This Blog is dedicated to Those who Fell Down Three Times and Got Up Four Times.
Life is a long journey filled with smooth journeys and potholes. Happy are those who derive great memories and lessons from those rough and tumble “Life Happens” circumstances (potholes) and people (assholes).
“There is no education like adversities” – Benjamin Disraeli.
To me, Stumbling Blocks are Stepping Stones to better things.
The genius maestro Miles Davis says it best – “If you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that you play that determines if it’s good or bad.” Miles also said, “Don’t play what’s there. play what’s not there.”
Hey, if there’s no one noticing your achievements and giving you pats on the back – Give Yourself Those Deserving Pats On Your Own Back! And when you have finally attain fame and fortune, others (both supporters and detractors) will line up to pay you your long-waited respects, pats your back and fill your wallet.
Long ago, I drew an imaginary Comfort Circle (personal safe space) around me and stepped outside of it. These days I gravitate towards those like-minded people who have also stepped out of their Comfort Circle – taken their Leap Of Faith – and achieved something amazing with their self-belief and self-respect.
I do not have time nor patience for those who preach eloquently from within the safety of their entitled Comfort Circles.
When in doubt, always take the harder, upper steps, heading uphill. Soon you will reach your Summit. Going upwards, develop muscles. Going downwards, hurts the knees.
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.“ – Andre Gide
“A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it was built for.” – John A. Shedd
My Homage to one of the top three ancient Navigators and Explorers – Vasco Da Gama (Portuguese) in a monastery in Lisbon (above mage). The other two ancient Explorers were Christopher Columbus (Italian) and Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese); but their resting places remain unknown.
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable man adapts the world to himself” – George Bernard Shaw. Show the unsuspecting world what world-class goodies you’ve got.
Titled “Journey Towards The Light”, this image is one of my favourite poignant about the scarred and storied journey of Life (above mage). If we are lucky, we get to live a long Life. I always end my rock photography books with this image, photographed at a wise, old ironmonger’s shop in the “My Parting Shot” well-wishing section of my book. The “star” of this image is the wondrously scarred walkway.
As a portrait photographer, I always remind my subjects – “We were born with a face not of our choosing but we die with a face we deserve.”
There is a poignant, stoic backstory behind this image. The owner, the guy in the bright light at the shop front, is Mr. Lee Ah Ngow.
Years later after this image was photographed, the ironmonger shop was burnt down. Concerned, I visited Mr. Lee Ah Ngow (above mage, right), to see how he was coping. That’s his younger brother to his right. I suggested I sell signed fine-art prints so that proceeds can go to him. How Mr. Lee reacted, made him my Hero for Life. He replied that he’s old and tired now and told me that he will be alright. He offered to buy me coffee to calm me down.
This blog is also my homage to Mr. Lee Ah Ngow.
Titled “The Long Shadow Of A Music Icon” (above mage), this is Frankie Valli performing on stage. At 90 years young, Mr. Valli is still performing shows. Not an easy task – remembering all the song lyrics, maintaining enthusiasm, smile, making small talk, coordinating with his band and back-up singers, and dancing for his adoring audience – all these feats on top of singing for two hours.
Mr. Valli was gracious to me and allowed me carte blanche to photograph him any way and anywhere I desired. This fiery image was shot with me right on stage. When I saw that he was walking towards the bright spotlights, I knew this was an iconic and symbolic shot – it’s been 62 years since his first Four Seasons hit “Sherry”, released in 1962.
As with Mr. Lee Ah Ngow’s “Journey Towards The Light” image, Frankie Valli’s “The Long Shadow Of A Music Icon” image is also about Longevity, Persistence and Stamina.
A reminder that not everything in Life is soft, rosy, sweet-smelling and great tasting – my Customised Daruma Shadowtrooper Helmet (above mage). A cool, reliable Armour is essential for the exhilarating journey.
I leave this awesome adage with you – “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible – Francis of Assisi”.
