What is Dallas

As of late I've become really frustrated with how people view Dallas. I know it's been a long process for me to finally come to terms with living here. I've seen friends come and go. People that say they want to make a difference here and then turn on a dime for "greener pastures". Nothing against those people personally, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. So instead of just venting my frustrations and doing nothing about it, I am doing something. That thing is now live on the internet at whatisdallas.com. My goal with this website is to help bring the creative people in Dallas together. Unity is the one thing we've been lacking in Dallas. We have so many little circles across the metroplex and nowhere that connects us all together.

If you live and work in Dallas and want to be a part of the site you can fill out the simple form by clicking on the "join us" button. The site exists only as a hub to view the people in Dallas and nothing more. I have no intention of placing ads or sponsors on the website. It's not about making money, it's about connecting people.

Update

I've received a lot of positive feedback from people about this small project. I'm stoked about it. I love that it's inspired so many others to make something similar in their own city. With that being said, there is something I feel needs to be made clear. While I don't mind people using the framework I built as a starting point, I never intended it to be copied or sold. The main purpose of the site is simple, connect creative people with other creative people. So with that said, I hope you find time to build something similar for your own city.

Freelance Week 16

On Life

Life is better lived when you have friends and family to share it with. Someone once said that no man is an island, and they were right. We can't survive out here on our own. We were created for relationship. Not that you have to be a social butterfly or anything, but in my experience having a few people who you can really trust in and invest in make all the difference in life. I'm talking people who know your shit (excuse my language) and still love you regardless. Those are the types of relationships I'm talking about.

On Work

The meaning of work is shifting in my life. I do it because I love it, not because I have to provide. In the past I would've been totally stressed out with managing five different projects in one week. But now I see that challenge as part of the fun. Setting a schedule. Making deadlines. Communicating with my clients. That's all part of the fun. My suggestion to anyone looking at working for themselves, don't do it if you don't like to work hard.

On Faith

The glue that holds it all together. But what is "it" exactly? Sometimes I feel like I don't know the answer to that question. Is it my life? Is it my family? Is it my work? I think it's bigger than that. It's bigger than you or I. Faith can move mountains, at least that's what I've read. But I think it takes us giving up our understanding to receive the peace that passes understanding. I feel like that's when faith can have its way in our lives, only when we step out of the way.

Freelance Week 14 and 15

The great thing about personal projects is you set your own schedule. The bad thing about personal projects is you set your own schedule. There's a lack of accountability to actually finish what you start. I say that because I feel bad for missing a week in this blog series. No regrets though as my wife and I were in "Colorful" Colorado for six days. Moving on, I want to share with you one of the greatest revelations I've received this year (maybe in my whole adult life), and it all happened over a breakfast burrito and coffee. I was filling some friends of ours in on how things have been going this year for me working on my own. I made the comment about how much I enjoy being the provider of my family. And this is where my whole perspective shifted. It's a very simple truth, but very easy to get it twisted:

1. God created us to enjoy our work.

2. God is provider. Always has been and always will be.

3. I don't work to provide, I work because I enjoy it.

I've always had it a little skewed. I've trusted God as my provider while at the same time working hard only to feel like I'm barely getting by. But now I can let go of the stress of working to provide and just enjoy the work I've been given to do. It's no longer a weight I have to carry to feel like I have to provide. I just get to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

I am now in such a place of peace and rest about my work that it doesn't even feel like I'm busy. I've got a handful of different project I'm balancing right now and I'm enjoying every second of it. I am so thankful to be doing what I love.

How did you get so many followers on instagram

I can remember before I owned an iPhone, instagram was the one app that I longed for most. And I'm pretty sure it was the first app I downloaded. The most popular question I get asked now is how did I get so many followers on Instagram. Well I'm here today to try and answer this question the best I can. As well as offer some free advice. First things first, a little history. I didn't just start taking photos on my iPhone. I've been shooting off and on since 2000 when I got my first Canon Rebel SLR. I've never taken a photography class. I spent a lot of time, and rolls of film, learning from my mistakes. All my early photographs are black and whites of buildings and shadows. I didn't know it at the time but I was training my eye to see light and composition. The two basic essentials to any great photograph.

I remember the first time I held my Lomo-LCA. The cold metal was heavy and solid in my hands. I knew I could take it anywhere with me. This must have been 2002. I had just discovered the world of "shooting from the hip" and fell in love with the whole philosophy of "shoot now, look later". It totally opened up my mind to what I thought photography was, or more importantly what it wasn't. It was also at this time I was introduced to cross-processing and the holga. Both of which are now popular filters on our favorite photo apps. I wonder how many people really know the history of the filters we use?

Shooting with a digital camera was something I long resisted. I was such a purist back then, and still am today in certain ways. For example, I don't use any app to shoot on my iPhone other than the default camera app. But that's besides the point. The point is, back then I valued the process of putting film in a camera and waiting to see the results once I got the roll developed. But eventually technology overpowered me and I turned digital.

The thing I love most about digital photography is the choice to keep or delete your photos at the push of a button. It's also the thing I hate most. I think anyone who wants to learn photography should start on film before digital. Understanding the basics principles of aperture and shutter speed sink in deeper when shooting film. Not only that but you learn to appreciate a beautiful photo when you see one that doesn't have a million photoshop effects applied to it.

That pretty much brings us up to the present time. I've been shooting with my iPhone now over the past year. I tried to keep a healthy balance of my DSLR and my iPhone, but my iPhone constantly won out. So now that's pretty much my camera of choice. It doesn't matter how many megapixels you have, it's how you use them. Shooting on the iPhone (specifically for instagram) requires much more than just pointing and "clicking" though. Here's some things I've learned about what makes a great photo on instagram:

1. Lighting. Pretty basic, but pretty profound. Learning to use the built-in censor on the iPhone has been a bit frustrating but at the same time I appreciate it. It makes the difference between a boring shot and a dramatic shot.

2. Composition. Another basic principle of photography, but one that should not be overlooked on the iPhone. If you don't understand the rule of thirds, you should. Only after you know the rules can you break them.

3. Quantity. I take a lot of photographs on my phone. I take an average of 10-15 shots of the same picture when I want to post something. That way when I get home I have options to choose from and find the best photo in the bunch.

4. Quality. Sometimes even after shooting a ton of photos I don't have any that I like. And that's okay. I don't post everything I shoot. Sometimes it's more about what you don't post than what you do. It's a hard lesson to learn, but one of great value. Remember, you don't have to share everything all the time.

5. Simple. The less you have going on the better. Some people call this minimalism, but I call it having a focal point. Without it you lose peoples interest.

This is by no means an exhaustive list on how to take better pictures, or how to get more followers on instagram. I can only share with you what I've learned from my experience. I hope it's helpful. I hope you continue to learn on your own and push yourself to do better. There is no secret to success, just a lot of hard work.

Freelance Week 13

On Life

Walking through this tax season was a bit unnerving, to say the least, but I feel victorious now on the other side. I think the hardest part for me through this whole tax thing was just starting. Something I've come to learn about myself is that I'm always super hesitant to enter new territory. I learn best by watching others show me how, so when I'm faced with teaching myself I am always really slow to get started. But hey! At least I'm learning.

On Faith

Nothing in life is free except for one thing, forgiveness. As we have freely received it, we are free to give it. It costs us nothing to forgive someone. It costs us dearly to hold it back.

On Work

Freelancing is like the ocean. High tides. Low tides. And all the moments in between. It can be a breathtaking view as the sun sets, or it can be a ferocious site as the storm approaches. But everything has its reason. Working for myself so far this year has already taught me so much. I'm looking forward to what the next 8 months have in store.

Freelance Week 12

You want to know the secret to success... there is no secret. Work Hard. Trust God. Enjoy Life. It's more than just my twitter bio. It's the way I live my life. I believe God gave us all a unique gift to share with others. And it's in my efforts to share my gift that I've found, to some degree, success. There is no 12-step program. There is no special formula. There is only living, learning and loving.

On Faith

This past week was a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. And it can pretty much all be summed up with one word, taxes. I've gone through denial, resentment and now to a place of peace. But it seems like everyone I talk to agrees on one thing, our tax situation is totally unbalanced here in America. Without going off on a rant, I'll leave it at this: If I can trust the Lord with my provision then I can most certainly trust him when it comes to paying taxes. The following verse really hit home for me this past week:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

On Work

From last week I had a breakthrough in my project I was struggling with. I can only say that being open and honest with your client(s) is the best thing possible. I found I have to be willing to put it all on the line, even if that means I may lose the client. I would rather risk losing a client being honest than selfishly stringing them along. Once we recognize that clients are people too then it becomes more about the relationship than the money.

I continue to feel so blessed to be doing what I'm doing for a living. But the desire to create something more than myself keeps growing. As I watched the documentary "Being Elmo" last night I was struck with the importance of doing what we love. That's why I love partnering with people like Tim Coons and The Blackthorn Project. It's an opportunity for me to pour in all my talents and skills to help someone else. And that makes me happy.

On Life

I'll be 30 in less than 3 months now. I reflected on this last night in the fading light of dusk on my back porch. Wondering what my life has been so far. I've never really known hardship I realized. Most, if not all, of my struggles have always been with myself. I've never known hunger. I've never gone without a roof over my head or clothes on my back. For the better part of my life I've been a selfish brat. But I'm learning. Learning how to give back. Learning how to love others. Learning that my life is not meant for me alone.

I Am the Church

What's the most common question we Christians ask? Where do you go to church?

It's a simple, yet loaded, question.

We aren't really asking where you go, but why aren't you going to my church.

We've been deceived by our traditions that where we "go" is who we "are".

I have a hard time accepting this as truth.

I've given up "going" to church. This journey I've been on for the past 10 years has led me to one place, I am the church. I didn't get here by striving and working, but by resting and trusting. It hasn't always been easy though. I've had to fight through a lot of anger and resentment. I've struggled with finding new language to try and explain this place I'm in. And I've often times felt alone. All I know now is that I am loved and it has nothing to do with where I go or what I do.

Props to my friend Julie for inspiring me to draw this today.