26 May 09

I have been thinking about the months of struggling in the business of being a photographer, teacher and artist. And I have come to realize and know who the real supporters are, although we may not have been in contact for quite some time. The people that truly have a passion for the arts remain as so, unswerving by their position in that art shall survive, and it will continue to flourish, no matter how hard or difficult it may be. My friends attest to that. In the back of my mind, I feel that I have been a bit of a cop out, that I have devalued my position as an artist, and have shifted to a more commercial realm by opening up a studio, where I shoot commercial jobs (ie: family portraits, fashion, etc.) and also teach. I am interested in publishing, and that seems like a commercial enterprise that I shouldn't be even touching, but then, I have and will be doing in the next little while. I ebb in and out of the waters from one thing to the next, with no real focus. Why can't I settle my mind? What has 2009 done to me and everyone else? Nevertheless, this year of making new and renewing old acquaintances is paramount. In this time of economic blues, I'm discovering new energies and ideas with people around me. I'm eager and excited, but nervous about what all this holds. I've been taken for a ride before and I don't recommend it. To anyone.

20 May 09

I don't know when was the last time I wrote in this blog, but I thought I would start to reinstate some thoughts in my mind, given the past tumultuous 8 months of havoc in the startup of my new studio in Hong Kong. It seemed not that long ago that I had just moved into Sheung Wan, and right during a time when the world was in strife over the September, 9-11 incident in New York. Times were really rough, and I had just moved into the flat. Now, the same thing has arisen here the move this time to Chai Wan, from West end to now East end. What a horrific time it has been in dealing with the university that I have been teaching at. I'm going to be brutally honest, and not because of the university itself, but the people that I have had to work and cooperate with, namely, a certain middle management personnel has taken me and my business partner for a ride, a ride that cost myself frustration, aggravation, financial strife (right during a time when the economy is in a downturn), and headache. Picking up the pieces has been an ordeal. Unpaid invoices dating back to 2006 and unresolved contracts for models and such, it is a fiasco. Regaining ground was all a bit too late, but it's better than never.