Planning the New Year

First I would like to take this opportunity to say Happy New Year to all those that have paid attention to the crazy ramblings of this humble Photo-Monk. I hope you only the absolute best in all that you do in this new year.

2011 was one of the most eventful years in my life. I participated in many amazing events that brought so many creative geniuses together. I was truly humbled to be a part of such an amazing community. I sat with spiritual practitioners of many different disciplins and shared and grew in ways that I could have never have imagined.

The biggest thing this year was the photo-monk project. It bagan as a desire to share zen in the form of photography, that led to a plan to walk across the united states. While preparing for that a mugging changed the photo-monk project from zen to compassion. Starting off with an art event held at the place were I was mugged.

Then the move out of Atlanta back to my roots in the hopes of pursuing more philanthropic art projects. The Photo-Monk has become more of a life style than a project. It has become a monastic way of artistic expression. A total emersion into the ideas of kindness, compassion, expression and communication. Where it will go from here I have no idea. I want to travel the world and show it to you though the eyes of a Zen photographer. I want to have a million of my pieces hanging on walls. This way 10 million people will be talking about Zen photography. Which will turn into a billion people talking about Zen and then 10 billion trying to understand the moment.

Lets go viral and teach the world about this moment. This very moment, its beauty, its power, its secrets, its absolute truth. Lets share the photo-monk project with the world. Lets share Zen photography, compassion, kindness art and this moment with the world.

I know you want to.

Caleb Storms

Your Humble Photo-Monk.

Fitting In....or NOT.

Since My relocation to the Midwest, I haven't really got settled yet. So far it has been a lot like a very long vacation. I am anxious to get started on my new life and to see if I can find a place in the cold North.

I hadn't noticed how much of a bubble I lived in, I think it will be very good for me to wonder out of my confort zone and interact with different people.

My interactions so far have been mixed. I had a man in a car ask me what I was taking pictures of and seemed perplexed when I told him I was looking for things that were red. I have had a hermit that lived in the woods call me a socialist because I had accidentally wondered on his land. I seem to blow peoples minds with what I think are the simplest of conversations.

I don't want to imply that these are close-minded backwards people. I do not feel that way at all. What I do want to get across is that I think we all to a certain extent find our own comfort zone and do not wonder out of it enough. I myself feel at home with artists and mystics, philosophers and poets. I have no idea what to talk about with a factory worker or farmer. I would like to think that we could find some common ground, however I think at times we would both have to walk on unfamiliar ground in order to connect.

This week I have been around all maner of folks that the only thing I had in common with was air. From Amish to Nursery workers. I realized through this that not everyone wants to open minded. That many people are not only comfortable in their life, but would see mine as being flat out wrong. In all this I see more and more the need for people like me to not hide out in safe communities but to be out in the open. I feel as I have always felt. That I exist to give the world alternatives. It doesn't matter what that they do with it, as long as they know it exists.

Caleb

The Photo-Monk.

Living My Truth

My relocation to the midwest has effected me in many, many ways. The absence of the sun for the first couple of days made the experience haunting. The work oriented, job oriented mind set seemed foreign to me. I found myself asking myself "What was I thinking?". As the grey loomed on and I walked around a bit more. I thought of all the exciting adventures I could have in this town, if this town would have me. I'm not really sure if Indiana is ready for the return of its parodical son, but I guess only time will tell.

One thing that I noticed is how important it is for me to remain me. Not that anyone is trying to change me, I am just very different in my way of thinking than many people. I didn't notice it as much in the ATL because I was around like minded, open minded and artistic people. Here I notice it much, much more. I also see that something that seems very simple and obvious to me spiritually can be quite liberating to people that have not been exposed to such ideas. It is becoming increasing clear to me why it was necessary for me to make this move. A dharma is no good if it can't hold up to real life, and is usles if it cannot be shared. So here I am to practice, share and strengthen my personal dharma.

This is my time in the desert. A cold midwestern desert. I shall turn the sky into a bodhi tree, the clouds into dharma protectors and the wind into prayers. I shall chant until it thunders to all corners and touches a billion Buddha's ears. I shall do as I have always done, observe, meditate, make art and teach. Or at least thats what I'll tell the cops if they show up.

The Photo-Monk