Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship

This is a short video of Self -Realization Fellowship Mother Center founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1926.

I visited the Mother center in June of this year to meet with a nun from the Church. The peaceful grounds are always an attraction to me as well. It provides a sanctuary for contemplation and silent moments.

I always visit the mango tree that was planted by Yogananda as it brings back memories of my childhood.

"You are in that consciousness - such is the grace and glory of the Lord and he will explain to you whatever you haven't been able to understand , everything you want to know" Paramahansa Yogananda

SHORT FILMS -'Walking with Destiny' & 'The Wings of the Dove'

I've started a new, exciting chapter in my life.....FILM! It has been a joyful experience and there's much yet to learn. The journey continues......

Below is my first short film which was a part of the digital film course I participated in with my friend, Cher, from January to March of this year in Singapore. I include hers as we collaborated in its making.

MC1

Women of inspiration

The Woman Conference 2010 - Tuesday, October, 2010

A film made for Maria Shriver, the First Lady of California

"Through every achievement I've had, for every triumph,

I know I was never alone. I trust in the omniscient mystery

and certainty of the universal force that is divine. I call it

GOD. I know if you ask, you shall receive. Anytime you feel

abandoned or depressed and alone and you are waiting on

God to save you, you are waiting on a miracle. A miracle is

always waiting on you". Oprah Winfrey

Mc1

Somewhere in time

Image by Cher Lim

~Mystical scent fills the air,

Whispering angels,

singing an Autumn prayer.~

I love classic movies because of where they take me. A time

when movies were made with an idealistic regard and responsibility

towards society. A gentler past from which I could learn. This movie,

stays with me especially the music by a genius composer, John Barry.

By MC1

Origins of the Thanksgiving Holiday - November 25, 2010

What does Thanksgiving represent?

To be honest, I did not know the true history behind this festival which is celebrated in North America until I did some research today.

More than two centuries ago in September 1620, a group of people called the "Puritans" who were in conflict with the the church of England regarding their faith, left Plymouth to set sail in the Mayflower. Seeking a new home where they could practice their faith freely, they finally arrived in North America. The Wampanoag Indian who then occupied parts of what are now the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and adjacent islands, welcomed the pilgrims to set up colonies and taught them how to grow crops. In November 1621, after the first harvest, Governor William Bradford requested a feast to be celebrated in gratitude to God for answering their prayers and to Massasoit, Chief of the Wampanoag and the his people for giving them a home.

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the year 1863 after Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's book, wrote a number of articles in favor of that day being a national holiday.

Today many Americans enjoy the most traditional part of this harvest festival, which is a roasted turkey with stuffings. It is served with a gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans casserole and cranberry sauce . For dessert, there is the pumpkin or sweet potato pie and apple cider. Whether turkey was a customary dish when the Pilgrims hosted this feast remains unclear. I am not big on meat but who knows, I might be in luck and find a tofukey (tofu turkey) at the American club tonight.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Based on a prayer of Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

Holy and gracious God, we give thanks for the gift of this gathering: for the food before us; the loving hands that have prepared it and the blessings we share together. Kindle our hearts and awaken hope that we may know you always as our companion along the way. Forgive us where we have fallen short with each other and with ourselves; heal our wounds, restore our health, strengthen our souls and help us to be ever mindful the needs of those near us who have so little. Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well. Amen

And so this Thanksgiving, let us all remember that we have to be grateful for both great and small blessings. When we stop to consider all the ways our lives have been blessed, we can be thankful for what we have.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

MC1

Joe McNally - Lights up!

When it comes to photography, it is all about light.

If there is anyone who is a master of lights, I think that would

be Joe McNally, photographer, journalist and lighting

extraordinaire.

He spent more than thirty years behind the lens and was voted

as one of the 30 most influential photographers of the decade.

He has graced the pages of Life and Sports Illustrated, Time,

Newsweek, Fortune , New York, Entertainment Weekly and

many more publications. He currently has an ongoing 23 year

contribution to National Geographic.

McNally knows how to talk about it, shape it, color it and direct it.

Most importantly, he knows how to create it using hot shoe flashes.

The following from McNally's own words: "I am a visual storyteller. I

really believe in the importance of the mission of the photographer. It

is to lay down a visual record of our times. Just as they did on cave walls

thousands and thousands of years ago. We record what we see, what we

feel and what happens in our lives and the lives of those around us. Even

though the tools we use are highly evolved and technologically complex,

what we do with them is absolutely basic and central to our core as a

human being. We tell stories."

In the last two years, McNally has written two books:

The Moment it Clicks - Understanding photography and the art of making

great photos at a level you never thought possible.

The Hot shoe Dairies - This new book is a virtual how- to get big lights

from small flashes.

Four years ago when I was studying photography in Los Angeles, I learnt

how to use strobes and continous lighting. Much to my disappointment I

was unable to widen my practical knowledge. Despite my setback, I like

to still think that nothing is ever too late.

So recently I decided to do a refresher's tutorial course in preparation for

Joe McNally's timely visit to Singapore for his Asian tour on January of 2011.

MC1

Photojournalist - Steve McCurry

Steve Mc Curry, an incredible photographer and humanitarian

visited Singapore in June of 2009. Unfortunately, I missed the

opportunity of attending his workshops as I was traveling. However,

I was able to see his first solo exhibition at the Asian Civilizations

Museum, upon my return to Singapore. The title of the exhibition

was called "The Unguarded Moment" which is also the title of his

new book. There were also some unpublished, never before photographs

captured throughout his career included in the exhibition.

Steve McCurry

Born in Philidelphia, Steve's career has taken him into war zones

including Iran-Iraq war, the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia,

Beirut, Cambodia, the Philippines and the gulf war.

"Most of my images are grounded in people," he says. "I look for the

unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched

on a person's face. I try to convey what is like to be that person, a person

caught in a broader landscape that you could call the human condition."

Sharbat Gula - taken in a refugee camp in 1984

The most recognizable image in the history of National Geographic

magazine is of an anonymous 13 years old Afgan girl. Her penetrating

green eyes evokes such a deep emotion that it touches the soul.

McCurry searched in vain for Sharbat after the publication of her

image on National Geographic. However, his persistence led him

to finally finding her some 17 years later. Sadly, the glow in her eyes

have disappeared. The intensity in her facial expressions reveals the

hardships and struggles she has to endure in her life.

You will find some of the portraits here in Mc Curry's book "Looking East".

There is this sense of sadness, helplessness, a deep fear... .. reflected in their

eyes that floods me with empathy and disillusionments. Yet, despite all of

life adversity, even in the depths of darkness, one continues to hope.

To learn more about Mc Curry check out his website and blog.

McCurry's books are available on Amazon.com

MC1