Music has always been something I’m passionate about. Not only do I play multiple instruments, including the guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and irish whistle, I listen to music whenever I can. It’s an important part of my life, and part of who I am. I’ve played instruments since I was six, and have enjoyed jamming with other musicians around the world. No matter what language you speak, there is a way to connect with others through music. It is a language that is spoken around the world, a universal way of expressing yourself.

When I shot this photo, I was thinking about the sun filtering down through the leaves of the birch trees around me. The smells of summer filled the breeze coming off the nearby lake, and the light danced on the curves of my violin. Birds sang above me, and it was a near perfect moment. It was a great time to take a picture, enabling me to capture the moment forever.

Although not much time has passed since I took this picture, looking at it brings me back to that perfect moment. I can close my eyes and almost see the leaves floating down from the trees, and the macaw feather from Peru on my fiddle dancing in the breeze. It brings back to me a feeling of peace and contentment, which causes it to be one of my favorite photos.

Hannah Miller is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program.

Photo courtesy and copyright Hannah Miller