Genesis
I somehow ended up being a successful software engineer. This was not supposed to happen. This was not the plan (and anyone who knows me knows I ALWAYS have a plan).
My inner voice constantly screams: “None of this was supposed to happen! I’m supposed to be a photographer! None of this was supposed to happen!”
My life is like a DVD. I can rewind and fast forward through previous events in my life as if they are chapters on a DVD. I can see the exact moments and decisions that lead to this current existence. If my life was a DVD, then that DVD would be titled “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”
Let’s play the DVD:
* << Rewind To 1985: Rodney, age 17, High School Senior << *
I wanted to be a cultural anthropologist. I wanted to study how people live. I wanted to study people’s lives as well as study the world religions which influenced how people perceived their lives.
To quote the Dalai Lama, "We're all human beings..." yet, as human beings with the same basic needs in life, distinct cultures evolved around the globe. I found this fascinating! I made up my mind: it's settled, and I'm stubborn! I would major in anthropology in college! *Happy Happy Joy Joy*
Well, that was the plan...
"Go into computers, Rodney! You can earn money!" This is what my mom told me. She and my dad did not understand cultural anthropology, but they did know "computers." My parents were from an older generation. My parents were 50 years old when I was born (a long story for a future post). They grew up during very hard times. If you've seen "The Little Rascals" on TV, you know the era my parents grew up in.
My parents and I argued for days over my desire to study anthropology. They finally played their trump card: "Go into computers, or we won't pay for school!" So, I went into computers.
* >> Fast Forwarding To 2005 >> *
I studied computers. I have always had an aptitude for anything creative (and yes, technical fields have creative sides to them). I found my self in a successful career as a software engineer. I had a wonderful hobby of building small, autonomous robots.
I still loved reading and learning about peoples and cultures. I took my vacations in Asia as often as I could (8 times). Photography was a new hobby started in 2004. Photography was a natural extension of world travel. Even with little experience, I found I was winning various photography competitions as well as selling photos, and being noticed by several photographers of merit. More and more, I found photography fed both my creative and anthropological appetites.
I decided to pursue cultural/reportage street photography full time in Asia. I had the crazy, yet sound, idea to teach English as a second language to cover living expenses while establishing myself as a freelance photographer!
* >> Fast Forward To 2006 >> *
I won “Photographer of the Year” at a major photo club I joined in 2005. I also won 5 honorable mentions in a major International photography competition (another long story for the future). I see my photographic goals in life are tangible ones. I finished my certification program for teaching English. I began to lose weight (I looked like a black sumo wrestler) by going to a gym, and I secured a teaching position in Jakarta, Indonesia. Yes, I picked Indonesia as the country I would first explore and photograph.
OUCH! I broke my foot and tore several ligaments in December 2006! I injured myself by playing the manly sport of badminton. *looking around in shame*
I had to cancel my teaching position. I was gaining back the weigh I lost, as I could barely stand, much less exercise. For two months I could barely walk. I resigned my resignation at work.
Hmm… man, I felt depressed. Not that everyday, common depression; that’s for mere mortals. I felt I-am-about-to-be-raped-in-jail-but-I-can’t-stop-it-from-happening depressed. I was depressed x 10! *cry*
Redemption! The photography Gods decided to show me mercy! I got a BETTER teaching contract! I made additional key friends and contacts! I got a ticket on Singapore Airlines! I’m set to migrate to Jakarta on April 4, 2007!
This is the Genesis of Rodney, future cultural street photographer…