Portrait of a Lava Chaser

 

PHOTOGRAPHER DEMIAN BARRIOS IS ON A MISSION TO USE HIS ART FOR GOOD ON THE BIG ISLAND

Demian Barrios got his first camera at 7 years old. Behind the lens of a 35mm film camera, he became obsessed with capturing the magic of the natural world - fleeting but powerful moments when he just happened to be at the right spot, at the right time.

Fast forward to May, 3rd, 2018. Grown up with a much bigger camera, Demian found himself at the right place at the right time - on top of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano during one of it’s most historic and destructive eruptions in modern history. On the ground for the first fissure eruption in Leilani Estates, Demian documented the flow as it consumed hundreds of homes in both Leilani Estates and Kapoho, where the lava continues to flow into the Pacific Ocean. 

Photo courtesy of Demian Barrios, Primary Focus Hawaii.

While documenting the ongoing volcanic activity, Demian has kept in close touch with those displaced by the lava, many of whom he knows personally. Hundreds of Puna residents have lost everything - homes, farmland, and businesses that made the fabric of a vibrant community. To help those in need, Demian recently launched the Lava Ohana Relief Fund. He is donating a percentage from the sale of each photo print - from a special collection of his work - to nine families. The proceeds will be directly distributed between the nine families to help them start over. Those who wish to donate can see photos and read each Ohana’s story on Demian’s website.

“Life can change in an instant. This experience has taught me to appreciate the simple things and shown me the incredible resilience that we have as human beings.”

— Demian Barrios

Photo courtesy of Demian Barrios, Primary Focus Hawaii.

If you have the opportunity to speak to Demian about his work, it’s clear that his entire heart and soul goes into it. As many creative, passion-driven professionals know, this can be a serious leap of faith. Sometimes, the Universe, or whatever you prefer to call it, gives us a powerful push onto our path. For Demian, this came in the form of the sudden death of his long-time friend and fellow lava chaser photographer, Sean King, who passed away in February. The pair had recently spent time on top of Mauna Loa to photograph the lunar eclipse on January 31st, where they talked all night about their passion for photography. 

“Sean didn’t just talk about his dreams, he went out and got his hands dirty building them. We shared a mindset that you first must dig the trenches and make the bricks that will eventually build your castle. It’s about intention and placement. His death made me question in my own life what I was doing to seize the moment.”

— Demian Barrios

For other creative professionals out there who are afraid to take the leap, Demian says that the most important thing is having a sense of urgency; you can’t postpone passion. To that, I would add a whole lot of courage and a vision with heart - two qualities that this talented photographer definitely has.

Follow Demian Barrios on Instagram @dbphotogallery, and on Facebook at Db Photo at Primary Focus. To learn more about him and his photography, visit his website: www.primaryfocushawaii.com.

The artist at work. 

Truth in Writing

Someone asked me the other day, “how do you write?”

What came out of my mouth was - “stay true to your voice”. Don’t conform to what you think others want to hear or expect.

When it comes to content writing for businesses, it’s about learning the voice of my clients and staying true to their voice. This means really getting to know them as a person, not just as a business owner. How do they speak? What is their sense of humor like? What do they love, and what do they hate? I’m a big believer in the law of attraction - you get what you put out.

I’ve found that getting clear on who you are, what you stand for, and what you want - in your business and life is the starting point for great things. As I gain clarity, I attract more clients who have a clear vision, which makes working together feel like a flow, rather than fighting a lion.

Instead of trying to be someone or something I think people will like, I strive to just be me - and I enjoy working with people who are true to themselves. Often times, they happen to have a business that they wholeheartedly believe in - a strong emotional connection that goes beyond the profit motive. The profit comes naturally because of their solid foundation. I would say this is the philosophy behind my work as a writer and business owner - to thine own self be true. It’s also my philosophy for this blog.

As a recovering perfectionist, starting this blog has been on my to-do list but I always have an excuse. The mother of all my excuses is rooted in a fear of insignificance - a feeling that there are so many writers, bloggers, and content creators out there that my voice will just be one more adding to the deafening noise.

But that’s not true - for any of us. My voice and my experience are unique and valuable. So is yours. There may be someone out there who needs to hear what I have to say, or what you have to say. Don’t deprive them of those words. I know there are many people in my life where if they had remained silent, I would not be where I am today. They opened their mouths and saved my life, many times without even knowing it.

So here’s to speaking up. Stay tuned for a new blog on the 8th of every month. I’ll be diving into topics on writing, creativity, entrepreneurship, and more… until I run out of words… which will be when my cat grows thumbs and starts helping me type this stuff.

Until next time --

M