2021 – Leaps and Bounds – Andy Chen Photography

New blog post? What a surprise!

Since graduating in May, everything has been non-stop for me. Here’s a rough list of what I’ve done.

Moved back to New York for a few days.
Moved in with my wife in DFW, Texas
Started a temporary optometry position while I waited to get licensed in Texas.
Got a new (used) car
Moved again to a new apartment
Got my optometry license in Texas
Started work full time as an optometrist
Vacationed to a cabin in Oklahoma for a weekend

Needless to say, I decided to put my photography in the back seat. Between managing work and my home, I didn’t find joy in taking photographs any more. Do I miss it? Of course. But part of my transition from a student to the “real world” is realizing how valuable time is. It is so frighteningly finite, so I strive to make every minute meaningful. I’m not saying I work every second of the day but instead I choose to work smarter and rest more deliberately. I just haven’t found a way to fit photography in like I used to.

Even throughout the year, I was able to find some opportunities to take pictures. It’s nothing portfolio worthy, but I think it was nice to fall back into that mind space to take photos again for a little bit. I’ll write more about my adventures as soon as I can.