So, November...

has turned out nothing like I had planned.

Life's like that sometimes.

But I'm determined to get back on track, refocus my energies and finish a few reviews!

Thank you all for your patience, and a BIG thank you to Nancy for reviewing her little heart out and maintaining her #AusReadingMonth enthusiasm despite my intermittent attention.

Not all of my recent preoccupations have been sad ones though.

I also had the excitement of preparing for my very first photographic exhibition.

Earlier in the year, I was approached by our local library to share my Cuba photos for public display.

They had spotted my holiday photos on Instagram and thought they would make an interesting exhibition.

I had never done anything like that before, so I nervously said yes.

Back in January, when I took my 1000+ Cuba photos, my only intention had been to document our holiday.

However, I’ve always had a fascination with the art of photography. 

When I got my first iPhone in 2011, the first app I downloaded was Instagram. 

I quickly discovered @fatmumslim and her daily photo challenge. 

She inspired my eye and my photo choice.

Her word prompts are usually adjectives or nouns, but occasionally she throws in a photographic technique.

Over the years I discovered the joys of macro photography, the rule of three, playing with light and shadow, depth of field and many more. 

My love of photography is a hobby, not a profession.

Any skills I have gained are from practice, practice, practice.

One of my favourite photographic techniques is leading lines. 

I love angles and diagonals and I knew that Cuban architecture would give me plenty of opportunity to play around with this.

Santiago de Cuba

I’m also attracted to colour.

Another big plus when travelling in Cuba!

Havana

We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived in Cuba. 

It’s certainly the flavour of the month in travel destinations right now. 

We had a strong sense of wanting to see Cuba and experience it, before the rest of the world arrived. From the minute we announced our travel plans, we were inundated with questions and curiosity. 

We had our own expectations and assumptions. 

Cuba met and confounded them all!

Trinidad

My Instagram photos of our time in Cuba have attracted worldwide attention and comment all year. 

People want to know what it’s like there now, after 60 years of socialism. 

They want to know about the old cars, the colourful buildings, the music and the people. 

My photos capture the light and shadow, the vibrancy and decay, the new and the old. 

Each scene stands on its own; an image captured in time. 

Together they tell my story of travelling through Cuba.

You can see more of my Cuba photos on my other (photographic) blog, Four Seasons.

But for now, here is me, looking slightly stunned and bemused on Thursday evening, as everyone gathered around to see my Cuba photos officially launched!