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Health & Fitness

From Big Picture to Small Portrait

A photographer's fast paced lifestyle change from fast paced city to the southwest suburbs.

Chicago. One of the most beautiful and artistic cities in the world. Also one of the most busiest. Being a photographer living in a big city, I adapted to a fast paced lifestyle and was always on the move.

I always had somewhere to go and places to be. Concerts, clubs, bars, White Sox games and Cubs games. You name it and I was there. On my free time, I would pick up my beloved Nikon camera and wander downtown with my headphones playing my favorite music and just photographed the world around me for hours.

I would rarely get the opportunity to explore my artistic side of my photography medium. I was booked with events and parties just about every week. Sometimes one or more events in a day.

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After a while, my weekly routine started to slowly take a toll on my personal life. I began to lose hours of sleep. I found myself canceling family gatherings because I had prior engangements or was simply too tired from the previous night to go. My seven year relationship came to an end because I spent more time way from her than I did with her.

I came to the conclusion that I no longer wanted to live the city life. I would go on to take a three week vacation to travel and photograph throughout different cities in Texas. It was a very peaceful experience to be able to enjoy my life without my phone going crazy. No emails, no facebook, no contact with my crazy city life. Just me, my Nikon, my headphones and some of the most beautiful scenery I had ever seen.

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Upon my return to Chicago, I made the decision to move to New Lenox. Ever since I moved, I've been at peace. I find time to do the things that I love, which are travel and photograph. Since my move here I've been to cities in Florida, South Dakota and attended and photographed a friends wedding on a beach in Negril, Jamaica.

Life is different when you are used to it being so fast paced. You miss out on the good things. If you would like to view my photography please visit my website at www.lopezphoto.smugmug.com. Also, check out my facebook page at www.facebook.com/lopeznikon

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