Nature Inspiration from Percy Warner Park

Last weekend I enjoyed one of Nashville's most beautiful hiking trails at Percy Warner Park. It was my first time visiting and I had a really incredible time exploring all the nature there. It's always nice to just wander through the woods with your friends and have absolutely no obligations other than enjoying the view around you.


It was a gorgeous day with good company and the perfect chance to get out and play around with my camera. I transitioned to a (used) DSLR about a year ago after my point and shoot camera (that survived being dropped in a toilet, RIP) was on the fritz. I'm still not where I want to be with my photos but I can definitely see that my pictures have steadily improved. I'm still trying to master all the manual settings which have resulted in some not so desirable results but live and learn, eh?


I've been wrestling with blurry photos lately so now I'm trying to figure out if it's an actual problem with my lens or just user error— which is completely possible and equally as frustrating! It just seems like nothing is ever as crisp and clear as I'd like it to be. But what would life be without new challenges and personal growth driving us forward? My goal isn't to ever call myself a "photographer" but it would be nice to actually, uhh, know what I'm doing?! Ha.


Anyway, if you haven't gone out to do some exploring lately I highly recommend it. I think it's still a bit more green here than other places this time of year but it was still very inspirational— I loved all the browns and pops of warm color scattered about. I can't stop thinking of how peaceful everything was that day. I'm going to experiment with some potential product photos for my shop next week and they'll definitely be influenced by the simple + natural elements I've been so drawn to lately.


I recently shared a little about how I was overwhelmed with thoughts of branding + product photos in this post. When my friend invited me on a hike I knew it would be the perfect chance to clear my head and just take a breather from thinking about all this online shop owning and really focus on "being in the moment." Funny how taking time to disconnect myself from the problem and focus on the natural beauty around us has potentially solved this issue. Much like inspiration striking in the shower or while driving, I suppose.


Okay, I think that's enough of this introspective-Henry David Thoreau-spiritual-quest type mumbo jumbo! What I'm trying to say is that it's nice to just be surrounded by pretty things that aren't the internet or the same old roads you take everyday— even if does mean being sore for three days straight in muscles you didn't even know existed. This weekend one of my best friends is in town so we have tons of good food to eat, movies to watch, and hiking trails to explore! Do you have anything fun planned? -jenna


Note: All photos shown here were taken with a Canon 60D + 50mm lens 

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Christmas Aftermath + Gearing Up for 2013

The days between Christmas and the new year is always a special time. Everyone is exhausted from travel, seeing family and friends, and playing with new gadgets. It's also generally full of leftover food, shopping (to spend those gift cards!) and some plain old reflecting upon the last year.


This year I spent Christmas in Pennsylvania with my partner's family and about a foot of snow! It was great to meet so much of his extended family and put faces with names. Then, a few days ago, we trekked down to Florida so we could celebrate the new year with about fifteen of our friends. (I have a really close friend group and we've had some rough times this year so it's been nice to have everyone all in one place for awhile.)


Honestly, I've just been drinking wine, relaxing in hammocks by the lake, playing with puppies, frolicking at the beach, warming up by the fire, admiring some parrots, unwinding in the hot tub, and playing with my camera a lot— it's been pretty amazing. After working upwards of fifty hours a week at my new job, it's been really nice to finally unwind and think about all the changes that have happened over the last year and what all 2013 holds.


I really can't wait for the future. I have an amazing circle of people around me: friends, my partner, family, all my wonderful blog readers. I have a great job two amazing jobs and I'm gearing up to start my own little etsy shop full of handmade books. I've changed so much this year and I have a lot of goals for the next one, so I'm pretty excited. Thanks for sticking with me and following along— I hope you all have found a few moments to relax and that each person that reads this is even just half as excited as I am for all the possibilities coming in 2013!