Saturday reflections

The ceiling at "the Schnitz" -- the Arlene Schnitzer hall where the World Domination Summit is held. It's the only remaining theatre on Portland's Broadway, originally a vaudeville house, then a movie theatre, then a concert hall.

How do you live a remarkable life in a conventional world? Simple question, some simple answers: be brave. Take risks. Do something, even if it's not perfect.

"Jump and the net will appear." That was the advice of Sake Mafundikwa, who worked as a graphic designer in New York for many years before returning to his native Zimbabwe to open a design school. Even though at my age a net doesn't sound like enough -- I also want a helmet, knee pads, shin guards and possibly a parachute -- I also know that big leaps actually consist of thousands of small decisions and little actions.

I met a woman, Franci Claudon, on the river cruise. She worked in HR for many years and now paints full time. She not only gave me excellent advice about my work situation, she also inspired me to admit that the plan I thought I had for the rest of my life was probably no longer an option. And that might be a very good thing.

I took the first steps this week. Little steps, baby steps, but brave ones. I had forgotten how brave I can be.

Check out Franci's beautiful paintings here.

Finally

The final group: Barry and Angela Belford, from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Deirdre Saoirse Moen from Menlo Park, California. A big thank you to all of my models -- I am very grateful for the chance to take pictures of your beautiful faces!

Almost done

The last few portraits. These are Michael Casanova of Dallas and Yvonne Whitelaw from Baltimore.

I handled all of these pictures more or less the same way as I'm still not sure how I want to take portraits, how I want them to look, what I want to show that I see in these faces. Not there yet.

Almost done

For a crazy few minutes early on, I wanted to get 50 portraits. I quickly scaled that back to 25, and then back to "What I can get."

There simply wasn't time. Between actually talking to the people I photographed, and running around between the various events, I only took about 20 pictures and some of them aren't good enough to post. But it was still many more portraits than I had taken before, and excellent practice for figuring out how I want to do them. And I asked total strangers! 

Admittedly, it's easier to be brave at the World Domination Summit than almost anywhere else where there hasn't been prior consumption of great quantities of alcohol. The people here are all interesting and intelligent and accomplished, but if you approach anyone and say, "Hi," they will say "Hi" back. They will ask you your name and why you're here. If you approach a group, they will unfold and bring you in. 

Sometimes I got so involved in conversation I actually forgot about taking pictures. But this is Renee Harris of Cottonwood, California, on the left, and a lovely woman who let me take her picture but didn't want me to use her name on the right.

And more

Brian Beauchamp, from Havertown, Pennsylvania, and Jody Robinson, from Edmonton.

And more

Too busy here to get these posted as quickly as I'd like. Here are Allison Smith and Marzeta Bodden from the Cayman Islands.

More portraits

Cheri and Larry Horkman, from Seattle.

WDS Portraits

I am never going to find myself in a group of people more likely to be accommodating to a stranger walking up and saying, "Hi, can I take your picture?" so I am challenging myself to take advantage of it, and ask.

This is Else Kerkmann from Bend, Oregon, and Sydney Weinzapfel from Jasonville, Indiana, who very kindly said yes. Thank you, Else and Sydney!

Saturday geometries

An older Portland peeks through the wood and steel beams in Director Park, where I was focused on not fainting while standing in line in 90-degree heat to register for the conference.

Much more to follow….

The Great Namaste

This year's world record attempt at the World Domination Summit: the world's longest yoga chain, currently held by a group in India.

We didn't sign up for this because it started at 8:30 and we knew we'd be getting in late the night before (little anticipating how late it would actually turn out to be.) But our hotel overlooks Pioneer Square and I took this picture of the new record holders on my way to a badly needed recaffeinization session in the hotel restaurant.

Portland

Portland at last.

I think they need to add a zero or two to that Times Square distance marker. Technically, that may have been the miles traveled, but after a five hour delay due to mechanical problems followed by delays waiting for our replacement plane to arrive, we didn't land in Portland until after 3 am, and it was after 4 before I fell asleep.

There was a beautiful moon, huge, golden, almost full, setting over the Willamette as we drove into the city. Or maybe I was just hallucinating from lack of sleep. Either way, it was spectacular.