Primary NY | Behind the scenes

Last month I shot a friend's new Fall collection called Primary NY. The collection: incredible. I know this because every woman on set wanted to pre-order it in its entirety. Stay tuned for the look book, until then, here are some behind the scene shots...

 

Cleo just sent me a couple shots she took while we were shooting...

What makes you come alive?

Yesterday I asked the question, what makes you come alive? And then... why aren't you doing it? And I suppose that's not really fair, because many people out there are in fact doing what they love, what makes them come alive. I'd love to hear your story...

For me, the first thing that comes to mind is traveling. New foods, foreign smells, opening a door and not knowing what is on the other side... driving a winding road through mountains I've never driven. Sharing a laugh with a local, watching a city wake in the morning... and go to sleep at night. Learning the customs and traditions, appreciating the history... the stories that make it unique. I am alive in the space of the unknown.

I am alive when I am connected. To nature, to people... to everything around me. Sitting on a surfboard just past the break, ocean currents along my legs, sun on my face, salt on my lips, a breeze dancing along the surface... birds above me, dolphins and sea turtles around me... waiting for the next set, the surge of energy that propels me along the surface... and in that moment... all I have is just the moment. Freedom.

Whether on this side of the world or the other, looking into another's eyes, sharing a laugh, feeling another's truth, whether it be hurt or fear or love... is powerful. The beautiful thing is that you can connect in a second... even with a stranger... and be changed from the exchange. The sharing of energy makes me feel alive.

Music. Art. Another's passion. Learning. Witnessing the human spirit. The smell of spring... and a spring rain. Laughter. Love. Teaching. Fall leaves. Summer breezes. So many things...

Photography. When I don't work, I am not connecting to others, to nature, to myself. I get anxious and agitated. I have come to need it in my life in a way like never before. It is challenging to capture exactly what I see... sometimes it gets lost in translation... but it makes me learn and grow and expand myself. I feel alive when I bring a part of someone else alive. When I show them a side of themselves they couldn't see outside of the photo. When I capture a moment that defines their love, a connection, someone's spirit unleashed, a truth exposed. I am alive when I am giving... because what I receive is so much more.

Yup, feelin' pretty alive...

 

PechaKucha... April 2010

A couple weeks ago I went to PechaKucha to hear a friend speak. It was the first I had heard of this event, now happening in over 230 cities around the world. 

PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public.

It has turned into a massive celebration, with events happening in hundreds of cities around the world, inspiring creatives worldwide. Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of conversation ("chit chat"), it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It's a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.

At the April PechaKucha event, there were some very interesting speakers, from graphic designers, fashion designers, architects, artists, and others that have created very interesting and successful companies. They shared their stories, their projects, their passions... and their obstacles. With each person, there came a point where they needed to go back to the drawing board, change direction, reassess what they were doing and why... and where they wanted to go with it. The other common theme about this group of individuals is that they didn't give up. They eventually overcame the hurdles, they took on bigger challenges, they created something new and different because of their drive and passion. They let go of the fear.

Martha Sturdy talked about a project of gigantic proportions, creating a horse-riding trail on her property in Pemberton... amazing.

Jay Balmer started his talk with his early days when snowboarding came about and his role in creating the world's first boardercross course...

Architect Gair Williamson shared his latest project, the Keefer, which didn't have one right angle in the house...

Bing Thom talked about an incredible project in Washington creating a design never before seen in architectural history and the challenges that posed...

Artist Pamela Masik shared her latest project, The Forgotten, a collection of 69 Portraits of the Missing Women from downtown Eastside. The collection has been picked up by MOA and will be shown February 2011.

Stephanie Corker Irwin  talked about her passions and the turns her life has taken. Her exuberant energy was inspiring, and one quote in particular got me thinking...

 

So it comes down to this... what makes you come alive?

And an even better question... why aren't you doing it?