Price Of A Backstage Pass

Photo: Brother and Sister behaving/Ghana, 2008
Current Location: Midland, Michigan, USA / 43°37′25.0″N 84°13′45.7″W

I learned early on in my career that my camera acts as a backstage pass to life, taking me to places I've never dreamt of going, places I never knew it even existed. From the deepest parts of the Brazilian rain forest to the depths of chaos and war, I've ventured from one corner of the globe to the other, savoring an array of cultures, a rainbow of colors and an unimaginable pallet of life at its finest hour. From rich and poor, triumph and tragedy, darkness and beauty, I've been there, lived it, captured it with my lens. I'm forever grateful.

But no matter where I've been or what I've seen, it's never enough. As a self proclaimed addict to life, I seek more--more adventures into the unknown, more stories I can capture, share, and show and tell. Sometimes, by looking at the world thru a lens, I see much less than the average person, but in a way it allows me to appreciate more, to understand and see every minute detail of life. It's like looking at a picture with a magnifier, seeing only whats thru the glass. Maybe that's why, with my backstage pass to the world, I venture on, keep going in a journey set out to capture the rest of that image.

But every journey has its challenges. The world is made of cliffs and ridges, sharp and steep--constantly shifting, never the same.

Bearing a backstage pass to life is hard; it comes with a price. It ain't easy. For days now I've gone with very little sleep--kept awake by fear--fear of the unknown, of new surroundings, of fate and failure. For my next assignment, a world of change awaits me on the other side. To most people, the image is all they see. To others who appreciate and understand the art of my craft, they know all too well the hardships that befall a photographer, and the struggles one must endure.

Technically, emotionally, and personally, it's not easy to plan for the unknown. It's even hard to balance life, family, and friends. As a travelling photographer, I sacrifice a lot to be doing what I do. Loved ones worry for my safety, birthdays come and go, anniversaries have little meaning. The world keeps spinning, I keep shooting.

Four days to departure. I'm excited.