Zig Zagging into 2010

“Somehow the detached life on the sea gives me the ability to think. It’s a life of action, yet contemplation.” -Carleton Mitchell, legendary sailor, photographer, and writer

I took this photograph a couple of years ago, while on a surf trip in the Mentawaii Islands in Sumatra. For me this photo mimics the reflection, mystery, allure, and enlightenment the sea offers to those she enchants.

It has been awhile since I last sat down to write. I was told recently by a family member (that is an active blogger) that blogs are meant to be consistently maintained, and that I have been slacking. I sort of thought of the blog as a modern day message in a bottle… something that a stranger on a distant digital shore would stumble upon and find a little inspiration or entertainment out of. Other than the brief flash of attention from the one post that was picked for the wordpress homepage I really never have thought of it as if anyone was actually following my meandering progress through this creative life. Today the cold weather in Florida  has kept me housebound (yes, Florida, but on a motorcycle or sailboat 40 degrees with below freezing windchill is cold for someone used to tropical heat!) so I guess it is a good occasion to catch up with my cyberspace chores.

Besides sailing and visiting with family for the holidays, the last month has been continued reflection about the direction to take for 2010. Between the bad economy and the downturn of the print (magazine) world it is a tough time to chase professional photography dreams. I’ve also had some internal debate on what the end game is about… ultimately, what is it that I want to wake up and do everyday? and where?  I had been thinking that all roads led to NYC for pursuing photography and design dreams, but then every time I am sailing I experience a peace that trumps all other desires. For now I am content to continue making slow but steady progress towards all of my goals in both the art and business worlds. In the art world that means exhibiting photography and compiling new bodies of work, and starting to work on the first prototypes of the lighting design ideas that I have. In the business realm it means launching my “learning vacation reviews” site, and continuing new projects at School of the World, like launching a digital video program. I would still like to make a more permanent move and set down roots (NYC? Miami? California? Australia? Europe? Brazil?) but until I get a little money saved and figure out the details it seems that I’ll be splitting time between south Florida and Costa Rica.

I hope to make sailing one of the biggest components of my life in 2010. One of the things that I love most about sailing is the simultaneous appreciation of the moment and gentle reflection of life that it induces. As in life, the course is rarely a straight line; sailing is usually tacking or jibing a zig zag line back and forth, stitching the sea of your thoughts together on the way to your final destination. -Z

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