Contest times is pretty much over. Now I focus on the new year, a time of introspection for the mind and examination of the work. Yesterday I spoke to a wonderful group of high school students from the readership area in a program Sun reporters John-John Williams and Laura McCandlish have put together with some of our fellow staffers. It was a complete hoot, and I loved it.

And now I slip into a quick photographic funk for no reason other than pure envy. This is after a week of feeling good about myself and the work I am doing. It seems, apparently, I am going in the right direction. But after the presentation I reviewed my contest entries. I also looked at some of the other blogs and pages by people I know or have worked with: Rob Finch's Pictures, Chris Detrick's My Life at f/22, Scott Strazzante's The Season. Also Alison V. Smith's Superficial Snapshots and Todd Heisler's amazing page.

There's no comparison. These brothers and sister of the lens love photography as I do, but they seem to be in a place, an enlightened space, that I cannot seem to find, no matter how hard I try. Their pictures are them and they are their pictures. They seem to have the balance I am looking for and make it work with family and the photography.

In Chicago we had such a strong group of people who "talked photo" and shared their thoughts and ideas freely, making each other better, intellectualizing the discussions on the work and how it fit in the world at large. Here at The Sun we get it at times, but not in the same way. I really miss it.

Somehow, after riding so high all week about photography, it seems my wheels are stuck and the wings have heavy ice. Are my photographs any better? Have I grown? Can I still attain the next level?

In any case, I am having my role change at The Sun. For the next six months I will be part of the team working on the new pagination system that will encompass words, design, editing and photography. It is the foundation that brings them all together so the printed page can be made and shipped from Sun Park to the masses. Throughout this time I will continue to blog but in a more general sense and not so much about my work but that of others.

Also, I created a flickr Photo Edge group where Photo Edge readers can share their photographs and comments. Soon it will be linked with the blog itself. Look for some new and exciting features in the next week or two. Keep reading, send in your questions and let me know what you think.