Aboard the Roseway

Matt and I were fortunate enough to be gifted a sunset sail aboard the Roseway as a wedding present.  Our sail was scheduled for September 22, 2012 and the weather was perfect. 

While aboard we learned about the the Roseway's impressive history and important ties to the Boston area.  The schooner is currently home to the World Ocean School which is a nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities on board.  

I am so glad that I brought my camera so I could capture some of the evening's splendor!

Here in the bottom right cousin Eric explains how we would all be helping the crew raise the sails.   

Thank you Eric for this amazing experience!  Don't forget that we would like to be stowaways when you leave for St. Croix! 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Christin Dreams of Photography

On a recent lazy weekend, my husband, Matt, and I stumbled across the Japanese documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.  The film focuses on Jiro Ono, an 85 year-old (in 2011) sushi chef and his continuous pursuit of perfecting the art of sushi.  Jiro's opens the film with the following quote:

Once you decide on your occupation, you must immerse yourself in your work.  You have to fall in love with your work.  Never complain about your job.  You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill.  That is the secret of success and is the key to be regarded honorably. 

It's funny how the timing of certain things occurring in life can be either so perfect or so incredibly wrong.  For me, seeing this film and hearing that quote, at this exact moment in my life, was perfect timing.  It was an additional piece of inspiration to add to my growing list.  

While the phrases "fall in love with your work" and "never complain about your job" seem so simple on the surface, I feel that many people would be afraid to express such sentiments.  It is as if the idea that a person should expect to love their work and enjoy their job is taboo.  Why is pursuing passion instead of security thought of as frivolous?  Isn't there the potential for combining the two?    

In deciding to take this new direction in my life I have to believe that that potential exists. 

So I have set off to master my skill.  

My first step has been research.  You can't get very far without a plan and you can't make a successful plan without doing some research.  So I am researching everything - the business of photography, the art of photography and the me of photography.  

One of the first lessons I have learned (aside form the importance of an online presence) in researching the "me of photography" is that I need to find my photographic niche.     

What do I want to photograph?  

                People? 

               
               
             Things?

Or something else entirely?  The options are endless!

I'm still working on this lesson, but I am loving this work and not complaining.  That said, according to the words of Jiro Ono I am on my way to success and being regarded honorably.  :-)  

a leap (or click) of faith

Photography has always fascinated me. 

In the beginning it was Mr. Sarvas' instant Polaroid camera.  My mom's photo albums are filled with photos that she has written "taken by Christin".  Now some of them are missing heads, some are crooked and some of them aren't that bad. 

In grade school I was exposed (pun intended) to my first photography class where I moved from the instant Polaroid to a film loaded point and shoot.  I vividly recall lining up random knick knacks like coca-cola bottles, monopoly game pieces, a tennis ball or two, etc. out in my driveway playing with the shadows. 

When I got to college I was fortunate enough to come across an old film SLR and the opportunity to develop my own film.  It was the most amazing experience ever.  I loved watching the shots I took come to life in front of my own eyes.  One of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken is of my sister, I took during this phase. 

Then life got in the way.  There was a lot of pressure to, that I realize for the most part I put on myself, focus on what I was going to do with my life.  The social pressure to choose a major, get good grades, graduate and get working took over as my front and center. 

Fast forward to today.  I'm a "grown up" in most senses of the word.  I have a degree (that I don't exactly use), I own a home, I have a (fabulous, amazing, xoxo) husband, I'm a mom -to a very lovable Golden Retriever, and I have a job.  Yes, a job, but not a career.  Therefore, I recently started to do some grown up pros and cons listing and soul searching.  That's when I stumbled across my mom's photo of me with Mr. Sarvas' camera and something "clicked" and I thought, why not? 

So here goes... I'm pressing the shutter and I can't wait to see what develops.