Live in the Now.

313 of 365

This Sunday I went back home for the superbowl spur of the moment and against my better judgement.
I ended up having a great time but It felt really weird.
I felt emotions that I’ve never really felt before.
The place I once called home now feels like a distant memory because that home no longer exists.
That time has passed and that’s okay it was amazing while it lasted.
To get out of that feeling I didn’t want to run away from it but rather I wanted to face it head on.
So I decided to go on my favorite hike in my hometown and bring my brothers dog along.
It was great I felt the toxic mood tearing away from my stomach with each step.
I’m glad I grew up where I did, glad I moved away, and glad that I can take the change head on.
It also made me really appreciate where I live now and where I grew up.
New York has so much opportunity, so many great people, and really great food, Connecticut has much more intimate communities, nature, and room to live at an affordable cost.
There is good in everything you just have to seek it out.
Most importantly don’t morn the past appreciate it for what it was and for what you have now.

Honesty

Day 312 of 365

I often reach out to brands I like to collaborate on shoots.
Not as much as I used to but I still do it from time to time specifically with brands who have products I like or who tell stories that inspire me to make new work.
Today I got an interesting email from a brand that I think is just okay.
They sell buckets particularly for wetsuits.
So when you get out of the water and get to your car you can put your salty soaked wetsuit in a bucket of fresh water this helps clean the suit on your way home.
For me this means a cleaner car and less time spent cleaning my wetsuit.
I figured this would be a cool easy brand to collaborate with so I sent them an email yesterday and they replied this morning.
The email read we like your work but there is nothing on your site that indicates you would be a good fit for us.
I was kind of shocked I was like all I’ve been shooting lately is surf stuff and photos that seemed to match their instagram to the T.
It was a great email though because his honesty gave me the chance to present them with a look book I just shot which was way ore on brand for them.
It also made me take a look at my website and realize how it needs to be updated to show the work I want to make with the brands I want to work with.
Honesty is rare in this line of work.
People most of the time totally ignore you which gives you no chance for improvement.
Instead this mans honesty gave me a chance to correct course and evidently try again.
Honesty goes a long way and although it may hit you right on the chin without it there can be no progression.

Surfing from Brooklyn, Ny.

Day 311 of 365

Mixing work and pleasure for Hudson Made.

This past Friday my best friend and I set out early in the morning to spend the morning surfing in Rockaway, Queens. Meg doesn’t like cold water very much so she decided to watch and read on the beach instead of joining me in the water.
Mornings like this remind me of being a kid and playing football in the colder end of the fall.
The heat from the sun still resonates on your skin but the wind always finds a way to bite through that warmth.
After a long soggy, cold, and fun morning at the beach there is no better feeling than a hot shower.
This is why Hudson Made was the perfect combo for this morning.
I’m a big fan of ethical and natural products and I still want to smell manly and Hudson made’s workers soap hits the nail on the head with this one.
Their products don’t pollute our water ways and I am really happy to be working with a brand like this.

They’re pricey but if you’re into quality, sustainability, and all natural products that are healthy for your skin, feel free to give them a shot.

Learn Something New Every Month.

Day 310 of 365

With only 55 more blogs left to go we’re coming to the end of my written blog journey. I am going to keep this going in other ways, most likely via video blogs.
Filming my everyday life, new things I am learning and experiences I am having.
I want to be more vulnerable in my approach because all this blog is for me is a chance to become aware of my own faults and confusion so that I can take action and learn from my mistakes.
I often see vlogs and blogs as a way for others to project the awesomeness of their life, or to fabricate an artificial reality.
To prove to people they’re more than they are, essentially fake it till you make it.
This seems more like an insecurity to me and I know I’ve been guilty of it for sure but I wonder what would happen if you were just purely open.
Showing the struggles of making it in your creative endeavors, career goals, relationships, etc.
I’ve always strived for that but video seems like a much more revealing and narcissistic medium.
Anyway I need a next step.
I will continue to write ever morning but the content of those writings after blog 365 will remain solely for self improvement and routine.

Keep Learning.
Keep progressing.
Only forward.

Stay moving.

Day 309 of 365

Grow is an illusive beast.
Seems to me that when we focus on growth we rarely do so.
Instead we stress on the very thing we are trying to obtain.
Grow for me has always come in the form of decision making and action.
Never Comfort.
Never planning.
The most growth ever ever had was when I moved to Australia.
A rather impulsive decision but it was one I planned and worked for 6 months in advance.
Whatever decision you are avoiding, make it.
Move, quit, kiss, make, finish, decide, do, more, whatever it is do it now.
You will thank yourself later.

Lifestyle first, Goals second.

Day 308 of 365

I’ve been thinking about my new years goals this past week.
Taking specific notice of what I have started and what I haven’t and what has already begun to stick.
There is no secret to learning a new skill, do it consistently and research it thoroughly and you will learn that skill.
I think this is the same for our goals but instead of saying I’d like to achieve this we need to say “What can I do everyday that will help me achieve blank?”
That often comes down to a new habit or a new lifestyle and it takes a lot of discipline.
For me to establish new habits I need to add them to existing routines.
For example I started writing just over a year ago.
I bought a journal and decided that every time I drink coffee I will sit down and write for 10 minutes.
Those 10 minutes quickly turned into 20 and before I knew it I was filling up journals monthly.
There was no specific goal with my writing other than to write and to hopefully be able to look back on it one day and have learned something, it’s also a great way to keep positive.

My roommate this year decided to learn how to play the guitar as his new years resolution.
Since we moved in he had been talking about wanting to learn but he would never try.
Once he starts something he will do it everyday he is just that disciplined.
So he decided that for the new year he would pay for classes knowing that would make him make him take his learning seriously and it has.
He plays guitar everyday and he is killing it.

My point here is to reach most goals is often a lifestyle change not just a hey let me do this and finish it today.
It takes years of dedication to achieve goals not just a brief resolution.
For me those lifestyle oriented goals are photography, writing, finishing all of my showers with 30 seconds of cold water, exercising, and healthy eating.
I want to do these things until the day I die.
What do you want to do forever that can help you achieve your goals?
Lifestyle first, goals second.

Ghetto by the Sea.

Day 307 of 365

I learned a lot about surf photography the other day.
At least my interpretation of it.
I learned how opposite the direction of the sun has to be in comparison to my normal shoots.
I learned how inconsistent someone can be while editing the color of water.
I’m experimenting and figuring out which look and direction of light I like the best and I think that’s ok.
I love being outside and shooting and failing makes me really excited to try things again.
The photos below are shot in Rockaway Beach, Queens. Quite literally the ghetto by the sea, but boy do I enjoy this place.
Hope you enjoy.

Think about tomorrow.

Day 306 of 365

I’ve been thinking a lot about long term decision making lately.
Whether your decision is for a few months or a year or for life, I think it’s important to see past instant gratification.
For example wanting chocolate and going to the store the same day to get chocolate.
What if you waited a day every time you had a crazing for sweets?
Would you still want to eat poorly the next day?
If the answer is yes then by all means your body probably needs that sugar if youre craving it for more than a day but this type of long term decision making is important to our conscious mind.

The subconscious screams for things it wants but doesn’t need.
It screams for habits, good or bad.
I think once we control our life more consciously we start to control the outcome.

When you do what your friends do and feel bad about drinking your face off every weekend but continue to do it anyways you will stay in the same place.
Or if you work your weekends away and wish you were out having fun with people you loved you will still be stuck repeating what you hate.

Life is a marathon not a sprint.
I was extremely impulsive as a teenager but now as I am learning more each day I realize the importance of long term decision making.
For yourself, for the environment, other species and for the generations to come after us.
We need to consider the implications of our actions.

Morning Routine

Day 305 of 365

I cherish my mornings wherever I am.
I love to be around people but when I first wake up that is me time.
It’s how I jumpstart my day.
I run through a strict routine and if I don’t do it I often feel a little thrown off.
It starts with a work out.
Followed by a shower, water, coffee, writing.
Then a blog.
Then breakfast.
Then 20 minutes of reading, and 15 minutes of meditating.
Then I start my work day.

This routine takes me about 2 hours.
I know for people with 9-5 jobs that might be unreasonable but if you get to bed at 10 o’clock sharp it becomes a lot easier to wake up at 5:30 am and you’ll have an entire morning to yourself.

The hardest part for me is getting to bed.
I couldn’t get to sleep last night so I woke up at 7:30 today.
It’s not always easy but I will correct it tonight so that tomorrow I can have my morning and not have it creep into my work day.

Work first money second.

Day 304 of 365

Everyone has ideas on how you can make more money as a creative.
Nobody ever has ideas on how to make more meaningful work.

Photography with intention.

Day 303 of 365

Starting the new year I’ve been reevaluating my practice in photography.
Having photographed objects, light, and everyday details in life for the past 2 years I’ve been longing for the human condition.
I am now returning to what first got me into photography, people.
I like to document people doing things.
Real life happening.
It never felt so interesting when I worked manual labor but watching people work, celebrate, and live has always fascinated me.

We’re so much more connected then we think.
We seek security, consistency, food shelter, and love.
I decided to take 10 portraits today after shooting about 4 or 5 a few days ago and it was a great experience. (not all 10 are featured below)
In just a short amount of time I encountered reactions on all ends of the spectrum.
Most were mainly just cold and wanted to get home.
Some were confused but said okay, some were so happy to get there picture taken and just laugh about it and the least common reaction….1 person in the past few times of doing this wanted to fight me.
We often build up an irrational fears in our mind like rejection, confrontation, and worst of all failure.
These things are going to happen you cannot avoid getting knocked on your ass.
The only failure at this point is not trying.

Bottom line is were social creatures, and other humans are the key to where you want to go and you are the key to where someone else wants to go.
Help someone who deserves it get through a gate you have a key to, and I am sure someone will do the same for you one day.
Do not operate in fear.
If you want to take pictures of strangers go do it, explain to them what you want, or don’t.
Ask for that promotion if you deserve it.
Be genuine, work your beans off, most importantly share with good intention and ask with good intention.
”A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.”

Goodbye Poler Stuff

Day 302 of 365

Back when I first got into photography I remember seeing these amazing photo stories from around the world. Friends setting out to go places most often untouched by the average tourists. To connect with nature a bit and to have a good time. They were more laid back stories about heading into the unknown rather than climbing Everest or triumphing over the most agonizing of feats. Which don’t get me wrong I’d love to overcome some harsh obstacles like running a marathon or hiking to the summit of a mountain but I’d also like to see some amazing things in other countries with my friends and drink beers while doing it.
The fact that Poler stuff was able to do this and be productive on these trips all while making lasting memories amazed me.
Since I first saw their photo stories and the talented photographers they worked with I knew I wanted to shoot one of these trips and bring my friends along for the ride.
I knew for sometime now but just today Poler stuff declared bankruptcy which is okay everything has it time but it was damn fun and inspiring while it lasted.
Poler made some amazing things that I will hold onto for a long time.
I guess my point here is we all have that thing, that person, that job that we look up to and it seems so far away but in reality it’s far closer than we think.
Don’t give up on what you know you can do no matter how small or stupid it may seem, ex. like shooting photos for a small company.
Once accomplished those little goals make us into a better person then we were yesterday and with out them we’re doing nothing but wasting space.

Do something productive today.

Happiness is doing what needs to be done.

Day 301 of 365

Have you ever been really unhappy?
I’m sure you have, we all have.
From my own experience the only times I have ever been truly unhappy is when I am not doing what I know needs to be done.
Even if someone does something shitty to me it’s more about how I respond that determines my happiness and 4not so much their actions.
For example I came home early for Christmas to hang out with my brother who was working Christmas eve and Christmas day.
When I got there he told me he had dinner plans and I had to leave and boy was I upset.
The only person in the world I cared about spending that day with and he sent me off 30 minutes into being at his house just to have a pizza party and watch football with his girlfriends parents.
He wasn’t wrong doing this.
I was wrong for getting upset and letting it fester all the way through Christmas eve.
What I realized was that one little thing was a huge deal to me because I had bene putting off my responsibilities and allowing the holidays to be an excuse.
If I was taking care of all my business responsibilities, taking care of my personal life, and communicating properly I probably wouldn’t have had the time to see him 1 and 2 I wouldn’t be upset with someone for not hanging out with me.
Filling your time with things that are valuable to your life’s mission is important.
Too much down time is a bad thing.
If you are unhappy make a list of things you should be accomplishing on paper, and as you cross each off just watch and see how good it feels to be putting your nose in the right direction instead of worrying about hanging out with people outside of your path.

Bad hands good Brain.

Day 300 of 365

The hands make what the mind tells it.
The only problem with this is that your brain is far more skilled than your hands will ever be.
At first glance that can be very discouraging.
We’ve all had that moment where we say I want to be a “blank” we try it we suck and we give up, or we try something new, like it then shortly after we realize how long the journey will take and we give up.
First things first, what I am talking about here are passions but can be applied to careers as well.
Whatever you are doing I hope it ignites something in your belly, and I hope you get fired up to learn more about it.
For me that’s always been photography, I can’t get enough I could look at it everyday and learn something new everyday and it’s fun for me, hence why I don’t mind doing it all the time.
Yet so often I am so displeased in what I create for example the pictures below were very hard for me to edit.
Sense I have been editing in a new software I have had to adjust to some new things and it has been very challenging.
I know what my brain wants but for some reason my hands cannot live up to my brains expectations or taste.
We have all felt that.
The secret sauce here is practice.
You will never obtain exactly the specifics of what your brain wants but you can get damn close.
There is a beauty in that imperfection.
Don’t waste time being discouraged by that the important thing here is to finish quick and finish often so that you can critique and move onto better projects.

Whatever it is you want to do keep practicing and if a door doesn’t open eventually kick one open.

Don't waste your life.

Day 299 of 365

A week without alcohol now and I feel similar to what I felt before.
Except this year I am a lot more excited about it rather than feeling punished.
I’m just glad I don’t have a hangover this morning.
It was also really great to stay in this weekend and use that time to learn new things and be productive instead of going out.
It made me feel free to learn whatever useless or useful information I wanted to invest my time into.
This is my 3rd year doing sober January and I’m stretching that this year to go 2 months alcohol free into February.
I first tried the 30 day no alcohol challenge because of my friend James Swanwick he does a much better job explaining the benefits.
What I can tell you is that I am already seeing my productivity levels go up.
I am also a lot hungrier than I was before, but I also have more energy.
I have to sleep 8 hours now which is very unlike me I normally sleep 6.
So far it is a very positive change.

There are a lot of things that distract us in our lives for me I do not need a drink every day but it’s far too accessible in the city and something that can easily distract me from my work.
I have a mission I am trying to accomplish right now, goals, and a lifestyle I want to fulfill.
If you feel the same way and something is getting in your way try removing it for 30 days.
Wether it be drama, youtube videos, instagram, facebook, wine, or masturbation (you know who you are guys)
remove the distractions and get done what you want to accomplish and see how happy it makes you.

Nothing keeps me in check quite like making conscious decisions because for me beer on the weekends is more of a routine than a choice.

What is your routine and what do you really want?

How to make money off photography.

Day 298 of 365

Occasionally I get the random person that bags me for having so many branded products.
I don’t buy them so I don’t care. About 4 years ago when I started working as an in house photographer I realized brands would give me all the stuff I wanted to buy as long as I just took photos of their stuff and sent it back to them.
Often this would lead to more paid work, connections, or references to recommend me to their friends brands.
Clothing in the outdoor world is a small community.

Long story short if you love taking photos and want to get compensated via free stuff and money heres what I did to get started.

First shoot everyday. Watch youtube tutorials so you can learn to edit.
You do not need school to learn how to make lifestyle photos.
Develop taste, find a specific style of photography that draws you in.
Emulate that.

Second email, email, email all the brands you can and try to keep it specific to things you are already doing.
I wouldn’t ask for golf clubs to shoot because I don’t golf and I live in NYC.
So if you’re a mom/photographer email companies that sell really amazing and expensive mom products or baby products. EX. Strollers, and other mom things.
You can collaborate with these companies on shoots and ask them for a budget as well.
At first most of these shoots will be for trade but once you’re comfortable knowing you can give the client what they want they you should work on budget projects only. $$$

Lastly, there are millions of ways to make money in photography or any creative endeavor for that matter you just need to find your nitch and build your skills.
Wether it be weddings, family photography, commercial, travel, fashion, fuck you can probably make a living being a turtle photographer as long as you’re good.
You can make up your own genre thats the beauty of this.

Whatever you’re interested in a brand will pay you to do it and here’s how you start.

Dear _______,

I am a photographer based in ______ . I really love your _____ blank and think it would work really well in one of my personal projects.
I will link my website (or portfolio) below.
Please let me know if you are interested.

All the best,
Atticus
AtticusRadley.com

Don’t be afraid to share what you know.
There are no secrets in any industry other than hard work.
Hope this helps some of you.

Day 297 of 365

There are two choices to make with every bad situation.
You either treat it with love or you treat it with fear.
Last night I put my clothes in the wash and I accidentally paid for the dryer first as the payment part of the machine is parallel to each other.
Theres about 20 other dryers in my building with none of them being used I figured no one would be such a jerk to come and use my dryer that I already paid for, no biggie.

After my clothes are done washing I head down to the laundry room in my building to find my clothes done and someone else’s clothes dried above mine.
I was pissed at first but I figured after a few minutes they 1 either need it more than I do or 2 are just an asshole and I should feel sorry for them that they need to steal from people.
That will catch up to them in some capacity.
The point I’m making here is that I should have started with love to begin with.

Wether it be someone hitting your parked car, stealing your stuff, or just being a dick to you treat them with love and keep your happiness.
Do not lower your energy to match theirs.
By reacting poorly you only reinforce negative beliefs for example me getting mad about a $2 dollar laundry only reinforces that money can be scarce.
Which is not true their are trillions of dollars in our country fresh for the picking and you can work on your own terms to get it.
React conciously.
Chose love not fear.

Practice positivity.

Day 296 of 365

With anything you get out what you put in but more importantly you get what you believe.
Obviously you have to have self awareness, I am not a 5’10 blonde supermodel, or a professional hockey player but I am generally a happy person because I chose to perceive most things as positive.

Positivity for me ebbs and flows particularly because I haven’t been practicing it enough.
With all things we need to train to obtain our desired outcome.
The same goes for our brains.
Naturally our brains seek out errors, in an effort to make things better.
When solved this makes us feel good.
This practice doesn’t work so well for things like relationships, or our lives, it’s better left for problem solving.
If all we ever notice in our partners are problems and things we need to fix, all we will ever see them for is an issue.
The same goes for our lives, I think it’s a balancing act.
Know that life is great and a blessing but that no one is perfect and that we should be excited to learn new things.
If you’re happy you’re doing something right, if your not well guess what you’re lucky because you’ve got some new things to research and implement into your life.

Chose to perceive your surroundings in a positive light and you will find yourself happier each day.

For me I’m grateful for the struggle of being a new freelancer.
Yeah at times it’s really tough but with each day I’m figuring it out.

Chose your pain wisely.

Day 295 of 365

Almost 10 years seasoned.
With cuffs still around my hands and ankles.
In love with the shape of this city but not with the shape of us.
It’s a toxic wave.
With the tide comes sludge, garbage, and the feeling of hypodermic needles.
You can only pine for the future with a present so sharp.
The only escape to swim with the tide, not against it.
Eventually the pain will escape you.

Any old day.

Day 294 of 365

I’m 26 today and it doesn’t feel like much of a big deal to me as 25 did. I guess with all things repetition can diminish value. Like going out to bars etc. In other ways repetition increases value for instance photographing and walking only become more appealing with each cycle. I woke up this morning questioning the value of my photography or why I do it at all. I started taking photos just to preserve memories I quickly noticed it made my friends really happy. It gave me some sort of purpose, some value other than just being there. I have come very far from that practice. Photography is simply a tool for me these days, like a paint brush or wrench. I use it more to preserve and express my current state. I am thankful for that. I don’t know why I feel the need to make marks, to preserve, or to pollute the world with my own confusion but I do. It makes me feel good to accomplish these small tasks, to vomit on paper or to preserve with a camera.

I hope to make things until the day I die because it’s the only thing that makes me lose track of time.