There are moments when you take in a big smiling deep breath and look around thinking, “whoa, this is actually my real life. How the heck did that happen?!” As you glance around, characters come into focus in your story, each of them living out their comedies or dramas, their love stories and their heartbreaking tragedies – and if you sit still for a moment you can watch it all. Oh and did I mention, if you chose, you can join in on whatever play those characters are a part of, you can participate in the story which is unfolding on the stage before you. YOU get to pick to get up on that moments stage – decide who you are, how loud and animated or gentle and calm it will all be. You get to dance with wild abandon, or stand back holding up the wall.

These choices are not “good” or “bad”, they are simply that, choices. Making one that feels right at a particular moment is the trick. Early this summer, I had the experience to spend a day with a small group of people at a HUGE event. I didn’t and don’t know the people I was traveling with well, some not at all, and when we got to the event, we were surrounded by over a thousand other people. We were asked to dance, and practice yoga, to run and to sit and meditate. To listen and to engage.

What I realized that day was I could sit back and observe, or if the energy hit, I could dance and whoop and holler (I proudly did both, BTW). And in listening to gut and my heart, I left that day with a sense of really feeling comfortable in who I am and who I have become.

Heck yes I LOVE dancing with a hundred sweaty humans. Heck YES I love sitting back in the shade of a tree quietly watching people learn to hula-hoop and practice acroyoga together.  Setting myself up with no expectations, and therefore no expectation of who I am ‘supposed’ to was and is one of the best gifts I have given myself.

So how does this relate back to photography?  Listening to your intuition about when to hit the shutter button, when to put the camera up to your eye and when to keep the camera tucked away in your bag- it’s all part of the game we play as photographers. My intuition has been one of my greatest tools as I am shooting everything from street to wedding photography.

And, it is also what has told me that it is time for me to gracefully pass out hi-fives, smile and wave a giant, love filled goodbye to the ViewFinders blog.  I have been out here for more years than I can remember right now. Writing, photographing and interacting with this lovely creative community has truly been an honor. One I didn’t always feel I deserved (I mean, have you LOOKED at the talent in this group?!!) But last month, I realized that my energy was spread too thin and that it was time for a new member to take my spot.

Don’t worry, I will still be posting out on Instagram. I post my everyday life at @nvenessie, my professional/client and dslr work on @focus_in_photography, my fuji instax adventrues on @365_rectangles, and finally a new collaborative feed called @_leave.a.message_ If you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest look me up! I love to play tour guide and a photog friend is a good friend to have.

Until then, hi-fives all around and don’t forget…

Keep chasing that light, Vanessa