the Ideation Conference
While most photographers were in Vegas attending WPPI, I was flying high above to Long Beach, California for the Ideation Conference. Not only was I physically high above, but I also was mentally, just dreaming of what could be in my life. The reason I chose Ideation: ”ideas need intentional strategy, development of skill-sets, sustainable infrastructure, and a viable network.” I love being a dreamer, but I also love putting these dreams into tangible, life changing actions.
Clockwise from top-left is Charles Lee, founder of Ideation, Ben Keesey, CEO of Invisible Children, Greg Russinger, founder of JustOne, and Scott Harrison, founder of Charity:Water. (Photos shot with the 85mm f1.8…yes, this was THAT intimate!)
This is Jake Harriman, founder and CEO of Nuru. His story is incredible…after his second combat tour in Iraq, he left the Marines and devoted his life to humanitarian work to fight terrorism from a different angle…by combating extreme poverty, lack of education, and injustice. Why highlight him over so many other inspiring, high-capacity individuals? We went to lunch!
The strength of Ideation was in the numbers…20 speakers, maybe 200 participants. Not only did we get to hear these amazing individuals, we rubbed shoulders, picked their brains, dined with, and formed relationships. I have never been in a situation where I was surrounded by such high-capacity and high-impact people…people that put their brand to the side in order to focus on changing the world.
It’s easy (at least for me) to get wrapped up in ME. The problems of our day are so much smaller than problems of others…I know that I have lunch waiting for me soon. This experience helped keep my heart in check. I, of course, pass on that challenge to you. ESPECIALLY if you are a photographer with God-given talent…be a super hero and use that talent to benefit others.
a Denver photographer’s amazing wife…
Last month Lindsay and I went home so she could join her sister and mother in running the Chicago Marathon for the second time. This was one crisp, October sunrise on our way downtown.
By knowing the runner’s pace beforehand, you can estimate where in the 26.2 miles you will be able to see them. We caught Lindsay and Carrie about halfway through the race. (Yes, this is THE Carrie that has helped me photograph many incredible weddings over the years)
The cheering section includes my mom, our best friends in the world Mike & Erin, and their newest addition, little Jonah. (Jonah gets the most attention from the ladies)
Wearing your name gets you lots of encouragement throughout the race as spectators can cheer you on.
I’m currently teaching Jonah to be the world’s next great drummer. Ladies love drummers, and the world has too many guitarists.
Farewell Chicago.
Lindsay, Carrie, and their mother finished the race with a better time from the year before. While Lindsay was putting in the hours in order to train for the Marathon, she was also working full-time on her Masters Degree, mentoring a teen, and working for a Denver non-profit. She earned straight A’s this quarter. What is she doing today? Leaving for Africa for the next couple weeks. Please pray for her as she helps work for economic stability and conservation, even including de-snareing animal traps set by poachers.
a time windfall
Focus – when you get a break in life, pick an area to work on, and go.
These next two weeks were unexpectedly dropped into my lap where I have no obligation to pick up my camera. I’ve been curious and started a few discussions to learn what people would do with unexpected & unstructured time in order to:
1. impact their life &
2. strengthen their community
There have been a wide range of responses – travel, set personal goals, go camping, do personal work, visit people. Fantastic responses… but this summer, I’ve done these.
I came up with three things to do with my extra time:
1. READ – not just consume, but digest and apply. I don’t need any new books, I need to re-read the ones I have and APPLY.
2. PRINT – I don’t need to take any more photos right now…I need to get them off my computer screen and physically touch them…see them hanging on my walls. If you are not a photographer, spend time and PRODUCE something physical. Record your song, write your short story, try that recipe.
3. SHARE – I have taken a crazy amount of photos and videos of friends, family, (and strangers!) this year. I want to make sure that the step of taking a photograph is not wasted by only keeping it to myself. Make a social impact and strengthen relationships, by GIVING your abilities all the way.
When you have a time windfall, FOCUS, and find a way to impact your life, and strengthen your community.
5 year anniversary trip
July 23rd, 2004 was a very good day. That was the day that Lindsay said “I do” to me! For our five year anniversary, we splurged on some camping equipment we’ve been eyeing for a while. But way more importantly, we spent time together away from distractions and responsibilities vying for our attention. For 3 days we spent time relaxing at the beach, on an 8 mile alpine hike, and on an incredible 12 mile mountain bike ride around twin lakes that included a ghost resort town, and traversing through a river that was snow melt…and thus COLD.
It is amazing to me with five short years how close you can grow to another person. In that time she has continually amazed me in her ambitions and accomplishments. Lindsay has had two jobs within the community that inspired her to pursue her masters to further have an impact on the less fortunate populations in Denver and beyond. On top of her studies she completed her first marathon last year and triathlon this year. Lindsay is again training for the Chicago marathon taking place this October. If that wasn’t enough, her passion for youth has led her to mentoring other young women once again.
I can’t put into words how blessed I feel to have the relationship I do from this special woman. Not just support through the income highs and lows of a free lancer’s lifestyle, but how she challenges me in my faith, how I live my life, and how to remain a person of character when it’s sometimes easier not to. It has been 5 years that included 4 cars, 3 states, 2 apartments, 1 house, and too many experiences to count. I would not change one thing, and humbly pray for many more years of the same.
East Coast Twitter Trip – DE & D.C.
Mostly I’ve been using Twitter to (hopefully) add value to readers with articles & life tips… However this month I thought I’d put a little more personal spin on things and ‘tweet’ my next trip with Jared Wilson. I don’t have a lot of responsibility this trip, so I’ll Twitter while he is behind the wheel 
Jared is bringing me with to a wedding in Delaware, and since neither of us have been to the Capital, we’ll be spending some time in D.C. doing the tourist thing.
If you’re not following us yet, you can find our adventures here:
KVQ – http://www.twitter.com/kevinvonqualen
Jared Wilson – http://www.twitter.com/jaredwphoto
Win a trip to L.A. for a photoshoot, with me!
Cloversites.com is flying 4 lucky Clover users out to Los Angeles for their “Faces Of Clover” contest and a photoshoot with YOURS TRULY. Check out the contest info page with all the sweet prizes you win including the trip, dinner in Hollywood, a flip video-cam, and your mug featured in the new ad campaign. Entries due by June 1st.
Snowy Day
In honor of the ton of snow we are getting today, here is a snowy mountain picture from last year taken with the Holga. Now, go build a snowman and have some cocoa.
Newsletter
Did you catch the last newsletter? Latest news, bios, secret specials, photo tips, and more. I’m working on the next edition as we speak as it will be out in the next couple weeks. If you are not signed up and wish to receive the next newsletter, click HERE or on the right-hand side of the blog to subscribe!
Francis Chan & the Crazy Love photo credit…
Last fall I was in Pittsburgh working with Clover (more on them later), and had the honor of photographing Francis Chan for his new promotional head shots. Francis is the founder of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA, and the author of best-selling, Crazy Love. The year prior I was flown to California for some stock photo work with Clover and photographed Francis in action on the side. Later I was informed one of the photos would be on his book cover, sweet So like I promised, here is another place you can find me when strolling thru Barnes & Noble. And yes, my name is on the copyright page.
I have no stake in sales, so this is an unbiased endorsement….Crazy Love is amazing, and I’m only halfway finished. If you have heard Francis speak before, you know that this book is incredible. The only other book that has challenged and inspired my faith as much in the past five years, was Wild at Heart.
Kevin & Carrie, tourists at Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Many of you are familiar with Carrie, my fantastic second shooter, album designer, and of course sister-in-law. We just got back from Nate & Claudia’s incredible wedding in Mexico. What was great about this trip was that Claudia is from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, so the entire trip was filled with hospitality from her family and friends. Claudia said for the complete experience, we needed to stop at the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. All I have to say is it was amazing.
According to Wikipedia, Chichen Itza rose to prominence around 600 AD and fell around 1000 AD. When I was there I tried to visualize what it would be like having an entirely different civilization around, and what even the landscape would look like. 1000 years ago in the above picture, this tree would not have even existed.
This wall outside the giant Ball Court contained carvings of skulls, supposedly the heads of the losing team in the games… thankfully things have changed and the Cardinals were not decapitated yesterday.
Above is the observatory, with doors and windows aligned to astronomical events, again according to Wikipedia, specifically around the path of Venus.
After our long, hot day of hiking, we sat at a local restaurant and had Pepsi in a bottle with our authentic Mexican dishes.
