Forgetting to push the record button...

Last night, while filming a friends wedding as a favour, I was caught in the moment as people danced around me and "strutted their stuff" for the camera, when suddenly, after five minutes of intense concentration on the action and subject, I realised that the display I was watching indicated stdby mode, for those of you who don't know what that means, the tape was not rolling, it was not recording. Every videographer has made that mistake, for some it was just a little more critical than for others. Granted my blunder was not on a one take, million dollar, pyrotechnics display that puts Hiroshima to shame, but for me, it was nonetheless a disaster, I had missed a moment that would never be repeated (even if it were recreated). Who would have thought such a small mistake could result in such feelings of remorse, I was devastated, maybe not because I'd missed it, but because being a professional, I felt that I was not meant to make mistakes like that. Well, lesson learnt, always make sure the tape is rolling before focusing on the subject, i.e. take your time to capture time! Time is a precious commodity, more precious than any other commodity we can attain for exactly that reason, we cannot attain it at all, we can only nurture it and remember it. Moments are valuable and whether we're pushing record buttons or shutter releases on cameras or mental record buttons in our minds, we must be careful to discern where we choose to capture those moments and when we've selected them, be absolutely sure we're absorbing every detail because those moments will never happen again... at least not in the same way. Money can be earned and posessions can be bought but time passes and we never get it back. Use it wisely, consider it's value verses temporary satisfaction and invest energy capturing those precious moments.

Giving it all up!

Surrender to God is not necessarily giving everything we hold dear to us up... it is being prepared to. It is getting to the point where the consequences and circumstances resulting from our total surrender become less important than being totally consumed with Him. Do you think the consequences of throwing down his nets, his career, his livelihood crossed Peter's mind when he did so to follow Christ? It may even resemble "throwing all caution to the wind" but in reality, all it is, is placing complete trust in God, "trusting God in all our ways, and not leaning on our own understanding" (Sound familiar, Proverbs 3:5).

Some days the prospect of the unknown future scares me, other days it thrills me, like embarking on a new adventure. Just as fear should not inhibit us to give it all up for God neither should thrills be a motivator for giving it all up either. So, what then should motivate us to give it all up? The fact that once we have surrendered all, or should I say... are prepared to surrender all, we are relying on Him to take complete control of that unknown future and His absolute will for us will be revealed. As I implied before, it may not even result in giving anything up, so long as we're prepared to continually check ourselves, if I was asked to, could I... give it all up?

Living out of a travel bag...

I have just returned from Tanzania. A trip that took me to some of the most beautiful places on the face of the planet. Mnembe Island just north of Zanzibar has iridescent turquoise water surrounding it, I could not attempt to describe it in my most profound english... in this case, seeing is believing. I don't even think my camera could represent the contrast between white sands and turquoise water. I walked the streets of Stone Town, slept in a Sultan's palace and watched sunset from a dhow. I gazed upon Mt. Kilamanjaro above the clouds as we flew into Arusha and met people whose soul purpose in life is to live in harmony with the land they occupy and the people they call their neighbours. What more could you ask of a job you may ask? It sounds wonderful, glorious, even perfect... but I have painted the picture that exists in most people's minds. The reality is not what is perceived however. The reality, although not wanting to distort the beautiful images I have experienced, is a little less "perfect". It's exhausting carrying heavy camera gear, moving a tripod inches to the left, to the right, slightly higher or lower from sunrise 'till 10pm to create these images. It's frustrating organising people and itinary's to get the "contrived" image we search for, it's heartwrenching to watch beautiful sunsets through black and white viewfinders and it's a blatant lie to say I've experienced a place when I've been there all of three hours before moving to the next location. My bag remains packed between brief laundry stops at "home" and every time I close the door behind me I struggle to take my heart, soul and mind with me.



Having said this, I must thank the Lord my God and provider for sustaining me through these trips AND... despite the difficulties and frustrations, for the rich experiences that He has afforded me, for the vast variety of subjects I have been exposed to and for the wonderful people I have met along the way, people who have taught me through their hospitality, humility and simplicity.

The key to living a content, fulfilled life is this... Accept and embrace your present circumstances, find the positive aspects in all that you do and paint yourself the best possible picture because for all the smiling faces, white beaches and turquoise oceans, packed bags and goodbyes are a necessary evil, there really is a price for everything, the grass is never greener on the other side.