Sunday, March 29, 2009

The Men and Women of "The Model in You"

Ok folks, here they are. The Men and Women of "The Model in You -Beauty in Dversity".

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Striking - MIYs Newest

Here they are, the last three models to join the fold of MIY. Please help me welcome, Puja, Rhonda and Nicole to "The Model in You - The Beauty in Diversity". As you can see right away, all three of our newest models are "striking". I will update this post with additional pictures later but I wanted to get something out tonight on our newest models.

Goodnight...

David





Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Windows

I took this picture a couple of months ago in our very first "Model in You" meeting. I actually didn't remember it or must not have been that impressed until last night. I got home late from work yesterday, was listening to a podcast, booted up lightroom and went "OMG"!!!

I had a chance to spend several minutes with Tomeika's Dad and found out that aside from being very beautiful, she is definitely "daddy's little girl". I believe this picture provides a window into that side of who she is. We will mature our vision for Tomeika's shoot next month but enjoy this closeup for now.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

MIY - All About the "E"

Yesterday we met with Libby, Jenny and Bonnie who are our newest models to MIY. All three of these ladies have an "E" sound in their name thus the title of this Blog. As you can see, all of three of these models have another thing in common; they are beautiful and they look good in front of the camera.

We met out at the NV Lounge and had the entire upstairs to ourselves. I want to ask the owners if we can use their place to do a photo shoot as the upstairs has some very big and beautiful windows and I think we can do some very cool things with the light coming in from these windows. We have one more meeting before we start meeting with all the models individually but for now, it's all about the "E".

























Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Work to Do....

I was talking with a friend the other day who shared a story with me about the death of someone they worked closely with. As for all losses, for us it seems untimely but there is another plan at work that's been in motion for quite some time that we need to bring into the equation... We are all still here to be instruments of execution of this plan and continue the ability to breathe in and out because we still have work to do... Sometimes when loss occurs we often ask "why them and not me"? I'm not going to begin to pontificate on the answer to this question other then to say "we still have work to do" and this is how I replied to my friend when asked the question above.

The work doesn't have to be overly profound or anything but profoundness because it's all relative and seasonal. It could be a life changing discovery like a cure for aids, taking on a new job that could lead to becoming President of the United States or an encouraging word at the right time. A word that could make the difference between success and failure, discovery and enlightenment or life and death. You/we may never know but that's some of the context of the work we still have to do or in some situations continue.

Have you ever had someone say to you "you saved my life" and you were left wondering "so what exactly was it that I did again"? Does a knife know that it will be saving a life today in the operating room? Do lungs know that they in concert with the lips may be extending life to family member or stranger till the paramedics arrive? Does the brain know that in partnership with the eyes, hands and lips that it will be giving a talk that will change a nation, avert war and save lives? The "work" and the scenarios go on and on... This is very powerful to me, not to be taken lightly or abused but to possibly broaden, add purpose and perspective.

As for me, in the context of "behind the lens", I still have work to do on FOCUSing on what's most important... As I mentioned in a previous post for me it's photography, photojournalism, and photojournalashion (new concept I am working on). I look at photography as an instrument to serve others as I wrote about in "we serve". It's pretty cool when you consider the power of photojournalism through the significance of pictures, perspective and expression. I am having a lot of fun with this and understand now that photography is extending me out to the world to expand what I do/did and I am having a lot of fun in the process. I have come to realize that I didn't choose "it" rather "it" chose me. And because of that, I have a lot of "work to do" to help bring focus on what's most important...

So for everyone reading this Blog entry, you too still have work to do... As with this water fountain, be very clear about your impact but take time to step back and see how it's reflected on the world to keep yourself energized and focused. Be blessed in your work ahead.


Sunday, March 8, 2009

Finding Purpose in Seasons - Pay Attention

I am meeting today with one of the Models from "The Model in You - Beauty in Diversity" project. Her life's journey is taking her down another path and things are happening in her life just the way they were intended to. With her move, she will not be able to participate in our project but this project is more than modeling; it's about diversity and I am also finding that it's about making lasting connections with people and influencing lives. I believe influencing lives in a positive way is one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other and especially those who were strangers to us prior to our encounter.

Maday is special and it didn't take me long to figure that out; I didn't mean in that way. She has a very special personality that lights up a room and brings energy to everyone around her. She is going back to the West Coast and aside from being jealous (I lived there for 5 years) I am glad we had her for a season.

Sometimes life's journey's take us places we never expected to go or back to places we've already been because our work was not done or we needed to go pick up an "experience" or two and go back and finish our work. We may not completely understand it while we are going through it but it does get revealed if we "paying attention".

For a season, I am glad I got a chance to meet Maday and I wish her all the best as she continues her journey on another coast. While her departure may seem earlier then its season, she accomplished her reason for being with us. I challenged her to spend time, once she gets settled on her new coast, understanding her purpose here as she puts the pieces into context. We talked a lot about "paying attention" and really knowing why things happened and using those lessons and growth opportunities to move forward. Sometimes we think things happen because of our own doing, actions or "in actions" and sometimes that is true. Other times it's because we served our purpose and it's time to move on. I realize not everyone will be able to understand this message and I would have blown past it a couple of years ago myself; what a difference a day, or in my case, two years makes.

Pastor Carrington of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda California preached about this one day while I was attending service and while I heard the message, I didn't fully understand the significance of it's meaning on my life. Probably because I heard him but wasn't really "paying attention" or wasn't ready. Work with me on this... We feed babies milk versus steak because their little bodies/systems are still developing and aren't ready for it. I was not completely ready for the message when it was preached to me almost 14 years ago but it was significant enough to stay with me all these years.

Also, sometimes we are given things in pieces, pieces small enough for us to handle. In my discussion with Maday I was talking about my experience in meeting Alexia. I told her that I thought I was running up to my hotel room to grab my camera to take pictures of "lobby lights". That's what I had in mind but God had a different plan. His plan for me was to meet Alexia and connect her with a mentor; MISSION ACCOMPLISHED by the way. The prideful part of me actually though I had something to do with this connection but I realized today that I was an instrument in bringing Alexia and her mentor together. I would love to get "the rest of the story" from Alexia and her mentor as they get to know each other and start working on her future but maybe it's not for me to know. My purpose may have been just to connect these two; only God knows and time will tell. I say all of this to say that we need to spend more time "paying attention" and be careful about who we give credit to as we all are just instruments.

Enjoy these picture but please "pay attention"!!! because this post isn't about the pictures. I just added them to get your attention. I'll be Blogging you!!!
























Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Perspective

"My 100th Post"!!! I think it's fitting to devote a Blog entry for my 100th post to "perspective". When I began this craft almost two years ago, I was embarking on a journey not knowing where I was going but trying desperately to rediscover something; myself. Mission accomplished!!! It's interesting what you find right in front of you if your just willing to change your perspective.

Happy 100th!!! - DavidBeasleyJr.Blogspot.com




Monday, March 2, 2009

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

They (not sure who "they" are) say size doesn't matter.... That was the farthest from their minds when they built this BIG BOY - Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center !!!!! This Gaylord Hotel is the granddaddy of the Gaylord's and this guy is HUGE...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a chance to visit Nashville Tennessee and my first stop was the Gaylord Opryland. It was very cold outside so I was dressed in my long sleeved Jordan shirt (blue and black with long john like material) and a pair of Jordan (#23) jeans. Needless to say I was unprepared for the tropical like environment inside the Gaylord. I shot for about two hours and was pouring sweat before I ponied up to the bar for a cold yet smooth adult beverage.

This hotel was awesome and I am putting together a slideshow similar to the one I did for the Gaylord at National Harbor last year. So for now, enjoy this teaser...

David