Experience the world through your own eyes.

Growing up artsy, I seem to find an appreciation in many of my life’s simple wonders. A few of my very favorite things are the way a sunset shines behind the leaves of trees, bushes illuminated to the brightest of green and warm Summer evenings. I find myself taking photos of everything.

The other evening, the sun was shining through the trees at a marvelous angle, illuminating the beautiful foliage while we were driving down the hill. I obviously was taking photos, watching the view from my camera; completely in awe of it all. After about five minutes, the sunset went behind the hill and the illumination and sparkle, stopped. Something dawned on me as I got back into the car and looked at my photos. I had been so obsessed with getting the perfect setting on my camera and lining up the perfect shot, that I had not actually appreciated that moment by just experiencing it. The magical Summer evening sunset moment - was gone. I had not actually taken time to appreciate the beauty in that moment myself (without my camera).

No matter how many photos I take or how good the lighting is, I will never get the overall in the moment feeling from a photo. I have many moments and memories recorded, but not as many moments and memories thoroughly experienced without the camera. The number of amazing moments that I have missed from being behind the lens, is very high. Let this remind you to really take in the worlds beauty – with your own eyes.