Four years ago, I was in Germany during the 2006 World Cup and I had an incredible time meeting fascinating people from all over the world while exploring a new country. The rest of the summer turned out pretty well, too. I flew up to London for the weekend of the final game between France and Italy and met up with my good friends Aaron and Linda and we tore apart Soho that night, right before the Italians finished the job after their team won. Seriously, the Italians practically rioted that night in celebration. It was crazy.
After that weekend, I flew back to Germany, then on to Vienna and finally Beijing, where I met up with another great, old friend of 20-some years, George, along with 4 other obnoxious Americans and we then proceeded to chew through China and up to Mongolia.
Fully intending to rely on George's Chinese skills, I made zero preparations for Asia. But I did, in fact, quite prepare for Germany. About a year prior, I had begun taking German language classes at Seattle Central. Not only did I rather enjoy learning German (It's really a FUN language!), but I somehow ended up signing up for 2 years of my life in an intensive commercial photography program. Looking back, I still don't recall how I really decided to make the commitment. I had never really owned a real camera before then, nor had I any particular interest in still photography.
But, for whatever reason or invisible hand that guided me towards it, I knew shortly afterwards - and certainly still do today - that it was meant to be and very much the right thing for me to do.
I can't imagine not having my photography with me today. And finally having a creative outlet to visually express and share the world I live in is priceless to me. From all the clowns and dead hookers and flaming toasters and car chases and real mustaches and fake mustaches and blow-up dolls and ham pops and space suits and broken hearts and tea parties...to all the crazy visions I haven't shot yet - thanks for all the times you've taken a moment to look at whatever bizarre concept I built before my lens.
It means as much to me that you're all willing to see what I see as it does that I am able to record it down to begin with. The process of creating isn't complete until someone else is there to enjoy what you've made.
So, here are three churches I visited for the first time back in 2006 - the final one most definitely being the one I still worship in today.
I've come a long way in four years. And who knows where I'll be in the next four? Well, World Cup 2014 is in Brasil. I think I might go pick up a Portuguese 101 book this weekend...
No comments:
Post a Comment