I guess a lot of photographers have That Place – the one they go to when they’re stuck, when it’s hard to get going, when they’re bored.

This place is That Place for me, a run down little church about a half-hour’s drive from my house. The first time I posted an image of this place was in March 2012.

And a quick visit back to that post was surprisingly emotional: 2012 was the year that my dear friend Laurie gave herself the challenge of posting a comment, in the form of a haiku, every day. And there was her haiku, in the comments of this old post. At some point I promoted her haiku and my photos to their own blog, and kept it going with my own verse from 2013 until now. Laurie passed away two years ago. I still miss her and am grateful for the impact she had on my life: I would not be a photographer without her guidance. I would not be a poet without her encouragement.

New Home, Texas
photographed 5.14.2023