It's Officially Uploaded!

Great news! I've shared with some of you earlier (See a few blogposts back) that National Geographic's Stock Photography department asked to include one of my photos in their stock collection.

It's finally uploaded! Go ahead and place your order! If it is any incentive, I get a small commission from your orders.

Here are the steps:

1) http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com

2) Enter "Jonathan Tan" or " 1272403" in the search bar to the right.

3) Order & Enjoy!

jibaros

marinated beef, onions, lettuce, mayo, cheese in a fried-pressed plantain sandwich with seasoned rice and chorizo.

thank you chicago.

I've been invited!!!!!

National Geographic's "Your Shot" had a contest back in September 2008, and I was encouraged by a friend to submit some images.

They got back to me about a week ago, and asked to include one of my images in their stock gallery. SWEET!

Here's a screenshot of their invite page, as well as a mini version of the image they want included in their stock library.



here's a bigger version of the image:

(sorry for looking snobby, but I have to copyright it since I sent it to someone at the Central Park Zoo for identification help, as they were passing the image around to find someone who can ID the birds correctly for final submission)

If you'd like to support me, please stay tuned while I await the link for the image in their stock library.

my 5 current random thoughts

(PLEASE NOTE: images in this post are not mine. found them via google searches.)

1) i think i've teared at every wedding i've photographed thus far-- and usually its during the vow exchanges

2) never been on a blind date. a tad curious to do so.

3) i've always wanted to go to some random person's funeral, even considered scheduling 1 random funeral attendance a month. why? because it's things like death and loss and scares (tumors revealed to be benign) that give us that little wake up call in life, opening our eyes/ hearts, and put the things in life into perspective

4) not really tempted by netflix, and pretty sure I will never order it. movies are great, temporarily entertaining, and unless they come with other benefits (hanging out with others, provoking good conversations and inspiring inner creativity), i think movies are a waste of time in life., like video and computer games. why?

no one sits on their death bed and wishes they could watch that movie again, or play those games or get those high scores. most everyone wishes to spend more time with their friends, family, loved ones, experience those little moments that get your insides excited and joyful. C'mon people, isn't life suppose to be an adventure?

5) i love photography. not because the pay or the "coolness" factor that comes with carrying a neat job title, but because it's how i see the world. i see the world in moments, in silent and still frames. images that weave and connect together to bring about a story full of words, emotions, thoughts, all while tapping into the empathy of the viewer. thats why i like the title on my business card, "visual storyteller". thats how i identify and strive to be as an artist.

polaroid

polaroid

freedom at the shore

thoughts i wrote out on my phone, dated 3.6.10...

there is that sense of freedom i feel when i'm at the shore. the same warm feeling. it's that same warm feeling that overtakes when I use to walk out of a college classroom, having taken the last final before summer break. like running barefoot across an open grassy field. some people reading this blogpost may wonder why Life doesn't allot that feeling of blissful freedom to us more often?

gear: d700 + 50mm 1.4

perhaps the real question might be why don't WE seek those moments out more ourselves?

itching to get outta here

and travel somewhere.

people always ask why i'm so uppity about wanting to travel, so here's some quick thoughts

1) it's freedom. to me, i love the idea of wandering streets i don't know, hearing tongues i can't understand, and trying foods i have no idea how to pronounce (except anything from the sea is always pronounced "yuck"). i like being crammed on a train to somewhere, and airplane landings are something i get really excited by.

2) it's educating. seeing other cultures + other worlds allows me to broaden my knowledge. the smells, visual sensations and of course, new linguistic exposure. i wanna travel to big cities + small villages, and take it all in. it's so captivating to me-- after all, if we're not learning, we're not living.

3) it's humbling. going places and seeing what other people have/have not makes you really appreciate what blessings we have at home. ever carry your toilet paper in your daypack? i did. ever scared to go into an african mud-brick, nearly-pitch black outhouse with the fear of real snakes and malaria? done that too. i never pooped and wiped so fast in my life before. it makes you appreciate clean dishes, waking up to breakfast already made, and most definitely not having to do your laundry on washboards, outside in the backyard, when chickens are trying to peck your toes.

if anything, travel for me helps me to refocus my mind on.... to be continued. bed time.