I always start the new year by looking back over my photos from the past year. As has become my tradition, I select my favorites from the thousands I’ve amassed over the past 12 months – never an easy feat. From 2014, here they are:
14. I loved this piece of street art. The artist took old boxes, painted them, then covered the inside of the barrier that protects the sidewalk of a construction site. The sideways drips, bold pattern, and pops of red caught my eye immediately.
13. I passed an old garage while walking down Broadway. The big door was open, and I first spotted the bike. I peeked into get a better look, and saw these two beautiful classics highlighted by the sunshine streaming in. A quick shot before the mechanics noticed I was there.
12. My niece got married this year and I catered the dessert bar shower. I took pics of everything but the color and symmetry of these key lime tarts was a pleasant surprise.
11. In March, I interviewed Katherine Anne from Katherine Anne Confections – a small shop in Chicago specializing in handmade confections. I was there on a Monday, when the shop is closed to the public and the candies are made. It smelled heavenly and I was enamored with the attention to detail on every piece.
10. Every year on Memorial Day, I ride to Rosehill Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Chicago sitting on 350 acres on the North Side. Every year, they honor hundreds of Civil War veterans buried there. I never stay long enough for the ceremony, but go early before the crowds gather. It was warm that day, with a soft breeze. I leaned my bike and took this shot with the Civil War headstones in the background.
9. (Tie) Women-owned bike shops are popping up all over the country, and Chicago is no exception. This year, I photographed two of the shops’ owners: BFF Bikes in Bucktown for a piece in Momentum Magazine, and Live Grit in the South Loop for their online shop. Yay, girl power!
8. The bane of every cyclist’s existence: the dreaded indoor trainer ride. While possible to ride outside all year round in Chicago, many cyclists (including myself) take to the indoors during the frigid winter months to maintain their fitness and get a jump start on Spring riding. It’s a mind- and other region-numbing undertaking that takes discipline and an awesome playlist.
7. I’d seen small stickers saying “you are beautiful” all over Chicago, posted on lamp posts and street signs, but one day out riding I turned a corner and was confronted with this viaduct wall. The entire surface from one end to the other was covered in this. How could I not stop? It is a powerful piece of street art.
6. I love riding pretty much more than anything else I do. The time I spend wandering the city and beyond is my time to de-stress, relax, and discover. It’s my time to find inspiration. This piece of street type summed up my feeling about riding – and life – in four words.
5. Sometimes the most profound messages are found in unlikely places. I’m always intrigued by the messages I find scrawled around the city. I love the passion that comes through in the street art I find. This one gets my vote every time.
4. ARTCRANK stages live events featuring bicycle-inspired posters created by local artists. This year, I was the official photographer of the Chicago event. I turned around to shoot this venue shot and my friend JP just happened to be standing there with his back to me, wearing his Chicago flag cycling cap. Perfect timing. 
3. PAWS Chicago holds a yearly 36-hour Adopt-a-thon around the holidays to encourage people to adopt the many cats and dogs they have available. This year, I photographed the event, spending time with the animals housed there (hopefully temporarily). This cat was beautiful and shy, but allowed me to photograph her. I’m in love with this shot. I hope she found a home that weekend.
2. We had just finished dinner and found this random chair while heading back to the car. I told him to sit down so I could take his picture. That look on his face captures exactly who he is to me.
1. With sadness, I close this year remembering the loss of one of my oldest and dearest friends. There is a hole in my heart that will never be filled again. While arranging for their final destination in Santa Fe, my friend’s beloved dogs stayed with me for a few weeks. I was driving with them back to my place and unzipped the carrier on the way. Out popped these two sweet faces. It was a bittersweet moment I won’t soon forget.
Happy New Year everyone. I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings!
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