Conversation, connection and community: Aderonke Bademosi Wilson is offering all three as part of “a unique experience” that begins with the purchase of a calendar.

Let’s Spend the Year Together 2024 spans 14 months beginning in December.

Each month has a theme that a QR code ties to a blog on her website, abwilsonphotography.com.

The first Thursday of each month brings an invitation to join an online discussion of the theme led by an expert on the subject.

For Ms Bademosi Wilson, it was a way of marrying her skills as a communications consultant with her talent as a photographer.

Her pictures have been displayed in a number of exhibits over the years. In 2022 she featured in the Bermuda Biennial at the Bermuda National Gallery, she has also shown her work at Cambridge Beaches under the auspices of Black Pony Gallery.

Her pictures are currently on display at the Ignite offices on Wesley Street.

As she looked through her archives this year she started brainstorming on how to get her “photography into more people's hands and into more spaces”.

A calendar was the obvious way but also obvious was that there were “many, many wonderful photographers” who likely had a similar plan to share their “beautiful work”.

Her focus then became how to differentiate herself; Let’s Spend the Year Together was the solution.

“The calendar is the entryway to the monthly theme. It will take you to the blog which explores that theme in greater detail with an invitation to join the 3C Gathering,” she said.

“It’s an invitation to draw connections, to be in a community and to participate in meaningful conversation each month. In my mind it’s more than a calendar, it's an entryway to greater connection.”

Although always interested in photography she started taking it more seriously after she went out shooting with a friend in 2011. The digital lens camera she purchased that year was a game changer.

Constant practice combined with “a number of classes” have since helped develop her skills.

“Last year I took some time off to travel throughout Southeast Asia for three months, and it was really an opportunity for me to delve into my photography full-time,” she said.

“I travelled and took pictures and the kind of pictures that I captured were really a reflection of my love for abstract imagery. And so that is reflected in the images that are in the calendar – the abstracts are colourful; they’re inviting.”

The calendar falls under the umbrella of her company, AB Wilson Consulting.

“I am a communications, facilitation and change management professional. I empower and support leaders and teams to implement sustainable change through appreciative facilitation and enhanced communication practices,” said Ms Bademosi Wilson, the former head of Bermuda’s Department of Communications. “I believe in thriving through change. I have extensive experience in change management, facilitation, communications, training, management, strategic planning and project management.”

In a nutshell, her aim is to bring people together despite any change that is going on around them. She hopes to do something similar online, with the community of calendar buyers she hopes to build.

Ms Bademosi Wilson believes many will find it useful after the “loneliness and isolation” of the pandemic.

“We're not as connected as we have been in the past,” she said. “So my view is the 3C gatherings will help to begin to address that; will give participants opportunities to really have meaningful conversations that lead to connections that ultimately lead to community.”

Reflection, love, strength, inner peace and solitude are some of the themes that will be raised over the next 14 months.

“Being online allows us to literally be global. So it's not just for people in Bermuda. It’s for people, whoever, wherever they are, who want to participate.”

The workshops take place at 7.30pm Bermuda time. “That will make it 6.30 on the East Coast, 11.30 in the UK and so on around the world. So we're absolutely inviting people wherever they are, to participate.”

December’s theme is Upon Reflection. Admission into the group chat for that month only, is free of charge. People can sign up on abwilsonphotography.com.

The cost of the calendar is $25. Copies will be available at the Bookmart and retailers across the island. Ms Bademosi Wilson will sign copies at the Bookmart on November 10 between 11am and 2pm. For more information: abwilsonconsulting.com; abwilsonphotography.com