A DAY IN MY LIFE IN 2019

Post by DANIEL OLAJIDE

#LIFE OF A PHOTOGRAPHER

Photography

The following happened November, 2019.

The day began a little late for me. It was quite unusual for me to wake up this late. Time stamp: 7:36am. I was lodged in Sheraton Hotel Nairobi, Kenya. My body was still getting used to the rigorous trip it had endured in the past 5 days. We had just returned from Kenya Photo walk the previous night. The past few days will go down in history as one of the most interesting experience a Nigerian could ever have.
I had just returned from a 10 day visit to the International Space Station. I was the first African photographer to have been privileged to make such a trip. Canon commissioned me to take pictures with their latest digital SLR technology for the Project I was given by UNICEF. They wanted their product – Canon EOS 9Tush – to be the DSLR Camera to take pictures for UNICEF. Till today, I’m still not sure why they chose me to represent them on this project. Perhaps it’s because I once contested for President of the International Professional Photographers Association. Perhaps it was because I was recently honoured as the first African with the Youngest Photographer with Incredible Passion Award by Scolt Kelby and Kelechi Amadi-Obi. Perhaps it was because I only use the Canon brands and have refer several photographers which had resulted in sales of over 250,000 units of their DSLR models.

For whatever reason on earth, I was chosen to be a Canon Ambassador for this monumental event. I was ecstatic. I checked my 20 TB mobile flash disk to be sure the pictures I took were still intact. It was then I remembered that I didn’t need to stress myself; a backup had already been made on Samsung’s Server immediately the pictures were taken. You should have seen what African kids looked liked while I took them with my telephoto lens. The beauty I witnessed while taking pictures from that unique perspective was so overwhelming that I couldn’t hold back tears. As the tears floated in my cubicle in the 10 sitter Virgin Galactica jet, I had quickly repositioned my camera to photograph my first set of tear droplets in the month. Looking at the view, I concluded that this is all the atheist needs to see to be convinced that there is a God.

How time flies. It was 9:35am and I was still on my bed viewing the pictures I had taken. It was almost as if I stood beside God to capture the beauty of the planet. And then I remembered I had not chatted with the one person that gave me this platform to be a blessing through my profession. I sat at the edge of my bed and communed with my creator for about 23 minutes and did read his word – 1 Corinthian 7 for 30 minutes.

At 11am I decided to put a call through to my best friend of 19 years & 1 month. Sometimes I wonder why she hadn’t given up all these while when I was trying to bring to reality all the dreams I had within. I sure had put her through some hell with the weirdness I manifested. Thank God she stood by me, my wife? No, my Mother! She was glad I called especially since it was while I was in Gary, Indianapolis I spoke to her last. She speaks English fluently now, thanks to the Adult School she has been attending for the last 12 months “How are you today?” “How did you feel when taking the pictures?”  Those were usually the first set of questions she hurls at me after every trip. I promised her that my next trip to space will be with her by my side. “Don’t forget you should be home for your final exams in Lagos state University Oko mi (My husband)” she said.  She told me about my Partner visit to her last week for Victoria’s fourth year Birthday in Abuja. The Lady is good and lovely; please the marriage date is fast approaching. I smiled, she made me remember that my wedding is less than a month, December 9th and the thanksgiving service would be on Sunday 10th which also happened to be my birthday. She gave the phone to Dad; He always seemed to talk for just about 2 minutes on the phone. Perhaps he reckoned that I should have other matters to attend to than to be talking to him. But what other matters will matter when I’m unable to spend time chatting or being with my immediate family and I asked how Segun is doing in University of Lagos state.

I remembered the last performance we had in Lagos state University before I travelled out of the country.  People were amazed at my Ministration (I would prefer that to Performance) because souls were touched and the members of Lagos state University Christian Fellowship were proud of me….. I think I’ve drifted off for a while there.

Twas  about 11:30am. My flight back to Nigeria was still 1 hour away. My workspace today was going to be in my hotel room on the 43rd floor. I had to put a call through to Samsung Town in Seoul (South Korea) to speak with the new Chairman of Samsung International (previously called Samsung Electronics). The grand-nephew of Samsung founder, Lee Byung-chul, Susan Waters were excited to hear my voice. She mentioned how two of the pictures I took of Abuja from space had gone viral. The new definition of viral was having over 50,000 views per minute; the pictures had been viewed on Samsung’s site over 3.89 billion times. For a period of 3 days, the picture of Abuja, Nigeria became the spotlight of the world.

Around noon, I checked my email only to discover that I had over 3566 new mails to read. Wow! I had only been away from Nigeria for less than 2 weeks and I’m getting this much mail. I spent the next 30 minutes sifting through the mails to see the key ones I would reply immediately. My personal assistant will help read the rest.

Two of the mails caught my attention. One was from the British Government and the other was from the office of the Sultan of Brunei. The British Government was inviting me for the Queen annual fiesta and I would be coming as one of the 3 official photographers at the event (a privilege that was being extended to a non-British citizen for the first time). The Sultan of Brunei wanted a portrait session for the 4 ministers he just appointed. He insisted on working with me because he had seen some of the works I did for his friend, the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It is such a privilege to have worked with leaders in different parts of the world. And to think that this same photography was what my Pastor discouraged me from embarking on in 2011. Now He’s my number 1 fans. Talk of my Future partner; it’s been 2 days I called her. At about 1:09pm, I called to say hello and Orente me, couldn’t help but ask her usual questions: “Hope you’re eating well”, “Hope you’re using your multi-vitamins?” I’m missing you like for real but I keep listening to the last song you recorded with Loyiso Bala and Tye Tribbet, it keeps me calm because ” I have Jesus always with me”.  Wondering? That was the song I did in my 4^th yeae in LASU, I met those stars at the conference and we ministered together at the last meeting of the Christians Association of Nigeria last in August last year.
At about 2pm, I remembered that I had forgotten to eat breakfast. I always hate having to spend time to eat. I always thought it was a waste of time. Perhaps one day, there will be a pill I can take daily to replace having to spend at least 1 hour daily eating. It was dizziness that reminded me. Whenever I had dizziness, it was usually because I had not eaten or I had not slept for 2 days. I ordered for plantain and eggs and decided to take my Centrum multivitamins.

While eating my “break-lunch”, I remembered that it was one of my closest friend and fan’s birthday Bunmi Olowookere. I have been privileged to work with so many people over the years but Bunmi was one person I’m glad our paths crossed. She worked with me for a few years before deciding to head the media department in a new TV station that had just opened in Lagos. 

Through the help of her husband, I had planned a surprise for her special day. I put a call through to her mobile line, one of the nine numbers I had grown accustomed to having in my memory. She was at work and was about going for her lunch break. I wished her Happy Birthday and just in time the delivery man called to inform me he was at her door. I put a call back to her and told her to open the envelope that a DHL delivery man was holding at the doorstep of her office. Her scream almost deafened my ears. I had put in a small envelope newest Nikon DSLR camera I got from Tolu Oluwapojuwo the last time he came back from New York City World Photographers Award. I don’t know what’s with me and the giving Cameras as gifts. Anyway, I’m sure she appreciated it. I thanked her for supporting my dream and wished her many more years to come.

It was 3:15pm, I spent the next 40 minutes sending emails to my inner circus – I mean those that had really affected my life: Tolu Oluwapojuwo, Oluwaseun Akinsanmi, Chellah Tukuta Rancen, Adedokun Joshua, Pst. Timothy Mojola Obafemi, Oloyede Sunkanmi, Abraham Ologundudu, Akindele Boluwatife, Chinazam Agu-Roland, Motola, Temitope Jacob a renowed world class fashioned designer who have always been a wonderful friend, Shola Animashaun, Matron Mayowa, Gaspo L. & my 3 supportive Tee siblings. Keeping in touch had been a weakness I was working on and spending 10-20 minutes every week emailing them was a way to let them know I appreciate them and still haven’t forgotten them.

About 4pm, I put a call through to Kunle Afolayan. He had been instrumental in shaping my entry in the world of cinematography. We chatted for about 15 minutes and we tried to iron out some of the details of my 1st film that he was Executively Producing. It would be the screenplay for the New York Times best seller “Ordinary Rod; 2 bunch of family”: a story I wrote on my blog about 3 years earlier chronicling my journey from the scratch to a world-class Music photographer. It had sold beyond my wildest imagination: over 7.4 million copies. We still had not come up with the title for the movie but he promised to get back to me the following week with any latest development. Before I ended the call, I asked if he could be one of our speakers at a Workshop in 2020. I mentioned that he’ll be talking extensively on the relationship between Photography & Cinematography and where technology is heading for individuals in both industries. He was going to check his schedule and get back to me the next day.

It was about 4:20pm. I started packing my stuff to head for the airport. I was so eager to return home. No place like Lagos, Nigeria. It had grown to be the 5th largest city in the world and the largest in Africa. And I was right at the centre of it all. I got to the airport in time to rest at the airport lounge and read one  of the two books I had gotten weeks earlier: Jide Alakija’s “The Chronicles” and Nike Adeyemi’s “Once upon a Mother“.

I sat at my favourite spot in the plane: the first class window seat A2. Looking out of the window, I couldn’t help but think back over the last 11 years of existence on this great planet. The flight attendant went over her usual takeoff protocol and all I could do was stared out the window until my eyes got teary and I couldn’t help but say it from the depths of my heart: I’M PROGRESSING (OLAMI NREWAJU)

At 7:30pm, the Virgin Atlantic flight took off heading for Nigeria. Apparently I was wrong to think that my body had adjusted and rested enough. Within minutes, I was fast asleep…..I woke up in Lagos Nigeria.

The time is 2:44am, Nov, 2019 and I’m waiting for my colleague, Miracle, to pick me up at the Lekki International Airport. My name is Daniel Olajide and more than ever before I’m proud to be a PHOTOpreneur.




Plan to take a photography course at Rehoboth Creations Academy.  Visit www.RehobothCreations.wordpress.com/Academy for more information. It will be the best investment you’ll make in your journey to photography greatness.

Your pot of oil

Hello! Readers,

Here is the third edition of popular Sam Adeyemi book START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. If you are reading this for the first time, do well to go through chapter 1 and chapter 2 here.

photo credit: food52.com

• Man sees things the way they are but God sees them the way they could be.

• We have the tendency to underestimate the potentials for wealth that abound all around us.

• Remember the story of Elisha and the widow? The widow underestimated the pot of oil. She did not realize it held the potential for her miracle.

• Now, what is your pot of oil? It could be the little funds you have.

• Some people have built successful business with small amounts of money. Why not start with what you have?

• Opportunity eludes so many people because they look too far for it.

• We see opportunity big in other people’s life but when they approach us they seem shrinks in size that we may not even recognize them.

• It is common to see people with a thousand dollars explain that he would have started a business of his desire if he had two thousand dollars. The person with two thousand wishes he had five thousand. It goes on and on.

• Who really has enough to start with?

• As long as we underestimate what we have, we may not take the first step towards getting what we want.

• Do not be afraid to start small.  

Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

• When you develop the attitude of seeing possibilities in everything, you will realize that you may not need all the money in the world to get started on the road to financial success.

Start with what you have!

• There is a pot of oil around your life that holds the potential for your breakthrough.

• Your pot of oil maybe your vocational gifts and talents. Whatever it is, please know that God has placed that gift in your life as a seed.

• When you have cultivated it, you will reap a harvest of success and fulfillment. God never made it a failure.

• There is no one who has not been endowed with special ability from God.

• Most people who are financially successful are engaged in vocations they love.

• It is difficult to breakthrough a job that bores you, that does not stir your interest, especially the one for which you are not gifted. They destroy self confidence and breed frustration.

• Young men and women try to live up to their parent’s expectations and struggle through courses they do not enjoy.

• Do something with the gift God has given you.

• Your pot of oil may be a material item you own which could be exchanged for money to start your venture.

• Your pot of oil may be a relationship that could open the door to your breakthrough.

• An acquaintance may be in a position to make recommendations that could help you.

• Your pot of oil may be your spiritual gifts.

For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

• Pray for God to show you where your treasure is, so you could put your heart there.

• There is something in you that the whole world need. Find it, develop it, give commercial value to it and God will use it to bring a financial harvest into your life.

RAISING THE MONEY YOU NEED

• Raising the minimum amount to take-off is one major hindrance to the realization of many dreams.

• In many instances, it doesn’t work just to pray and expect that somehow, somewhere, something would happen.

Here is a simple advice for you;

*Pray through

Pray to the point where you have inner peace and the assurance that God has granted your request.

Think through

List all the possible means by which you could come by the amount of money you need; break the sum into smaller amounts. Think of those who can afford those small amounts of money. Think of individuals. Think of organizations. Think of your relationships. Pray over those possibilities and follow-up on the ones you have convictions to pursue.

God may choose the ideas you have written down or when you have exhausted your ideas, inspire new ones to you. He has a million and one ways by which He could supply your miracle.

Believe that God will make a way for you in the situation; and act on the impressions He drops in your heart. All things are possible to him that believes*.

(* shows extract in verbatim)

START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY!

• Don’t leave in a hurry; feel free to drop your comments and contributions.

Strength that gives no power

Post by Pelumi

Amidst d whirlwind, a little boy got blind in the desert, he knew there was no hope, he was lost, nothing to have faith in and nowhere to turn to. He  lost the sense of direction, he was blind, tears couldn't run down those little tender precious eyes, in his heart he thought ''these are my last days''. Right there and then  he realized he could still survive the day, he found thousands of hope in that hopeless sentence, he thought if he still had days to live either two or three more, somethings could still be done, he could still find the way and he could find the track ones again................ 

Circumstances weigh us down and we feel ''this is just the last day''; but look at the situation surrounding the little boy, ''whirlwind'', ''desert'' and ''blindness'', who can ever survive that? But who cares if he survives it or not? What matters is he didn't stop hoping and believing. He knew something could happen, Yes, something could be done and he could find his way back.

Things may not turn out right, but you can eventually make it through the rough days trying to survive. This shows the inner strength we all possess, it is better to die trying than dying knowing you never tried.......... There is a strength on the inside, it can either give you power when you need them or reserves your powers till  you will never have to use them again(what a waste!). In that rough edge situation, break through the wall, the track may lead you beyond, you  never know, there could be sunshine even on a cloudy day, a light at the end of the tunnel and a sign of victory.

Cheers!!!!!

PERFECT START: TAKE CHARGE

Post by OLAITAN

It’s a New year! Yes its 2016, this year must be different from the previous one! Yes! My New year resolution is this and that.

Yet few days after the beginning of the new year, many don’t know where to start from, what to do and how to go about it. Gradually, the New Year is sneaking on them already and before they know it, they will carry those plans over to the next one or probably end the year without any achievement. To avoid this I have compiled some tips that would help you take charge of what you get from the year.

#Start by staying positive (SP)

Learn to always remember that you can always react to success ambitions in two ways; You either listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you know that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible. Rather getting worried and disappointed over where you are, it is time to think and be optimistic about where you are heading to. Expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.

#Do some reviews (DSR)

So it is important you take time to look at certain areas of your life such as career, family, relationships, financial, home amidst others. They help you check on your previous accomplishments and place in your mind, series of other issues needed to be overturned during the course of the year. As a result it is pertinent you ask questions like;

 What went well the previous year?

 What are those things I would have accomplished?

How have I been able to improve my life?

What do I need to get a better result this year?

What are those things I have started and I have not completed?

Addressing the last question; unfinished project causes so many forms of mental and sometimes, physical distractions. Just round them up! Don’t pile up unhealthy tasks; all you need now is a fresh start so work on getting projects or task you have started completed. Without this, there is no such thing as a fresh start.

#Focus on (FC)

Do you see life as a gift or an obligation? That helps you determine how you view your daily focus. Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation. Life is all about learning, loving, Growing and serving. And there seems to be a rationale behind every action, therefore you must believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe then you may just need to;

#Zoom Focus (ZF)

Here priority becomes a key, out of the many important goals and to-do’s, have a list of which goes next after which. Each day when you wake up in the morning ask: “What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then tune out all the distractions and focus on these actions.

#Think New (TH)

You can’t continue to do the same thing and expect to get a new result; you have to think of something new. Make it a new beginning, and be smart to figure out what you need to do for the first time and what you need to do again. There are just many ideas of doing that thing out there think of them and ensure they preach morals, legality and positivity (you don’t have to do the wrong to get the right).

#Learn from them (LFT)

Over the years I discovered that; the deal is not getting it right at the first trial, the deal is not being able to learn from previous mistakes (failure as the case maybe). There is always something to learn from your mistakes and that is why we make them so learn from them. I heard sometimes that “If you are not making mistakes then you are not learning”, mistake is to be made and is to either make or break. Its breaks when you don’t realize it and it’s become a commitment and its makes when it is realized and acted upon. Don’t be scared to make mistakes and don’t be foolish not to learn from them.

#Be Thankful (BT)

Appreciating what you have is a key to holding onto it.  Oprah Winfrey once said “Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough” and this means that by being thankful for what you have, you create chance of getting more and the strengths for keeping them. What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. _Ralph Marston

#Put and Pull down goals (PDG)

Success is all about setting goals and getting them. Hence, it is only when results are gotten that a mission accomplished can be chorused. One of the easiest way of going about this is putting goals in writing and by doing this you have them both in mind and in sight and of course, you can always look back and do evaluations on how well you have done about them. Pull down your goals (work towards them), be a goal setter and a goal getter.

#Set and Maintain Standards (SMS)

By setting standards we avoid many limitations. Do you have a standard? If yes, then maintain your standards and if no, start by setting one, maintain and keep it high. You don’t have a standard when you accept prevailing standards. Think of virtue rather than comfort, be superior and not common.

#Add Values (AV)

Watch out for them, whatever is taking value from you is not worth embarking on and whatever is not adding value to you is not worth keeping. Whatever you are doing should be adding value to you and not the other way round and always, so avoid losing those values.

Finally,

Each night before going to bed, thank God for a day well spent and reflects back on what you have accompanied during the day.

At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, and no regrets. Let the year speak for you!!!!!!

Success all the way


Do not leave in a hurry, make use of the comment box and help us to serve you better by dropping what came to your mind after reading this.

CHAPTER 2: START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Post by OLAITAN

Here is the second edition of my highlights (you can call it extracts) from START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.

If you miss the previous edition please endeavor to read up before this.

WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?

•          God’s contact point for supernatural supplies is always around us, but we hardly recognize them.
• ·         It is common to hear; “Oh if only I had this, I will do that.”
• ·         God want us to start with what we have and not, what we don’t have.
• ·         Cut off “IF” and start with what you have.
• ·          God will always use what you have to create what you want.

• ·         Whatever we have is almost not enough. That is a fact but it is not the ultimate truth.
• ·         What we have contains potential for what we want.
• ·         Do without the “scarcity” mentality. Imbibe an “abundance” mentality.
• ·         Those who believe in God’s abundance eventually find it.
• ·         God has created more wealth in this world than we would ever need. However, it is in the potential form.
• ·         The wool for clothes was on the back of a sheep until man discovered it. All that we see today existed before only in potential form.
• ·         Develop a winner’s mentality. It will enable you to see solutions where others see problems.
• ·         Unfortunately in our world, eyes that look are common but eyes that see are few.
• ·         Inside every adversity is the seed of a miracle.
• ·         The principle of financial increase obeys the law of sowing and reaping.
• ·         The harvest you want will always be inside the seed you have.
• ·         Dr Mike Murdock said: “If what you have is not enough to be a harvest, turn it into seed.”
• ·         What you want is what you have.
• ·         Like the rod of Moses, God will use something that has seemed of no value to release mysterious supplies into your life.

·         So start with what you have and God will give you what you want.

Watch out for CHAPTER 3.

This are extracts from Sam Adeyemi popular book ‘START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE’.

As much as this are highlights from the book, it is advisable that the whole book be read as there are more information’s in it than we have here.

START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Post by OLAITAN

What do we have for you this month? Just read through.

Few months ago I flipped through the pages of a small book written by Sam Adeyemi. From the very first page to the last I just had something to reflect on, I wrote them out in a book and i know there are many out there who need some of this information’s but may never even get the opportunity to know what this book looks like. So am serving my audience with it.

 This are extracts from Sam Adeyemi popular book ‘START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE’.

As much as this are highlights from the book, it is advisable that the whole book be read as there are  more informations in it than we have here.

INTRODUCTION

·        

• Newton law of motion: “All objects remains in a state of rest until a force is applied”. Things do not move until we move.
•   Action orientation is a major requirement for success.
• A job begun is a job half done.
• ·         There is a miracle around you waiting to be discovered. However, it in the potential form.
• ·         You won’t start until you believe you have what it takes to start.
• ·         You cannot finish what you have started.

CHAPTER 1

·      

•       What do you when you do not know what to do?
• ·         The most constant thing in life is change.
• ·         We cannot stop the imminence of change, but we can decide our response to it.
• ·         We fly or crawl in life depending on our attitude to change.
• ·         What you need in a time of desperate need is a word from God.
• ·         It is not right for you to say that a situation is impossible just because you experience a failure or a temporary setback.
• ·         Everything you need is around you.
• ·         Nobody has a money problem only an idea problem.
• ·         When God speaks into your situation, the wealth of the world respond to God’s word in your life
• ·         What people do when they don’t know what to do; they run to the wrong person(s) and together they hold a pity party.
• ·         What you need is direction or a way out.
• ·         You do not need testimonies that that leave you disillusioned and confused.
• ·         You need an inspired message, an inspired idea.
• ·         Watch out for it!, this inspired idea may come through a sermon, a seminar, on television, on radio, on audio tape through a book or through conversation, during your prayer, worship or meditation time.
• ·         What you don’t believe, you can’t receive.
• ·          God will usually not bring a complex financial solution to your seemingly complex financial problem.
• ·         For all things are possible with God for only those who believe.
• ·         Just because you did not measure up by mans standards does not mean you will never get the chance.
• ·         There are million dollar ideas around you every day, go for them. Why? IDEAS RULE THE WORLD.
• ·         The quality of your idea would determine the quality of your success
• ·         Give priority to divine inspiration.
• ·         If you are not inspired, you will expire.
• ·         Listen to those around you who can pray with and for you.

WATCH OUT FOR CHAPTER 2.

SEASON GREETINGS FROM INSPIRATIONALKITS BLOG

REWARD FOR OUR READERS

Jokes

REWARD ISN'T FROM GOD ALONE!!!

That was what beeped my heart after checking the number of likes and comments we do have these days. The stats of my blog viewers keep increasing like the house of David grew!
Check what I read:
“And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I (David) also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing”

Also,
  "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust

Having concluded with my staff, this is where we packaged the New Month gift for all our clients around the globe. How to unlock:  I guess you asked?  Just throw your phone at any available wall and the gift will unravel itself, then assemble the pieces.

NB: Simply for Smartphone users only!
Happy New Month!

Have you gotten yours?
Why not share the good news with us in the comment box.
Don’t be greedy do share with your friend.

Published by
giftedanointed
www.giftedanointed.wordpress.com