All in Adventure Photography

Be a Kid Again and Ask, "Why? Why? Why?..."

Be a Kid Again and Ask, "Why? Why? Why?..."

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

As we age (I know, not what we all want to acknowledge) we begin to rely on our past experience. Fortunately, our experiences have kept us alive and thriving over the last “X” number of years. Unfortunately, this experience removes the natural curiosity we had as a kid, potentially blinding us from seeing this world as it presents itself to us. Our experience allows us to see “between the lines” and blocks us from being surprised by one’s actions. Yet, what happens when we can no longer surprise ourselves? Have we become stagnant? Well, that is possible, but there is an easy way to get out of that rut. Simply, be that annoying a kid again, and ask yourself “Why?” until you can’t go any further.

How can Ikigai improve my life?

How can Ikigai improve my life?

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Most likely you have not heard of Ikigai, however, its background story and correlation to the Japanese island, Okinawa, which is home to the most centenarians in the world gives this Japanese practice an unparalleled lifestyle design resume. Living in the west, we have a consumer-based society, where our value is based on our belongings. That is not the case in Ikigai.

Digital Nomad Must Read Book List

Digital Nomad Must Read Book List

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Having the mindset to live on the road means you are willing to work through the punches. As a digital nomad, these books will help you find yourself along your travels as well as give you a perspective that showcases how others have done it in the past. In the end, what you read influences your daily life, your thoughts, and eventually your actions, so read the books which will help you get to where you want to go!

Asking “Who”: Understanding the Who Question Generator for Introspection

Asking “Who”: Understanding the Who Question Generator for Introspection

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Who questions are a great place to start whenever you are trying to take a deeper dive into your cognitive process. The reason, people are often the trigger, or influence, into why we didn’t stick to our truths. In our hearts, we know what is correct, but often it is our environment that changes the typical results for what we want to achieve. Please note, this influence can be both, constructive and destructive.

Introspection: Discover Your Cognitive Process

Introspection: Discover Your Cognitive Process

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Another way to think of introspection is the discovery of one’s cognitive process. I use the word discovery because I do not think nearly observing nor examining is enough. To discover something, one must be curious to look around the corner, poke and prod, asking questions you may not want the answer to, but know it is important to find out. Also, I change the mental and emotional process to cognitive because one’s cognition also adds the senses to the process.

Just Outside My Window

Just Outside My Window

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

This poem was written with the intention of encouraging others to step outside of thier comfort zone and start engaging with their dreams. I use the motif of watching your dreams go by, season after season, from a window. This idea is pulled from a quote I learned while I was working as an outdoor educator (teaching backpacking, rock climbing, etc.) for Outward Bound that goes like this: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that isn’t what a ship is for.”

The Balance of Fire | Learning to Recognize the Cycles in Life

The Balance of Fire | Learning to Recognize the Cycles in Life

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Cycles define our lives. We ebb and flow, much like the tides pulled by the moon’s gravity. Some cycles are short, while others last a lifetime. Our relationships, our work, our creativity all require attention (the flowing) and withdrawal (the ebbing). Recently, I have been wondering what would it take to control these cycles. Are they controllable? Well, my intuition lands on a simple answer, no. No, I do not think we can control these cycles, but we can learn to recognize and embrace each orbit.

Release your Inner Child

Release your Inner Child

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

In the world of taxes, mortgages, car payments, student loans, utility bills, etc. we—or at least myself—fall into the trap of forgetting to play. I don’t mean going out with friends or surfing your favorite break. The play I am talking about is the kind you enjoyed as a little kid. Growing up in a rural place, I often played naked in the backyard during a rainstorm with my GI Joes or I was pretending to be Tarzan climbing trees. While I keep my nudity to a minimum these days, I hope you get what I mean.

Snowy Morning in Joshua Tree

Snowy Morning in Joshua Tree

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Stepping out of the van, the temperature is 29 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a fresh layer of snow in the desert. Quickly closing the door in hopes of keeping my partner’s warmth within, I begin to wander. The goal, return with a few images I can be proud of on this unique morning. I mean, how often do you get to see snow in the desert?

A Name for Everything: Tips for Becoming a Digital Nomad

A Name for Everything: Tips for Becoming a Digital Nomad

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Until this past weekend, I had no idea the term “Digital Nomad” existed. Turns out, earning a living through a digital medium, like photography, and living on the road or in a nomadic style, makes you a digital nomad. Low and behold, I can call myself a digital nomad. Thank goodness I have another box to fit within! As I scrolled through the wiki page, I realized the box which fits me best is a sub-category of nomads called Van-dwellers. For some odd reason, I like the term van-dweller more than van-lifer. I wonder if anyone else has these same thoughts? Anyways, I digress. I wanted to share some tips and tricks I’ve learned as I dawn this fancy new Digital Nomad title from these past 4-years of roaming.

It's Never Enough Time | A Weekend in Big Sur

It's Never Enough Time | A Weekend in Big Sur

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

The sixty-hour weekend clock had begun, the van was packed, we were eager, but understood it wasn’t enough time. It’s never enough time. Headed north from Pismo Beach, we took the PCH to the iconic, rugged coastline of Northern California, Big Sur. Leading up to us cranking the tunes and rolling down the windows to let in the ocean breeze, Big Sur had a mystical feel told to us by those who had visited.

Warming Rays

Warming Rays

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Warming Rays

Warming rays beat down through the crystal-like sky,

upon the everlasting grassy plain, where you lay.

Exposed, your delicate body rests in the thick green grass

shimmering from the reflection off the beads of sweat

which trickle down your brow, across your chest, and down your elegant stomach.

Absorbing the rays of heat, like a butterfly preparing for flight,

your beauty radiates. Blinding all those

who look at your body, and not at you.

For your true beauty lays below the skin,

In your mind which creates and destroys

everlasting thoughts of love, harmony, and solidarity.

Life’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Life’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

Growing up I was constantly reminded that, “life is a marathon, not a sprint.” My mom, coaches, teachers, and other adults would tell me this almost daily. At times, I thought they were all in on a cruel joke! I hated these reminders! They did not make sense, why would you tell somebody that has a goal to slow down? Devoted to a pool, putting in 3 hours a day staring at a black-line does something to your mental state. I just wanted to go faster.

The Modern Hero

The Modern Hero

Dalton Johnson
Adventure Photography

A hero must give back all that was unrightfully inherited. The fight is no longer against nature, but against the constructs confining ourselves. Relearning how to trust others, share, and care for the land. If we want freedom, we must live out our contracts we have made, attempt to not pass on any obligations to our children, and work towards surrendering to the misfortune we have created. Learn the impacts of what we have created, feel the suffering, and heal each other. Our modern hero is not the one pushing the boundaries of what stuff can do, but those pushing the boundaries of how love can heal.

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