Posts tagged "inspiration"

It is interesting how life comes in a full circle.  My very first job was working in the movie theater.  I absolutely loved it.  I knew every movie that came out, who was playing in it.  I went on breaks to watch tidbits of them, and on my days off I would go and see them whole.  At Oscars, I would have seen most of the movies that were nominated.

I never realized back then that some day in a movie theater on a big screen, there would be my name in the credits.

Things come our way sometimes unexpectedly.  If we just follow our gut feeling trusting ourselves, we get rewarded.  There might be some obstacles on the way or sacrifices we make, but if we follow that inner knowing, it pays off generously.

Last year, my friends asked me to help out with the film, to do a still photography.  As I read a heart-warming script, I had a good feeling about it.  At the same time, our horse got sick and we lost him.  Besides hard times and schedule, I shot the scenes and making of the film, nonetheless.  But once there, I put all my heart into it.  After shooting, I spent countless hours in selecting, editing and e-mailing pictures to producers.

During filming, I fell in love with characters, especially Grandma Jini and a 4-year old Kian.

Once I was there, I was totally immersed in the making of the film.  I found the whole process fascinating.  So much detail goes into the scene:  a proper light, sound system, camera settings, scene and location setup.  It was incredible.

My most favorite scenes were beach shots.  Always love natural light.

Appearance of actors was really important as well:  every clothing ironed, every wardrobe piece selected, constant make-up, powdering and curling the hair.  Every detail was important as much as a location setup.

My most favorite part was to get into actors’ world:  feel every feeling they feel in acting, see every motion – to be one of them and capture those moments that really matter.

Seeing Kian’s and Grandma Jini’s love and their embrace melted my heart.

To find right angles, to capture the right feeling, the right body language – to give a great feel and bring a viewer an intriguing curiosity is my key.  Seeing tears of missing Grandma when Kian grows up, sweet memories of contemplation when Kian gets older had me lost in a moment as if it was happening for real.

I love to capture life.  Therefore, in capturing the scenes, I put myself right there with the actors sensing everything they portray.

Being part of the crew, I watched every intense moment of making a scene just right.  It was just like being in two worlds at the same time:  being one with the crew and being one with the actors.  I loved to capture each moment in filming, loved to capture the crew working and having fun in between.

What drew me to this film was a heart-warming storyline.  “A Lot in Common… shared memories” was written by Grandma Jini herself.  Jacqueline Serrano, Dayle J. Hoffman and Ralitsa Koleva were producers.  Jini Mount and Kian are real life grandma and grandson and the parts of the film were a real-life story.  This film will be a part of a family’s treasure.  I could watch this film over and over again and still have tears in my eyes.

“A Lot in Common” was selected at Sarasota Film Festival in 2012.  I loved being a part of this film, meet amazingly talented actors and crew and to shoot the priceless moments in it.  It was an amazing experience.

Forgiveness – what an incredibly awesome feeling in the world! It has so much freedom in it.  It has this huge openness of what is possible!  It is freeing.  It is tearing down all the shackles we put on us.  It gets rid of that huge stone in the heart, that heaviness.  It gets rid of all the pain.

By talking to my brother couple of weeks ago, I realized that before I associated love with pain.  I was confused.  Where there was love, the pain followed.  It manifested all through life: painful relationships, losing beloved pets, deaths.  I carried lots of pain in my heart since childhood.  That pain lasted in adulthood.  Love turned into the pain in a different situations.  Love and pain went hand in hand.

After realizing it, I consciously forgave each person that hurt me.  With some, it was not easy, but I let go all the hurt.  In forgiving, I realized that some people hurt me and others because they were hurt themselves.  Some might not be even aware of the hurt they caused.  Some of them just wanted to be in control, and I am not an easy one to tame.  Some of them might not know any better, considering their own life experiences.  Sure, this does not excuse their behavior.  However, there is no point in dealing with this pain no more.  I’m setting myself free.

There is no power in pain.  While being in pain, we unconsciously hurt not only ourselves, but also others.  Only pure love can solve anything.

The moment I forgave, I saw love, a pure beautiful incredible love – love that I want to explore, that is unknown.  Pain is no longer there.  I want to feel it raw and passionate.  I want to feel love with all my body, within my heart.

In that, brand new door opens to New Possibilities… I can’t wait to experience.

You know the feeling when something touches you so deeply and opens something inside your heart that you wish to create something, anything. You want to create magic.

There is a huge source of inspiration everywhere: the books we read, art, photography.  I even find Facebook inspirational.  In there, I see what my friends create.  I see other artists’ photos that take my breath away, read stories that open my heart to wonder and inspiration.  A certain quote, a certain image plays with my heart strings that I just want to write, go there in the world and capture something wonderful, to touch people’s hearts.

Stunning work of Alina Eydel

Inspiration can strike anytime anywhere.  The key is to follow that inspiration when it hits us.  If we wait, the inspiration might be gone in a minute.  It might disappear as fast as it appeared.  It is important to follow it through.  Or, we will forget what we wanted to say, write, put it in the words, create.

Can you imagine how dull world would feel if nothing would inspire us?  It is important to create, to learn, to try out new things.  The key to creating is to look beyond the ordinary.  We can see things in mundane ways, or we can see magic in usual.  Something like raindrop seems nothing special, but in sunlight and using a special setting on a camera, it turns into sparkle.

I love books.  Books lets me travel to places I haven’t been, lets me examine a person’s mind, inspires to think differently.  Books always teach me something.  From how-to’s to storylines, it expands my way of thinking and feeling and experiencing the world.

Other people’s actions also inspire me.  The acts of kindness, or a simple discussion help me to see what difference I can make in the world.

Nature inspires me big time.  It gives me a new idea, it always takes my breath away.  I can see a beauty in anything and I love to capture it.  I find endless stories of new beginnings and re-birth, of peace, of love, of survival, of life, of strength, and passion.  I see ever-changing masterpieces in the sky, in a birth of a new flower or leaf.  Nature fascinates me and always surprises me.

What inspires you everyday?  What makes you come alive?  What are you creating in your life that will touch people’s lives?  Simple actions can mean a world to other people.  Do not underestimate the power of simplicity.  The ordinary can become extraordinary in a new ways.  What is known and ordinary to you, it might be extraordinary to others.  The key is to look at it in a new ways, to look beyond…

Trust that little voice in your head that says “Wouldn’t it be interesting if…” And then do it. – Duane Michals, “More Joy of Photography”

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Running? Me? Who could ever thought?

Last week, I started something new.  When my friend Sandy and I went to Celery Fields hill, I saw 2 little kids and their mother running down the hill.  They had smiles on their faces, having a great time.  I thought for a moment, when was the last time I run?  I remembered my high school years when we used to run short-distance and long 2 km distance.  I was a pretty good runner in a long distance.  We even used to run in the snow.

So, I handed my camera to Sandy and I took off downhill.  Climbing up hill was not challenging enough, so I upped my game.  I run uphill 2 times.  My heart pounding, the wind in my hair, I felt ALIVE!  I was smiling ear to ear!  I put my arms in the air and at that moment I decided I want to get fit.  I want to be strong.  I want to feel alive!  … And I’m keeping my word.  I came back to the hill again.  I also run in my neighborhood.

In running, I became more aware of my surroundings.  Even my eyes became so much clearer, and this clear vision right now is staying for prolonged time. Before, my vision was a bit blurry, then clear, a little more blurry and then clear, and so on.  It was going from 20/40 to 20/25 most of the time.  Right now, even after finishing running, in this past week I can feel my vision stays clearer longer than usual.  And when I see 20/20, every leaf on the tree, I become ecstatic. WOW!  By running, I see beautiful front yards of neighbors.  Today, I saw a swing on a tree.  I see birds on a roof or flying by.  I hear hawk screaming.  My senses become alive.  My heart pounds, I breathe hard, then I start walking and later running again.  I become so aware of everything.  Even I pick up senses of flowers or blooming trees.  Oh, what a great fragrance!  It is so great to feel ALIVE!

Wow!  I just read some benefits of running.

6 benefits of running

I found this article helpful, too:

For Beginner Runners

Another great form of exercise and self-expression is dancing.  I danced this weekend, too.  My muscles were sore the next day, but it was so much well worth it.  My friends and I had such a great time.  Here is something I wrote awhile ago about dancing: What is your dancing style?

Photography is an incredible art that allows us to live in the present moment.  It fills us with wonder and amazement at the simplest things.  With photography, we capture that fleeting moment that otherwise would be easily forgotten or even unnoticed.  When capturing our world, we turn the ordinary into extraordinary.  We paint with light and make it a masterpiece.  Photography allows us to be curious and see and feel more.  It turns our world into canvas that we can fill with beautiful images, using our imagination.

Photography is like living with an open heart.  We open our hearts to the beauty in the world: flowers, smiles, pretty faces, beautiful fashion, nature, sunsets, loving couples.  We also capture a beauty of determination, beauty of age, beauty of standing up for something.  Each person, animal, bird, creature have a special feature, a special characteristic that is only unique to them.  A patient and aware photographer can capture that essence, that moment that usually escapes an ordinary eye.  In photography, each moment, each motion, each emotion is priceless.  A picture has to have a meaning, has to tell a story.  Words might be unsaid, but it must be felt within the heart.

Great photographer is a body language reader.  It takes lots of patience with people and as much with animals.  With elusive wildlife, there should be a trust established, honoring enough space, stillness and quietness.

Capturing that particular moment does not end there.  There is also an editing part: working with the picture like a painter.  Finishing touches are as much important to enhance the features that further tell a story.  In the past, I stayed away from editing part.  However, right now I find it exciting.  It is another creative way to love what I do.  When I edit, I feel like I am an artist creating a masterpiece on canvas.  Picture becomes like a precious painting of mine.  I still leave some photos alone.  If there are some imperfections, I let it be.  Nature is imperfect.  That’s why it is so beautiful.

Photography is a tireless teacher.  Not only it teaches us to look more closely, to examine things, to learn about our subjects and world around us.  It also teaches the techniques and tricks of the camera.  Knowing camera well can turn a darkness of the night into masterpiece full of magic.

Photography stops us in the tracks to admire what we choose to capture.  It is an outlet of living our lives fully, moment by moment, capture by capture.  It is an incredible way to feel alive, to see beauty with our eyes and to feel magic within our hearts.

Some photos resemble paintings.  The motion, the light bring a surprising outcome.  As if a painting comes out of camera.  I love to paint with the light and motion of a subject.  Here are some photos that I took for you to enjoy:

This one is one of my favorites.  The day was really cloudy, but this capture of the moment was priceless.

Sometimes the blurriness gives that special effect that looks like brush strokes of a painter.

These photos look like an abstract paintings.  That’s the capture of moving reflections in the water.

It is a wonder what photography can do.  It let us see what we normally would just dismiss or simply look and forget.  Photography is capturing the moments that can stay with us forever.  It is an amazing art that let us live in the now.

Recently I met my new friend.  We talked for hours, walked in a drizzling rain, went to the beach in the dark.  We had a great time and conversation.

In talking with her, I realized how far I came.  My attitude towards everything has changed.  Like the saying goes, “Do not look for me in the past.  I am not there anymore.”  It rings so true to me.

I realized all the struggles I been through in the past only made me stronger.  The people who treated me unfairly are no longer in my life.  Some things that I would be dead serious about before, just made me laugh.  I know what I want and nothing will stop me.

By talking to my friend, I glanced into my past and right now.  I came a LONG way. Wow!  I am not afraid of little setbacks anymore.  It only makes me stronger.  Setbacks are just a little building blocks that goes to the top of the castle of our dreams come true.

By summing up all our conversations about life and people, an enormous gratitude filled my heart.  I am grateful for:

1. My family and friends.  You are truly amazing, each one of you!

2.  My health.  Where I was and where I am now – HUGE difference!

3.  My pets who give an unconditional bundles of love and joy.

4.  A peace in my heart.  Forgiveness plays a huge part.

5.  My self-confidence.  Gosh, even my back is straight and I see clearer.

6.  My cheerfulness and positivity.  A simple smile makes the whole difference not only for me, but for others.

7.  My creativity and curiosity.  I LOVE making ordinary into extraordinary, to challenge myself to see in creative ways.

8.  Challenges.  They teach me lessons and test me how strong I’ve become.  It builds a character, so bring it on.

9.  New opportunities that unexpectedly present themselves.

10. LIFE.  I cherish every minute that I am alive!

What are you grateful in your life?

People come and go.  Some of them touch our hearts, some of them break them.  Some people come into our lives to give certain lessons.  Some people test our nerves, test how strong we become.  Yet with some people, it feels that we have known them for years.  We can talk to them for hours, and never gets boring.  It seems that they are our soul friends – people who are traveling a similar path.

If we look at our friend circle and people we meet, do we feel empowered?  Or do we feel drained?  Do we feel enthusiastic?  Or do we feel victimized?  How our friends make us feel?

This year, I decided to sort my friends out in a personal life and on social media.  Animal abusers or animal hunters for fun, people who demean women and others are not acceptable in my world.  I had to un-friend some on Facebook.  In personal life, I had to let go of some people as well.  People with chronic victim mentality only drains’ others’ energy.  They are real downers and not willing to change.  Some people just do not deserve to be in our lives.  If they put us down or belittle us, we can choose to let them go.  I did that, and my life became lighter.

Note:  if mentally we are still mad on them, they still have a control over us.  Therefore, forget, forgive and let it go. By being mad, we only hurt ourselves.

I choose to surround myself with people who are amazing, creative, inspiring and empowering.  Yes, we all go through life’s hard stuff.  We all have our stories.  However, if some people choose to complain about it and do not do anything, it is a downer not only for them, but also for us.  We do not need to get into other people’s dramas.

Life is all about going higher and achieving our dreams.  Let’s surround ourselves with people who empower us to be the best.  Let’s be the best for others, too.  Let’s inspire one another.

Happy New Year!  It is a new beginning.  Like Winfrey Oprah said, “another year to make it right.”  The thing is that we go through changes many times:  it could be at a beginning of the year.  It could be after some drastic event happening, like changing a job, losing someone, divorce, kids go to college, retirement, marriage, moving to a new place, etc., etc.  There is also a saying that major changes usually happen after 7 years.

Lately, I and my friends are going through major life changes, too.  So, how to cope with that? How to make changes fun?  First of all, I found the greatest thing to do is to get rid of crap.  Through many years, we collect so much stuff.  Some things we liked before, we do not like it anymore.  Get rid of it.  Our tastes change.  We have so many e-mails that we did not even read, subscriptions that we ignore.  Delete and throw away.   If we take pictures, some pictures seemed nice before. Right now they’re mediocre – delete them or save them on DVD.  There are clothes that we did not wear for years – donate, give away or sell them.  There might be some unfinished projects or writings that we never get to finish, or lost interest in them – throw it away.

Also, not only we got to get rid of old, worn, unfinished stuff, but also the same goes with mental stuff.  All negativity out – to open a new space for positivity.  There might be some people that hurt us in the past.  Don’t you wish that some of them would have a “delete” button?  We can do it in our mind:  we got to forgive them and let it go.  Because if we are mad or upset, we only hurt ourselves – let go of anger and hurt.

Or, here is a brilliant idea:  Use these feelings to make you go higher.  Sometimes anger or being upset gives us a motivation to succeed.  We can channel those feelings to make ourselves only better and stronger.  If somebody said, “You’ll fail,” just say, “Watch Me” and strongly believe that you can do anything you wish and do it.

Also, while we clean old or bad energy out of our lives, we open doors to new opportunities.  The thing is that in this process of getting rid of the stuff, the new ideas come.  In working on these ideas, we got to communicate with people.  That’s how we start something new and exciting.

Moreover, we shall not take on a new crap.  If people do not treat us right or be negative, we have every right to walk away or change a subject.  We do not need their negativity in our lives.  Let’s surround ourselves with friends that lift us up, inspire us, and encourage us.  No more drama and no bullshit.  Also, no more excuses.