Celebrate What’s Right
This is the first picture I took with my new birthday camera. I was so giddy to use it that I ripped through the box, practically shoved the lens on, and ran out the back door to photograph the first piece of beauty I could find.
So of course it’s not the best picture. But that isn’t the point. The point is that this is a moment of absolute pure joy and excitement, framed through the lens of my heart. Even if it isn’t National Geographic- worthy photography. Because right before and right after I took this shot, my world was wild and crazy. Still is. I mean, here I am taking a break from cleaning house, packing for Texas and trying to get my ducks in order to share this little bit with you. Because, seriously, this is important stuff.
Speaking of National Geographic…. I am completely convinced that National Geographic photog’s have the best job on the planet. No exaggeration. In true apple pie, Friday night lights, route 66 American fashion, I grew up flipping through the pages behind that yellow framed magazine cover month after month. It was my first world history education. And to this day, I consider Nat Geo to be my favorite lens to the rest of the world. And this is why I write tonight.
In undergrad I took this class called Visual Rhetoric. The premise was basically to prove that images can make arguments without the support of any text to back them up. I loved that class. Oh, and, by the way, one of my images from class was then used 4 years later in a college text book! That’s right. I’m a published photographer. Anyways, I love a good picture. And Nat Geo photog’s know how to turn a good picture into a story so that every grade school child across the country can learn a thing or two about the world well past their reading level. There it is: visual rhetoric.
Okay, so we had our first Leadership Development Institute (LDI) meeting this weekend. It was so much more than I expected. Moreso a retreat and less of a lecture or school district meeting, we spent our time reflecting on who we are as people (not what we do) and how we work in a team. So, of course, we did some awesome initiative and confidence games (you know, those ropes courses and wall climbing things you do with a team). I even scaled a wall like spiderman. But we also watched this awesome video by Dewitt Jones, a former Nat Geo photog.
Ohhh myyyyyyy goodnessssssss!!!
I just about fell out of my chair. I swear, those Nat Geo photog’s. Best job in the world. So the title of this video we watched is “Celebrate What’s Right With The World”. What a beautiful statement. Choose to see the possibilities in front of you. They won’t be there until you believe in them. But with a little patience, a tweak of your frame and wee bit of creativity, the world will turn itself right.
Told ya. Those Nat Geo photog’s. I love ‘em. And I’ll leave you with a clip from the video. Just click here.
P.S. I know my birthday isn’t until Saturday. But my new camera came early so that I could get used to it before taking it to Texas tomorrow! (Still getting used to it… it’ll be awhile before I’m shooting like Annie Leibovitz.)
