Winners Find Solutions in Arezzo, Italy - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

In a recent trip to the medieval city of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy, I got to take a behind-the-scene view of the flag-wavers practicing in preparation of the city’s upcoming Giostra del Saracino (more on that later). Despite the fact that the team has been performing the art of flag-waving since 1960, it’s never an easy task to keep the flags afloat, let alone with grace.

While we as bystanders tend to focus on the time of performance, I appreciated the practice when it reminded me that at times, just like life, things don’t always go the intended way. There are moments when we feel we almost “dropped the ball”:

Keeping-Aloat-Flagwavers-Arezzo-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

And other times when we are completely swamped:

Flagwavers-being-Swampted-Arezzo-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

As someone puts it:“winners find solutions, losers make excuses.” I am sure the flagwavers never let the weight of the flag staff or the sun glaring into their eyes become what stands in the way of putting out the best orchestrated show every time, even when it means sometimes blood would be shed, which unfortunately happened in this practice.

Flagwavers-Arezzo-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

In terms of the small price that I paid to bring back these images? Let’s just say we were in a unique spot (photographically speaking) which happened to be a nice shelter for blood-sucking insects. And, it didn’t help when we were the only two warm bodies there. :P

Subscribe to Receive all Posts in the Email

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Format

• html
• text

Full Moon on Mars Land - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Two lunar calendar years ago, I was photographing the Mars-like geothermal field of Hverir in Iceland. As always, the sun was setting fast. Before long, my Assistante’s “courtesy” reminders started making appearance, entangled in the howling sound of the stinky air pushing through the crust of the earth.

“Many cars are leaving…”

Never been a good crowd-follower, I ignored the warning.

……

“Only a few cars are left in the parking lot…”

Still ingrained in my creative photography, I decided to go against the grain.

……

“Only one car is left”

His warnings were like those newsletters that I signed up a long time ago. They religiously show up in my inbox and most are not that interesting.

……

……

My strategy seemed to have worked. I started enjoying the peace until he let out a big exclamation.

Thinking “Now what?”, I raised my head. A moon, a full moon just rose above the layer of cloud.

Grinning in my belly, I said to myself “we couldn’t have asked for a better place to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival”. And, I think I may keep my newsletters a bit longer. ;-)  

Hverir-Moonrise-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoy the view of the full moon whichever surface of the planet you may be on, except for the moon itself. :P

Subscribe to Receive all Posts in the Email

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Format

• html
• text

What's Your Vision to YOUR Life - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are some one else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." - Oscar Wilde

We are born into this world like a blank piece of canvas.  In the attempt to put marks on such canvas, we tend to follow the paths that have been created by the stomps of those before us, the paths which have been proven to lead to somewhere/something.  And, they are easier to walk on.  

Photographing-in-Lavender-Field-Valensole-Provence-France-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

The issue is, what has worked for others are, at best, what worked for others.  We came from such a diversified pool of genes, there's no guarantee that by doing the same things, we will achieve the same results.  And who says harvesting apples would be a great success to someone that loves oranges instead?  

Lavender-Graphic-Design-Valensole-Provence-France-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography-(1)

Life is such a huge subject that I feel one never has all the answers in the bag.  But in Provence, when many flock to the same spots, trying to capture the version of the lavender field that may seem familiar (do a search online and you will know what I mean), I chose to let my own eyes choose what to speak about my experience.  It may not have been done before.  And it may not receive recognition.  But it's the version that my eyes, and heart, love. 

What's your vision to YOUR life?      

Subscribe to Receive all Posts in the Email

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Format

• html
• text