And while photography did bring me a lot of joy, I was becoming increasingly aware that seeking joy was also a way to avoid something that I have dreaded since childhood.

Boredom.

I saw many of my hobbies as having this essential focus. Avoiding the dreaded boredom. That’s why I released a CD, Diversionary Music, at the same time as this book, trying to clarify that message.

I considered other sister projects, such as a Diversionary Podcast, though they never caught my interest.

Unlike many, I did not dream of selling my work or finding an audience. I didn’t feel like I had any unifying message to bring to the world (other than wanting to convince women to feel proud of how they look). I just enjoyed taking pictures more than the other activities I felt were on offer. I enjoyed compiling books and it seemed natural to give them as gifts.

I appreciated the compliments people gave, although I felt a little put off that compliments often focused on suggesting that I was “a professional”. Perhaps a bit unfairly, I would often correct them and admit to proudly being an amateur, and explain that, originally, an amateur is someone who does something solely for the love of it.

I was also aware, however, that traveling and taking pictures were starting to lose their charm. At the start of 2019, I planned three trips: Namibia, Norway, and China. After that, I wasn’t sure that I would want to continue. As it turned out, 2019 would spell the end for much of my interest in photography and travel, at least for several years, but that’s another story.

As it happened, I had enough pictures that I wanted to print that I produced this book immediately after Namibia.

The back cover text shows my continued attempts to explain to the world that my photography was not about creating value for others (which would convince them to pay me for it and define me as a professional). My goal was to create value for myself.

My books are about collecting my experiences, both so that I can look back and review them later, and so that I can share them with others I care for.