You

I was once told it is not everyday that we meet someone who could be influential in our lives. The good ones are hard to find and when we do find them, they are the ones we keep for life. Today was one of those rare moments I have and I figured since I have just jumped onto the wagon in the blogging scene, there are some people I would like to thank for being part of my life.

I started the journey on IG some 1.5 years ago in July of 2011, those days, I had perhaps ONE FOLLOWER, the friend who introduced me to IG, and I could remember when she told me, "please get on it and you will get a ton of likes, commentaries from people around the world". My immediate response was, seriously??? So what's with all the type of photos we shoot then I asked. Her response was "trust me, just take any photos and you will see people liking them". I found that rather hard to believe, because to me, photography is not just taking ANY photo but ONE that speaks to you and defines your moment. Of course, I started with what some may call "crappy" photos. And those days, hey, getting on IG was already the route to get noticed.

To be honest, that wasn't my intent because a) I knew nuts about photography and b) WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY in the realm of IG? And of course I started off with crummy fuzzy IPHONE 3 photos that really had NO MEANING to me whatsoever but ironically, I still gotten a few likes but somehow or rather, I couldn't even get past the "ugliness" of my photos then. So then I met a few food bloggers on IG whom perhaps changed my whole perception of Iphotography on IG.

Oh believe me, those were my PAINFUL days with all the ugly photos and all but slowly I realized, we each have to find our niche in photos that define us. Some of them don food photos like those out of a magazine, and I was impressed by the crisps and sharpness of those shots. Perhaps very little editing but hey, photography isn't always about editing it is about how you make those photos "speak" to your viewers through detail imageries, lighting and effects.

And in the course of the 1.5 years of IG Iphonography, I have met some people who are influential, down to earth, willing to teach, and also provide constructive criticisms. For me, the low down isn't about what they have said, but it's what they have done and the result of what I have become today because them. I am humbled, thankful and blessed to have met them and we became great friends through the realm of IG.

There are more to this honour roll list but this is The Smiles Hall of Fame honour roll of people who one way or another have impacted my life on IG and perhaps brought me to the blogging scene. I have Daniel to thank when he requested for this Smiles Hall of Fame last year so Daniel, thank you for the friendship and Maureen, thank you for introducing me to the blogging world.

I shall leave you with a quote to define my thoughts in sharing your world with me.

No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. - Francois Mocuriac

Until my next blog entry, here's wishing you a great weekend wherever you are.

Cheers,

Kaz