Back in 2006 Olympus E300 came into my life. It was a  dream come true. I knew absolutely nothing about photography. But the passion for it had me holding that camera at all times. I shot & shot & shot. I shot everything & anything. People, nature, the most random & insignificant things. I loved it. Then it got to the weddings. Then it got to being paid for shooting weddings. & my passion had faded away.

At that point, photography had become rather means to get something or somewhere. I wanted for my photography to be something more than mere stills. I wanted it to lead to something bigger. & as it had never emerged to that – I began to forget what the camera feels like in my hand.

What’s cooler than a picture? A motion picture.

Couple of years back I came across this guy named Vincent Laforet. He had been a professional photographer for a number of years, & had really made it in the world of photography. I came across  Vincent’s site soon after he had his hands on a Canon 5D mark ll. This was the beginning of the HDDSLR era. The guy’s passion & his talent were incredibly inspirational to me. But I did not even dare to dream to try to do things that would be even remotely close to his work. Until about a year ago.

A year prior to that I met this guy, Craig Strong. He came to Ukraine to adopt these twin girls that were at the orphanage where I’d helped to do a summer camp, & who I loved dearly. Craig was a very hip guy, who was a bit strange (much like every single person I’d ever met from Oregon) & very easy going.  & until Craig with his beautiful wife Shari & their kids came back to Ukraine in 2010 to finalize the adoption process, I had no idea that he was actually a camera guru, who had years of experience in journalism & weddings. & to top it off, not only Craig was becoming a daddy to these two girls (already having three other kids), he was also a dad of Lensbaby. I knew nothing of what Lensbaby was back then, & if you, like me then are clueless – Lensbaby is a very wide variety of products that create magic if you place them between your camera & a lens. Or you can get by without a lens at all. Check out the Lensbaby website to learn about it.

GH1.

This May Craig had come back with Dasha & Alina for them to visit their sisters & friends here. & I had a privilege to spend a great & crazy week with them, supposedly being of help with translation & transportation & such. I was of very little help. Partially because of what Craig had brought for me to bless me with. An amazing new HDDSLR camera! Not only my passion for photography got re-kindled, now I could shoot HD video aspiring to produce films like those by Vincent Laforet that blew my mind one day.

My new beautiful camera came with a package. A Lensbaby Tilt Transformer, a Tamron Tele-Macro 28-70mm 1:3,5-4,5 lens & a Nikon flash with an remote IR transmitter for it, an extra battery & a 16 G flash card. & all this magic was possible because of… God. Just so you know. God, & a few amazing & generous people.

& the point of this particular post – is to tell you that I am back in the business, inspired, passionate & prepared more than ever; & to say thank you to the people who made it possible. Thank you, Craig Strong! Thank you, Lisa Tanner! Thank you, Marina Koslow!

A few more words. All three of these people are a miracle to me. Craig is pretty awesome because… well, all that I just wrote about him Lisa. I had never met her. Neither did she ever hear of me until Craig told her he’d love to bless me with a camera & stuff, & she had donated a wicked lens that made the purchase of my new camera possible. Marina. I’d known Marina for years. She’d married a friend of mine & moved to Oregon, where she had become a great photographer. & though, it is only natural that Marina would meet Craig at some point – to me it is quite a miracle.

& finally.

I have a very long way to go to get where I want to be. But being so inspired by my new toy & its tricks, I have been spending hours upon hours watching all sorts of seminars & workshops, reading technical blogs & forums, & playing with my toy. &, I have to make a statement that in a matter of the past month I had finally began to understand what photography is, & accordingly during this month I’d grown ten times more than I have since 2006 when I got my hands on that good ol’ Olympus E300.

Pictures are coming soon.

– Vitor Belfort

Since then I have been spending at least couple of hours every day listening & watching sermons by pastor Mark. They’re pretty solid. & if you have been lacking some solid teaching – you should click here & visit their site. I especially recommend the Trial theme.

P.S. Anika & Melissa are going to the airport to get Annie tonight. It’s snowing & the guy who’s driving doesn’t even know how to get to Kyiv. I just pray they actually make it there & back. That is already a good stretch for my faith

Yana has a very pretty voice. Bogdan Troglodit’s matured up. & Vlad makes some awesome bliny.

The facility is of course pretty phenomenal. I think if the Lord provides us with a place twice smaller in size – it is still going to be spacious enough for the ministry needs in the near future. Would be rocking if the backyard was at least as big though…

Our ride back was four hours on a freezing van. Which is probably why neither of us feels too healthy today. I was lost in deep thoughts most of the ride back to Sumy. Been thinking a lot about the importance of living my life in a way that when it’s over – I get to smile & leave a solid fruit in the lives of those God has placed in my life. Apostle Paul has communicated the importance of bearing a lasting fruit & finishing well. I have much learning & growing in meekness & God’s grace ahead of me. But I am very much determined to do so.

Got to have Vova & Losha over last night. It was good. Praying they will become a part of the fruit I am to bear.

Here you go. The hallway. My kitchen. My bathroom. & my office. Normally it would be a bedroom, but it just doesn’t feel like a bedroom to me. Feels like an office. Now my living room feels like a bedroom, so that’s where I sleep. But I won’t show you. Too private

I really love my office room though. It’s perfect for starting your day & studying. Unfortunately not too good for loud music.

The place will change once I’ve had lived there for a little while longer, & once there are people staying there with me regularly. But there you go

P.S. Those of you that don’t know – the place is less than ten minute walk from my front door to the girls’ front door (which is where I am at right now, since they have WiFi & pizza), so that is a major bonus.