How to go on an adventure.

Do you find yourself waking up every morning at the same time, going to the same job, doing the same things, eating the same lunch, seeing the same people, etc., etc.? Me too! I sometimes feel stuck in my own life, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.

Here’s the thing, just because you feel stuck doesn’t mean there is something wrong with your life. It just means that you’re in a rut and you need a change of pace.

Studies show that animals need a changing environment to maintain cognitive health. For example, many people will rotate their dog’s toys every week. Basically, they have half of the dogs toys available to the dog, and the other half are tucked away and hidden. Once a week they are rotated, and to the dog, it’s like getting all new toys each week!

So maybe you can’t afford to take a vacation all the time, or you can’t get away from your work. That’s okay! Just try implementing small changes in your life.

Instead of waking up at your normal time, force yourself to wake up 30 minutes earlier and do an easy 15 minute exercise. Listen to some different music on your way to work, and maybe take a different route! Go out for lunch for once (or bring your own lunch if you often go out). Join a club and meet some new people, or just make some small talk wherever you go! You don’t have to do these things all the time, but if you’re getting a little bored, try something new.

I often find myself wanting to do the same things over and over again every day because it’s what I’m familiar with and it’s what is comfortable to me. Because of that, I don’t always go out and take photos as often as I should, or I put off all the editing that I need to do. When I’m in those moods, I try to change things up to get myself out of the rut.

Adventures don’t have to be anything extravagant. Most of the time, it’s about the attitude. We get stuck because we get too comfortable. Being comfortable feels good for a reason, but if we get too set in our ways, it can ironically make us uncomfortable.

So go out and make a change. Make your own adventure. Be spontaneous! Most of all, don’t let your rut turn you against yourself!

∆ Abbi

6 Ways Cope When You're In a Slump

The last few weeks have been quite a motivational struggle for me. I know I am not the only one. It’s getting colder, it’s getting darker, and for those of you in Iowa, you know the weather has been absolutely terrible!

I would say most if not all of us will experience a slump at some point in our life, but you can’t let it discourage you. There are ways that can help alleviate these feelings of idleness. These are a few things that I do.

Drink Tea

Having a warm drink can soothe your body and mind. Tea is aromatic, too, and that can really help you feel a lot better! I usually go for an herbal tea that does not have caffeine, or a green tea that has minimal caffeine. Either way, drinking tea is a great way to settle you down, warm you up, and keep you hydrated.

Meditate

Meditation is a great way to balance your mind, and you don’t always have to set aside a lot of time to do it. Throughout my day, I will close my eyes and focus on a feeling or sound for about 10 seconds or so. Breathing is also important when you do this! When I focus on a positive feeling or sound, it reboots my thinking onto a more motivated path.

Go To Bed Early

It’s important to get enough sleep each night, because you literally need sleep to survive. If I am having a bad day, sometimes an extra hour of sleep can make a big difference. I wake up feeling a lot more positive and ready for another day.

Talk To Friends and Family

Socialize! Call somebody on the phone and have a real conversation with them. It doesn’t have to be about your day or about how you’re feeling, but having a casual conversation with another person can really boost your spirits. I like to talk to my brother, parents, or even my grandparents!

Cuddle/Play With My Dog

Dogs are great because they’re always up for an adventure, even if it’s just throwing a ball down the hallway! You’ll spot my dog, PJ, a few times in my Pet Photography Gallery. He’s the black dog with white chest markings and socks. Giving him extra play time and belly scratches always makes me feel happy and it makes him happier too. If you have a pet, give them some extra attention. It’ll be good for both of you!

Do the Task That I’m Dreading

Sometimes it’s best to just rip off the bandage. Putting off the dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc. makes my lack of motivation even worse in many cases. If I can muster up the energy to just do the tasks that I don’t want to do, most of the time, it will push me to do more and my motivation problem is gone! The hardest part is starting.

We can’t let our slump get the best of us, because we are all better than that. Ask others for help and learn to rely on yourself for motivation. If you can do those things, you will be okay!

∆ Abbi

What Happens When You Procrastinate

It is literally 6:00am on September 26 as I am writing this. Due to this situation, this blog post will remain pretty brief, but I will do what I can with the time that I have! Now this post might sound angry, but I assure you, it is not. I hope it brings inspiration to those of you who read it!

Clearly, I have been procrastinating a bit this week. Some of it is due to unforeseen circumstances in my life, but it’s mostly because I didn’t put the time in.  

When you procrastinate, you’re not only holding others back, you’re holding yourself back. That isn’t fair to anybody. 

Life is going to kick you over, knock you down and push you around, but you can’t let it stop you from focusing on your goals. You can blame other people or situations for your failures and shortcomings, but it’s nobody’s fault but your own.  

“Wow, Abbi, that’s kind of harsh, isn’t it?” 

Yeah, it is. There are tough realities in life, but you have to prove that you can overcome them. Some are easier to overcome than others, but sooner or later, you can conquer anything.

 ∆ Abbi

6 Things to Consider Before You Buy a Camera

Whether you are a serious photographer or a casual one, choosing a camera can be tricky. There are so many things to know and consider when making that important decision. Hopefully, these 6 things can help you make the right choice for you!

Point and Shoot vs. DSLR

The question you need to ask yourself is: What kind of photos are you looking to shoot? For many people, a point and shoot is all you need. But in many other cases, you might want to bring your photography to the next level. If you are opting for the more simple option, you may want to consider a point and shoot. However, phone cameras these days are becoming more and more advanced.

If you have a smart phone, that might be all you need, but you can find other point and shoot cameras that have the ability to zoom farther and possibly achieve higher quality photos. If you’re looking for higher quality, though, you might want to consider getting a DSLR, or Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. These cameras allow you to change lenses and manually choose exposure and focus settings at a completely different level.

If you are looking to purchase a DSLR, keep reading!

Brand

There are plenty of brands to choose from, which can be a blessing and a curse. Of course there are the typical two rivals, Nikon and Canon, but there are a lot of other contenders such as Sony, Fujifilm, Pentax, Olympus, Leica, etc.

Traditionally, Nikon is known for doing better with still photographs, while Canon is known to be better with video, but truthfully, you can achieve great photos and video with both brands. Sony, too, is moving up in the game and plenty of people are switching to Sony.

Personally, I use Nikon because it is what I started with and it is what I am used to. I have been completely satisfied with Nikon so far, so I would definitely recommend it! That being said though, it’s really all about preference.

There are plenty of places that will rent out cameras (and lenses) so you can try them out before you buy them. If you want to try different brands without the commitment, renting is a great option!

Price Range

Are you a beginner photographer? Advanced? Professional? There is a camera for every level. If you are a beginner, I definitely recommend getting a beginner camera until you learn the more technical skills involved with photography. The higher quality cameras can allow you to create higher quality images, but you won’t be able to get those images until you know more about how to use the camera.

Some great beginner DSLR cameras I would recommend are the Nikon D3200 or D3400 or the Canon T5i or T6i. Once you feel like you are being limited by your equipment, instead of the other way around, that’s when it’s time to upgrade!

Features and Specifications

What kinds of things will you be taking photos of? The features and specifications of the camera are important when answering that question. For example, if you will be using your camera in dark situations, like at concerts, a dimly-lit wedding venue or the night sky, you will want a camera that can perform well in these specific circumstances.

You want to look for a camera that maintains quality photographs at a high ISO, or International Organization of Standardization. The ISO determines how sensitive the camera’s sensor is to the light. The higher you set your ISO, the more you compromise the quality of the image, so it’s important to choose a camera that is designed to perform better in low light.

Look for cameras with a higher range in ISO. Ranges start at 100 ISO but can go to anywhere from 6,400 (in the Nikon D3200, a beginner camera) all the way up to 102,400 (in the Nikon D5, a professional camera).

Other specifications you need to look at are sensor sizes, aperture, focus points and shutter speeds. But you’re a beginner, you will do best getting a beginner camera and learning the importance of these things in a hands-on way. There are too many details on this subject to cover in this post alone, so I will come back to this subject another time!

Ergonomics and Size

If you plan on carrying your camera around for long periods of time, it’s important to make sure it is comfortable. This may not be a significant factor to some people, but it’s definitely something to consider. Do you travel a lot? It might be a good idea to find something more compact. Of course, you can travel with a big camera, it just depends on what you are willing to manage.

User Interface

If you’re new to DSLR cameras, there will be a bit of a learning curve when navigating the menu and settings. Since each brand is different, each has its own style of user interface. If you want to get a taste for what each brand has to offer, you can try out cameras at an electronics store or, again, you can rent a couple different cameras and see what works best for you! It’s important to be able to navigate your camera efficiently so don’t miss that once-in-a-lifetime shot!

There are definitely more things that you can consider, but these are the six main things that I personally take into consideration before I buy a new camera. If you have a camera that you love and are comfortable with, it will show in your photography!

What are the things you look for in a camera? What aspects did I leave out? Let me know in the comments!

∆ Abbi

San Diego 2018 Video

Visiting San Diego was genuinely one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. Here is a video of the highlights! I’d love to hear what you think! Enjoy!

∆ Abbi

Music: bensound.com