Memories of when a dream was sparked.

I was looking for a specific different picture to share today.. But I couldn't find it, though.. I did find this one.. And I don't share pictures of myself a lot cause of various reasons, however.. I found this old picture of me.. And it sparked some memories.
I didn't really know how to smile back then, either that or I just didn't like how it looked. I know a lot of people can relate with that. Took me a long time to learn how to smile in a way that I feel comfortable with.

This was taken in the Redwood Forests.. Somewhere between Northern California and Southern Oregon. Not sure where exactly, it was at one of the parks there. Close to the spot where you can drive through the tree.
It was on this trip to visit family, that my aunt and uncle shared a movie series with me and my father that impressed us a lot.. And those movies were.. Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi.. I'm not sure if we watched the whole series there or just one or two of them, but it changed me and inspired me.

I suggest checking out the vids if you haven't.. They are amazing, however.. There wasn't even any narration! Was just music and images. This led to me thinking I could do something similar.. Over the next years I brainstormed with my father to get as video camera and do something like that cept in Sedona. And I mean.. Since we were already doing still photography, moving into video wasn't alien and almost kind of the natural progression or evolution some might think.

It eventually happened, took a couple years of filming and our short film nature documentary about Sedona came within like a fraction of a point of winning crowds choice at the International Sedona Film Festival. We had sold out audiences of people clapping which was one of the highlights of my life.

That was when I knew that's what I really wanted to do.. After that I made a free movie I released to YouTube in the spirit of the above mentioned films titled.. "Are You Out There?" I had a decent response to that as well in my opinion.. I had numerous people tell me their changed their lives after watching it, numerous tell me they cried or were angry or had other intense reactions...

While I still haven't got a large audience.. That vid is close to a thousand views now, and.. That was around a year ago I uploaded that. That further showed me, that I want to make movies.. I want to do this even if I don't make money, though now.. I see that if you do it right you can make a lot of money doing something like this.. So.. We'll see how far I can go in that direction, or how much it will just remain a hobby in my free time.

I've been working on a lot of smaller stuff, trying to build of a library of content, and who knows if I'll ever reach very many people, but I'm going through some of the motions and I'm trying to do some of the things you need to do if you want to do that. And.. I have another full feature length movie I've been working on for a while as well that I will put out for free.

And.. Numerous other projects, I just recently did a music video for my friend, and I'm often thinking of more ways in which I can offer content that people might appreciate. We'll see how it goes! I was just.. Looking at this picture and realized.. I dunno.. It's been quite a journey and a progression and sometimes it's weird how you don't plan things, they just kind of are.. Sparked by something during your life at some point.. And sometimes you can go back and find where that spark was.. And look at how a piece of artwork someone else made, ended up shaping such a large part of your life. I find that fascinating.

PS.. I was probably around.. Like.. 20-23 years old in the pic.. Not sure exactly how old.
PSPS The Redwood forest is so amazing, I could spend a lifetime in there filming and would love to go back some day.