The June issue of Stellar Day Magazine is out today and I’ve contributed words before, but this time I stepped out on a ledge and offered to photograph for the magazine as well. I was welcomed with open arms. I tied up my tennis shoes and hiked up a mountain with my brand new camera strapped to my back in an effort to prove that I was worthy of my efforts.

The theme is adventure and it’s actually quite fitting. Adventure can mean so many different things, but it has close ties with fear; at least for me it does and based on the issue, I’m not the only one. Fear is what often keeps us from pursuing great adventures.

Capturing pictures is something I’ve loved for many many years. I can remember the excitement of stopping by the drugstore to pick up my film. The anticipation of opening that envelope was a thrill. Pulling the 4×6 prints out and shifting through them as quickly as possible was like Christmas morning. All you needed was one, just one really great picture to send you beaming out to the parking lot. That love and constant pursuit of the one great image has never left me and I’m thankful. However, adulthood has a way of squashing your innocent and completely valid love for something. I’ve allowed my internal dialogue tell me that I’m not good enough amidst so many fantastic photographers, and I do know many. I tell myself that the professionals I know will mock me or vilify my efforts.

But those are lies and I’m done cheating myself out of practice, feedback, and quality adventures because of fear. The truth is that they’re all really supportive and we have a common love for something. They’re all excited to share their knowledge and include me where I have the courage to be included. I might not be the best, but I’m putting myself out there. I don’t need to be great, I just need to try. I feel like I’m in a new season of creativity and a new season of confidence in what I can do. I’m excited to see where this takes me and I’m excited to kick fear to the curb.

Here are some of my favorites from my shoot with Jessica of Stellar Day Magazine.