These past few months have been fantastic for Photography's Traveling Journal as it has started to get some acknowledgement in the press. It began when our photographer Ömer Abalı of Türkiye got the journal into the news there in his beautiful country. You can check out the links here and here.
It wasn't long after those articles were released that the founder Vonda Jensen was interviewed to do a news article with KSL News, a local news source here in Utah, where the book originally began. By the time the article from KSL was published Vonda had been contacted by another news source in Utah. The Daily Harold ran a story about the journal as their Sunday feature in their newspaper on Feb. 9 2014.
All of this has been surreal and exciting all at the same time. Since these articles have been published Vonda has continued to work with the journal creator, Nick from Rogue Journals, to see about getting more journals from them so that we can continue the project on a bigger scale. It is very exciting to announce that Nick has agreed to create three new journals for Photography's Traveling Journal.
Once the new journal's arrive to us in June we will begin a whole new journey by starting a journal that will travel all 50 of the United Sates. We will also be starting two other journals, but you'll have to wait for the announcements about them at a later date. ;)
We are now searching for professional photographers to join us in the next part of this journey. If you are living in the USA and are highly skilled in photography, then we would love to have you join our project. You can contact Vonda at vondajensen@yahoo.com.
Thank you to every one of our followers, new and old!! We appreciate that we can share this journey with so many other people around the world! Keep following along as the journal progresses and as we branch out with more books.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Journal is in Türkiye now.
March 13, 2014 at 1:08am
Hi,
my name is Ömer Abalı. I am from Türkiye ( not Turkey :) . I am 29
years old and i am working as a teacher of English in a secondary
school. Besides, I’m an amateur photographer. I like working on old
people’s face and worker portraits. After spending five years in
photography I and some of my friends decided to found a large
photographic organisation in all over the Türkiye. Then, we founded “
Anadolu Fotoğraf Dergisi” (Anatolian Photography Journal). The first day
of each month the journal is on-line at http://www.anafot.net . We have 30.000 members for now and they all know about “ Photography’s Traveling Journal”Türkiye is a big country and we have very different kinds of cultures in it. So, if you some of you think about Türkiye, please look at Turkish photographers’ work first.
You’ll see where we live, how we live, what we look like and what is important for us. Believe me , if you have any prejudice or steriotype about Türkiye, you will forget it. Photography will give us all a different point of view.
At the end;
What is the meaning of life for me? In fact, this is a very hard and complex question.. When i first read it, i couldnt answer at once. But during the years while the journal was traveling, i had time to think about it. I had a big difference in my life. We have a very cute baby on our hands for three months.
Dear my friends, this is the meaning of my life..Looking at her face while she is smiling, and listening her meaningless but cute sounds… I can say that I am OK now! Wıth my life and daughter. Everything seems lovely, pretty, cute to my eyes. My family is the meaning of my life…
Lower Düden ANTALYA
Düden Waterfall in ANTALYA
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Augustus Temple and HAcı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque in ANKARA- Hamit Yalçın
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Gazi University Historical Rectorate Building -Tuna Akçay http://
The journal enters Germany
June 19, 2013 at 2:10pm
Hello journal participants and all followers of this site,
My name is Sascha, I am 32years old and from Germany. I was born on the countryside, 75km north of Frankfurt.After I experienced the wideness of the world and cultures , I started to travel around with the age of 20.Luckily I got the chance to live some years in Bangkok, which was the time of my life. During the book traveled around, I moved back to Germany. That`s why you will see now some pictures from the south of Germany and not Thailand anymore. The state is called Bavaria where Munich is the capital city. Bavaria is famous for the beautiful nature and still strong traditional thinking and way of life.
I remember, that I got my first camera with the age of 6, when I joined school. After that, I never lost the interest of photography, but got serious back again with the age of 26.Since that time I would rate me as a enthusiast photographer. I moved on from Leica to Sony and finally to Canon gear. Since 2008 I build a a strong gear for my camera. Right now I am using a Canon EOS 7D which I am very happy with. I carry my gear always around, even I don`t know if I can get a shot or not.
The pictures I made where from 2 different locations around 150km south/west and south/east of Munich. Both took me around a full day trip to get to the locations.The first location is called "Eibsee" (name of the lake). Actually this lake is behind the main attraction the "Königssee" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigssee). But for me it is worth to take the extra mile to get beyond the Königssee to the other one by around 3hours foot march. The Eibsee is in a beautiful, natural location surrounded by mountains. The water is crystal clear from close and has a beautiful green colour from far. The cause for the coulours are special minerals which comes from the mountains ans springs under the lake. Walking around the lake you will come to a small house where you can just relax and take a rest by a snack and of course the famous German beer.For me this place is the most beautiful and relaxing place to take some time in the nature and settle down for a while.
The second part of my pictures is done on the highest place in Germany. The mountain is 2962 meters high and called "Zugspitze" or by slogan "Top of Germany". The picture was made just 10meters under the summit which gives a beautiful view in the direction to Austria.As you can see, there is still snow up there, so it`s the best place to get both in summertime: beautiful blue sky with sunshine and on the other side a walk in the snow.
I hope you like the pictures/places as much as I do and may be you get some impressions of the silence and beauty of this places.
Finally I would like to thank Vonda for this great idea and bringing people from all over the world together!
Sincerely
Sascha
At Königssee!!
The Journal in Eastern France
February 21, 2013 at 8:04am
Hi my name is Michael Diblicek,
I'm a 52 year old British Award winning Black and White Fine Art photographer living in Eastern France.
This was a great experience to participate in this project.
I first got interested in photography at the age og 16 and have been doing on and off for the last 30 years, but it wasn't until the last 4 years that it took a more serious part in my life.
I am now one of the co founders of the Glass Star Agency, a photographic agency doing workshops around the world, sharing my experiences in photography, in particular Long Exposure Black and White Architecture and Seascapes.
I now look forward to the journal finding a new home after having spent the past 3 months in France, and look forward to the new entries.
Michael Diblicek
The Journal overlooking the River Breuchin, Eastern France.
August 11, 2012
Ayham Alruhban
Thousands years ago there was "silk road"...... Nowadays, we have our "Photography's Traveling Journal road" — in Lille, France.
The Journal has arrived at the home of the Olympics 2012... London; UK
July 24, 2012 at 3:58pm
Hello Everyone!
WOW!
Cannot believe I am actually now writing this after waiting for so long.
First of all I'm Emine, you can call me Em for short. I am a 27 year old mother, wife, daughter and sister.
I was born in North Cyprus, which makes me a Cypriot. Since the age of five I have been in London, which makes me British.
I got married at the age of 19 and although it was a young age, I met my soul mate and I knew that he was the beginning of the rest of my life. We will be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversay next month.
Five months ago I became a mother for the 2nd time. My first is a girl who is nearly six years old and I have been blessed with a little boy the second time. Becoming a mother was one of the best things I have done in my life so far. I am growing up and learning with them each day. They have added so much colour to our lives.
The location I have chosen for my picture is the 'Tower Bridge' in london.
In June 2012, to mark the countdown of one month to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympic games, giant Olympic rings were suspended from the bridge. I thought this would be a great way to remember the Journal visiting London at such an eventful and important time where the whole world will be focusing on our city for the Olympics.
The most important thing I have learnt in life is to always, always be thankful and appriciate what we have in life.
There is always someone who has it worse.
I am gratful to be healthy and happy with people I love and care for around me.
Be thankful for the small things in life and stop wanting more. Life is too short and nothing is going to last forever. I intend to enjoy it while it lasts, because we don't know what tomorrow will bring.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the photography journey of the Journal. :-)
The Journal at Tower Bridge.
...and the Journal reaches England!
June 23, 2012 at 11:41am
Hello!
My name is Narahari Grama Srinivas. I’m sure you didn’t get that right the first time, so let’s just call me Harry. I’m 27 years old and I live in Bristol, one of the big cities in England. I’m Indian by birth and have been in England for around 3 years. I am an engineer and I have the privilege of working on the designs of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, the Airbus A380.
I have a wonderful wife and we’ve been married for just over a year now. She means the world to me. Soon after marriage, she moved to England to be with me and to support me. If I’m honest, I’ve been blown away by the sacrifices she’s made for me, and I endeavor to ensure that she’s happy in her life with me. The smile on her face as I write this tells me that I have not thus far failed. :)
Around 4 years back, I fell in love with photography. I saw the photographs that some of my friends/colleagues took and I was blown away. I did everything I could to learn about photography while I saved up for a good camera. Running around a field with a camera phone behind a moth didn’t earn me any ‘cool’ awards. When I arrived in England, I ran to the store and bought a basic Canon 500D (Rebel T1i for you Americans) kit. I eventually got fairly good with the basics. The best photo (or at least the most popular one) that I’ve taken was selected to feature on the National Geographic website. I love landscape/seascape photography and take a few shots almost anywhere I go.
In the 3 years that I’ve spent in the UK, most of my holiday or weekend trips have been to the Welsh countryside. When I got the journal, I immediately knew that Wales would feature in at least one (if not all) of my journal candidate shots. Fortunately for me, I had a welsh trip planned for the weekend after the Journal arrived (co-incidence? Or providence?)
The photograph that I’ve taken for the journal has been taken at a place called the Aber falls near the seaside town of Conwy. This place is around two and a half miles away from the nearest free parking lot and needs a fair bit of walking to get to. It’s well worth the effort though because on the way, you’re greeted by beautiful waterscapes.
Landscapes teach me patience and perseverance. While I can confidently say that I’m still a long way from completely embodying these virtues, they’re two very important lessons that life teaches me at more occasions than I’d care to number or remember. I find myself respecting anyone who shows these virtues without coming off as lazy!
It’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this journal, and would love to contribute to any such ventures in future. I’ve loved all the photographs posted in this journal so far, and I’m sure that before the journal reaches its final destination, many more beautiful shots will be added.
Good luck & God bless,
H.
Picture by Narahari G S, 2012.
Aber Falls
Journal has arrived to Iceland
May 19, 2012 at 11:51am
Hi to everyone,
and thank you for being part of this project.
My name is Marketa Kalvachova and I am 31 years old. I was born and lived in the Czech republic for first 25 years of my life. I have one wonderful husband an we share together big passion for photography. We have 4,5 years old daughter.
I work as a professional landscape and nature photographer in Iceland.
Travel journal
Krysuvik Seltun, Reykjanes peninsula
I have taken photo of the Journal in geothermal area Krisuvik-Seltun. I have chosen hot springs because it is charismatic feature of Iceland where I live for 6 years.
Elf houses
I have learnt in my life to do not worry about things which are not going as I want because when it comes the right time, everything becomes solved as should be.
Best regards and Happy journey,
Marketa
Marcelo Donadussi, Porto Alegre - Brazil
January 3, 2012 at 6:23pm
Downtown (Historical buildings)
Hello world, my name is Marcelo Donadussi, I'm 30 years old. I live in Porto Alegre since 1999 when I moved to Porto Alegre to get graduated in Architecture and Urbanism. During the course I started photograph for the academic work. Studying in the books I was fascinated to travel around the world looking at pictures that was took by the photographers around the world.
This is a great city to live for. The architecture is very eclectic as you could see on the pictures I took, specially on downtown, where the city where the city begun. By the way, the seasons are so straight, the summer is very hot and the winter is so cold.
I'm so glad to participate of this wonderful project. I hope all the world could visit Porto Alegre without moving by the couch.
Regards
Marcelo Donadussi
(January 2012)
Marcela Garza Sotomayor. Pergamino, Argentina
November 13, 2011 at 11:12am
Hi there!
I'm Marcela, I'm from Mexico City but I have lived in Argentina for 11 years now!!! My family and I recently moved from Buenos Aires to the countryside, to Pergamino, which is 220 km away from the big city. I'm an English, French - Spanish translator (love my work!), but I'm also in love with photography... it makes me smile inside!! :)
I took the picture in a beautiful nursery I recently discovered near my house. It's a lovely place where I feel at peace and totally relaxed!! It has a beautiful landscape and vast fields of wheat, beautiful plants and a huge variety of flowers!!!
What I've learned in life is that... it is never too late to be who you want to be. Always try to get the best out of your worst moment; always hope to be a better person, meet people with different points of view (otherwise, life is too boring!) and try to live a life you are proud of. If you haven't done it, then have the strength to start all over again. I always try to think positive and be positive about everything. And my advise to you all is to always wake up with a smile on your face!!! It changes your day completely!!!
Hope you like my picture.
I'm sending the Journal to it's next destination, which I think is Brazil!!!
It's been a pleasure to be part of this project!!
Cheers,
Marcela
Picture by: Marcela Garza Sotomayor
"La Chacra" Nursery-garden in Pergamino, Argentina
The Journal's trip to Chicago
June 27, 2011 at 8:16pm
My name is Anna Villarreal. I am 44 years YOUNG! I had several ideas for where I should photograph the Journal. The Ledge of the Sears Tower won out simply because it is so amazing! The cars down below are mere specks! I have dabbled in photography and art since I was a kid. I now have over 400 photos posted online and I have my own mural business. Of the many lessons I have learned over the course of many years, I think the most important is to live an honest life. That way you can go to bed each night with a clear conscience. No worries! I truly believe that what goes around comes around- the good you do ALWAYS comes back to you at EXACTLY the right time! I have experienced this many, many times. People always say that someone out there is looking out for me because they have seen how things have worked out for me. I hope you enjoy my photo of the Journal as I have enjoyed the photos before mine. I am very grateful to be a part of this amazing project and can't wait to see what the photographers after me contribute. See you all on Facebook!
Fond Regards~
Anna
Please get me off of this ledge before I get sick!!!
On top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall. That's a boat down there!
Lance White-Savage, Minnesota
May 17, 2011 at 8:13am
Heh there, My name is Lance White and I'm 40 yrs old. I'm originally from Walker, a small town in northern Minnesota. I have lived in Savage for the past 5 years or so and I am the father of a 16 yr old daughter and 2 terriers. I am currently attending Hennepin Technical College to become a professional photographer.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE LEARNED IN LIFE SO FAR
I had to think about this one for awhile...I guess if it was one thing to pass onto my child and future generations, it would have to be RESPECT. Having respect for yourself, other people and the land seems to have been lost on some people and I think if we as human beings had more of it, there would be less suffering for everyone on this planet.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH
Both of these photos were taken on the south shore of Leech Lake, where myself and most of my family have grown up and are still residing. I am Native American and grew up on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. It could be in my blood, or the way my mother raised me, but sharing what you have and being respectful to others has always been a part of who I am. I tried to capture some of the beauty of this place and the feeling of peace that comes with sitting here with your thoughts or friends, or your dogs or whoever! The non sunset shot is actually 40 feet from my mothers front door.
honorable mention.
Felecia R. Walls - Gresham, Oregon - USA
May 5, 2011 at 12:02pm
Hello to you, people of the world.... Greetings from the lovely state of Oregon, USA!!!
My name is Felecia Walls. I am a forty-two year old mother of five. For twenty two years of my life, I was a dedicated wife and mother - well, I shouldn't say "was", because I continue to be the mother of my beautiful children. That has always seemed to be my main purpose in life.
Several years ago, I was given a point-and-shoot camera, and a light came on. I found a passion for something that does not fade. I found a connection to everything I see, and a medium for showing that to other people. That, in turn, brought me to a connection with other people. I guess it's important for me to share that aspect of how photography has benefited my life, because for a very large portion of my life I lived in a sort of isolation. Now I feel as if I have found some wings, and am learning how to use them. I am trying to be brave, and every day I seem to reach a new milestone.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE LEARNED IN MY LIFE, SO FAR:
It may seem cliche', but the auld adage "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" seems to have been written for me. I have learned that it is okay to be the "me" that I was designed to be, and it is NOT okay for someone to re-create the me that they think I should be. I believe that we, as people, are like the shafts of light that spring forth when sunlight hits the facets of a prism: Many different colors, yet equally brilliant and beautiful. I encourage my children to express themselves in all of the ways I wasn't able to throughout my life, and in so doing, plan to make the world a much brighter and more colorful place.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH:
My photograph was taken at a secluded spot, not too far from the Gilbert River on Sauvie Island, which is just outside of St. Helens, Oregon.
I chose this location because it holds many special memories. As a child, this place was magical - an oasis. On a hot, sunny day I could lie in the cool green grass beneath the shade of the trees, and watch the water. Wildlife, in particular waterfowl, abound in this place. Now, what used to be cool green meadows dappled with tiny daisies, is overgrown with bramble, and the area is closed off to the public. In my mind's eye I still recall those days from childhood. Re-visiting this place evokes strong emotions, and while I realize that things must change, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will change for the better.
So, as you look at my photograph, try to envision a tow-headed little girl, laughing and rolling around on the grass, looking for bugs and frogs, or daydreaming in the cool green sanctuary.
FYI:
Sauvie Island is a wildlife area that is a haven for many kinds of migratory birds, deer, waterfowl, ospreys, bald eagles, fox, coyote, and myriad other types of fauna. It has many lakes and ponds, as well as swamps that are very welcoming to all of these wonderful creatures. It is also covered with farmland, ranches, and nurseries.
When I was a child, my family visited the beaches on the island. In one particular place the family dog, a doberman named Christa, would chase cows that meandered to t he waters of the Columbia River.
Sauvie Island is almost sacred to me... And so, I present to you my photograph.
Adam S. Marengo - Portland, OR, United States
March 29, 2011 at 11:53pm
Hello World!
My name is Adam Marengo, I am 28 years old and I live in Portland, Oregon but would unequivocally call Phoenix, AZ my true home. Born and raised in the HOT deserts of Arizona, my wife and I decided to relocate to the Pacific Northwest about 6 years ago. Hoping to escape the heat, we made our way to Portland where we found lots of rain waiting for us and a whole lot less sun. I guess you have to take the good with the bad as they say.
I have an amazing wife who I look at every day and feel inspired by. We were married 6 and a half years ago and not one single day goes by where I don't consider myself to be blessed beyond my feeble attempts to literate how lucky I am. Love is an amazing thing. It is probably the defining thing that has inspired me and changed me into the man that I am today. Without the love of my wife and family, I wonder where life may have led me earlier on. No place good I am almost certain.
The photo that I took for the Journal was of Latourell Falls located in the majestic gorge of the Columbia River in Oregon. Latourell Falls is one of dozens of falls that are located along a 10 mile stretch of scenic highway, including the world famous Multnomah Falls. This is truly God's country and you will quickly realize this as you stand at the base of this 30 story waterfall which dumps thousands of gallons of water per second at your feet. It is quite inspiring. Latourell falls is one of the lesser know, yet probably most beautiful falls that exists in the Northwest. You can literally swim in the pool that sits at the base of the falls...assuming you can stand the frigid temperature of the water. I chose this location specifically because for me, it represents the turbulent beauty that this journey called life often takes. From the snow capped summit of Mt. Hood, standing at nearly 3500 meters tall, the snow melts, travels a meandering and rugged 90 mile path until it reaches the edge of the 300 foot tall rock face, where it falls almost weightless to the ground where the light hits the water infrequently causing glimpses of rainbows. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, and we each take our final breath in this world, I want for those who saw my life to look at it and be able to say that it was a long, treacherous journey, full of unknown twists and turns but it was a journey that ended in absolute splendor.
In life so far I have learned many valuable lessons, but can say with absolute certainty that the lesson that is the most important to me, is the lesson of love. Love is one word, definable, and often understated and many times overstated. The love that I am speaking of is the love that forgives, looks beyond faults, inspires men and moves to change the hearts of humanity. A love that is so pure and so true that to deny it would be to deny your own existence. This is the love that I have learned from, grown from, given from, and taken from. This love is a gift, free to deliver and receive yet so often overlooked and under used. Some might call this the love of Christ, Buddha, Islam, Judaism, etc., etc. It does not matter what name you chose to give it. The point is that you know of it and allow yourself to experience the life changing affects that it will have on your life and the lives of those around you. I call it "Blind Love" for the obvious reason that true love really is blind to all of the stereotypical fragmentation that exists in society, racism, discrimination, etc. So If I could tell you all one thing, make one recommendation to enlighten your life, I would simply say: Express your love, the love that resounds within your soul, that burns within your chest, that sets your mind on fire. Make sure that when you breathe your last breath, speak your last words, that the world remembers you as someone who broke down walls and stirred change in the hearts of those that knew you. Make sure that you live your life as someone who loved and was loved.
I hope that this Journal has inspired you as it has inspired me. The thought that we each have a place in this world, capable of capturing such beauty and sharing it as if we were all neighbors living on the same street, that is inspiring. We have broken down the boundaries and borders of distance and have all become members of a movement that will hopefully inspire thought, creativity and the sharing of philosophy. We have all taken a small part of ourselves and placed it into the leather bound pages of this masterpiece for the whole world to see, and that is powerful.
I wish you all much success and health in all of your individual lives and offer my love to all of you for taking time to participate in this unknown photography journey.
With the highest and most sincere regards one human can offer to another,
Adam S. Marengo
Portland, OR United States
Adam & Hayfa Marengo, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, United States
Latourall Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, United States
Linda McRae, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
March 3, 2011 at 3:21am
Hello! My name is Linda McRae, and I live in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. I am almost 50 years old. Egads! To see that in writing seems bad to me, but in truth, I don't feel old. But when I look back on my life, there are lot of years behind me, with memories so distant, they seem like a dream.
Hidden Valley
Life has been good to me so far, with no regrets for the choices I've made, the paths I've traveled, and the people I've known. All of these have contributed to the time and place where I am now. And what a place it is, and I don't mean that in a geographical sense! Where am I now? Right here, in a place full of self-discovery, promise, and excitement, as I transform myself into an "unstoppable me".
Hmmmm... What is the most important thing I have learned in my life? I guess I would have to say: Don't live your life for someone else, by their standard, to make or keep them happy, when it makes "you" less than happy. If your compartment (by that, I mean "what you do", "where you live", "who you spend time with" or all of these) no longer keep you happy, then MOVE! Figure out what will make you happy, and then go "do that". Honor yourself. Because if you are not happy, how can you expect the people around you to be happy?
I once told an aunt of mine (who is in her 70's) that I did not know (and still not sure now) what my life purpose is. Her reply to me: Be happy. That is all you have to do! Wise Woman!
About the photo:
The photo of the journal on a barb wire fence was captured in the hills where my siblings and I used to hike when I was a young teenager. We lived in the valley below, beyond the end of this fence, and unless you hiked up the mountain, you'd never know the grassland and the valley (shown in the photo of me above) are there. In fact, as I was leaving the area on the day I captured this photo, a man walking his dog asked me how I found this place. He thought I was someone passing through on the Trans Canada Highway below.
I realize now, that we were very lucky as kids to have easy access to nature. Most kids who live in large cities do not, and as a result, do not develop an appreciation for nature - an appreciation that is so vital to the survival of this planet.
The area where we hiked was to most people, unknown. But recently, the City of Kamloops declared it a Nature Park, and it is now frequented by hikers and families who walk their dogs.
Originally, I planned to show the journal in a wider-angle setting, showing this "hidden valley" (as I call it), with the Kamloops Valley on the other side of the ridge in the background. But when I saw the barb wire fence, I was inspired to do what comes naturally to me, to create a more intimate detailed view, with the fence as a leading line. The vegetation in the background is sagebrush and pine trees, and the soil a very fine clay-like sand. Kamloops is hot and dry in the summer, like a desert; very different from the general perception that British Columbia is all rocky mountains with glaciers.
César Marino (Costa Rica)
December 6, 2010 at 10:01pm
About me:
Hi there world! My name is César Marino and I am a 20 years old living in San Jose, Costa Rica in Central America. I love my family and pets. I am currently a student in Business Administration, with a major in finance. Nature: so detailed, so perfect, being part of it is one of the things that I enjoy the most.
César Marino (Costa Rica)
Success!
There are times that I feel I do not fit into society, but that does not bother me a lot; I think, speak and do based on what I believe is right, not according to what other people think is right. I have always believed that it is a good thing to question what you are shown and what you are told, not out of rebelliousness, but to discover the reasons and understand the ‘why’; acting with this in mind, I am able to select between the different choices based on an understanding of the outcomes and not simply because I was told to accept a position.
Being different has its good points and its not so good points; I might not meet as many people and I sometime wish I had a girlfriend, but the few friends I have make everything worthwhile. Respecting myself and my philosophy of life has allowed me to enjoy more, and judge less. I might not be able to go out partying as often, but I have the opportunity to celebrate, to laugh till I cry and to say what I feel without the need of alcohol. I have learned to value my life, to understand how fortunate I am, to appreciate my own potential and to understand the importance of building solid relationships.
I enjoy art and have grown to love it more after I realized its importance to mankind. Sometimes it is easier to show how you feel and who you are by what you do, what you create. Through my photography I try to share the beauty of the little details that we usually ignore in our lives.
About the picture:
This picture was taken on Nov 25th 2010, in Playa Blanca, Punta Leona, Costa Rica. Every time I go to this place and my feet feel the soft white sand, I forget about everything and I can only enjoy the moment; laying down under a tree, listening to the sound of the waves, feeling the breeze … I can not explain how peaceful that makes me feel. This beach allows me to connect with my inner self and with nature; it brings me back to the present and it lets me think about how to fix the world or just allows me to clear my mind of everything. The sea helps me remember how small I am in time and space, and because of that I am surprised at being able to feel what I feel and at who I can eventually become.
Picture by: César Marino
Playa Blanca, Punta Leona, Costa Rica
Message to the world:
Sometimes I feel humans are alive but not living. There is something that keeps them asleep; maybe it is the path that mankind has taken, the day in and day out activities have become more materialistic and this is going nowhere. We are living in very difficult moments for the human race; we have to make decisions now if we want to preserve ourselves and continue our short appearance in this world. The only evolutionary path left is not physical but rather spiritual given that our body has no need to adapt to anything because now we adapt the environment where we live. If we do not change the way we think and live, if we do not cultivate our soul to be better with the people around us, we will not wake up.
The path to be better begins inside of you; first you have to understand yourself so that you can understand why you act the way you do. Then you will be able to help others in a direct or indirect way. You have to remember that even the tiniest action could change someone else’s life.
We are what we do; we act according to our values and our perception of what is right or wrong. It is, therefore, really important to acquire knowledge so that we can discern the path to take. It is through the day in and day out activities that we can change the world, putting into practice our values and asking ourselves if we feel good with what we are doing. If we keep true to ourselves we will be able to face death with satisfaction and without any remorse.
So, if someone ask me what is the most important thing I have learn in life so far I would say: to live (and I’m still learning)
Thank you for your time, I hope you like it... César Marino
Pura Vida!!!
Janessa Goble (Utah, U.S.A)
November 8, 2010 at 6:36pm
Hello everyone!
My name is Janessa Goble, I am 19 years old, and I live in Ephraim, Utah (USA). I am the youngest of four children. I am attending my sophomore year in college and I have not yet decided my major. I love to travel, draw, play guitar and also drums. I absolutely love meeting people from different places all over the world, and seeing their perspective on live, love, and art.
I chose to take my picture at Maple Grove, in Central Utah, because it is one of the most beautiful places i have ever seen. Walking around Maple Grove, you have to stop and ask yourself, Who discovered this place? How did this amazing place come to be? I feel so at peace when I am there, I love it.
The most important thing I have learned in my life, although I am still very young, is to live for the moment, and have no regrets. Everything happens for a reason, and if you pass up opportunities, you'll never know what you could have been a part of, what you could have experienced, So live for the moment, and live for you, Carpe Diem! Seize the day!!!
-Sincerely, Janessa Goble
Picture By: Janessa Goble (Utah)
Vonda Jensen (Utah, USA)
October 29, 2010 at 6:28pm
Hello everyone everywhere!! My name is Vonda Jensen and I am a 27 year old wife and mother. My husband and I have been together for 11 years now. He has taught me that I can have the life that I want if I am willing to create it. I have two wonderful and amazing children who are my hero’s and biggest inspirations in this life. I am child number nine out of a family of thirteen children. Growing up in a huge family had many challenges and blessings. My siblings have become my friends and teachers and have taught me more than they realize. It is because of my family that I am the woman that I am today. It is because of the many lessons I learned growing up that I do my best to love fully, forgive quickly and to never give up on those that matter the most to me.
I chose to take my picture in the mountains here in Utah. The picture is of Fish Lake, in the Fish Lake National Forest. I took this photo from a beautiful view point above the lake. I chose this location because I love the way that it makes me feel. It inspires me with all of it’s beauty. When I sit up on this point and see the vast beauty below, I can not deny a power higher than myself. When I go to the mountains and look around I can’t help but realize how small I really am in this big world. I am not sure why feeling so small is inspirational but it is. Maybe it is because you know you are small but you can do so much good or so much damage, and that in itself is a powerful feeling. It is an amazing feeling to sit there and realize how fragile life is and yet how strong it can be too. For me it is an immensely overwhelming feeling. I love to feel the breeze coming up the cliff side, to smell the earth, to hear a kind of silence that this fast pace world has forgotten about. A silence that we no longer appreciate. When I sit there, I can be me. There is no one to judge you. There is no tv, or radio telling you that you need to change this or that about you in order to fit in. In this moment nothing matters except for your own thoughts. When I sit there I am inspired, at peace, and in love with the beauty around me!
What do I feel is the most important thing that I have learned in life?? I would say love and family. Having experienced more than one circumstance in life that has brought me close to death, I realized in those moments the meaning to my life. When you are laying in a hospital thinking that this could be the end for you, you don’t think about the house you’ll never build or the car you’ll never get to own, you think about your loved ones. You think about how things will change without you around and how you wish you could have told the people you loved that you loved them more often than you did. You think about the friend that you lost touch with and how you wish you hadn’t. You realize that the most important thing in life is to build strong relationships and continue to nurture them. So my answer is definitely LOVE!
I hope you all enjoyed learning a little about who I am. I am so excited for this journals journey and I can’t wait to see what everyone else adds to it.
Much Love, Vonda
Fish Lake National Park, Utah
Mayfield, Utah
Picture By: Vonda Jensen (Utah)
Opening message in the Journal from Vonda
October 29, 2010 at 6:08pm
To the anyone anywhere around the world that may read this, this book is a vision that I never imagined would actually come together. I thought of the idea for this journal very late one night while reading in bed and thinking about my life. I immediately took action on this idea because I knew I wanted to do more with my photography than just doing family pictures. I wanted to do something that would connect people and inspire them. I wanted it to be unique from anything I had ever heard of before. This book is what came to be from my thoughts that late night. A vision, a hope, and a prayer all pulled together. It is my hope that this book will inspire you in some way. Thank you to everyone who chose to follow it’s journey around the world, and a huge thank you to those who had the courage and faith to participate in it!
. . .
My message to the worlds underdogs: To anyone out there that has ever been discouraged and disappointed to the point that they have thought of giving up on this life, I have a message for you. Never, ever, ever give up! Ten years ago, I wanted to give up, in fact I tried to get out of this life. If only I could have known that I held a power within myself to inspire others, to be a leader, to unite people in unique ways, I would have wanted to live forever. The fact is though that we have no way of knowing how bright our future can and will be if we give up. You have to think about your future. It is a place that you have not been to yet, but one that doesn’t have to look like the place that you are at right now. YOU hold the key to your future. Nothing and nobody can stop you from reaching your success if you fight hard for it. I know that now and I feel that it would be wrong for me not to share this message in the one place that I believe has the ability to reach someone that it otherwise wouldn’t get to. Fight for YOUR life, for there will be times when no one else will! CREATE AND BE GREAT!
Sincerely, Vonda Jensen
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