>> TWENTY THIRTEEN

PASSION TRUMPS LOGIC

-PAIGE OVERTURF

 

It fit.

The first time I saw that quote it fit.

 

"PASSION TRUMPS LOGIC"

 

That is the phrase that inspired my photography for the first 9 months of the year. I had just bought a new camera, a Nikon D600. I absolutely loved it. But it did mean one thing.

 

I wouldn't be able to buy my 'dream lens'. I would have to wait much longer than I was hoping.

 

I knew that some of my equipment wasn't as good as some of my favorite photographers, but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

On my 'goals for 2013' list, amongst other things, I wrote:

 

"Learn how to use my 70-300mm to the best of my ability"

 

aaaand so, for the first 9 months of the year,

I made it my goal to learn to use my 70-300 like a portrait lens.

This doesn't sound strange, but it is an older 70-300 and has a few quirks.

Like the fact that it isn't in focus at 300mm

and that the lowest aperture is 3.5...and that is only when shooting at 70mm.

 

BUT

It worked.

I didn't have the 'right' equipment for taking portraits, but I took them anyway.

 

But while all of this was going on something else was happening.

God was providing for me.

It wasn't something I NEEDED, just something I reeeaaally wanted.

It was a 50mm 1.4.

 

When I got my 50 I loved it right away.

I did a portrait session the day that it came in the mail.

Ever since that, the 50mm and my camera of been inseparable.

 

I did notice something while I was putting this post together.

My favorite portrait session of this year was all taken with my 70-300 lens.

 

To the photography world, it shouldn't have worked.

But it did.

 

because passion trumps logic.

 

           

The year started out with Dakota and Hannah, both fellow photographers.

 

 

 

This year (of course) had plenty of editing.

 

 

Due to the fact that my computer crashed right after Dakota's session, we got together again in March for another session.



There were many drives around the valley and adventures in the mountians during summer and spring.

 

 

 



 And in May my sister and her cute family came a visited.

 

In June my family and I left our little valley and went on vacation.

 

 While on vacation, my Dad, brother, nephew and I climbed a mountain and found several waterfalls along the way.



I took lots of pictures of both my nephews.

 

And yes, the nephew below is the one who climbed the mountain with us. He was such a trooper!

 



While I was there a dear friend surprised me, which was amazing! I hadn't seen her for three long years. 

I was going to be 5 hours away from her house, visiting my brother and his wife.

We talked about if she could come and see me and she finally told me that she didn't think it would work. She just couldn't seem to get a ride.

While I was at my brothers house, he wanted me to take pictures of his newest son, which I gladly agreed to. I was in the middle of taking these pictures when it happened.

"BOO"

I saw a head pop around the corner and there she was.

I'm sure that I was in complete shock. I started crying (yes, I am a crier)

and said her name over and over while we hugged.

We talked and talked and stayed up till the early morning; then fell asleep out of pure exhaustion.

The next morning was my last day there.

So I packed up and left.

While we were there I grabbed her and said "lets take pictures" even though it was raining

Together we ran under a tree and took some pictures. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of the year.

 





We had a few good thunderstorms this summer, allowing me to photograph lightening.



 

Naomi // August 2013

This was my favorite session of the year. Yup, the one that I shot with my 70-300mm.

aaand I'm sure this is the prettiest girl that every graced a brick wall with her presence.



In September, some photographer friends and I grabbed a princess, her tiara, and a guitar and went to visit the local sunflower field.

 

 

My trusty camera and me.

 

 

In September I did a mentorship with my favorite photographer, Paige Overturf, which was a dream come true.

Because I live in Washington and she lives in North Carolina we did it over Skype.

That mentorship was one of the things that helped my business the most.

I didn't know what to do next, so she told me what she had done.

She told me to start a blog. So I did.

She helped me with blog designing, told me about buying a domain name and things like that.

 

Later in the month after a year and a half of dreaming I ordered my new lens.



Two hours after I got my 50mm 1.4, Susanna and I got together to take some pictures.

 

I was excited to see how well my new lens handled low light.

Blogged HERE

Fall was blogged HERE.

 

Savannah and I did the shoot we had been talking about for quite a while.

Blogged HERE



 

Dakota and I finally did our misty morning session

Blogged HERE

 

 

I went to visit my sister in November.

 

blogged HERE

 

While I was there I wrote a little list of blessings.

 



My Nephew was born while we were there.

 

I continued to practice my ring shots, just like Paige told me.

She told me that just because I have never done something doesn't mean I can't practice for parts of it... Whatever it is.

 Christmas was just 5 days ago!!!     

I also turned EIGHTEEN 3 days ago. :)
 



 

This year was full of times when I went out of my comfort zone..

 

...and times when I didn't.

Then wish I had.

 

But this next year is a new year. A new 365 page book, so to say.

I know a few things that this next year will probably hold.

Like graduating from high school and starting college.

 

But there are many, many things that will happen this year, that I wasn't' planning for.

 

And those things? They are sometimes the most exciting of all!

 

Happy New Year!

 

Anna Rose