Gorgeous Svetlana: Experiment of Self Exploration

Gorgeous Svetlana: Experiment of Self Exploration

 I don't remember how we became friends on Facebook. She was viewing my photo work and giving me compliments. After checking out her profile, I suggested to take some pictures of her. The answer was very intriguing: "This is an interesting idea. The thing is that I'm absolutely not photogenic and don't have a single picture of me that I like. Let's try this out though!"

 Hmmm...  I love challenges! But there was something else in this answer, which stroke me: despite the fact, that she believed that nothing good may turn out of this, SHE WAS WILLING TO TRY... This Woman wasn't afraid of stepping out of her comfort zone, opening up her heart, being exposed to the lens and learning more about herself. It was also possible that she was terrified by the whole idea but decided take a give it a chance nonetheless. Either way,I absolutely admired it!

 This is when I realized that I'm going not just to do the best I can, but to go above and beyond of what was expected, walk an extra couple hundred miles, if needed, and  create something very unique, special and personal.

 Ups... I think, at this point my viewer expects way too much from what he (or she) is about to see...

 I replied, that I believe that everybody is photogenic in front of my lens and suggested to meet up and brainstorm on ideas about this project.

 We decided to show her in different moods, explore different sides of her personality, and create a portrait work, which would resemble her authenticity on multiple levels.

 What can I say? I LOVE TALKING TO HER! She is extremely intelligent, very well educated, open minded, and sharp. She became a Close Friend. She opened up Her World to me. Also she was very easy to photograph...

 This Woman makes her life interesting and refuses to be bored or unhappy on a daily basis. There was this small moment, when I realized how much I adore her. We were drinking "Pitta Perfect" juice in La Jolla, when she looked at the glass, full of green liquid, and a red straw, which came with it, and admired the beauty of those two colors, mixed together, and matching each other  in a very simple and completely natural way.

The thing is that at this very moment, I was overwhelmed with something else and didn't notice this little thing, which could make my day better, if I only paid attention. Oh, Gosh, do I need to admit how extremely grateful I was, when she brought me to the state of presence by noticing this tiny detail?

As my favorite yoga teacher says: "If you are not happy where you are right now, you are simply not paying attention."

Indeed!