Finding Beautiful

Originally posted on “Story Behind the Still” Wordpress blog on August 27th, 2016.

This quest to find “beautiful” has been going on for a few months now, since April of 2015 really.

I don’t remember where it all began or what really set it off this yearning, but what I do know it that it’s a burning desire I have — one that I believe I’ve had all my life but am just now truly starting to actively search for.

Being a photographer I am always looking for potential photos – I never want to miss a moment. In fact, I honestly think I see things like I’m looking through my camera’s viewfinder – always focusing on details and analyzing what’s in front of and happening around me.

So the story behind the stills today are this: I’m no longer settling for just catching beautiful whenever it comes my way – no, I’ll be actively searching for it. And as a side note, everybody defines “beautiful” differently; I happen to find it all around me.

And the fantastic thing about this Fall 2016 semester is that I don’t have classes on Friday, giving me a PERFECT opportunity to take the mornings to go adventure around Gainesville and the surrounding areas – to search for beautiful and develop my craft of photography and my portfolio!

And this won’t be easy. I’m not going around to do things I’ve already done; I’m going to challenge myself on these adventures. I’m going to push myself to go outside of my comfort zone, knowing and accepting that I’ll mess up while doing this. But, I’m doing this also knowing that it’s okay to fail, to mess up, to not do it perfectly. It’s okay because in order to get better I have to try and do is repeatedly in order to grow my skill set.

So today was my first “official” photo adventure!!! I journeyed to the East Coast of Florida to Marineland Beach!

And yes, I am completely aware that I am posting this on a Saturday.

My first lesson thus far? Jaclyn does not do well with lack of sleep… i.e. sleeping through one’s alarm at 4:15 in the morning to catch the sunrise. Sooo I missed Friday and went on Saturday! Woo hoo!

My trip to Marineland Beach was absolutely gorgeous and I will most DEFINITELY be going back at some point. I’m not finished with it yet 

I learned many things today, but I’ll end with this:

I’ve got a heart for adventure and I’m finally allowing it to run free.

~ Jaclyn