#visualbook

Beautiful is a celebration of black beauty captured through the lens of Paris-based Cameroun-born photographer @marioepanya | It presents a stunning collection of existing and never before seen portraits featuring everyday women and models of color. | Visual Book is available to purchase direct from @shokopress | @marioepanya | @afrobougee | #marioepanya #afrobougee #visualbook #nouveaunoir #becreative #whatisblack #ourfoundation #internationalwomensday #beautiful #melanin #melaninpoppin #afropunk #noir #womenofcolor #blackisbeautiful #shade

Beautiful is a celebration if black beauty captured through the lens of Paris-based Cameroun-born photographer @marioepanya | It presents a stunning collection of existing and never before seen portraits featuring everyday women and models of color. | Visual Book is available to purchase direct from @shokopress | @marioepanya | @afrobougee | #marioepanya #afrobougee #visualbook #nouveaunoir #becreative #whatisblack #ourfoundation #internationalwomensday #beautiful #melanin #melaninpoppin #afropunk #noir #womenofcolor #blackisbeautiful #shade

When do you take a moment to reflect? Feel where you are now? Where you're going? . In a land where action is the main currency, the only thing of value, most of us are not that big on looking inward. We're on to the next thing. We're missing out. . Without that pause, to sniff the air, inside and out, I sometimes find myself on a path that isn't quite right for me. Or I'm engaged in something that doesn't fit. Time to course correct! Especially in a time of Big Changes. You? . It's Day 25/100 of #100dayProject. I'm making a #visualbook: "Being Shellfish: The Courageous Art of Following your Heart.” Following this spiny #Rocklobster on a big life change quest :) (at Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/heartsquest/p/Bwuh9plHHuE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bq4w3dwu4mmr

How do you react when you totally fall off your game? . It depends, right? Sometimes I frown. Or scream. Or pout. Or whine. Or breathe....Ahhhh... . When you’re in a big Change, falling off your path is vital. 'Cause when you lose your way, the way itself ~ that feeling of flow, that you're making some incremental progress, working with your demons, finding your footsteps ~ it feels way more precious to you. You can notice how good it feels to get back on your way. . Like when your headache is gone, your cranium (which you mostly ignore) feels light and wonderful. . Part of #BeingShellfish is to honor your emotions. To trust that they are here for a reason. Emotions inform you. Communicate what's needed right now. A hug? A swift kick? A burst of new energy to get back up on that horse and ride into the sunset? . Only you can know. And you can only know if you pay attention. Listen to your heart, darlin' (or your gut or your body wisdom). It knows what's best. . Day 20/100 #100dayProject. Making a #visualbook: "Being Shellfish: The Courageous Art of Following your Heart.” Following this spiny #RockLobster on a big life change quest :) (at Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/heartsquest/p/BwqAjL_nxvi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1sl4lty8s180

What would you do for your heart's true desire? How far would you go? What risks would you take? . It takes devotion, dedication and daring to bring your dreams to life. And not everything works out...right? What then? Hold on to your limb and breathe... ahhhh! . Day 19/100 #100dayProject, making a #visualbook: "Being Shellfish: The Courageous Art of Following your Heart.” https://www.instagram.com/heartsquest/p/BwoKHexnSeW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dimkhfax7avf

How do you react when you get stuck? . Do you wriggle around? yank yourself out of it real fast? scream? sob silently? distract yourself? ask for help or a hug? shake it out with a dance party? lift one leg out, then the other? . #BeingShellfish means to be aware of how you're feeling, with gentleness and compassion, while you keep on keeping on. . Day 18/100 #100dayProject: making a #visualbook: "Being Shellfish: The Courageous Art of Following your Heart.” (at Tárcoles, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/heartsquest/p/BwlV6x3H-WG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8hdkym7zsb5b

Can you tell when things close in, get tight, your mood and attitude feels constricted? #BeingShellfish is noticing this change. Being willing to enter that experience. To feel the difference. In your body, your heart, your thoughts. And go through it. Noticing. . It's day 16/100 of #100dayProject. I’m making a #visualbook: "Being Shellfish: The Courageous Art of Following your Heart.” Following this #Langusto (a spiny #Rocklobster) on a big life change quest :) (at Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/heartsquest/p/BwcrDlCng8R/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cxqjakvnroij

Have you received any gifts of chance lately? #Synchronicity? . I met Aaron on the beach while #plogging (picking up trash on a walk). In our brief conversation he touched my heart with his story, spoken in good English. "My beautiful wife passed away, and I scattered her ashes here. So when I walk this beach, I visit her. She is everywhere." :))) . We parted ways, and I wished I’d stayed longer, gotten to know him a little better. Later that day as I worked on photo editing my intuition prodded me to go take more photos. I’d already made lots of images for my #visualbook project #BeingShellfish. But part of this experiment is to FOLLOW my gut. So I gathered props, gear and ventured out. . My photo session didn’t go well. But I looked up and there he was. We shared a sunset, stories of his work caring for animals at a shelter. He invited me to his simple house on the cliff overlooking the Pacific, and offered me wine. I trusted him completely. We took a walk to the fishing village to meet his former girlfriend, and a swim in the Tarcolita river. . Over the next week Aaron introduced me to many delights. He gave me something my heart has longed for: the experience of everyday life in another culture. Meeting him has been a joy. A treasure. A gift. He changed the course of this #CreativeRetreat for the better. Thank you Aaron! I'm so grateful. (at Tárcoles, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/heartsquest/p/BwYeVNxnNOy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ddhb1ked0mq1