{"id":6610,"date":"2017-11-13T12:37:05","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T17:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aboutrc.com\/?p=6610"},"modified":"2018-03-09T08:24:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T13:24:30","slug":"reconnecting-in-the-smokies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aboutrc.com\/?p=6610","title":{"rendered":"Reconnecting In the Smokies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting back to the studio after spending a week out in the Smokies speaking at a workshop.\u00a0 I have to say, getting out there could not have come at a better time for me.<\/p>\n

I went to school way upstate in New York at a very early age. Being out in the Adirondacks for this pivotal part of my life really gave me a taste of where my soul could really be happy.\u00a0 My head constantly feels like hundreds of televisions playing channels with poor reception – and I’ve spent a lot of my adult life trying to focus on one of the channels enough to see the message that’s meant to be seen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

To say that these channels have been amplified as of late would be an incredible understatement.\u00a0 I am grateful beyond measure for getting a chance to really help with First Shot School<\/a> and\u00a0trying to balance the feeling of sheer terror that comes with stepping out on a wire with little to no net.\u00a0 I spent a great portion of my career wanting to use what gifts I have to help further another kingdom.\u00a0 Never did I think that I would be worth it to want to make something of my own.\u00a0 As the years marched on, I slowly started to wonder if this could even be possible.\u00a0 More importantly – I wondered that.. if I\u00a0could<\/em> – what would be the\u00a0reason<\/em> for wanting to do this.\u00a0 I often feel like I sit at the end of a waterfall – feeling the rush and the power of everything coming at me – desperately trying to not drown from all of it, but to be mesmerized of the view that you are priviledged to be at.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0still\u00a0<\/em>don’t know that answer.\u00a0 And I still believe this to be a joyful and terrifying ride.<\/p>\n

The Feedback Loop<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I did get a chance to see a little bit of the\u00a0why<\/em> this past week – as talked to some amazing photographers wanting to make better work. Being in the outdoors really silences me.\u00a0 In that silence I can see the messages a little better- and am grateful for the things that I can do.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I sat at the Smokies workshop – soaked from being hip deep in the water. Smelly from the fact that I forgot all of my luggage back in Tampa.\u00a0 Tired from the fact that I was working during the workshop and on a couple of client jobs at night.\u00a0 My sleeves on my shirt were cut so I can work better in the water and my hair was a mess.\u00a0 At this workshop, I am notorious for running around like an excited puppy – trying to get into as many things as I possibly can.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The first question in this final Q&A was ‘RC – so where do you get this energy to do all of this’.\u00a0 The crowd had a bit of a laugh as everyone responded “Coffee and Red Bull” – which is partly true.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I then explained a little bit of how I feel on that wire- the panic, the stress, the anxiety, and how this largely makes me a person that is a lot more reserved and introverted than they would initially see.\u00a0 Being in the presence of people who want to\u00a0love\u00a0<\/em>something and get better at it gives me joy.\u00a0 When I get to be in front of one person who’s like this, I want to try to be the best I can to try to help them get further.\u00a0 When I am around a group of them? It’s just a non stop feedback loop of energy – you just cant help but jump in it.<\/p>\n

A very long way to say that it was because of them…\u00a0 But worth it to give the energy.<\/p>\n

Revisiting “The Words”\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

The final question had the panel of photographers giving a photographer who had just started 3 days ago – advice on how to create work and move this further.\u00a0 Going last, I shared with the student a story on how an english teacher changed how I see the world and photography (You can read it in this blog post – called “The Words”<\/a> ) and added a little bit of the process i’ve been going through.<\/p>\n

After the workshop finished, a student came amongst the crowd and shook my hand.\u00a0 They talked about how much the story resonated with them and what they had gone through – before being overcome by emotion and tearfully leaving without saying goodbye.<\/p>\n

I would later receive an email from the student and I would go back and forth with them a little more about our stories.<\/p>\n

The Road\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

I did not let the moment pass to remind them that in that moment – it was clear to me\u00a0why<\/em> Im choosing to be on this wire.<\/p>\n

I live in a perpetual fear of not having enough time left in this world.\u00a0 I feel like so many of us do. While it may sound fatalistic to many – I feel like for once I’ve been able to turn this fear into something I can work with.<\/p>\n

There are two kinds of teachers – Some teach to show you how good they are.\u00a0 Others teach to show you how good\u00a0you\u00a0<\/em>are. If I am indeed good at this. If I am indeed privileged to get this shot, I want to use all of my gifts to help people realize how good\u00a0they\u00a0<\/em>are.\u00a0 I don’t want to be the most popular. I don’t want to be the most famous.<\/p>\n

I just want to feel useful<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I want to teach those on the road that its a wonderful road, and that they are worth it to be on it.<\/p>\n

Thank you guys for that gift.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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