Life is a journey

They say life is a journey, and that there are good times and bad times.  Right now I am going through the hard times.  I have a problem and will likely not post a blog for a while. I have no idea how long I will be unable to blog.  During this period I will study spiritual enlightenment. and do my best to grow and learn about myself and life.  There are some good books I am reading, The Power of Now, and Living in the moment, and a 40 day mind fast.

My hope is to rediscover the joy of living, and living, and learn how to deal with issues and problems in my life. We all have issues.  Now is the time for me to deal with mine.  I will surrender my problems and learn to live in the present and not dwell on the past as it is over or the future as it has not arrived.  So I will learn to live in the present moment and rediscover the joy and peace of being alive.

I have enjoyed writing blogs for the last few years and sharing photographs, and ideas about image composition, underwater and landscape photography. Leading groups and sharing knowledge has been not only fun, but a way for me give back to the world.  I believe strongly in conservation and protecting  the environment.   Once I deal with the current issues in my life I will continue this work, and perhaps share what I learn about becoming a more spiritual person.

I can say that I love my family and they are my inner strength.  My children, parents, sister, and wife are wonderful, and give me peace and unconditional love. My friends around the world mean so much to me, and I am honored to know so many good people. That said, its time for me to concentrate on myself.

So with love in my heart, I am saying aloha for a while.  I am not sure how long this new journey will take but I must go through the process of rediscovery.

Whale Shark and photography workshops

This image of a Whale Shark was created in Chandrawasih Bay of Indonesia. It is in the Irian Jaya part of Indonesia. The area is remote but the whale sharks are ever-present. World wide sail and dive as well as Dive Damai offer charters there. I liked how the diver on the left adds a bit of scope and depth to the image. Notice how the shark has its mouth open. Very impressive! I offer a class on underwater composition and teach it in Fiji, Hawaii, and Indonesia. If interested please contact me via www.douglasjhoffman.com

Tonga a paradise for whales

Tonga is one of the few places in the world where it is legal to snorkel with humpback whales.

The country is remote and as such not easy to get to. This is part of the allure. The feeling you get in your heart while swimming with these gentle giants will forever change you. It is humbling and incredible when a baby whale swims along side of you. I have had encounters that lasted an entire day, and as brief as 5 minutes. No matter the duration the excitement and joy you feel will be one of the highlights of your life. You can go to on a liveabaord sail boat or enjoy a day boat and stay at a land based hotel. Both options are great. If interested in joining a small group in 2013 or 2014 check out www.douglasjhoffman.com

Celebrate life and the holidays

The holidays are coming and their are many things to be thankful for. First and foremost is having family and friends that love each other. Next comes the joy of simply being alive. After that comes the satisfaction of working at a job you love. Next is compassion for other people and caring for our environment. I really feel we are one planet and one people and that we need to protect our natural resources for the future and treat our planet with respect.

That said celebrate life!

Aloha                       

Wreck of a Japanese Zero

This image of a world war two Japanese Zero was created in Chadrawasih Bay Indonesia. The plane is little by little becoming part of the reef as seen by the barrel sponge on the left and the crinoids on the cockpit. When creating this image I used the diagonal line of the wreck as a compositional element. If interested in learning about underwater photography composition I will be teaching a class on the Fiji Siren in May of 2014. Check out world wide sail and dive or my website for details at www.douglasjhoffman.com

Bali Dive Guide

I recently became aware of a new guide on diving Bali that should help fellow divers in choosing where to dive around Bali and the surrounding islands. Check it out .

http://vilondo.com/things-to-do-in-bali/diving-bali/free-diving-ebook/

Maui is a great place for a vacation. Take the memories home with a beautiful portrait

Maui is a great place for family vacations and honeymoons. So many wonderful things to do. While many people enjoy activities like hanging out at the beach or pool. Others go diving, sailing, wind surfing, and paragliding. While fun, I think the best part of Maui is the memories made when families spend quality time together. I suggest each family consider having a portrait made to remember the great times had in Maui. Check out www.mauiphotogrpahy.netfor information and a free portraiture guide. This will help you plan the session and find the best photographer for your family. Enjoy your time in paradise forever.

Looking over Big Beach

 

World class diving with Dive Damai

Dive Damai, is an incredible live-aboard company that provides divers incredible service and world class diving. They set a high standard and their goal is to make each charter the best it can be for each person. Having recently enjoyed a trip to Chandrawasih, Indonesia, I can say from experience that the trip was worth every penny spent. I will never forget the great dives, whale sharks, great service, and wonderful food. I also was able to enjoy a massage every other day, and dive with Nitrox. There are no extra fees for these amenities. Check them out at www.divedamai.com

Family and friends are precious and provide us all Sanctuary

Most of my posts are about photography.  That said every once in a while I like to post something of a more personal nature.  I believe taking time to enjoy being with loved ones and friends is very important as it enables us to realize the to joy of life.   Working is important, but spending time with the one’s closest to us is what life is really all about.  I selected this image I titled Sanctuary for this post as my family is my true sanctuary.

Tonga is a sanctuary for whales

Family provides unconditional love and support and through this we can feel love and joy in our lives.   So take some time to be with the ones you love.  Who knows, it might help you be more productive in your everyday life.

Maui Turtles

This image of a turtle was created in Makena Maui. The Turtle was coming to the surface to breathe and I was able to capture its reflection on the surface. If interested in diving in Maui and learning about u/w photography composition please contact me at dhimages@maui.net. Check out my website too. www.douglasjhoffman.com