8 The Cowboy and the Golf Ball

I have to admit, I cheated. The weather was good and I needed to set up the Christmas lights, so I took the cowboy picture yesterday!

I have been playing golf for 18 years. I got bitten by the bug. What is golf? Why do people hit a little white or yellow ball, find it and hit it again? Here's my best explanation: Playing golf is like falling in love. If you do not take it seriously, it is no fun; if you take it seriously, it will break your heart!

 

 

 

Yes, it is 10 pm, I cannot help it, just have to add.

7 Physician, Heal Thyself!

This is my day job. I am a Family Physician. I have been in the medical field for the last 25 years. When I last made an estimate, I probably saw 200,000 patients. I am also a burnout physician. It is sad to say that not many people think about this group of physicians. We are expected to do more and more. We are expected to be compassionate to patients. But on the other hand, who gives compassion to the physicians? The healthcare system in America is sick. If we continue the present trend, more and more physicians are going to quit. I fear for the healthcare of our grandchildren!

So, if you are a physician, take care of yourself. Starting January 1, 2014, I am cutting my hours to 3.5 days a week at work. If you have friends or family who are physicians, ask them if they are doing well. Give them some compassion. Give them some help. If you are seeing a physician, ask them if they have time for themselves, if they are rested.

I hope this little post will make a difference.

6 Lotus

I did not expect that early in this journey I will need to face my first challenge. After I posted the devil shot in facebook yesterday, there was no response. So, I paused. Should I post images of myself that are controversial? Should I censor it? I believe the first challenge for myself is to pass that state where I care about what people think about me. At 52 years old, I need to pass that. I am who I am. As I said in the introduction, there will be shots of myself that I will not like, but I also need to accept that. So, lesson so far, accept who I am, I am not going to care about what other people think.

5 The Devil

If there is no bad, then there is no good. If there is no black, then there is no white. If there is no yin, then there is no yang!

4 Miniminiminimo...

I was very tempted to take this shot last night. It has been awhile that I was so excited to see the next day and do something! Thank God for this project!

                                                                                         

3 Sleeping with the book

When I signed up for medical school in 1983, I did not know that I will need to sleep with my books for the rest of my life!

                                                                                                   day 3

2 The World of Frames

This 365 day journey is also going to be like a diary, documenting the things I like and don't like to do. Since this is a photography project to begin with, let's start with a camera!

                                                                                             day 2

1 Introduction

My name is Benjamin Chan. I am a photographer. I seek to create interesting pictures. In the process, I am embarking this project to improve my skills. I am going to do a self portrait for the next 365 days.

We all have our favorite image of ourselves. I have mine. There is a certain look, a certain feel that we look for. The fact is, we are who we are. We need to accept every aspect of ourselves, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is the way I will look at my self portrait. There will be days when I look happy. There will be days when I look tired. I will take them all!

                                                                                                      Day 1