Let's Just Sit Back...

And look at some more pictures :)

(Picture taken from that exact angle. Lucky is such a good, cooperative pupper.)

(Fun view from under the trees' canopy.)

(You can see why people believe(d) in fairy folk with fungi like this.)

(Rusty-colt taking a little rest in the shelter.)

(Goat Close & Personal)

(Snowflake)

(Hibiscus)

(Nearly blind Betta, Dude, peeky-peeking.)

(Modes of transportation.)

(Look at that tail!)

(CHICAGO!!!)

(Zip-few spots/near white Appaloosa gelding...I miss this guy.)

(Smell the flowers-or do what Merlin did a second later-DIE FLOWER DIE!..He was a grumpy betta...and the flowers were fake.)

(Lucky's adorable eyes!)

(Natural abstract)

(Fluffed up squirrel)

And we'll end on one of my all time favorites. Till the next time!

Look at This Photograph

("Every time I do it makes me laugh" quotes Snowflake)

Photography is a fun, unique form of art. Capturing a moment in time, framing it how you want, heck, with the technology today, you can edit it to give off the feelings you want to convey too. Last post's photo spam nicely set today's post up.

(Lucky responding to a "come". Editted with a blue-toned filter to emphasize the cold of the day.)

There are several factors to consider when taking a photograph. First, is lighting: will you be able to accurately see your subject? Is your phone/camera capable of capturing your subject in said lighting? Is it a low-light shot? Does it require flash? Is there a shadow obstructing your subject? Not to mention, how does the lighting effect your subject? Is it too bright, making it look like the sun bit them? Is it giving them a halo? Lots of factors, just in this one category need to be considered.

(The soft morning light gives this pony a lovely "halo" as it gets a drink of water)

If you've determined that your lighting is sufficient, then you need to move on to perspective. Do you want to be even with your subject? On the same level? Higher than your subject? Lower than your subject? Perspective greatly influences the feelings of your shot. For example, a panoramic shot of a landscape may be taken from a higher level as you are better able to capture the vastness of the landscape. On that same note, some landscapes are shot from the same height or only slightly above. The feeling of vastness is still there, but it's less overwhelming, and can be more inviting than a higher perspective. If you go for a lower perspective, you can give your subject a sense of power, like a statue looming over you, the photographer and the photograph's viewers. Or, you can simply capture things from a new angle. 

(A curious expression is given to this model due to the lower position I have taken)

Now that you've considered the lighting and perspective, you need to consider how you are going to frame your shot. In photography there is a rule of threes, or more specifically you divide your picture into three. Regardless if you are doing portrait or landscape, you can divide it in three vertically or horizontally, you can even get creative with your shot and divide it in three diagonally too. The idea of the rule of three is that you want to be able to draw the viewer's eye throughout the picture, not just to one spot. 

(This barn cat photo shows how having your subject off center, as well as the texture of the grass draw your eye through the photo)

From there it's a matter of point and shoot. Over, and over, and over again. It takes practice to get good at photographing what you like, and lots of patience. Personally, I like to photograph a variety of things, but mainly animals, particularly close ups (especially of my fish-my Bettas were quite small) as well as eyes. 

(Raku, a male Crowntail Betta, peeking through his plants)

While you do not necessarily need high quality or expensive equipment if you are merely doing photography as a hobby a better camera and lenses really do aid in the quality of the picture. If you decide that photography is a viable career path for you, then you should consider making the investment into the equipment. I would like to, but at the moment, my camera phone and lower cost camera work just fine. 

(A Paint horse gelding's blue eye and facial marking)

Lastly, you've taken the perfect shot. Now you need to edit it. Sometimes no editting is needed for that shot, other times cropping the photo, adding filters, changing from color to black and white, or even getting the color levels to more accurately match real life can be done to the photograph. Be aware, that in contests this may not be allowed (color altering anyway-can't say with absolute certainty as I haven't entered any photo contests). These slight changes can elevate your photograph or make it more how you wanted it to be. 

(This gentle giant showing how hard it can be to get a large subject in frame)

Find what makes you happy and photograph it! It can be anything! Shadows (new favorite of mine), people (though not in a creepy way...watching Criminal Minds, don't mind me!), animals, nature, architecture, modes of transportation, there is literally an endless amount of subjects for you to pick from, and remember, it doesn't have to be a job, it can just be a fun hobby. It can also be social too, as there are platforms like Instagram that allow you to share either with friends or publicly. You can follow me on there under what's_in_a_day?.

(Shadows can be just as tricky to photograph as the subject themselves, thankfully, mine was cooperative)

Do any of you have photography as a hobby? What do you photograph? Are you interested in photography as a hobby? Career? 

(Going back to perspective: being above the deer added to this already somber scene)

Till the next time!

(Emphasis on lighting and camera capabilities. Thankfully, for me, my phone was able to capture this sunrise)

Day by Day

As we’ve discussed before: it’s not easy to maintain happiness (depending on your circumstances). Just remember the sadness, anxiety, stress etc. will not last forever. How long it will last depends on each individual & their situation. Just remember to take a step back. Try not to dwell on the bad or the sad. Find a happy thing of the day, even if tiny & try to focus on that instead. It’s not always easy, but try to take it day by day.

Till the next time.

Thinking

Short & sweet today. Just a thought: Animals are wonderful. Forget trying to be like another person. Be like a sweet animal, family pet, etc.

Happiness in Art: Drawing and Painting

The beauty of a blog like this is that while we explore what makes a quality life, at the end of the day, it's still about my journey to a quality life. This blog will jump around, but you know what? That is life.

~~~

Today's subject is art. Art, in its many forms is therapeutic, and for many, it's their happiness. I, too, enjoy art in its many forms from writing, to song, to drawing, to sculpture, I mean the list is practically endless!

(Above: Serene Great White Shark done in oil pastels)

Let's focus on the drawing/painting forms today. Like many things in life, it takes practice to get good at a particular skill. I am always seeking to improve my work, and I always will be. The biggest thing is remembering to keep that little nagging voice in check. If you are an artist, you know that voice all to well. It's the one that nitpicks your art until you see it as nothing of worth. Don't let that little voice dominate. Yes, it's good to critique yourself so that you can improve, and if you stop hearing that little voice, you may want to make sure you haven't gotten too big for your britches! There is always improvement to be made. Sorry, but it's the truth.

(Above: Digital Drawing of a horse in a field using only three colors)

When drawing, one must decide how accurate one's piece is going to be. Is it a fantasy piece, where your imagination can rule? Is it a drawing of a animal or human? How accurate do you want to be? How much "artistic leeway" do you want to take? Even asking this, I feel it's important to know the anatomy of your subject. Of course, many things will not be spot on. We have photographs/pictures for things like that, but if you do go for hyper-realism than anatomy books on your subject of interest is a must.

(Above: Night Flying done in pastels)

Sketches are an important step in the art process (and one I tend to skip...so to each there own?). If stumped, or simply in the planning stages, sketches can make the difference between an okay piece, and a great piece. Are they absolutely necessary? Heck, no! (see my comment above). There is truly no set process, which is what makes art so wonderful. However, there are prominent artists who speak about their process (YouTube, magazines, events, etc.). And they all tend to have a process, even if they're not all the same.

(Above: Twisting Turning Spots done in acrylics)

Tools of choice then come into play. Will you dabble in as much as possible? Acrylics? Watercolors? Pencils? Markers? Ink? Pastels? Oils? Or will you focus on one medium? Each is unique in their techniques, textures and blendability. It's up to you, the artist to find what you like. Me? I like to dabble. It's fun to see how different mediums work and how that can affect a piece.

(Above: Bring the Dawn done in watercolors)

Then comes the moment of adding your color, or even your paint! Your color palette is very important, and it's strongly advised to stay away from pure white and pure black. I personally, still use them slightly when called for, but otherwise, my palette will include various colors. For instance, if you look at my Poland China Boar, below, you will notice that I used black to mute the colors of the pig's body, but in that body are browns, purples, and oranges. Even on the white areas, you will see orange and red that got muted with a white colored pencil.

(Above: My recent Year of the Pig piece-more on that another day-Poland China Boar in colored pencil)

The most important thing with art is to have fun. Draw, paint, create what makes YOU happy. Do not worry about your audience. That's a surefire way to kill your creativity. Do you. Draw for you and most importantly: have fun and be happy.

Till the next time!

Happiness & Setbacks

In the pursuit of happiness or contentment, one is bound to encounter setbacks. This can be in the form of someone's words being hurtful, the weather affecting our mood, life throwing a curve ball, etc. While it's hard to maintain a positive mental attitude during these times, we should try to focus less on what we can't control and more on what we can.

For example, today while I was swimming, for the first time in at least two years, I found that while a torn muscle in my leg had mostly healed, it was quite painful to try and kick for the front crawl. I think it caused enough pain that I worried the lifeguard with my expression! I could have dwelt on this fact all day, but instead, I finished out my half hour swim (doing the side stroke instead), and continued with my day.

Now I'm not always that composed. I have days that I wallow in sadness, self-pity, or even give in to depression. It happens. What's important is to not to stay there.

I realize that it's not that easy for everyone. Each individual is unique. You just need to find what works for you, whether it's meditation, starting up an exercise routine, taking more walks, whatever it takes to help boost your mood!

Getting back to the point though: instead of focusing on what is out of our control or what we can't control, focus on what you can control. Your boss yelled at you. You can't control their actions, but you can control your response. You can control not yelling back. You can control not taking it personally. You can control whether or not you remain at said job (obviously depending on the circumstances.

Better example: you missed your alarm and are late for work. You can either freak out about it, or you can remain calm, call your job, explain what happened, go into work, and just have a normal, or even potentially good day.

I for one am a firm believer in things happening for a reason. What those reasons are, half the time remain unknown to me, other times they are clearer. As I stated, I'm still learning too. Like I said, I have bad days...more than I'd like to have, but that's the point of this blog! To write down what I learn, how I interpret that and (maybe) get feedback and conversation from it from others who are also pursuing a quality lifetime.

So the next time you're having a rough day, try to take a step back and think about what you can and can't control. Try to put the situation into perspective: is it worth getting upset about? And then there are the legitimate times that you just need to be upset to get back on track to happiness and/or contentment.

Till the next time!

Happiness in Exercising

I had long forgotten the benefits of exercising until I resumed actively working out at least 10 minutes/day per my company challenge. I tend to up the time to 20 or even 30 minutes. Regardless, I have begun to remember why I loved to exercise, or more specifically run.

Back in high school, running started to become hard when I got shin splints, and while I had brief revivals of running and exercise in college, the pain in my legs was too much to handle.

Now, I don't have the pain, and instead, I can enjoy the benefits of exercise & running! I do a variety of exercises, and I have incorporated running 2 days a week. When it's warmer, I'd like to do 3 or more days a week.

But what exactly are the benefits of exercise? Does it have to be strenuous?

The benefits are as follows:
-It can make you feel happier through endorphin release
-It helps with weight loss
-Helps with bone density
-Reduces muscle mass loss
-Boosts energy
-Reduce risk of chronic disease

And that's only naming a few benefits!

As for whether it has to be strenuous or not, I am not a trainer. However, I've found the best advice I've received is that it should be a challenge.

There are many different ways to exercise too! People forget that activities like yoga are a form of exercise, and work your body in a different way. Love to dance? That's a form of exercise! Horseback riding? Heck yes! There is so much that can be done!

Be sure to vary your routines, otherwise you may grow bored with what you are doing. Keep things interesting! Try new things! That was my biggest problem-I let my routines become routine so that I did not look forward to them. Now, knowing what I know, I find it's a great way to boost my happiness level for the day as well as my energy level (as I tend to work/keep long days).

Do what you can, and watch how exercise not only affects your body, but your mental and emotional states too.

Till the next time!

Healthy Life = Quality Life?

I know we jump around with topics, but rest assured, we will return to them! My mind is multiple tracks that like to switch at random. Fun insight, right?

Anyway, today's topic is does a healthy life equal a quality life? Here I imagine there is lots of disagreement, and I would agree. One could be an unhealthy person and as long as they were happy, felt fulfilled, and successful, they could very well lead a quality life. That being said, we are given one body and one life to enjoy. I for one, would like to feel the way I did when I was in middle school/high school physically. I'd like to not get out of breath climbing stairs, I want to be able to run a mile again in a reasonable time, and most of all, I'd like to get away from fast food (not entirely...it tastes good, okay?!).

Getting healthy on one's own steam is not easy though. If you are out of shape, it's hard to go it alone and get back in shape/return to a healthy/healthier lifestyle. I have found in the past couple months, but particularly the past couple weeks, that having other people working towards the same goal/a little incentive can go a long way.

Currently at work, several of us are participating in a "Healthy Directions" course that lasts several months. Each month requires us to focus on specific aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Currently we are focusing on the following:

-Practicing Gratitude (once a day at least)
-3 servings of fruits and/or vegetables a day
-3 cups of water a day
-Get a minimum of 6 hours sleep
-Stretch for 10 minutes a day
-Take a walk outside for 10 minutes a day (or in this freezing weather in our area, walking inside is okay)

It may not seem like much, and it's relatively easy. I'm sure some feel that it's too easy. But you must realize that they are trying to start off slow, not knowing people's fitness levels/capabilities. There are incentives too as we join teams (in my case the other women in the store and myself) and we are working for not only our new, healthier selves, but for the prizes too. Fitness equipment, kitchen items and then basics like water bottles. That little incentive can definitely give someone the boost they need to accomplish their goals.

The social aspect is what I find helpful though. I enjoy the camaraderie that my boss and co-workers have formed as we all work towards our better selves. We support each other, cheer each other on, and best of all, work towards a common goal. Suddenly the journey towards a healthier me is less daunting knowing there are others (and in close proximity) working towards the same goal and on the same "plan" or "activity".

As for my motivation, you can see a few above, but I'm also getting a new job come May/June and I'd like to be in shape for it as it is a fairly physical job. Even if I don't meet my "end goal" to see some progress in regards to my stamina, weight, and overall capabilities would be great!

Am I alone in this thought process? Are you able to motivate yourself to work on a healthier you without such incentives or social aspects? I'd like to know what motivates you!

Till the next time!