1/19: a night of snow

Finally got the chance to go through some old-ish photos from a few weeks ago.
Here are some of the photos I took on my way home from campus from a snowy Thursday night.

strangers

i have this slight obsession with city lights, especially in snow

looking straight up at the light... :O

alice being adorable

more city lights and snow... with silhouettes! ^_^

1.52

I decided to start a 52 weeks photography/journalish project! WHAT UP, YO.
basically I'm going to take a photo for every week this year and write about it. it's not the taking photos part that will be hard. it'll be the part where I actually go through photos diligently, taking the time to edit (or not edit) them as I choose, and then writing about it. I don't want to make any rules about what kind of photo it will be or what kind of writing it will be.... this project will go where it goes. *shrugs*

pushing, fighting, pulling, waiting, climbing, searching

>

I am restless, looking for You.

it's been a fight. it hasn't been easy... it is so easy to doubt. to fall. to stumble... but God has been so gracious and picked me up so many times. during the struggles, it is so easy to think that God has left you. but He promised that He never will! heart.
this is getting so cheesy. how do you make this not sound cheesy?? it's TRUE AHH



i have no idea what i'm doing with this blog. waha. ah. ahah. 

finals week.

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
-Matthew 6:31-34

I worry. A lot.

About all the wrong things, too. Not that I think there are "right" things to worry about... but most of the things I worry about are material. They do not last outside of this world. Things like grades, items I've misplaced, but mostly grades. God has blessed me so much in that I don't need to worry about what to eat, what to drink, what to wear... but I worry about so much more.
And then there are the other things I worry about. My relationships with people. My future. Am I loving people the way God has called me to? Am I headed in the right direction?

But God has me in the palm of His hand. He is holding me tight and He won't let go. As a friend said to me, He loves me mega ultra much ^_^ I just need to trust Him more.


so why do I worry?
why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need
Your love is strong.

the little things/where i belong.

i think i've begun to lose sight of where i belong.
what i belong to,
who i am.

the craziness of this life has gotten to me.
but He's giving me rest.
much needed rest...
and it's bringing me back.

the little things.

loneliness | solitude

loneliness and solitude are two things not to get confused

because i spend my solitude with You

note to self:

He will never leave.

you are never alone.

don't you dare forget that.

to be vulnerable.

one of my friends wrote an encouragement note to me earlier this year that said "sometimes the most vulnerable parts of us are the most beautiful parts of us."

I had no idea what that meant and why he wrote that when I read that note at first.

but it's hit me that I am so afraid of being vulnerable. I'm afraid of these deeper conversations, of these deeper friendships.

I'm not sure why. it's not that I'm particularly quiet; it's more that I'm quick to laugh, quick to talk about things that don't matter at much. but when it comes to anything deeper, I close off immediately.

there is a definite difference between being quiet and being introverted.

even though I am so introverted, I still need an outlet. writing, photography, and God have been so much more to me this summer than ever before. I have been so afraid to share these with people that I know in real life-I'd so much rather hide behind a screen of red, green, and blue dots.

and what's wrong with hiding behind these colors?

I'm still connecting with people. there are so many people out there that inspire me and bring my spirits up that I've never met in real life. that in some cases, I've never really interacted with - it's just their work speaking to me in ways that are so, so powerful.

I have a question, though.

what is the point of being vulnerable? what is the point of connecting with others? why is this so hard - and why should I care?

canadice lake.

Canadice Lake is an absolutely beautiful lake that is one of the reservoirs for Rochester, NY. since it is a major water source, no developments except for government ones are allowed to be constructed in the park. no swimming, camping, or boating is allowed except for fishing (and only then with a government permit). because it has been so preserved, this lake has almost no lingering effects from humans (litter, dirty water, etc.) and is a great getaway.

here are some photos from the lake... (click to view larger)

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edit 2

sooc

just a quick before and after! all I used to edit these tones were curves and a bit of desaturation :)