Being true to yourself

Staying true to yourself in todays society is a complex endeavor, most people just let society dictate who they are, how they dress, what they do for a living.

Artists go trough this same process in different ways, specially when you are trying to get the “art-world” to take you seriously. Everything has gotten a little bit weird and too serious, we can’t forget that Art is about expression, fun and play (well at least for me it is).

So don’t forget to have fun while shooting, painting, writing or singing this life is too short to try to convince other people that we are any good or worth any attention. Live your life to the fullest right where you are, you don’t need to go anywhere or buy anything to be yourself.

Enjoy the party of you and your craft or whatever the hell you love to do, and please don’t stay in a box just because society tells you or because is the “right thing to do”, I’m not telling you to be an ass or break the law. Just allow your magic to flow from your heart. 

Get away from your “comfort zone” experiment with different medias, take a different route on your morning commute. If you like nature, experiment with architecture or portraits. Let your essence guide you and go beyond your self imposed limits.

As an experiment sometimes I like to shoot different subjects and compositions that what I usually do. The images in this blog are an example of what I’ve been doing. It’s been a lot of fun.

Carlos “Haku1n” Ocando

Thank you

Today I want to thank my parents for their support during all my life. They have supported me in my career change, giving me the emotional and material support to make this dream a reality. We spend many years of our life taking for granted the support from our family. Today I want you to know mom and dad that I love you very much, and that I appreciate all the unconditional support and love that you have given me all my life. You are the pillars that support everything that I am today.

Thank you.

Carlos "Hakuin" Ocando

A Blessing in Disguise.

With the advent of digital photography many photographers started to worry that the end of professional photographers had just begun. Now everybody has a camera with them and are able to take photos which are at least acceptable for most of the people. But I think this is a blessing. An opportunity for all the photographers in the world to open their minds to go beyond the technician vision and embrace an artistic vision of the world.

Leave on the side all concerns about cameras, lenses and lighting equipment to focus on emotion, beauty, composition, aesthetics and expression. To let the light be the guide, the master of the play of life and shape our message with light, shadow, texture and color. 

This happened many years ago with the invention of photography. Less and less artist where commissioned to document events and portraits, many where worried because many would be left with no job or place in the world. But in the end was a blessing, many artist saw this as an opportunity to explore the world in a new way. They where free to explore their medium with no worry about their reality representation, exploring individualities as light, texture, form, shape, abstraction. Giving birth to movements as to important movements such as impressionism and cubism. 

Now as photographers we also have this opportunity. We must connect with the spirits of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and many others who where recognized for their artistic and technical abilities. Accept this blessing and open yourself to this new free world of expression, beauty and emotion.