After spending the day with a friend walking from Lady Buddha on the hill above the Da Nang Bay, I found this little guy hanging out on the beach waiting for his photo opportunity.
It's a slightly ridiculous photo, but it was too perfect to pass up the moment.
In the traditionofNewYears' Day thatcomes & go witheachpassingyear... Resolutionsaremade, oftensoon to be brokenbythosewhomakethem. Althoughresolutionis a pettyword, I findpromise to be morefitting...
A promise to myself. To liveeach day to the fullestforthosewho cannot, & keepfightingwhen I havenothingleft to give. To surrendernothing, for no one, never. Compromisemyselffor no one & knowwhenstrippedofeverything I have? I havemydignity, thatismostimportant. Onemissedopportunityissomethingbetterwaiting to be found, youjusthave to seepast the momentarydisappointment to realizewhat's coming. & thatno one'ssubjectiveopinionofyourwork, determinesyourfate. Onlyyouhavethatprivilege.
2010 hasbeen an abruptwhirlwindofheartache, disappointment, andjoy. Butithaschangedeverything I've knownaboutmycareer, andmyself. Throughspending the pasttwoand 1/2 months in andoutofmorehotelrooms, trainstations, andairportterminals, than I care to recall, to bring me to thisplace... I wouldchangenothing. I'm beginning to knowwho I am as a photographer, & I knowthere's veryfewthings I wouldn't sacrifice to wakeupeverymorning, knowingthatit's onemore day I can do what I love.
I've foundmyselfgreeting 2011 with a ruthlessattitude. Not so muchoutofspite, butofsheerdetermination. I've beentoldmanytimesthispastyearwhat I cannot do... I cannotcreategooddocumentaryvideopieces. I cannotphotographbaseballverywell. I cannotgetfar in thiscareer & have to leech the talentofthosearound me. I cannotsucceed in a countrytravelingonmyown. & I won't be traveling to photographoverseas.
2011. I will go to the 2011 SummerNationalSeniorGames. I will go to the 2011 EddieAdamsworkshop. I willhave an incredibleinternship, workingwith a greatstaffofphotographers. & I willcontinue to travel, having the privilege to tell the storiesofthosewho I encounter.
To allthosewhodoubted me anddoubtedwhat I wascapableof...
I'm sorry to disappointyou. I'm sincerelysorry to putmyfinger & myportfolio in yourface, as a reminderofwhat I haveaccomplishedwhenyousaid I couldn't. Mydeepestapologies I persevered.
There is always a light at the end in the darkest of tunnels.