What do your Facebook pictures say about you?

Take a look at your Facebook pictures and you are likely to get a glimpse of your life … relative to your activities, values, interests, etc. I took some time to take a look at mine recently. It prompted memories and a sense that life is moving along as well as a snapshot of the things I have been doing.

Here’s what I found my Facebook pictures tell the story of over the past 4+ years. The pictures describe these 5 areas of my life: Coffee, Travel, Hiking, Scenery, Friends, Significant Events.

Coffee!

Here is one of my favorite coffee shots called Cow. Funny how some didn’t get it. And this wasn’t set up. When

I was drinking coffee one weekend morning at Lux Coffee and was waking up, I guess, because I took a picture of my coffee cup. I think I was bored. I then posted it to Twitter. After a few more what I began calling Saturday morning coffee shots, more and more people started commenting on them. Ruth, a Twitter follower from Great Britain even laughed at one and asked what was up with them.

This was the first coffee shot. My friend Steve Garufi suggested I start an album of them on Facebook and today it is probably one of the most looked at set of pictures. My coffee shots total over 111. I often have friends now sending me their own coffee shots. Steve and I both started web sites on them too. Crazy.

The point? Coffee is something I enjoy and find connects with others. And based on this Facebook album, they are growing.

Travel!

I have a good number of pictures documenting the numerous trips I’ve taken over the last few years. Most were to see my kids (California and Kentucky) or friends back in Colorado.

Here is a shot of Phoenix downtown from take off.

A visit to see Greg took us up to Shasta, CA. That 14er has some serious prominence.

Sure seems like space on these SouthWest Air planes is less and less. Here I am on one of my travels with a coffee shot.

Hiking

After about three decades of not doing any hiking to speak of, I began to get back to it. Hiking is one of those activities you can do all your life. Many of my Facebook pictures are of the hikes I take around the Phoenix valley and the Colorado 14ers I have returned to attempt. Not sure how long I will do those, at least without preparing for them better.

This is the summit of Squaw Peak in the North Valley. It’s my favorite. Short but steep, it is easy to get to and I like that I can access it from the Pointe/Dreamy Draw area.

This is Mt. Sherman, a 14er peak in Colorado. Hiked it 2 years ago with Steve Garufi. It was my first 14er in over 32 years. We hiked it for our birthdays, (my 50th). There is a sense of accomplishment in hiking a 14er. I hope I will be able to safely do these.

Here are my friends Ash and Matt Rambo on the summit of Mt. Humphrey, the high point of Arizona at 12,633 ft. This was the second time this past summer Matt and I hiked it. The earlier summer hike we experienced sustained winds at 50+ MPH with gusts reported near 100 MPH .. and yes, they knocked you off your feet.

Food

I tend to take pictures of food. I thought that was weird until I read that food is the MOST popular picture albums on many of the web’s largest photo sites! Above is my infamous desk burger that is now over 3.5 years old. Looking good, isn’t it?

Sunsets and Valley Scenery

Arizona has nightly displays of awesome. I also find the desert scenery to be inspiring.

The great Saguaros!

Friends

Naturally, a lot of my pictures are of people I consider my friends. And one of the best things of social media is its ability to connect one with past friends. Here is Julie, a former student who is now married and has kids the age that she was when in my class! I am thankful that many former students are now “keeping in touch” using Facebook.

Special times

Best of all, are those pictures of special times. No longer do you need to get out the slide projector (although I really did enjoy watching slide shows). It is nice to look through the pictures of those events with others that you will never forget.

My daughter’s wedding this past May.

A.D. Coleman said, Photographs are of course about their makers, and are to be read for what they disclose in that regard no less than for what they reveal of the world as their makers comprehend, invent, and describe it.

Through the eyes of Facebook pictures we get a glimpse of at least that part of life that we choose to share. While I am selective what I choose to share with others, it’s an authentic representation of things I value and wish to remember.