Good News

Today I recieved an email informing me of the acceptance of one of my photographs for publication in the next issue of the UTD Sojourn Journal of The Arts. I am very happy about this. It motivates me to keep going. One publication is the beginning, more will come. I will show the world beauty and truth through my photographs. I know this is only the beginning.

Hooked on it...

I have discovered I love to fish. I sorta knew it, but now I know it's therapeutic. I found a good spot to fish over on Renner and Synergy. I caught six small mouth bass in less than 45 minutes, and four of those were two in a row catches. I also had a few get away. It was a nice way to relax, but I left because the bugs were eating me up...

On Photography

Black and white photography is beautiful. It's not what the photograph looks like that is captivating, but what is in the photograph that draws all the attention. It's hard to have a good subject matter and composition, but when you find what you need to have in the picture, it's beautiful.
Color photography, in comparison, is only beautiful when the colors are perfect. It is hard to have perfect color, but it's possible. Blue eyes to me are beautiful. In a photograph, showing blue eyes is hard, but with deep rich colors, it is amazing.

The Last Couple of Weeks

It feels like I am nearing the close of yet another chapter in my life. New York will be the a small interlude in which important things might happen, but after New York is something totally new. I as of yet do not have a place to live before I move into the UNT dorms on Sunday, August 21st. I am not worried about it, however. There is that week and a half where I might be floating around. I need to move my things out of this house before New York. Also move myself out before New York.
One of the things I am most scared of concerning this trip is the flight there and back. I am terrified that if I die, I will not have finished things I started. I am not afraid of dying for my sake, but for the sake of people I love. This is my biggest fear.
On a lighter, sooner note, I will be going on a trip tonight to go float down the Caddo river. I love these get away times. Last time was El Paso, the week before that was camping, and this weekend it will be floating down a river in Arkansas. School is almost over for the summer. Just a few more class times. Almost there.
There is a lesson to be learned in everything. For me, the lesson I have learned lately is that I don't need tests to tell me what I should already know about myself. I was surprised at how accurate the test was, but I was more suprised what I knew those things about myself. I felt good knowing I knew myself. Do you?
I need to start packing... both for floating and to move out.

My Strength

I took a strength finder test the other day and it told me what I already knew but in words that make sense to other people.

Mine is Connectedness.

The book describes it as such:
Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life's mysteries.

Green Light

Yesterday, while driving, I came to a stop at a light behind another car. I wanted to turn right, and the car in front of me wanted to go straight. I was angry because he could have stop at the other lane which both goes straight and can turn left. The driver however stopped in front of me. There were no cars coming from the left, and i could have turned a long time before the light turned green had he stopped at the other lane.
Waiting at the light, I heard a bird singing. It was late at night, and I was in the city. The wind blowing into the car was cool, and the birds song was soothing. Last week I went camping and was woken up by a bird singing very early in the morning in a tree near my tent. I had put my pillow over my head and had tried to go back to sleep. I got up after a few minutes. Outside the sky was a dark shade of blue and in the eastern sky the sun shone red. I watched it rise few inches and listened to the song of the bird. When life gives you these moments, you don't want to let go.
The light turned green and the car in front of me sped off. I listened to the bird singing and stepped on the gas pedal. "It's about time," I said, and turned right.