The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.
Exit Music For Act 1 - 12.1mm at f/2.8, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/320 sec
Indeed, it is. Some people don't perform their roles properly, there's bad chemistry and some just aren't cut out for acting at all. Some people feel so alive and thrive off the whole idea of it all, needing very little prompting. Some people don't like the stage that much, and others can't bear the attention from the audience, so much so they get stage fright, and forget their lines. Some are destined to be extras, never to utter a word, much less it be heard. One thing is for certain. The play continues. No matter how much we disagree with the plot, or the role we are playing, the show goes on.
Places Everyone - 9.3mm at f2.4, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1600 sec
"Nothing happens until you push". The words of someone I don't know very well, but words that left me thinking nonetheless. They fit in well with something I've started asking myself lately every time I feel like bailing out of doing something. I ask myself simply "What am I going to do today? Am I going to live, or am I going to die?". Needless to say it's not a difficult question to answer. Works every time. I was thinking about how unbelievably dedicated Lance Armstrong is when I asked myself that question for the first time (about a week ago). I've been reading Dan Coyle's "Lance Armstrong: Tour De Force". Dedication, motivation, persistence, positivity. Lance is constantly changing his life and evolving. From tweaking his cycling equipment, which back in 2004 he would refer to as "The shit that will kill them" (them being his rivals – the irony of it coming from a cancer survivor), to his personal relationships and strong bonds with fellow riders.
Don't Lose Your Head - 12.8mm at f/2.8, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/500 sec
I truly believe that to feel as though you have achieved something you consider to be great, you can not do it without at least some suffering or discomfort. Otherwise, you're just not trying hard enough, in my view anyway. Nothing happens until you push. Good or bad. But it's important to keep pushing. Ad-lib, improvise and experiment with your fellow actors. Yeah, not that kind of experimentation. I sent a tweet to Johan Bruyneel this week after reading an interview he gave in Cycling Plus magazine. Johan was the Directeur Sportif behind most of Lance's 7 Tour de France victories. What I'm saying is I'm taking Gandhi's approach, with a seemingly selfish twist. Be the change you want to see in yourself. It'll propagate, I know it will.
The Sequel - 12.8mm at f/2.8, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/2000 sec
I suppose I should talk about the photographs! They were all taken in Notting Hill in the summer of 2010, with my Leica D-Lux 4. The Silver Efex Pro presets are below, and if you want, have a look at some more of my photos taken around Notting Hill.
