Why Art is Important?

Why art is important? Today in the social media era people are digesting images and video faster and in larger amounts than ever before in our history. With streaming technology people are listening to more music and video than ever before.

All this is very interesting and feels like the “future” to me, as a kid I always dreamed about the time where video games would look like reality and how cool would it be to have the whole Metallica discography at my reach with just pressing a button.

So where are I’m trying to go with this? the main point is that we have all this entertainment available for us and we take it for granted. All the images that you see on Facebook and Instagram from different artist and photographers where made with care and love for the craft, a piece to be appreciated and take the time to observe and digest. To have it on your wall for years and if you take the time and stop to look at it you would find something new, different and even inspiring. 

No matter what media it is if you take the time to look at it (or listen to it) for more than 5 seconds you will be able to connect with the real intention of the artist. All this rambling takes me to the main point of this post. Why art is important?

Art by itself is meaningless, we as conscious beings add value to the piece by connecting to it with our heart, mind and soul. Art can be inspiring, beautiful, meditative, shocking, can heal you, is emotional and has the ability to give you all this and more overtime. That’s why wealthy people collect fine art, because they can have anything they want, but they are able to see the value of things developing overtime, not just monetary value, but also “soul value”.

So if you find art that inspires you, collect it, talk about it, put it on your wall or your speakers and let it take beyond where you thought was not posible to be by just admiring an object created with care and intention.

Carlos “Hakuin” Ocando

© 2019 Carlos Ocando All Rights Reserved

Gema I

I

A small gem

Floating in the ocean of eternity

Always wandering

Who am I?

The Sun is out again!

Finally the sun is out again after tropical storm harvey, it's good to feel the sun and the cool breeze of the morning. I haven't felt this kind of peace in a long time, it was nice to walk without worries for a few minutes before work today.

Photography, Beauty and Timidness

Since I was a little kid I considered myself a timid person. I always hide my true self behind a shell of silence and awkwardness.

It's not easy to be a timid person, I believe is harder to be timid than bold. Being timid is constant hard work failing to block your original personality to show a silent and “perfect” being.  

Yes I said perfect because that’s why timid people are timid. We are so scared to be criticized that we sphincter ourselves believing that we will be able to fool people into not seeing beyond our shell.

That’s where photography comes into play for me, because I found a way to be me and say what I want to say without risking of being me. The tricky part was that the result was the opposite, the more I shoot the more I have to take the risk to show you how I see my world and what is important to myself.

This risk taking issue has affected me, because I have to live this double life where I hide myself and show myself at the same time. Today I decided to open myself, leave my shell behind and take the commitment of being me from now on.

I decide to turn away from perfectionism and anxiety, leave all the BS and start enjoying all this process.

We will see how this decision will affect the way I see and capture the world.

Carlos

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 Perfect World 03

Seasons come and go, my form changes freely

Our consciousness travels beyond our boundaries

Reaching all at the same time, effortless synchronicity

Our children touch the soil and the sky

A Synchronous song mastered by all

Gaia leading us again into the infinite peace of life

                                          Carlos "Hakuin" Ocando

A Perfect World 02

Past and future clashes, the winds of tomorrow kissing past foundations

There are no names, labels or definitions, my soul is one with all

Endless energy coming from the "Bright", the kindest creature of all

What was up now is down, what was down now is up

The circle of life provides, what men in the past took from us

Carlos "Hakuin" Ocando

A Perfect World 01

A Life with no History, Pain, Happiness or Sadness
A world full of life and no drama, infinite peace is the norm
Light shines in the morning, infinite rivers of water nurturing my core
My life has a beginning but no end, eternal existence is my friend
Where life is without death you may ask, without men it's a painless task

Carlos Ocando

Just Saying...

Hey guys today I just wanted to talk about how I feel about all the photography talk that you see online. Must of the people talk about gear. This lens, that camera, that bag, Film vs Digital, blah, blah, blah. We as a photographers have the duty to talk beyond all this gear talk that in the end means nothing. 

No camera will make you better photographer, no lens will make you better composing and no medium can help you appreciate the beauty around you. You know what's the best tool an artist have?. Instinct. 

A few years back in my career I learn this.It all started by going out with a definite work in my mind I would always comeback with very good photos but nothing extraordinary. Then a creative block came and I felt depressed, everything looked the same, and I could not think or see beyond what I seen or captured before. 

Double Exposure in Camera.

Then to get out of this block I decided to go out with my camera and one lens, and started to capture anything that would call my attention without thinking. Interestingly enough I started to create awesome work, photos that I really felt proud about. I've working like that since then. My eye guides me, and the world is my playground.

Even for commissions and work for others I do this, and never fails. Other professionals and photography masters like Michael Kenna and Jerry Uelsmann follow this approach of going out without any expectations of what to capture or create. 

Go out!, explore the world as you did the first day with your camera, and enjoy the moment when you press the shutter button and the magic is to transferred your media.

Carlos

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.

My Favorite Lens, is older than me.

This little gem is a few years older than me. But I guess lenses are like whiskey the older they are the better they get. I can't believe that I payed less than a 100$ for it because it has a dent in the barrel that doesn't affect its performance. The sharpness is great, great color rendition and is f2.8. The only downside is that is manual focus, which is not a problem for me you just need to practice a little and look for the small focus mark on the lower left side of the viewfinder.

The colors you get out of it are interesting very classic or vintage, and if you want a toy lens feeling you can open the lens to f2.8 and get some interesting vignetting and soft focus on the corners. Its also very compact and lightweight, conspicuous and I love the way it looks on my D600. The best lens you can get is not always the most expensive. To me the most important aspects of photography are light, composition and the equipment. In that particular order.

Don't be afraid to experiment with older lenses, these where the professional grade lenses one generation ago. Many people loved to work with these lenses specially landscape photographer Gallen Rowell who was famous for using exclusively this 24mm lens. 

Carlos "Hakuin" Ocando

Security?

Security is an illusion. We like to stay in our little and warm comfort zone and we don't see that beyond that there is an unlimited and exiting world. When we take risks in the name of our dreams an infinite sea of possibilities opens for us. Don't be afraid and trust the present moment. Let the magic unfold before you.