Speaking To the Soul

not the image I'm talking about

Is it possible to feel nostalgic about the future? Because I think I experienced it today. I saw an image of stormy clouds over some beautiful, beautiful mountains and felt nostalgic about the past, but also the future somehow. I feel calm and relaxed when I see this image. I feel safe and like the weight of what I'm experiencing is suddenly lifted off of my shoulders. That this moment of happiness and peace is going to last a lifetime. Somehow that translated into the future. Having a desire to feel calm, safe, happy in the now.

Sometimes I get asked why I want to be a photographer, and I have never been pleased with my answers. So why is it that I want to be a photographer? It is one of the only ways that I can experience this calm, relaxed state of mind. When all else is failing me, photography is there and settles me. It's why I love rain and overcast skies. I don't need words on pages, or voices to tell me things will get better, I just need the world to show how I feel. The world to speak to my soul. The world that helps me to feel at ease and that if needs be, that it's okay to cry. So that is my answer, being able to feel these emotions through an overall simple photograph of nature, being able to recognize the beauty of the world for what it is, it's a talent I appreciate having and want to share with the world. I have a strong appreciation for the photographers who I feel understand this. I have strong appreciations for photographers that don't strongly edit their photographs, I feel they understand to see the world how it is, and that it doesn't need to be edited.

I see photographs that make me believe for a few small moments that the world is good, that the dangers and scares don't exist any longer. It's not that I refuse to see the real world for what it is, I'm not blind in that aspect, it's just that I believe that we all need a little more happiness and joy in our lives, and well, photography gives me that.

If there's anything that will get you places in the world, it's passion. Passion to create, to love, to share, to live fully. You don't get much without it. If anything, we should all desire to be passionate. I'm always interested in what others are doing, and what they desire to do. It shows me much more of who you are as a person, if I notice how passionate you are about something. If your eyes light up while talking about something or someone. If you keep talking about it, because there's so much to say, even if you think you've said everything there is to say. If you smile while talking about it, and just can't stop. You want others to ask you about it, because again, you want to continually talk about it. Never apologize for being passionate, and over talking. Be passionate, because if you have that, you are more likely to achieve the goals you have, which is something I think all of us would love to do.

Be passionate, and notice the beauty every once in a while,
Mercedes