Amazing things happen when I stop trying to be someone I’m not. Stop trying to take someone else’s photos, follow someone else’s inspiration. See, for years now I’ve ravenously explored other photographers’ work. Now, don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with looking at, admiring and even emulating other work. The problem, for me, came when I realized I wasn’t just admiring and trying to emulate. I was trying to BE someone I’m not. Can I make a similar image to one I’ve seen and loved? Sure. I have done a pretty decent job of it as well. But it still lacked that certain something. That oomph. That “thing” that made my heart sing and my brain say “now THAT’S why I do this”. I have even read other photographer’s techniques and tried to use them thinking they would make me a better photographer. And, you know what? It didn’t. It won’t. You know why? Because I can only use the talents God has given me. I am not expected to be someone else. I am not expected to shoot photographs like someone else. I shouldn’t try. God made me to be me, no one else. And it is amazing what happens when I finally get that lesson through my thick skull and started putting it into practice. Last night I had a shoot with the lovely Lizzie B. (Not my Lizzy B.) Now, first I have to admit that it is difficult to shoot a bad picture of Lizzie. She’s gorgeous. On top of that, she’s the type of client I truly enjoy working with. Never seems like work with her. It is an afternoon of fun, the entire experience is enjoyable. Lizzie always has ideas and things she wants to try. Poses she likes and poses she definitely DOESN’T like. That’s information I can work with. Our shoot last night saw a bit of rain, just like the last one we had. This time, however, we only saw light sprinkles rather than the torrential downpour of last time. When I got home I was pretty sure I’d gotten a couple really good shots and the rest would be culled and sorted, showing only the best ones. Finally sat down at my computer around 9pm to download all the images and get ready to proof the “sneak peak” I like to send as soon after the shoot as possible. I opened up the files and the shots that I was expecting to be “really good” were amazing. Something just clicked last night and Lizzie made some gorgeous portraits. Very Cinderalla, ethereal, “I’m waiting for my Prince Charming”. Exactly what I had in mind when I set out to take her pictures. I can’t show you any of them yet. They are going on the save the date cards and announcements for her Quinceañera in November. Don’t want to spoil the surprise of those! When I can show you, I will. For now, trust me, they are perfect! I am regularly awed at how God works in my life. Little ole’ me. He has plans for little ole’ me. That just takes my breath away. He’s been molding and shaping me lately and I seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. It has taken me 35 years to discover that it is ok to be me. It is more than ok, it is what I should be doing. I am who I am in Christ and nothing can change that. His view of me is way beyond anything I can even imagine or think and that, my friends, is incredible.

Took our first nature walk of the summer today at Hidden Pond in Springfield.  Such a lovely place tucked away in the city.  You’d basically never know that  you were surrounded by civilization by looking around.  Well, except that you have to drive through it to get into the area.

There were several turtle sightings but none caught on camera very well.

Katy stopped to draw the fungi on the log.  We were trying very hard to slow down and really see what we could find.  Enjoying the small things that in our haste to finish the trail we might have missed.  The calling of birds, the fallen logs, the bugs and tracks.

We followed the path of this creek for quite a while.  The girls had fun having races with leaves.  They found water bugs, minnows, animal tracks and all sorts of interesting tid bits.

Steven found tons of wildlife for us.  Too bad it happened to be the mosquito variety.

All of my girls are talented.  I’m not bragging, they just each have very different abilities that they excel in.  Lizzy is a keen observer.  We jokingly call her the “Eagle Eye” because she’ll spot things that no one else sees unless she points them out to us specifically and we strain our feeble eyes to find the object.  She found several things today that I had to go back and look for because I couldn’t see them the first try.

We saw quite a few of these little guys about.

Lizzy stopped to sketch the butterfly.  About this part of the trail is when Steven and I began to chat about our different approaches and thoughts about the trail and nature walking in general.  He walks in with a goal in mind.  He wants to finish the trail.  He wants to ford the streams and walk the paths, cross the bridges and finish.

I, on the other hand, want to meander through the various highways and byways.  I want to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.  I want to slow down and really look around to see what there is out there.  Tiny butterflies, feathers on the path, berries, deer tracks, strange black dragonflies that we’ve never seen before.

We sort of balance one another out, he and I.  If he was fully in charge of the walk, we’d get in, get out and be done in the minimum amount of time necessary to complete the trail.  If I were fully in charge, we’d be there til Christmas.

Everything was so quiet and peaceful here.  Hard to imagine we were just 20 minutes or so from our house in the hustle and bustle of  D.C.

Emily, of course, found something creepy crawly to play with.

Weather wise, we couldn’t have picked a better day to go.  Barely out of the mid 70’s, overcast, super weather and nothing like the typical July here.  We all wore long pants even.

Lizzy had to show off her bubble making skills.  She’s such a kook.  She always makes me laugh.

Thus ended our first nature walk of the summer.  We plan to go at least once a week to various places around here.  I have oodles of options bookmarked for us to try.  Will be sharing more as we go.