Kat Eye Studio

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A True Photo-Heart Connection

Meet Toan Lam. Founder of Go Inspire Go and writer for the Huffington Post and Intent.com, Toan and I first met in an online interview for Tea with Toan several months ago. We felt an instant connection as we chatted, discovering we have very similar philosophies. We both believe individuals have the power to make the world a better place; you only have to recognize your power and tap into it. Find your passion and act on it.

Toan interacting with San Francisco street art

When we discovered I was heading to San Francisco, his town, we made plans to meet up in person. Toan and I, along with his friend Erin, spent a morning together during my visit. We wandered the streets and they showed me their city. They took me on my first visit to Chinatown, where Toan introduced me to Boba Tea.

Colors and Textures of Chinatown

We hunted for interesting street art, and Erin led us to a famous piece by Banksy.

Up close and personal with Banksy street art, protected by plexiglass.

We checked out the view from Toan’s apartment, seeing his incredible view.

Toan and Erin, with Toan's incredible view

We climbed the hill to the Coit Tower, sharing a peaceful moment looking out over the Bay Bridge. They experienced my obsession with scooter sightings, as I stopped to photograph every scooter along the way.

Scooter Sighting: San Francisco

Running through our fun trek around the city was a serious conversation on inspiration, life, and doing what we love to do. For Toan, that love is sharing people’s stories and helping others to use their powers – resources, talents, network – to help others. Toan’s background is TV journalism and through Go Inspire Go he provides a multimedia platform to tell the stories of “regular people” who are making a difference in small or big ways. For me, that love is helping others find a connection to heart and soul through photography. We both feel immense gratitude for having discovered something that we feel called to do. Our lives are better for it.

Words to live by

But we also talked about the difficulty that comes along with following a path that is not mainstream. When you are building something completely new, there is no map. You can only follow your heart. Sometimes there can be a struggle with the idea of making a business out of a passion, because when you love and believe in something so much, you want everyone to have a piece of it. It is so valuable, you want to give it all away. This is the opposite of the business world, which is all about selling, monetizing and commercializing.

End Commercial? I see a mixed message.

We talked of how to find a balance between the two, and the examples we see around us of people doing it every day. The key is simple: Know your heart, follow your heart and trust that it will carry you in the right direction.

We found our heart...

Putting that key to use is not always simple, but it’s easier when you have the inspiration of people like Toan to help you along the way.

My morning with Toan reminded me of my own passion, my own power. His energy, enthusiasm and belief in the connection with the heart to inspire change is contagious. I came away reconnected and inspired to do what I am here to do.

Our morning together was wonderful. We walked. We talked. We photographed.

And found a true photo-heart connection in the streets of San Francisco.

Learn more of Toan’s story and see his post inspired by our morning together on the Go Inspire Go blog today.

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Warning Signs (& New Music)

In our wanderings of San Francisco I came across this gate. Think someone needs a warning or two? It makes me chuckle, wondering what has gone on here in the past to warrant so many warnings.

I’ve got a busy morning so a short post today. As an added bonus I’m sharing a fun stop motion video of a new favorite song, Come Back Down by Greg Laswell. If you are feeling at all stuck in some emotion, just listen to this song and it will kick you in gear.

It’s the free single of the week on iTunes, so if you like it, snap it up!

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Photo-Heart Connection: April

Hey there Buddha, are you laughing at me or laughing with me?

No matter which, you seem to be saying, “Lighten up, Kat. Life’s not so serious. Laugh a little.”

Laughter is a good thing. Laughing at myself is one of the best things I’ve learned to do. When I get all serious and wrapped up in something, if I can take a step back and really look at it, I often see how absurd it all is. I laugh.

I didn’t learn this from myself, or some great spiritual teacher like Buddha. I learned it from a coworker who laughs at everything. He laughs at himself, he laughs at others, he laughs at nothing. A big, booming laugh. There is nothing malicious to it, just contagious. You can’t help but join in. And when the laughter starts from some little quirkiness of mine, well, all the better to show me how silly I sound.

Maybe laughter is the best medicine. I know that I have learned more perspective from learning to laugh at myself than almost anything else.

Lighten up, Kat. Life’s not so serious.

Apparently I was in need of some laughter and happiness today! These laughing Buddhas make me smile, but the idea that they have a message for me is even better. I feel lighter for writing this today. No deep or serious message for me today – just laughter. Thanks, Buddha.

What have you found in your Photo-Heart Connection for April? Deep messages, calming thoughts, or maybe some light hearted fun? Your heart knows what you need, and your photos help you make that connection. It’s always fun to see what emerges. I look forward to seeing yours!


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Tomorrow’s the Day!

The Photo-Heart Connection link up for April opens tomorrow! Plan some time to revisit your photos from April, to find your heart connection. I wonder what my heart connection will be this month… will it be an image like this, from Korkula? A city scene from San Francisco? I never know until I go through the process. You and I will both find out tomorrow!

If you haven’t participated before, all are welcome. You can join in once or every month – no expectations or commitments.

To participate, follow these easy steps:

  1. Choose your Photo. Review the photos you worked with in the last month, either new or archive, and find the one with the strongest connection to your heart. Not sure how? Read here.
  2. Write from your heart. Looking at this photo, start to write. See what comes from your heart. There is a message in the image for you, if you open yourself to it.
  3. Share online. Pair your photo and words somewhere online where others can read it, and learn from your experience.
  4. Link in. Visit my blog between the 1st and 7th of the month to link in your Photo-Heart Connection. Connect with other participants by visiting the links.

You will find a great community of kindred spirits, waiting to meet you in the Photo-Heart Connection. See you tomorrow!

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A Gift

I’ve been given a gift. There was no fanfare, no gift wrap, and no card that accompanied this gift. It gently settled into my heart and soul last night, as I was getting ready for bed.

I was listening to my husband and son laying on the bed, reminiscing about a trip they took together to France to see a stage of the Tour de France. As they calmly chatted and laughed, I realized that I no longer feel sadness and longing in my memories of our time in Italy. Our whole family has felt the sadness and longing since returning home, but they had only fondness in their conversation.

It was then I realized the gift I had received. Through all of my recent work on letting go of expectation and filling the space with intention, I have found acceptance. Acceptance of where I am now, along with acceptance of the joyous experience that was my time in Italy.

Each memory of that time is now it’s own precious gift. Not to be hoarded with longing, but treasured and held up to the light with joy. To be felt again, but from where I sit today. To be seen in a new perspective.

I have received an amazing gift, to be able to enjoy the memories now while also enjoying the now. I have a smile on my face and in my heart today.

In The Picture

This photo is over a year old, taken last April in Italy. I’ve had it sitting in my edited images folder, just waiting for the perfect moment to use it. Now I know I was waiting for today, because here it is, perfectly representing the gift I’m writing about. While it’s not a recent photo, so I don’t quite meet the criteria for {in the picture}, there was enough symmetry with the timing of the link up, the post and the connections in the photo I thought I would share. The gloves were knitted for me by our {in the picture} hostess, Urban Muser, while we were Mortal Muses together. The Muses had a running internal joke that winter about fingerless gloves, another precious memory that brings me joy. Thanks Christy.

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The End of the Diagonal

Ah, here we are, finishing up our study of Dynamic Diagonals. This has been a great exploration! It’s been fun to take a closer look at all of our images, seeing how we naturally use diagonals and the impact.

As I was looking at images from Korkula last weekend, this diagonal jumped out at me. Completely created by my perspective and the angle of the camera, the diagonal strongly leads me through the frame from the bottom left, where the plant is in focus, to the upper right. With the line running almost corner to corner, I break every rule of diagonals and yet I like it.

This exploration, more than almost any other, has made me want to throw conventional composition knowledge out the window. Yes, it’s useful to study what the experts have to say. But it’s important to not blindly spout or follow their knowledge. There is so much more to how we put together an effective image than compositional “rules.” That’s what makes photography an art form. It’s not just point and shoot, no matter what some may say. It takes the engagement of our whole minds and hearts. That’s what I love about it.

So, let’s wrap up out exploration of Dynamic Diagonals today by breaking every rule. Go crazy! You can still link in below and share your findings with the rest of us. Please take the time to visit your fellow participants and see what they have to show you. The more you see, the more you explore, the more you learn.