am grateful.
Yet school did not meet my expectations.
I had hoped for or expected two things from the experience. First, I thought I would make connections and build my network. I wanted to be inspired by my classmates, and my instructors. That didn’t happen.
Second, I thought I would make something really cool that I’d be proud of at the end. That didn’t exactly happen either. I blame this on the tools. We had the choice of two different applications to create our projects, Storyline or Captivate. Both are terrible. I used Adobe Captivate and dreaded every minute working in it. I couldn’t get excited about anything I created.
I have no regrets though. The experience taught me a lot, and provided clarity for where I'd like to head next.
Final Master's Project
In hindsight, I am proud of what I created, especially the work I put into it. I created two interactive instructional projects, when only one was required. The first project is a mobile responsive prototype project used for demonstration within the final project. You can view them here. The Benefits of Adobe XD for Instructional Design and Development.
Final Research Paper
Writing the research paper was a slog, especially the literature review. Before starting the program, I didn’t know anything about research, or lit reviews, or APA formatting. I'm skilled in those things now, but it's not my thing. However, I am proud of my paper, and I don’t believe anyone has read it besides me, and hopefully my professor. If you are curious, you can read it here. If you read it, drop me a note.
LinkedIn Learning Courses
I finished recording my ninth course for LinkedIn Learning at the end of January. Instead of taking some time to savor the accomplishment, I couldn’t wait to start on another one. Immediately after recording the final movie, I sent a proposal for a new course idea. The proposal was accepted, and I began working on my tenth course.
LinkedIn Learning remains a bright spot in my career journey. I’m grateful for the opportunity and look forward to recording new content in 2023.
New courses published in 2022:
- Learning Adobe Capture
- Essentials of Masking in Photoshop and Lightroom
Creative Pro Week Conference
LinkedIn Learning courses and final school requirements were completed before I headed to Washington DC for the Creative Pro Week conference.
It was great to be back in person and spend time with friends I had missed.
Four years had passed since the last time I was on a stage speaking to a live audience. Sharing the stage with my friend Laura Coyle made it easy to jump back in. We presented two back-to-back sessions together, and won the (imagined) prize for using the most devices in a live presentation.
Laura and I co-presented:
- Adobe Capture: the Swiss Army Knife Tool Every Designer Needs
- Patterns: Find Them, Make Them, Edit Them
I also presented two Photoshop sessions on my own:
- Straight Facts About Photoshop Vectors
- Photoshop for Designers: What You Need to Know Today
Family
My Dad
In February, my 83-year-old dad was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous tumor between his esophagus and stomach. The prognosis was grim. Our whole family began a new chapter filled with worry, and lots of doctors’ appointments, for which my siblings and I provided transportation.
These months were exhausting but somehow uplifting too. I experienced extreme gratitude for every day my dad remained in my life. Time with family became more important than ever. Miraculously, as I write this, dad is still with us. He underwent immunotherapy chemo treatment and it erased his tumor. Today he feels the best he has in over a year.
Kayaking with our Niece and Nephew
Our 2021 Christmas gift for my young niece and nephew was delivered in early January. We enjoyed a kayaking tour of the La Jolla caves. The kids were the youngest in the group. It was their first time kayaking and they both took to it quickly.
Family Time in Laguna Beach
In February I met with extended family in Laguna Beach to celebrate my cousins and I who turned 60 in 2022.
Sanford in Murder on the Orient Express
In March our oldest son Sanford performed in his first play since graduating college. He played Colonel Arbuthnot in Murder on the Orient Express at the Santa Barbara Community College theater. We brought his grandparents to see him perform. The family time was important for all of us and provided a short break from the drudgery of doctor visits and health concerns.
Tim Flannery Concert
My parents, mom especially, are Tim Flannery super fans. They have followed his career since the early 80s in baseball and music. After surviving his own near-death health scare, Tim announced he was returning to the music stage in April. Even better, he would perform at the Grand Ole Barbecue, very near where my parents live. Thankfully, dad was well enough to make the show. When my parents arrived, Tim graciously greeted them with warmth and kindness. Mom got to dance as Tim performed at his very best. It was a special day for all of us.
Watch to the end to see mom dance.
Family Time at Sea World
Later in April my cousin Connie visited from New York with her young twins. I met up with them and my brother’s family at Sea World for an afternoon. No matter how busy I am, family is always a priority. I had a great time enjoying the park with the youngsters.
COVID
This chapter ended with Covid. It was inevitable. I went to DC knowing Covid was a possible risk and I consciously decided to not worry about it. When I finished my fourth session at Creative Pro Week, I was completely exhausted, having just completed a 4.5-month marathon of projects. Possibly that is when and why I got sick.
It was all worth it though.
I embraced the forced down time, quarantining in a spare bedroom I called Covid jail. During that time, I watched Orange is the New Black on Netflix (it seemed appropriate), slept, wrote, and created a self-portrait series inspired by the Andy Warhol documentary on Netflix.
The Slower Second Half
The rest of the year was less frenetic. I filled my time applying for instructional design jobs, job interviews (no offers though), more doctor appointments, LinkedIn Learning Course updates, club presentations, teaching, designing, and one-on-one coaching.
I also enjoyed a few short weekend getaways, one awesome week in Colorado, and returned to the first in-person Adobe Max conference in three years.
Weekend Getaways
These quick getaways fed my soul in the second half of the year.
Santa Barbara
I visited Santa Barbara four times in 2022.
Oakland
In June we made last minute plans to attend the Midnight Oil concert in Oakland. The drive up and back was hell. Yet time spent with our friends, and the concert itself made it worth the trek.
Saturday morning, we walked along the Berkeley marina. The views of San Francisco from the East Bay are stunning, but the area itself feels long forgotten. In the afternoon we walked through the Berkeley campus for old time’s sake, then we met up with our friends for lunch. Saturday night we enjoyed Midnight Oil. They sounded as good as ever.
This day was a highlight of my year.`
Santa Cruz
Two weeks later we went back to Northern California for the wedding of our friend’s oldest son. This time we flew instead of driving. I never need to do the drive from San Diego to the Bay Area again.
Palomar Mt. Backpacking
I went on my first overnight backpacking trip to Palomar Mountain in early December. I was nervous before we left, afraid of packing the wrong things, and not sure how I would feel carrying my stuff on my back. It ended up being a great experience. I was the oldest in the group, the only first-timer, and I had no problems keeping up.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
I spent eight days in August teaching workshops at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado. It was my second time there, and it was just as special as the first. I made the most of my time and felt like I was on top of the world for the entire week.
The visit was so eventful that I made a photographic story just about the experience. The story is filled with many beautiful photos from the area. You can view it here. Anderson Ranch Arts Center 2022
Adobe MAX Conference
It was great to be back in person for the Adobe MAX Conference. This year I worked as a lab TA for Tony Harmer, Jason Hoppe, and Bart Van de Wiele.
LinkedIn Learning
Constantly evolving technology requires frequent updates to software training courses to keep them relevant. That's a good thing because it keeps me busy. I updated three of my LinkedIn Learning courses in the second half of the year.
In November LinkedIn held an instructor reunion at the Carpinteria studio. I’m glad I attended. It was a great opportunity to network with other instructors, and see the beautiful renovations completed during the shutdown. I left the reunion inspired to create more content.
(Almost Daily) Drumbeats of the Year
In 2022 I increased my daily walking, took more hikes, and captured more images than recent years. I also continued with journaling, meditating, Audible books, and listening to music.
Daily Walks
The Neighborhood
Rain or shine I got out for a walk. Most days I took two walks. Occasionally I stopped to capture the surrounding beauty with my iPhone. A few favorite locations were captured repeatedly throughout the year.
San Pasqual Valley Ranch Stables
For a longer walk and change of scenery I trekked down to the San Pasqual Valley Ranch. While there I visited with the horses and cattle. These are a few of my favorite captures from the stables.
Audible Books
I continued my effort to switch back and forth from fiction to non-fiction, listening on my daily walks. This list is in the order I listened to them.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- I Am Mine by Eddie Vedder (Audible Original)
- The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
- Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
- Stealing the Show by John Barelli and Zachary Schisgal
- Bewilderment by Richard Powers
- Power of Regret by Daniel Pink
- Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
- Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication by Oren Jay Sofer
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (favorite fiction)
- Finding Me by Viola Davis
- The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich
- The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas (favorite non-fiction)
- Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
- Living Legend by Joh Legend (Audible Original)
Teaching at MiraCosta College
I continued teaching Photoshop and Illustrator at MiraCosta college. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach the programs I love.
Hiking
My friend Carey and I picked back up our fairly regular cadence of weekly hikes. I also hiked several times with our youngest son Brendan, and did the San Dieguito Lagoon trail with Blaise and Jameson .
Family and Friends
I missed spending real time with the people I care about, but didn't realize just how much I missed it. During Covid times I convinced myself that I was happy being a stay-at-home introvert. The opportunity to get out more in 2022 taught me that I was wrong. Reconnecting with friends was rejuvenating. Time with family became a top priority.
Favorite Images from the Year
Photography is an important part of my life. It makes me slow down and really see the beauty around me. I take a lot of photos. The vast majority of them live unseen in a Lightroom catalog. My Year in Review is a way to get many of them out into the world.
This is a sample of my favorites from the year organized by location or theme, presented in alphabetical order.
Adobe MAX Bash Concert with 21 Pilots
Photographing the MAX Bash concert is always a high point. Most top tier concerts restrict the use of long camera lenses, but not so at Max, so I try to take full advantage.
This year I squeezed my way through a crowd of attendees who were probably my kids age. I found myself close enough to capture some nice shots. At one point the drummer surfed the crowd on a plywood board and I found myself under him. By some miracle I caught one great shot.
Abstracts and Architecture
Architecture is always a favorite subject to photograph. I like the graphic, abstract quality of lines and shapes.
Art
I like to contemplate the following question as I photograph art.
Is my image simply documenting someone else's art, or does it tell its own story?
Aspen
I visited Aspen for the first time in 2022. These are just a few favorite shots. See my separate Anderson Ranch Arts Center 2022 story for many more.
Balboa Park
In July I spent a hot afternoon walking around Balboa Park by myself. While there, I attended the Pride festival. These are a few of my favorite shots from the Japanese Gardens and Pride.
California Coast
2022 included visits to our local San Diego beaches, Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, Pebble Beach, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Big Sur.
Washington DC
Despite not feeling well while in DC for the Creative Pro Week Conference, I saw and photographed as much of DC as I could. This included a 4am wakeup for a sunrise photoshoot at the Lincoln Memorial.
This set of images is organized by DC landmark in alphabetical order.
U.S. Air Force Memorial
This was my first visit to the Air Force Memorial. I enjoyed photographing it.
U.S. Capitol
In the morning before heading home, I walked the entire Mall and circumnavigated the Capitol. It was a good time to visit because the crowds were still small. I took portraits from every angle.
Previously, during the week, I had participated in a private Photoshop presentation for US House of Reps with my friend Kladi. This provided us access inside of the Capitol during a time public tours were still suspended.
Lincoln Memorial
I visited the Lincoln Memorial three times during the same week. This wasn't my first visit and I hope it's not my last. The memorial is a special place. It feels sacred being there.
During this visit, I thought about how the Lincoln Memorial has been there for 100 years and probably photographed a million times or more. My catalog alone is full of many nice captures from past visits.
Despite Lincoln's unchanging appearance, the experience of trying to capture the essence of the space does not get old. I hope that 100 years from now visitors are still enjoying it exactly the way it looks today.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
I made a very quick visit to MLK to pay my respects and capture a few images.
9/11 Pentagon Memorial
The CPW conference was in Crystal City, just a couple metro stops from the Pentagon, making this a convenient place to visit. I'm grateful for taking time to see it. The memorial has fewer crowds and is unlike any of the others.
Vietnam Memorial
I visited the Vietnam Memorial with my friend Celeste in the early morning after photographing Lincoln. This quiet morning visit felt especially somber.
Washington Monument
Favorite Images Continued
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
I took advantage of my annual pass and visited the park numerous times in 2022, always with my camera in hand.
Santa Barbara Marina
I photographed along this area with each visit to Santa Barbara.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, designed by Frank Gehry, is a photographer's paradise. Great compositions and interesting reflections present themselves from every angle. It's hard not to take a good photo of this building. I visited three times in 2022 and collected a lot of pleasing images.
Illustrations
I created a handful of illustrations this year. Not as many as I wished for though, so I set a goal to improve my drawing output for 2023. All of these were drawn with Procreate on my iPad. I used Procreate because I was preparing to teach it at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
Selfies
I upped my selfie game in 2022 by changing the way I think of them. Selfies are a great way to document where I have been, who I have spent time with, and how I felt at that moment in time.
I published a complete set in a separate story, just for me, but you can look too, Selfies 2022. I think they represent a truthful document of my year, and I’m glad I captured them.
Gratitude
I’m closing out 2022 grateful for family, my parents still present, good health, beautiful surroundings, creative inspiration, adventures, friends, in-person events, skills, and opportunity to teach and inspire others.
If you are still reading, I am grateful for your attention too.
Credits:
Theresa Jackson, Blaise Jackson