Above: Image, Gina Milicia, Kochi, India After 30+ years of driving I finally taught myself to back my car into a tight car park using the side mirrors. This is a skill I’m very proud of but I could have saved myself the time and trouble by using a reversing camera. It takes all the guesswork and danger out of reversing. The car does all the thinking for me. I can relax knowing that every time I need to reverse into a car spot my car will know exactly what to do. The problem with this kind of thinking is that letting a machine do your thinking takes the spontaneity out of life. I enjoy challenging myself and trying to improve each time I do something. Taking photos in auto mode also takes the spontaneity out of photography. When you shoot in auto you are handing your power of decision...

Above: Image, Gina Milicia “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently – they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ―Steve Jobs “If ever it’s necessary to ride the bandwagon, it’s done with one leg swinging out and eyes scoping the fields.” ―Criss Jami, Killosophy “The strongest force in the universe is a human being living consistently with his identity.” ―Tony Robbins “The person who follows the crowd will usually go no...

Above: Image, Gina Milicia If you place a diamond in a sea of caca, it will stand out, right? But what happens if you take that same diamond and put it in a sea of diamonds?  Our little diamond has now lost its sparkle. Standing out in a saturated photography market is difficult if you are a diamond in a sea of diamonds. Your work is excellent, you may be technically proficient and know how to shoot in a style that all the cool kids are using. You study the lighting, posing and editing techniques of your peers and your work is just as good and sometimes your work looks better. The problem with this approach is that your work may be great, but you become a diamond in a sea of diamonds. Your work looks just like everybody else’s. Don’t get me wrong here, looking like a diamond is...

Image above: by Gina Milicia “The people who receive the most approval in life are the ones who care the least about it — so technically, if you want the approval of others, you need to stop caring about it.” — WAYNE W. DYER

Image above: by Gina Milicia, Flower Farmer, Ubud, Bali “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.” — CONFUCIUS When I was 7, I got my pen license. It was a piece of paper signed by my grade two teachers Mr. Kotter (names changed to protect the innocent). My pen license was a big deal. It meant I had finally hit the big time. I’d made it to the next level, and I had the certificate to prove it. Finger paint, crayon, and printing were a distant memory. I was now in the high flying world of cursive writing. It was one of my earliest memories of being validated, and it felt good, but deep down I knew I was ready, so why did I crave Mr. Kotter’s approval so much? Why do we continually seek validation from others? Does my bum...

Above: Image Gina Milicia “We live in a world of images. Images have replaced language — and reading. The responsibility to your role in history in whatever is going to happen to human beings— you are the new writers. And we can no longer be sloppy about what we do with a camera. You have this weapon in your hands which is a camera, and it is going to teach the world, it’s going to record the world, it is going to explain to the world and to the children that are coming — what this world was like. It is an incredible responsibility.” Richard Avedon

Above: Image Gina Milicia He was the best-looking guy I’d ever seen in my life. At 6′ 2″, he towered over me; I’m 5′ 7″ (5′ 8″ with my hair done). When he locked his piercing blue eyes onto mine, I actually gasped. Seriously. So there we were, alone together. It was my first time, and I was so nervous. My heart was beating at a million miles an hour. My mouth was dry. My palms were sweaty. “Pull yourself together, woman,” my inner tough chick scolded. I was only 22. It was my first time, and I was worried I’d do something wrong. I thought I knew where everything went, but it’s not until you’re actually in the thick of it that you know for sure… I stumbled and bumbled my way along, and then I finally let myself go. It was rough, it was raw, and it certainly...

Above: Image, Gina Milicia Digital technology has revolutionised photography in the same way that instant cake mix revolutionised the baking industry. Before the invention of instant cake mix, baking was a tedious and messy task that required science and knowledge and skill. The great bakers used secret recipes handed down from generation to generation to create the perfect sponge. The instant cake mix took all the guesswork out of baking. Simply add water, mix, bake, enjoy! Suddenly anyone with an oven, a bowl and water was able to create the perfect sponge. Today’s digital cameras are the instant cake mix of the photography industry. Inside every camera are all the ingredients necessary for a good photo. Just point and shoot. Your camera will add flash if the image needs it, work out the best shutter speed focus, and even process the shot in whatever style you like. This is great,...

Above: Image by Gina Milicia Armchair travel With three hours of light each day, brutal winter storms and freezing temperatures, Iceland is far from the ideal surf trip. However, this didn’t stop photographer Chris Burkard and filmmaker Ben Weiland from rounding up a crew of surfers to seek out unknown waves in the island’s remote north… all during the worst storm to hit Iceland’s shores in 25 years. Check out “Under An Arctic Sky”. Book Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson I’m LOVING every minute of this book. The chapter where Isaacson describes the way that Leonardo poses his figures is a must read (or listen if you prefer the audio version) for any photographer or painter. This video is brilliant! For more than 20 years, Christian Moullec has been guiding migrating flocks of vulnerable bird species with his microlight aircraft. (Via National Geographic)

Above: Image by Gina Milicia “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Muhammad Ali Risk noun A situation involving exposure to danger. verb Expose (someone or something valued) to danger, harm, or loss. By definition, the word “risk” means there is an uncertainty of outcome and the possibility of danger harm or loss. There are various degrees of risk or loss depending on the activity. As children, we are taught to minimise risk to keep us safe. Look both ways before you cross the street so you won’t get hit by a bus. Don’t talk to boys until you are 25 (hands up who was raised by a Sicilian mother). Risky behavior isn’t limited to physical harm. It can also cause emotional or financial damage, and by damage,I mean pain, so it’s understandable that we grow up trying to minimise painful experiences....