I have always considered myself a runner. Even during the longer stints of not running that have mired my self imposed “runner” persona in the past. I picked up running in college since gaining 15 pounds is near destined as a freshman. It was physical exertion that I didn’t hate and that was comforting. Running, along with being good for my health, grants me a sense of clarity. It allows an exploration of how I am feeling mentally as I am left to my thoughts as I run. The act of preparing for a run - getting outfitted in shorts and a shirt, lacing up your shoes, and then beginning your run is a peaceful and methodical routine. If you scale back and observe this same act of preparing for a run and running the same route over and over again, you’ll notice not much changes day over day. But in months you will notice faster mile splits, lower heart rate, higher energy, etc. It is this constant act of motion and this idea of always progressing. It is an idea realized of trying. Trying to be better. Trying to be healthier. It is you making an effort to make yourself better for the future.
I recently finished the audiobook “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. The premise of this book is simple as an idea. It’s about building and nurturing tiny habits and improving just 1% from the day before. Obviously this book dives in deeper than this simple premise. I’ve been consistently running now since February of this year. My daily runs, route, and length don’t really change but they are consistent and I’ve seen progress. Slow progress but progress nonetheless. I’ve been applying these ideas learned from this book and have noticed positive differences across my life.
This same idea of repeated progression and improvement is an idea that I have applied to photography. I don’t think of this idea as simple as throwing myself into nature as a repetitive motion in hopes of “progression” of my portfolio. More so, it is a constant push of experiencing in nature. It is finding my self in nature to better my health and self. In turn, my photography then follows this progression. It is choosing to opt outside to enjoy nature, with a camera in tow, and being gently nudged by nature to photograph what it sees fit. It is only as I photograph scenes more and more, that I hone my eye and technical photography skills. It is only when I improve other aspects of my life that it will then flow through my own work.
When comparing photography and running, there are some similar characteristics. I mainly run for health but I also enjoy the solitude I feel in my head space. My mind can be hectic through out the day but when I run it floats freely. It turns over rocks to see what is underneath and thinks “What if?”. It’s in its curious setting and I quite enjoy that feeling. The same can be said about being out in nature and photographing. The curious mind takes over and plays and chews on ideas that normally wouldn’t be thought of in the work setting. I hope this current streak of running continues and I hope that my photography and my curious mind grows along with it.
An overflow of water streams towards the same direction in the Narrows of Zion.