Love Lessons from 9/11

There is no place like New York City.  I was living in New York in midtown Manhattan when 9/11 happened and could see the towers from my place.  I remember that day like it was yesterday but seven years later the lesson that I learned from that day is that work is not the most important thing in life, love is.  

When you work for yourself it is hard to turn off and unplug but it is necessary and essential especially if you are a creative.  I have learned that the thing that fuels my creativity is having a full life doing the things I love most.  I love photograph and doing it for a living but I also love spending time with my girl and enjoying life.  I work hard so I can enjoy all the best life has to offer but it's much sweeter when I can enjoy those things with the person I love.  

My girlfriend made the most amazing dinner for me last night and even today I can't stop thinking about it.  She was born in Sapporo, Japan but now lives in Los Angeles.  We went to Japan this past July and traveled all over Hokkaido visiting Onsen's and enjoying the food of northern Japan.  We also traveled to Kyoto and Osaka where I had blowfish for the first time but the best part was sharing this with her and photographing how I felt while there.  As photographers we have the opportunity to share our feelings and ideas about life, love and how we see the world.  My world is so much better when my heart is taken care of  and my girlfriend Nozomi makes me feel like a king.  My work is always better when I am in love and now I feel like it better than it's ever been.  

I am currently learning Japanese and hope to be able to speak the language the next time I am there.   As of last week I am now officially sponsored by Sony so having the language down would also be a plus for my business.  You will be hearing much more about my involvement with Sony and Microsoft in the coming months but for now, get out and photograph something or someone you love.  I'm going to photograph Nozomi!