Cup of Joe Photo

From Russia with Love

Our team just got back from 2 weeks in Russia. I didn't go this year but I got an email when they returned from my friend George (who went) regarding my favorite Russian kid - Arsen. George wrote: 

Hey Joe! :) Sometimes a picture really does speak a thousand words!

When we got to Soligalich, however, Arsen was pissed oh brother let me tell you....
But when later this day we said let's take a photo for Joe, he was super happy.

Getting Older

Yesterday I shared with clients the mini-crisis I had when I turned 40. I had an unexpected fit about having a party Ingrid was planning for me, and I made the selfish decision to cancel it. Today I thought I'd share with you some quotes from a humorous email I received on getting older. Some of you may relate. Enjoy.

Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman:   

'And what do you think is the best thing 

 About being 104?' the reporter asked. 

 She simply replied, 'No peer pressure.'

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, 

 So I got my doctor's permission to 

 Join a fitness club and start exercising. 

 I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. 

 I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down,

 and perspired for an hour. But..... 

 By the time I got my leotards on, 

 The class was over.

My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. 

 Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

It's scary when you start making the same noises 

 As your coffee maker.

THE SENILITY PRAYER : 

 Grant me the senility to forget the people 

 I never liked anyway, 

The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and 

 The eyesight to tell the difference.

Disney Hall

"As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs." - Sam Abell

As I was looking for a quote about simplicity to inspire you on a Sunday and share the simplicity of images I created at Disney Hall, I found the above quote. Perfect, I think. I hope your day if full of simple pleasures and the start of a remarkable week.

Life Lessons

I got the following text message from my daughter at 10 am last Friday morning.

OMG Daddy, I have a story for you. OK, so after you dropped me off Arron and I went to cross the street to go to school and right as we were getting to the middle Arron said " I hope a cop doesn't come" and then all of a sudden a cop pulls up to us and says "Pull over!" There were also some others kids who crossed with us and they ran. So the cop said "Stay here!" and he drove off to catch the other kids. Meanwhile, Arron was debating to run or not, but I said we should just stay because he won't give us a ticket if we stay. So the cop came back and was surprised to see us still standing there and said "OK you may go."

I sent her back a text message that I was so proud of her for doing the right thing by waiting. Her behavior was rewarded. The other kids got tickets.

Sometimes we do the wrong thing - like break the law - and sometimes we get caught by the rule enforcers. My daughters' obedience and responsibility after she was caught was rewarded with Mercy and Grace.

I hope you enjoy mercy and grace this week too.

Bored with Life?

Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours. - Dale Carnegie

Life is too short to remain bored. Have a wonderful Sunday pursuing that which you will live and die for.

Expert Advice

Try, try, try, and keep on trying is the rule that must be followed to become an expert in anything. - W.Clement Stone

Are you committed to your success? Really committed? There is no "easy street" or shortcut to becoming an expert. It takes commitment. Malcolm Gladwell proposes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert. Are you that committed?

Take Action

Action is the foundational key to all success. -Pablo Picasso

Artists rejoice today! You can continue your journey of success by taking one small action today. And then another tomorrow, and another the next day.

Life as an artist sure beats clocking in to a cubicle.

Censorship

When is censorship appropriate? Good question. It's certainly a loaded word. Censorship can be both good and harmful. I took a few moments the other day to imagine how I might create a photo project from this word. Art is alive. Live your art boldly.

Censorship is advertising paid by the government. - Federico Fellini

I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it. - Mae West

Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice. - Henry Louis Gates

There is a fine line between censorship and good taste and moral responsibility. - Steven Spielberg

How far will you fly?

The balloons only have one life and the only way of finding out whether they work is to attempt to fly around the world. - Richard Branson

One Photograph

"I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war – the brutal corupting viciousness of its doing to the minds and bodies of men; and, that my photographs might be a powerful emotional catalyst to the reasoning which would help this vile and criminal stupidity from beginning again." - W. Eugene Smith - of photographs during involvement in World War II

I hope that we will practice peace in our lives. It starts with one person and possibly one photograph. Will it be you?