Above everything else, 2013 was the year in which I really got into photography. I still have to learn SO much about it, but I love images more than ever. I feel more comfortable about letting photos tell the story and what I want to say — and maybe, the words don’t even come to me as easily as the ability to spot an aesthetic combination of composition, light, and shapes.

In 2013, I really enjoyed doing seasonal photo summaries of my life in Germany. In many ways these photo essays were just random everyday observations, but I cherished how seeing my life through the lens made me more aware of my surroundings.

Sometimes I tend to forget that my home country is picture-worthy, because I don’t have to get on a plane to see it. But there has to be a reason Germany is among the Top 10 Most Visited Countries of the World, right? I sometimes just overlook that my country is actually quite pretty and by forcing myself to take my camera for a stroll to find beauty at my doorstep I found a great way to keep myself from only seeing the dull features of my everyday life.

This season, I wanted to share my newly discovered love for Christmassy Germany, for half-timbered houses with Christmas lights, sweet treats and brightly lit shop fronts — and my personal impression of Christmastime in Germany, from on the road in four different states to my parent’s Christmas tree in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. Because this is what Christmas in Germany looks and feels like for me.

And of course: Merry Christmas to all of you!