For those who are first time visitors, I live in Japan.
I love documenting my family and the wonderful people of Japan through pictures.
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@rizcrescini twitter updates... @kennykim God doesn't call everyone to b a pastor. His calling 4 u is in the photog biz. I'm thankful for ur influence in this industry. #2012/02/04
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” ~John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic (1928)
We are made to experience life and all it has to offer and not stay safely at home. Mark Twain said it best:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.“
Use your God-given gifts and talents to serve your family, friends and community. Don’t be afraid to take risks and dream big in 2012!!
Many of you have already seen this video but I thought I’d share it again. Whether you’re an established or new creative, may it inspire you and give you the proper perspective in 2011. If you like what you saw, check out Zack Arias’ blog for more gems.
“In marriage, each partner is to be an encourager rather than a critic, a forgiver rather than a collector of hurts, an enabler rather than a reformer.” -H. Norman Wright and Gary J. Oliver
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” -Proverbs 18:22
Simply put, Anne is the best thing that’s happened to me. Everyday, I wake up amazed that I get to spend it with a such an amazing woman! She is the embodiment of unconditional love. It has been twelve great years of committment, love, support and encouragement. And 2011 is a continuation of what I receive on a daily basis. I love you, Honey! Looking forward to a year of growth as we strengthen our marriage vows.
Let’s enter the new year with the mindset presented in this quote by artist, Albert J. Sullivan. I have more to share about this idea of creativity and failure but let me say in this brief post that I hope we will overcome our dread of failure in 2011. Let us give ourselves grace and not mind that our path is potentially littered with failure. Let us have this mindset in 2011: failure produces an exponential amount of growth. Now…go out there and fail!
Anne was still in bed when I set off to explore Rome in the early morning. My walk took me to an unassuming small church. It was not magnificent like St. Peter’s but its impact on me was no less astounding. The church was all mine as I studied the paintings in the sanctuary (one of them the smaller work of Michelangelo). I sat in one of the pews enjoying the solitude and the scene before me: the early morning light coming in to radiate not just the beautiful, stained glass windows but also illuminating the cross above the sanctuary. And then, as if on cue, the organ pipes above me began playing music that lifted my soul to the heights. It was a time of refreshment for my soul.
I thought perhaps that this heavenly music was pre-programmed into the organ to play every morning at that exact time. But as I slowly made my way to the back where the organ sat, I was in for a pleasant shock. At the organ was an elderly Asian nun. She looked to be in her 80′s and no taller than 5 feet. From those frail, little hands came the most moving music I have heard in a long time. The towering, metal pipes were a stark contrast to her small, fragile frame. But it was clear who was in command. The inner passion inside this humble nun was released as she played one majestic piece after another.
“The key to life: give to the world with all your giftedness, passion and compassion.” -Scott Robert Lim
So why am I sharing this? Because I believe it is a good illustration of what I learn at a Scott Robert Lim workshop. Scott mentors in a way that cultivates passion and vision. Our equipment, like the cold metallic pipes of an organ, can seem intimidating as we struggle to create images. Scott strives to help us master techniques of posing and lighting, to take it to the next level. But more than that, he helps us find and release our inner passion. Without this inner passion, we cannot, like the nun, create one majestic piece after another. It is this inner passion to excel that, when others view our work, they are, in a phrase, brought to the heights.
The New York City workshop was an exciting week as Scott inspired us to pursue passion.
At this year’s Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), I was given a chance to give a short 5 minute presentation during the closing program of the convention. Together with 19 other presenters, the first ever Photographers Ignite was a smashing success! If you want to find out more about Ignite presentations and what they are, please click here. Kevin Kubota is the man behind Photographers Ignite and I’m thankful to him and his staff for giving me a chance to share about the country I love: Japan! My talk focuses on Japanese customer service. Please watch the video below to hear more about the best customer service in the world! After the talk, please feel free to download the PDF to stories of Japanese customer service I provided on a recent blog post here. Please watch the other presenters as they rocked the stage with their talks. I’m watching now as I write this post
We are made to experience life and all it has to offer and not stay safely at home. Mark Twain said it best:
