Monday, August 23, 2010
10:14 AM | 
Posted by
nb |
The last time my brother, Lin, came to visit we were talking about his daughter, Mattie, and her love and talent for taking photographs. That conversation triggered memories of a talk I had heard 25+ years ago by Dewitt Jones, a photographer for National Geographic, turned motivational speaker. He was the guest speaker at a Human Factors Conference I was attending in Salt Lake City, Utah. That night he shared stories and slides (that shows how long ago it was!) of his photography. It was an amazing speech, so much so that I remember it all these many years later! He just had such a cool way of "seeing" things. I can still remember wanting to drop everything and take photography classes from HIM!
Anyway, I decided that I wanted to find him again, in hopes that there may be some way to purchase some of his talk so I could share with Mattie...Well, through the magic of Google and a few key words, I was able to find a website for him, even without a name!!! Unfortunately, the only things I found available for purchase were training packages that were over $1000!!! OUCH! But, God is so good! Would you believe that the videos that were included in the packages of training could be viewed for free! Actually, if you Google "Dewitt Jones" there are lots of links for him. HA! Sooooo, here you go Mattie, here is one especially for you :-)
I have watched it again, over and over... now I wish I had followed through with the desire to learn photography! ... and become the Dewitt kind of photographer, that can look at the ordinary and find the extrodianry ... and capture it for all to see.... WHAT AN AMAZING TALENT!!! But, even though I don't (currently) see that happening... I can choose to have the same eyes to see life that way for myself.
Life Lessons:
There were so many in the video! Here are a few:
- The lens we choose when viewing a problem is critical. Our perspective is what holds the key to whether our solutions to a problem are ordinary or extraordinary.
- There is always another perspective.... more than one right answer.
- Don't ever stop at the first right answer.
- You have to put yourself in the place of most potential for the most right answers
- Life presents us with windows of opportunity, moments when it all comes together, and we have to be ready to take advantage of them.
- The light that really "lights" my pictures is not the light from the outside but the light from the inside.
20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)