Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Lead, Follow...Or Just Try To Keep Up!

You know, sometimes I feel like I'm taking two steps forward and four steps back!  But then I think:

"I guess being at the back of the pack has its advantages when you're all going into battle..."

That's true, as long as they don't attack from the rear!

Ok, carry on. As you were...

Friday, July 5, 2013

Happy New Half Year! And So, I Begin Anew...

Ok, I'm not the kind of guy to make a lot of resolutions on New Year's Eve.  Yeah, I try to clean up my act, good intentions and all that, but I purposely keep those kinds of promises to myself fairly vague, so I don't feel so bad when I blow them off.

I do however, believe in the power of the calendar when it comes to planning the goals in my life.  I'm not really astrological in the spiritual sense, you know - the whole fate and destiny kind of thing based on the alignment of various heavenly bodies and all that, but I do (like a lot of people) think that the beginning of a day, or a week, or a month, or a year makes a logical starting point for my various life activities, especially if I plan on making changes to them.

In this case we are talking about the start of July: the beginning of the second half of the year 2013, and I know and feel this moment has a great significance.  It will mark the first time in over a decade that I can devote my time and energy and resources full-time to my career as a photographic artist.

And so, without giving a boring history lesson on hopes and dreams in the past that I was unable to accomplish for a multitude of reasons, let me just say most all of my shackles have been removed, my career and business begins anew, and we are all finally going to find out what I am capable of.

By the way, not to brag, but working only part-time with a great many constrictions placed on me by my family responsibilities and inability to travel, I was still able to snag a handful of photo award hardware in the time I've been up here in Central Florida, including one Editorial Magazine Cover of the Year in 2006 in a national competition.

I also managed to keep my gallery resume going with an assortment of group and one-person exhibitions at various venues and times throughout the area since I've lived up here.

Not bad for a guy with one hand tied behind his back...

Now, I don't know about you, but personally, I cannot wait for all the good things that lie ahead! Wish me luck!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Now, Where Was I Before I Was So Rudely Interrupted?

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions" ~ancient proverb

"From life's school of war: what does not kill me makes me stronger" ~Friedrich Nietzsche


Well, I have to tell you, I really thought my spring would be more productive. And while I did indeed have the best of intentions of getting a lot of things done, life -in its inimitable way- threw up (and yes, if you want to take that literally as gastronomical, feel free) a few unexpected road blocks that I had to go around. Or maybe they were hurdles I had to jump over?

Ah, "hurdles" might actually be more accurate, as I certainly do not jump any where near as well as I used to!

Regardless of semantics, it's involved challenges galore, and they were (and are) obstacles that made me not only rethink the way I worked and organized my career, but had me questioning my very life as well.

The major event, on February 10th (a date that will live in infamy!) happened only a few days after my last blog post. Without going to great lengths to explain the details, suffice to say it was a major medical event, and had me laid up in the local hospital for over a week.

Now, those of you who follow me on Facebook have probably already read a lot about this ordeal, as I've made quite a few posts on both my personal page as well as my photography fan page.

The good news is I seem to be basically fine, and well on the road to recovery. Hmmm, come to think of it, if I'm going to use that analogy, maybe these are roadblocks after all.  The bad news is my balance and equilibrium are still a bit hinkey, and continual physical rehab seems to be the order of the day. So, while running and catching a thrown frisbee is probably a no go for me, I am back to driving, and working out, and most importantly...shooting a camera! Believe me, there were times during the last five months I wasn't even sure I would ever do these things again.

Thankfully, my LIFE INTERRUPTED, however briefly, is moving forward again!

Speaking of thanks, again I cannot thank my friends, family, clients, and acquaintances enough for all the support and well wishes I've received recently. The positive vibrations and white light aimed in my direction has had a profound effect on my progress and motivation!

So, let me end this post the way I began it:

Where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?

Yes! That's right! Now I remember! More to follow...