Happy Birthday to My Little Howard Roark

Happy Birthday to My Little Howard Roark
Originally uploaded by lorenzodom

October 4, 2006:

Today, we celebrate Nicky’s fifth birthday.

I am beaming with pride. My love for my little boy is truly boundless.

I wish I could be more for him, do more for him, be with him more, give him more and as much as he needs, so that he can grow up to be all that he can be.

I am doing my best.

Apart from providing for basic needs like shelter, food, love, like any well-meaning parent should, I’m also trying to encourage, guide and expose him to many the wonders of the world, so that he might be inspired and perhaps tap into his innate talents early on.

He has long exhibited extraordinary agility, athletic ability and enthusiasm for sports. He loves basketball and recently began soccer camp. He scored two of his team’s four goals last week.

He also has an innately wonderful singing voice. Without instruction, without training of any sort he intuitively sings with a gentle vibrato that makes any song he takes on a pleasure to listen to.

Finally, two days ago he called me over to the living room, tugging at my sleeve, eagerly egging me in with, “Come on Papa, I want to show you something.”

To my pleasant surprise, he had constructed a building with the Lincoln Logs that, to me at least, resembled a marvelously intricate structure akin to the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. I was quite taken by his creation and made him pose beside his work. Hence, the picture posted above.

I was truly impressed and really found it extraordinary. Then again, what parent wouldn’t, right?

Well, nonetheless and allthemore, despite my paternal bias, I felt it was important to encourage what I perceived as perhaps some special knack for design, or at least an interest in architecture.

So, along with the razor scooter that he asked for, I ran out at lunch today to the book store to get him something a little extra. After streaming through all the shelves, I finally found something suitable in the bargain books section, two huge tomes with a lot of great pictures—one, a compendium of architectural design throughout history, and the other, about “the world’s most remarkable buildings.”

He may ultimately simply toss them aside and they will pile up along with all the other stacks of books I’ve bought for the boys over the years, but I’m content knowing that at least I’m making an extra effort to motivate and facilitate his potential, whatever ultimately it may be, whatever it may become.

However, erudition only can get you so far. To put what you preach into practice, to teach by example, is by far the better pedagogy. Thus, I think that the greatest impact and inspiration will ultimately prove to be whether or not his father lives up to his own potential.

“My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”
- Clarence Budinton Kelland -

I love you Nicky. Happy Birthday my dear boy!

evoL,
apaP

Life is Amazing: A Special Shout-Out to Andy Goetze

Life is Amazing: A Special Shout-Out to Andy Goetze
Originally uploaded by lorenzodom

Life is Amazing: A Special Shout-Out to Andy Goetze

A special shout out to Andy Goetze for posting Do You Know This Woman? (Part II) to to his blog, StockPhoto Talk.

Apparently, his post and Thomas Hawk’s simultaneous posting, have sparked a bit of debate.

I sincerely appreciate Andy’s ability to see through the fray. For he wrote yesterday:

“Those which criticize Lorenzo (mostly those which are jealous because Lorenzo is a successful photographer) have forgotten that they all miss the point. Even if Lorenzo would have had a model release, they would not have paid him, as he clearly pointed out later: "Especially, since there was no offer whatsoever of due compensation. They essentially wanted permission to use it for free, making excuses like "we have a small budget"". Or, as Markus Merz added: "Your case fits quite good to the current 'free' user generated content rip off scheme which is popping up at all the media houses all over the world at the moment".”

Jealousy, envy, misunderstanding, whatever. All I know is that I agree with Andy, that the discussion on all these blogs has veered awry too often, thus I appreciate his attempt to steer the debate back on course.

I merely wrote about a personal experience of mine, which I had intense mixed-feelings about. I suppose I could have cowered and simply hobbled away from the experience like a lame duck. Unfortunately, I feel rather passionate about many of the things I love to do, especially photography, and so I’m usually compelled to act rather than demure whenever the integrity of my avocations is incurred upon.

Admittedly, it can be a bit difficult not to be dragged down into the mire when all the worms come out of the woodwork to criticize you as a person, as opposed to commenting on the issues you raise. I’m trying my best to do a bit of mudslinging myself.

Besides, I am almost certain that most, if not all, the pundits and lambasters, have actually never met me, spoken with me in person or simply, really do not know me personally in any way. I’d like to think that others might intuit this, and thus infer that the potshots, brickbats, and carping speak much more truth about the critics than the accused.

I haven’t seen the FlickrCentral debate that Thomas Hawk began and which Andy refers to—and don’t intend on getting involved, because I think I might take it too personally. I love photography, and thus I rather not have the unpleasant experience that I anticipate—besmirch my appreciation of this wonderful medium. It has enlightened me in numerous ways, allowed me to appreciate life over and over again, and more and more each day.

Thus, I find it all too amusing that the original photo that sparked all this hullabaloo is part of a series that I titled “Life is Amazing” —because, it is, regardless of what people feel about me personally.

Furthermore, regardless of the barbs, I am encouraged to stay the course by what Dale Carnegie had to say about criticism:

Benjamin Franklin, tactless in his youth, became so diplomatic, so adroit at handling people, that he was made American Ambassador to France. The secret of his success? "I will speak ill no man," he said, "...and speak all the good I know of everybody." Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain-and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding.

So when you are kicked and criticized, remember that it is often done because it gives the kicker a feeling of importance. If often means that you are accomplishing something and are worthy of attention. Many people get a sense of savage satisfaction out of denouncing those who are better educated than they are or more successful...Schopenhauer had said it years ago” “Vulgar people take huge delight in the faults and follies of great men.”

Lincoln Abraham’s description of how he handled his critics has become a literary gem – a classic. General MacArthur had a copy of it hanging above his headquarters desk during the war; and Winston Churchill had a framed copy of it on the walls of his study at Chartwell. It goes like this: “If I were to try to read, much less to answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me won’t matter. If the end brings me out wrong, then ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”


I want to personally thank everyone who has supported my cause here. I duly appreciate the words of encouragement, as well as those who have contributed to the debate in earnest.

Sincerely,
lorenzo

It's The Simple Things in Life

It's The Simple Things in Life
Originally uploaded by lorenzodom

The Simple Things in Life

In times of controversy, I like to remind myself that it is truly the simple things in life that count most. Thus, I often return to some of my favorite words of wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

I take photos because I love the people that surround me, I love life, I love art, and because I love the idea of creating a life that is artful and art that is full of life.

That's why I'm here.

Despite what many may presume, I'm not a "professional" photographer; with the exception of one photo, I have yet to make a cent—a penny, a shilling, a pence—off my photographs.

If my work has merit it is not because I have years of experience and have been paid lots of money as proof of my success. No, personally I think it is simply because I love what I do, and that the thrill, the utter joy, and the exuberance for an art that captures some of the exquisite moments of this wonderful life reveals itself in my photographs.

Than again, I think you can conclude much the same about the millions of other photos on flickr too...


*

This is one of a few photos from the Chihuly exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, which I went to go see on Saturday with the boys and Gill.

We had a blast. And to my surprise Enzo and Nicky really seemed to enjoy the exhibit and the film about Chihuly’s work.