Photography....Photography...

So I was sitting around today and looking at some friend's engagement photographs and I thought...I should write about photography. Plain and simple. That is how this post came about. Ok. So now you know.

I am constantly surrounded by incredibly gifted photographers and I check out their stuff from time to time. At this point in my life all I have for photography is a natural liking and interest. Let's add on top of that an amazing amount of appreciation. So many details go in to this particular art. Here is what I've noticed about good photographers. First and foremost- (some of them might hate me for this) they are excellent with people. You can't really show an incredible side of life if its all freaked out, nervous, jittery, and self-editing. These artist have to be people who make others feel at ease, or else they just shoot food, nature and architecture I guess. I think you can know all there is to know about lighting and it not be enough because you weird people out to the point that all your pictures turn out terrible. So that's one thing I know for sure about photography.

The second is lighting. Oh MY GOODNESS. Lighting is essential. I mean I know people say that all the time, but you guys...I'm here to tell you it is true. Bad lighting= not good. Great lighting= excellent show stopping pictures. Now here's what I think, since you are reading this we will assume you care, good lighting you might not notice, but bad lighting, oh bad lighting you will for sure! It can be just the smallest little change that makes the biggest difference.

I'll add more to this later, but a recommendation of mine is befriend a photographer. They are excellent people to keep company with! They tend to be quite passionate about their art and will gladly explain their learnings/findings.

Spring, Sigur Ros, Progress and Potential

A small note that none of you may realize...I must stop trying to title my blog posts before I write them.

Ok enough of that randomness. So on one of the greatest days to be thankful...here goes a plethora of thankfulness. In absolutely no particular order, except when they pop into my head.

1. Music. I love it. I love those moments when the music or the song is the exact one you want to hear at that moment. Where it makes me close my eyes and just smile (So long as I am not driving.) It's like someone is creating a soundtrack for your life and they just got it right. Music that I love right now? Sigur Ros. Those guys just let me take a deep breath. And most country music. Now I know this is a wide range of appreciation, but I've been missing my grandparents and well my "roots" lately for that matter. Country music reminds me of all of that. It grounds me. So there. I said it. Bluegrass to Reba. Give it all to me today.

2. Jesus. What sweet salvation. My depraved, lost, damned life has be REDEEMED. It has been restored. Given breath. I was lost. Confused. Blind. Empty. Aching. He came so that I might have joy. Abundant joy. Even with trials and tests- Christ has saved me. HE loves me. HE sought me. Why would I not be overjoyed?

3. Fantastic weather. I love Spring. It is my favorite season. Yeah I know the pollen sucks, but everything has life again. I can eat outside. I can read outside. I can sleep outside. The days are longer so I can take walks with friends for hours on end. Sometimes I get so excited about Spring I could run around in circles.

4. My friends. I love them. They inspire me. However, one of the things I love most about them is that they love me and that brings so many other things into play. That means they listen. They try their best to empathize with me. They challenge me and ask me the tough questions. They are protective. (One of the things I cherish most about them.) They are my support. I am a communicator and sometimes an over-communicator and they let me talk things out. Even when they are exhausted.

5. Quiet time. Slowing down. Having the fortunate opportunity to think and just clear my head.

6. Progress. If you knew me a year ago  you would see the road behind me and see how far the Lord has brought me. My soul has come so far. It still has a long way to go. By no means am I tooting my own horn here, but how glorious! It is amazing to see the progress that's been made in a matter of months. I'm not even the same person. I don't know her. (But that's another post. Read an old one. I'm sure you'll get the picture.) Forward progression. It gives me a heart for those that are stuck or feel hopeless. You are not alone. Keep moving. It'll take time but be gracious with yourself. You will heal faster than you realize. Try your hardest to not look back. Know that that brings little good to you. I am not saying don't recognize where you have come from, but don't look wishfully back or shamefully for that matter.

7. Potential. There are so many possibilities right now. I am just really optimistic about them all. So here's to potential in a great many areas of my life.