It was the first snow of the season this morning so i decided to head out and see what i could capture. Hadn't been to Parfreys Glen for a while so i decided to start there. With light snow falling i began my hike, soon realizing that the only sounds were my footsteps and the calming sound of water moving through the rocks. Looking to my right i noticed two deer silently watching me as i made my way through the gorge.....and then after a while I realized that all of the stuff that we all seem to stress over on a daily basis was no longer in my head.

I was in the moment, no worries, no stress, no anxiety.....it was me and nature and at that time, all was good in the world. It's a pretty amazing feeling, hard to put into words but definitely euphoric.

Some of you will know exactly what i am talking about. For those who don't I highly encourage you to allow yourself to connect with the outside world...alone. Find a quiet place where you can walk, no talking, no cell phones, just the sounds of the natural world. Let yourself take in all that surrounds you and soon you will be one with the environment.

I know it sounds hokey but i am telling you that it is one of the most life balancing feelings that you'll ever have. You will see things that you've never looked at before. You will hear sounds that are soothing and you will know that life is truly amazing.

Being a photographer it is important for me to connect with my photo opportunities on an emotional level. I am not the type to just click away at whatever is out there. The scene or subject needs to draw me in and make a personal impact.

Photography is subjective. You may love a picture or hate it...or have no feeling about it at all, but always remember that the photographer was somehow drawn to shooting it. In some way they connected with it.

I love shooting color but this morning it was a black and white world. I've always felt that color was about emotion and that black and white was about drama and mystery. You see differently in black and white as shapes and shadows take over your viewpoint....but you wouldn't know that if you didn't take the time to actually look around and see things without the cloudiness of everyday life.

You don't need to be a photographer to connect with the natural world. Allow yourself the quiet time to see, feel and listen and soon you will know, even for a short time, that all is good in the world.

Winter WonderlandBaraboo, WI