A Tunnel of Passion

Every day I get off at the Square Victoria metro station and walk amongst a crowd of black, gray and white; business people making their way to their office jobs in the beautiful Old Port of Montreal. Do you want to know what one of my favorite parts of each day is? Every day on that walk underground I pass by a musician or performer of some kind doing what they love and hoping to get someone’s attention from within the hoard of people. 

It’s always one of about 7 different performers and from what I’ve seen there’s no “routine” or “schedule” that says who will be there and when- is it first come first serve? Is there some kind of mutual understanding between these people? I have no idea but the whole thing fascinates me. This isn’t a crowd of people begging for money- a few even have their CDs on display in front of them as they play their instrument- this is passion. This is people doing what they can to get their voice heard by whatever means and it’s amazing. 

Although I do salute them all equally for their efforts I do have to admit that there is one girl in particular that I look forward to seeing. After I had seen her a few times I found myself getting off the metro and hoping she’d be there. And when she is it makes my day; I put my iPod on pause until I can no longer hear her voice. I think she has a great deal of talent and the fact that she would put herself out there, along with all the others, truly fascinates me and inspires me. Am I doing everything I can? No- not at all and until I do I’ll never know what I can accomplish. 

I want so badly to talk to the girl with the beautiful voice- I have so many questions and so much praise to give and really soon I will. Just as long as I catch her as she’s packing it in for the day… I would never want to keep her from sharing her gift with the world.

 

A lot of Hard Work

Montreal in the summer is a city of festivals… a great place to walk around, grab a drink on a terrasse and hopefully see a few shows. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing not one but two shows at the Just for Laughs festival. The first was Ethnic Heroes of Comedy followed by The New Faces of Comedy and it just feels good to go out and see these comedians do what they love.

It’s a tough industry and it’s great to see the new comedians come out and do their best in an attempt to make it big. Making people laugh can be tough… but if you’re good at it it can be extremely rewarding.

As I sat there last night watching all these new comedians with their short time slots I found myself praying that they were as funny as they wished they could be. Hoping that their nerves didn’t take their confidence away and mess up their rythym.

It’s something I compare to watching the gymnastics at the Olympics. It’s awful to see them mess up and break their routine- it’s heart breaking to see that a routine that they’re performed successfully time and time again was ruined the one time that mattered most. I literally cannot breathe when I watch these two events.. but what an inspiration it is.

Making it big isn’t easy but the journey along the way can be quite the adventure. And, if all goes well, the end result can be everything you dreamed of and more.

Adventure

It’s amazing what a little vacation can do for you; sometimes you need some time away in order to gain some perspective on your life. A few days ago I returned from an amazing trip to the California Coast and had the time of my life. It’s moments like those- vacations, nights out with friends etc. that keep you motivated to work hard and stay motivated to turn your life into the one you’ve always dreamed of. 

If I could I would spend my days traveling and taking photographs- to me that’s life and soon enough it’ll be my life. My good friend Andrea is someone that I truly admire- she has traveled to so many incredible places and has experienced each place with a fearless, adventure seeking attitude. She’s a constant reminder that your life is not always about what will happen in the future but what you make happen for yourself now. In a few days she’ll be leaving for Africa- a trip I promise to take myself one day- but it’s not only about experiencing other countries and cultures- the point is that she treats each and every day the way most of us do while traveling. She makes things happen for herself, she looks for new adventures and she keeps an open mind. 

Traveling makes you really open your eyes and want to experience all that you can, knowing that soon enough you’ll be leaving. Well the truth is that we never know what will happen next so make it your goal to travel. Whether or not you ‘travel’ within your own neighborhood or take a plane to a far off destination… it’s your attitude and outlook that will make the difference. 

Childhood Dreams

A few days ago my friend Oanh sent me a link and brought this video to my attention; I cannot thank her enough. The link is for “The Last Lecture” a lecture that brought Professor Randy Pausch worldwide fame. Randy Pausch is an incredible man who was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer and was told he only had months to live. He is not famous because he’s surviving- he’s famous because of how he’s choosing to spend the limited time that he has left and the message that he’s putting forth. 

I watched this video and felt so inspired because you see that this man has ALWAYS lived his days as if they were numbered. His lecture is not about him having some kind of revelation after receiving news of his terminal illness- it is about living your life to its fullest every single day- not hoping for the best in the future but seeing the potential in the present time. He experienced so much and conquered so many of his dreams throughout his life before his illness and now with limited time left he is INSPIRING others to do the same and spending time with his family. 

Don’t just watch this video- make your own list of dreams to be achieved and go for it now. 

  ”The brick walls are there for a reason, the brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something” – Randy Pausch

 

The Coast

A few days ago I starting reading the book “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert and although I haven’t finished it yet I’ve read the bulk of it and am really enjoying it. The author traveled to Italy, India and Indonesia and this book is a reflection of the experiences she encountered while traveling.  I have always loved traveling- when I was younger my parents brought my sister and I on many different trips and I’ve since become fascinated in different cultures, traditions and ways of life. I’d love to someday visit Japan to see where my father grew up and I’d also love to visit New Zealand and various parts of Africa. 

In about two weeks time I’ll be flying out to San Francisco for 12 days- once I arrive there I’ll be renting a car to drive along the coast to San Diego. I’ve started planning a few places to visit along the way and a few destinations that are a little out of the way but nothing’s set in stone. I would love to hear your suggestions- restaurants, buildings, monuments, etc. Are there any places you would reserve more time for? Places you might suggest skipping over? Favorite vineyards? Nice little bed and breakfasts? Even if you’ve never been I would love to hear of places you’d like to visit- send me on a little adventure/assignment and I can come back with my experiences and many many photographs of course! 

Recently I spent some time with my mother going through huge boxes of photos- it’s really amazing how you can look at a photo and learn so much about the past. Seeing childhood photos of people you’ve only known as grownups, seeing old photos of the home you grew up in with the swing set in the yard and the many many fashion statements that were made along the way. My favorites always happen to be photos taken on vacation… photos of my sister and I getting our hair braided in Barbados ( I cried the entire time), the family in a field of sunflowers in France, us holding hands to make a circle big enough to hug a tree in the Sequoia National Park- the list goes on but I’ve leave you with one of my very favorites- a photo taken at Niagara Falls. My father, sister and I with our friends the Rehels- now that’s priceless!

 

 

Inspiration

If you could take a photo of absolutely anything what would it be? Would you go underwater and take an upclose photo of a killer whale? Would you climb Everest and take a photo of the view from the top? What would that one photograph be if you knew that you COULD do it- you could get inches away from an amazing killer whale, you could climb Everest- you could do anything you wanted- what would it be?

I think that too often people let their dreams and ambitions get crushed not only by their limitations and their fear of failure but because someone else has already gone and achieved it. And for some people- the hard work that goes into obtaining a goal is nor worth it unless it can be theirs and only theirs.

When I look at a photograph I’m always impressed by the different qualities- the angle it was shot from, the colors, the implication of motion etc. but the one thing I always ask myself is “What happened before and after the picture was taken?” How did the photographer get there, how long were they traveling, who did they meet, what were they feeling? I want to learn about their experience.

Pay attention to what your thoughts were when I asked you to name the one photo you wished to take knowing that you could do it. I bet you the first thing that came to mind was the experience of it; the thrill of the journey and the memories that come with it. This is what we all have to remind ourselves. Yes someone else might have traveled the world, sure there are many before that have gone and done it and although we’ve all seen many beautiful pictures to prove it nothing can compare to living it firsthand.

Let yourself be inspired by the talents of the world- don’t their big bright achievements diminish yours. Don’t worry about being THE best, just be your best and let your unique perspective and talents guide you to being the first to achieve your dreams.

 

Limitations

“Learning too soon our limitations, we never learn our powers” Mignon McLaughlin

Not too long ago my fiance urged me to watch a video clip he thought I’d find interesting. It was a speech by Sir Ken Robinson on schools and whether or not they kill creativity. Regardless of if you have a child currently in school or if you yourself are an educator this is a video that I recommend you watch- not only is this man well-spoken and interesting; he is also witty and has such an interesting perspective of the education system. 

He points out that since we’re young we’re taught that subjects like math and literature are extremely important while excelling in art class is nothing to brag about- and why not? Each individual has their own strengths and dreams and yet creativity is continuously put down. Personally if I were to think back to my own education I can think of some achievements but mostly what I remember is what I was terrible at. Why? Because so much focus was put into “fixing” that and so much of my time was spent trying to learn something I had no interest in and had begun to hate. Ultimately when I graduated high school and had to choose my program of study I chose a program based on what it wouldn’t involve- math. 

Luckily I grew up with amazing parents who made sure I knew how proud they were of my achievements and let me take part in honestly every single activity I suddenly decided I had interest in from gymnastics and rowing to painting and soccer. Had it not been for my family and their support for my love of everything and anything creative and artistic I would not be here building a career for myself doing something I LOVE.

We all have limitations, we all have fears and we all have faults but focus on what inspires you, moves you and defines you and you’ll find yourself living a much fuller life. 

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

 

 

Perfection

For a few months now I’ve been working hard to get my business started; I’ve been creating my website, my business cards, my blog and my brand. In the beginning there was so much to do I didn’t know where to start- now there is still plenty to do (and there always will be) but I’ve realized that one of my largest obstacles is and will continue to be my obsession with perfection. 

At times it’s a good thing- it means I always expect more from myself and am passionate about delivering more than expected but it can also be a bit of a downfall because I think if it’s not perfect it’s just not good enough. 

As a photographer, ironically enough, I find myself searching for those little imperfections that make us real and human; to me it seems at times that even imperfections are perfections. I’ve been thinking long and hard about the concept of perfection and the more I thought about it the more I realized that much like creativity and beauty, perfection is something that simply cannot be measured. We all have different perspectives and different opinions of what we think is perfect, depending on our values, our environment and upbringing. So, that being said, while I will definitely continue to expect the best from myself and my work there will always be that ultra important “human” touch to my business. No fine print, just a lot of heart.

As I mentioned in my first post it’s so important that my clients feel comfortable around me- that is why I decided to start this blog. It’s a way for people to get to know me and my approach to photography so that they can decide if I’m right for the job, whether or not my style and vision is “perfect” for them..

 

Taking the Risk

The thought of becoming a professional photographer used to terrify me. Not because I didn’t think I could do it but because it is such a great passion of mine that I worried something might go wrong along the way leaving my great passion tarnished.

Now think about anytime you’ve had a conversation with someone you haven’t seen in a long time.. there usually comes a point in the conversation where you exchange some of your biggest achievements and also a few regrets. Fast forward a few years- if you were to find yourself chatting with an old school friend, what would you hope to be able to list as an achievement and what could possibly fall into the regret category if you let it? Now is the time to do something about that. 

That is what made me really pursue my dream of becoming a photographer- knowing now that my great passion will never slip into my category of regret is already somewhat of an achievement. It’s okay to be a little scared sometimes; it’s only normal, but when that fear controls you and prevents you from experiencing not what life has to offer to you but what YOU have to offer to life is when you start accumulating those dreadful little regrets. 

 

Making it happen

Photography has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl- I used to pretend I had a camera built into my head and I’d shut my eyes and open them wide to take a photo. I won’t get into all the other details of my “built in camera” and how it functioned but I will tell you that despite the fact that I grew out of that phase (a relief to my family I’m sure) I still wish I could use it. 

It’s those real and intimate moments that I want to capture and that I feel passionate for- I love looking at a photograph and remembering an actual moment in time- the emotions that were felt, the moisture in the air, the strong wind that kept pushing your hair into your lipgloss, the pain you feel from in your sides from that uncontrollable fit of laughter. Those are the photos that I try to capture and that is why sometimes I wish I still had that camera in my head… so I could capture those special seconds, minutes and hours without my subjects being concerned about their hair or their pose or the stain on their shirt. 

My goal as a photographer is to create an environment where people are comfortable and can be themselves so that when they look back at their photos they see more than a beautiful portrait or family photograph- they see THEMSELVES and THEIR family as they are- not posed, just natural. 

I’ve had the great pleasure of photographing some amazing people in the past few months; people that have invited me into their homes to be a witness to their lives and I cannot thank them enough. These are the people that make me think I might be able to do without that built in camera of mine..