New Digital Era

Ask and it will be given; Seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened.

Sometimes the connection from a problem (or an opportunity as others call it) to a solution is just a little way ahead, a bit further.  Just like a bridge hidden behind some trees and bushes.  It takes determination and perseverance to search for it, to get to it, to find it. And that’s where we are all lacking.

It’s not an easy task as people makes us believe.  It takes insurmountable amounts of energy to maintain the right approach and attitude; to not falter or weaken; to not give up.  It takes not only yourself, but more.  It takes your friends support  and dependability; it takes your family strength and protection; it even takes the humble smile of that unknown person in the mall or grocery store, and it takes that higher strength that nobody understands and that different people explain in different ways. I will let you define that as whatever you please for your beliefs.  What I am trying to say: it takes more than yourself!

At times we may feel we are lost in the middle of nowhere; a desert, jungle, forest, sea, mountain.  With nowhere to go or turn, and the exit could be just a few steps away.  Just like the bridge in the photo hiding behind trees and bushes.  Sometimes you can hear the cars, the noises, the bikes, the trucks but you cant see the bridge until you move in the right direction.  And sometimes that little step, that move can’t be achieved without the help of people that care, friends, family and that extra energy that exists and aids us all in a different way.

So whatever you do and wherever you are, don’t forget to ask, knock and seek,  to guide yourself to the bridge that will connect you to the other side you are looking for.

RW

El Cantante

They are some songs that no matter when or where you listen to them, the message is always there.  Here is a  Salsa Song interpreted by one of the most famous Salsa performers of all time:  Hector Lavoe.  He represented and Era and a Time of pure salsa of the 70′s.  The lyrics of this song can represent and reflect on anybody at anytime.

I took the liberty to highlight some areas to pinpoint the message I take from this song.

El Cantante – Hector Lavoe

Yo, soy el cantante
que hoy han venido a escuchar
lo mejor del repertorio
a ustedes voy a brindar.

Y canto a la vida
de risas y penas
de momentos malos
y de cosas buenas.

Vinieron a divertirse
y pagaron en la puerta
no hay tiempo para tristeza
vamos cantante comienza.

Me paran siempre en la calle
mucha gente que comenta
¡Oye Hector ah! tu estas hecho
simpre con hembras y en fiestas.

Y nadie pregunta
si sufro si lloro
si tengo una pena
que hiere muy hondo.

Yo soy el Cantante
porque lo mío es cantar
y el público paga
para poderme escuchar.

Yo, soy el cantante
muy popular donde quiera;
pero cuando el show se acaba
soy otro humano cualquiera.

Y sigo mi vida
con risas y penas
con ratos amargos
y con cosas buenas.

Yo soy el cantante
y mi negocio es cantar
y a los que me siguen
mi canción voy a brindar.

You dont have to be a singer, you can be a professional in any field. You could be a teacher, artist, chemist, doctor, engineer or manager; still these words will apply equally to you.  It’s incredible what things look like, what people perceive and what really is going on…..

As Hector says in the chorus of this song: Hoy te dedico, mis mejores pregones!

Ricardo @biggaboss

Road to Where?

Everyone has a road to follow, a path to walk, a trail to roam, a pathway to wander.  But where does it lead?  Between all the avenues which one should we follow?  That is part of the trial of life,  living,  existing.  A lot of us see the lane upon us but choose not to walk it.  Others don’t understand the lane they are supposed choose.  Another percentage takes a road and midway through their way they decide to change directions.  The path of life is not easy, it’s not always a straight road with flowers on both sides; neither it is a road with an abyss on both sides and fire from below.  No, the path of life is a conjugation of all.  Sometimes you will be walking on a brick floor with the side limiters perfectly shown like railroads; other times you will be walking on a concrete road under a burning sun; other times you will be walking in a stinky, muddy nasty swamp; and other times it will be like walking on the beach sand @ 5pm in the evening.

Your path will not be always illuminated for you, like the guide provided by a lighthouse.  It won’t have signals on its sides like streets have names. Your path will have potholes like a dark tar road in the middle of a moonless night, and you will fall in them. You will feel confused, absorbed, overwhelmed, undecided.  You will doubt yourself, your plans, your goals and actually may have to rewrite some of them.  You may want to go in one direction and it totally takes you in another.  But it won’t be life if the road was a downhill, concrete, signaled, illuminated speedway to happiness!

You may need to seek a source of guidance, of experience, of strength.  Don’t feel ashamed, do it.  But also listen to yourself, to your instincts, your inner voice, your desires, your passions.  Beware of the decisions you make and who you affect with them.  Be responsible, accountable, trustworthy and respectful to yourself and also to those that show you love, and treat you well.  Remember that you are responsible for your decisions and at the same time remember that the road is there to be walked.

Embrace yourself when you walk your road… be prepared to reshape your goals and objectives…. carry a flashlight and a coat for those long rainy nights… some high boots for those nasty swamps.. some good running shoes for those concrete roads and some flip-flops for those beach sand walks!!  Be ready to embrace on the journey of your life and follow the road to where?……. To wherever you want!

Ricardo aka @biggaboss

Michelle Photo Shoot on Water St.

It’s not rare for a photographer to schedule a photo shoot; but it’s not very common that the model of your photo shoot is funny, professional and prepared.  That’s what happened when Michelle and I got together for this photo shoot.  Michelle is a beautiful, tall, smart, professional real estate agent. We had already decided beforehand what would be comfortable and fun for her photos, and decided to meet at Water St. for the photo shoot.   Little did I know that this photo shoot would be so easy and so much fun.  Michelle, besides been fun and outgoing, had previous modeling experience.  She was easily directed for posing, came up with good poses on her own, and was just a natural fit and mesh for ideas. The camera loved her and she loved the surroundings.  The result was a great evening of natural brick wall backgrounds, barefoot shots and sitting on barrels!

Besides that Michelle is also a good conversationalist.  Talented professional with a lot of goals and a great sense of life and humor.  It was nice to be able to talk with her over several different topics and discuss the possibility of later photo shoots that she has in mind with her kids and family.

As a photographer the stress of a photo shoot doesn’t always change no matter how experienced you are.  A lot of things can go wrong and a lot of things can interfere with your shoot. (weather, wind, people, surroundings, etc).  But when you do have a great model or great people to work with it makes everything that much easier.

Now there is another person I would like to schedule a photo shoot with, but I haven’t been able to convince her yet…. and am not sure if I will.

But you never know!

Ricardo!