28 Days at Sea

The trip has certainly given me a chance to think a lot about life. 

At the beginning of the trip, i saw an instagram post from komikazer. It was an illustration with a quote on it.

Alangkah mengerikannya menjadi tua dengan kenangan masa muda yang hanya berisi kemacetan jalan, ketakutan datang terlambat ke kantor, tugas-tugas rutin yang tidak menggugah semangat, dan kehidupan seperti mesin, yang hanya akan berakhir dengan pensiun tidak seberapa."

Menjadi Tua di Jakarta, Seno Gumira Ajidarma

I've read the quote before, but I never really had the chance to think about it. For the past three years, my life has been an endless routine that seemed to push me further away from finding a meaning in life. As much as I hate to admit it, I've became a robot.

The next morning after returning to Jakarta, I handed my resignation. After working at a government institution for almost 3 years, i decided to quit for good. Why? Because i don't want to wake up three years from now and still have to do the same thing over and over again. 

Am I scared? of course, but the excitement of being able to live under my own terms is all i can think about right now. And now I'm at the early stages of a personal project(s) with the person who has has inspired me the most this past year, @mgretti.

Ga usah takut kawan, burung pipit aja setiap hari bisa makan

Please keep in mind, if you ever find yourself in need of a photographer, I'm available. You can reach me at sophan.pribadi@gmail.com

#SELFIE

There's nothing wrong with taking pictures of yourself and then editing the photos to your liking. But if you have to use an app to edit your frickin' face, then there is something seriously wrong with you. #justsayin.

Here's some selfie from yours truly..

Happy birthday dear wifey

Happy birthday dear wifey..

Though sometimes i feel we met at the wrong time in my life, but somehow i know that the moment couldn't be any better.

You taught me that dreams are important
That it defines us as humans

thank you and happy birthday
Lets continue sharing our dreams in order to make realities (a bit more) bearable

I love you

You might be weird, but still you're my weirdo...

Rest In Peace

“Death ends a life, not a relationship.” 

-Mitch Alborn-

 “my feet will want to walk to where you are sleeping, but I shall go on living.”

-Pablo Neruda-
  

“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of curse it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.” 

-C.S. Lewis-

Hadn't really had a chance to know him, because our encounters was always brief. Nevertheless, i'm pretty sure he was a great man, considering all the stories that my wife and my father in law used to told me.

R.I.P 

Mati

    #Januari2013 "Mati disaat semuanya tumbuh itu dosa"

The Thought of Freedom

A few months ago GFJA made an open open call for photographers to celebrate its 20th birthday. The underlying theme is "Freedom".

I sent a few old pictures, because i hadn't taken any new photos in over a year. there's literally dust all over my camera when i went to see them, and still haven't dust them off till now.

Nowadays i prefer using my mobile phone to take pictures, its simple, quick and like people today, i never left home without it. i thought about sending these mobile phones' photos, but i had doubts about its quality.

in an email i sent to GFJA, i wrote

"Freedom should never be defined, defining freedom is an act against freedom itself"

When asked the question "what is freedom?" i was silent. Enjoying a cup of coffee and ciggarettes after a hard days work, able to go anywhere at any given time, or as simple as being able to cut my hair the way i wanted to were the things that came to mind. but is it that simple?

Enjoying a cup of coffee and ciggarettes in a cafe after a hard days work is quite relaxing, but what if the cafe is a no smoking area, will it still be called freedom if you chose to ignore the rules and disturb other people? being able to go anywhere at any given time is a thought that will crossed the thought of photographers every now and then, but is freedom really that easy? to travel we need money, and it ain't exactly freedom if we needed money to achieve it.

Freedom is different for each individuals but the underlying idea is the same, Here's my take on it.

Freedom is like a desirable empty space behind DOORS or WINDOWS. In order to achieve it you know that it needed a certain amount of effort. if the doors and windows are opened, you simply need to push it, but if its locked, you have to break it open. but the question is "Do you want to break it?". for those who dare, the will jump to the opportunity and break it at all cost, but most people waited for other people to break it for them. will it still be called individual freedom if you asked or waited other people to break "The Barrier", that leads to freedom, for you.

The most important thing is what you do after that barrier is breached, after you have reached that space behind the door, after freedom is achieved. 

note : All the photos above used Sony Experia Play.

Iman-Thera: The Wedding