Helping Megan Shout In Tokyo

Google Maps contribution stories
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Megan - I am Me
Megan - I am Me1920×1080 181 KB

Recently the Local Guides Connect Moderators, Googlers and selected Local Guides were able to meet for contributor conversations in Tokyo. Many of us have written stories of our time in Tokyo and I am too, except that I am sharing something a little different.

As many of you know I’m a portrait photographer among the things that I do. I photograph professional and amateur models and I often photograph the people in my life who are re-finding themselves after trauma and need to see their power and beauty expressed by someone else.

You likely read recently about some of the challenges in the life of fellow Connect Moderator @Kwiksatik in her posthttps://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/How-Google-Maps-Helped-Me-Escape-Domestic-Violence/td-p/3446508

Megan and I have known each other for a very long time and share a close bond, often discussing our lives and sharing moments of understanding as well as simply listening because that is what people need sometimes. They don’t need validation or sympathy, they simply need someone to listen and to know that someone cares about them.

Back in 2020 we had an idea to do an intimate portrait shoot during Connect Live but a little thing like a global pandemic got in the way, this year when we found out about Tokyo I expressed the thought that we should try again even knowing we only had small snippets of free time amongst a busy schedule of all the other things we wanted to do.

Somehow we did find the time and I am happy that I achieved the right outcomes and produced some images for Megan to share and be proud of. The images come close to demonstrating the strong individual successful survivor that Megan is. They reaffirm that Megan is a winner in life and is powerful and strong despite the traps and pitfalls that have littered the past.

Is this something special I bring out in the subject? No, it’s already there. My role is to find some moments during a shoot that provide some images that yield the desired outcome and demonstrate the value, power and freedom of the subject. These images represent boldness, courage and a willingness to control one’s own destiny. They represent a triumph over adversities past and those still to be faced. They reinforce the tremendous place of that particular human in this world.

My subjects are like lions, they stand on pride rock shouting to the world, I know what I am and I know I am great and that I am valuable. All I do is help them express themselves, nothing more, nothing less. I help them find a medium to shout, they do the shouting.

Paul

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@PaulPavlinovich it was so much fun to do a photoshoot with you! Thank you so much for all the friendship, the fun, and some genuinely awesome photographs!!!

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Interesting post, dear friend @PaulPavlinovich …

The shot has really come out well -congratulations… Appreciate the pose also, friend @Kwiksatik … Especially in monochrome, it looks grand.

Best wishes to you both…

:heart: :+1: :bouquet:

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Thanks @TravellerG these shoots are important, but of course also fun.

Paul

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Congratulations to both dear @Kwiksatik and @PaulPavlinovich .

Each of you has achieved the task you had set yourself: Paul with a photographic portrait that puts the person in the foreground, and Megan who demonstrates her awareness of what she has achieved in recent years.

Congratulations to both of you.

David

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Hi @PaulPavlinovich It was one of the most interesting and emotional posts I have seen in this forum. In fact, we never know when and what kind of surprise life will prepare for us. When I read Mega’s article, I really had very different feelings. Even though it is not similar to this, I have experienced a big problem in the past years. Unfortunately, there was a 7 to the 4 earthquake in my country. I experienced it on the same day. It was a very rare situation in this world. But living that moment made me incredibly tired. But one of the things that made me proud the most was my moderator friends here, who were some of the first people to ask and call me after the earthquake. The messages I received from them saying “are you okay” made me say that there are people in some corner of the world who are thinking of me too. It made me feel very proud. Actually, I love taking photo shoots like you, but I think I’m a bit emotional so I can’t share the emotions in the eyes of the people I shoot. You’re doing great work. Keep it up. :blush: :+1:t2:

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@PaulPavlinovich and @Kwiksatik ,

Thank you both for sharing this story.

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Oh my… @Kwiksatik you are indeed A WINNER, a strong, determined survivor who inspire us all and @PaulPavlinovich , you captured the spirit beautifully. I really love the shot, including the one you shared on Instagram. I guess more will come soon.

In my line of work, as well as my personal life, I have come across so many victims of violence against women, including domestic violence. As a women myself, I cannot help but trying my best to help, through providing assistances whenever required, sharing awareness & advocacies to help addressing the issue, and as Paul rightly said, to listen and to be there when needed. It breaks my heart to see the traumas and the horrible impacts VaW bring, but many, many of them come out as survivors and great inspiration to us all. We thank you for that…

Cheers from windy Welly…

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Absolutely Great photo @PaulPavlinovich and to my friend @Kwiksatik You are a winner, Miss you my friend.

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Thanks @davidhyno putting Megan in the foreground is a very good way of describing the effect.

Paul

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I think you’d do better than you expect @Gezendunyali the emotion in the eyes as you put it is essential. The participants in the shoot need to share a bond, whether it be a long term friendship like we have or a fleeting moment, that shared emotion and the empathy that passes between the two as shared understanding is what makes the shot alive.

Paul

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Thanks @Rednewt74 I’m glad you appreciate it, the more sharing stories like this happens the more it becomes the normal and the less power people who want to dominate another will have.

Paul

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Indeed a terrible situation @indahnuria I’m happy you’re there for people. I’ve been there as the listener for several people in my life either personally or through work.

In Australia between one and two women are killed by their domestic partner every single week. Imagine that scaled up in the more populous parts of the world.

By talking and sharing this can change because people will feel empowered to step in and say no, that’s not cool.

Before someone says it, yes there’s violence against men too, and it’s just as terrible, just as sad and just as wrong. The balance between the two is far out of whack.

Paul

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“…shoots are important, but of course also fun…”

Of course, I too believe this, dear friend, @PaulPavlinovich .

Warm regards

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@PaulPavlinovich a great work you did. Nice to know about it. Your portrait in terms good click says that. Keep it up.

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@PaulPavlinovich @Kwiksatik

Thank you both for sharing this story with all of us :sunglasses:

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@PaulPavlinovich hai scritto delle sacrosante verità. A volte tutto quello di cui si ha bisogno è qualcuno che ti sappia ascoltare senza cercare di dirti quello che devi fare ma solo ascoltare perché lo sfogo è un’arma per uscire dalle difficoltà, per schiarirsi le idee e imboccare la strada giusta. La forza di raccontarsi così come ha fatto Megan :heart: @Kwiksatik spesso ha aperto gli occhi ad altre donne in difficoltà. La forza che hai fotografato nel suo dolce sguardo è stata la sua salvezza ed è grazie a quella forza se adesso è qui a raccontare la sua storia. È vero, ci vuole molta forza per mettere a nudo la propria vita pubblicamente, ma è un passo molto importante che molte persone faticano a fare. A volte la vergogna prende il sopravvento ma poi qualcos’altro porta via tutto… In questi giorni un caso di violenza sulle donne sta facendo scalpore nel nostro paese, il brutale assassinio di una giovane donna ha smosso le coscienze di molti, ma non basterà purtroppo a fermare lo sterminio di donne che ogni giorno c’è nel mondo. Personalmente mi ritengo una donna fortunata per l’uomo che ho accanto perché oltre a rispettarmi sa ascoltare, ma purtroppo ho testimonianze dirette di altre che subiscono violenza, vivono nel terrore e si sono arrese alla situazione, questo è veramente triste e mi da un senso di impotenza che mi fa stare male.

Tutti noi dovremmo fermarci un attimo a guardare nella profondità di noi stessi e trovare quello che abbiamo dentro. Una foto spesso ritrae ciò ma bisogna saperlo catturare. Ottimo lavoro Paul, spero che tu possa continuare con il tuo progetto e mettere a fuoco l’autostima di molte persone. Grazie per la condivisione, spero che se ci sono donne in difficoltà che leggono qui possano trovare il coraggio di ribellarsi e di riprendersi in mano la propria vita e la libertà che le spetta di diritto

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Hello @PaulPavlinovich ,
This is great support and empathy for her! I hope Connect will foster this kind of empathy.

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@PaulPavlinovich this is awesome. You a silently big hero and I like your perspective on this Tokyo recap.

Megan herself is a stallion. She has that big heart and keeps pushing devoid of the challenges in the face.

I am glad that LGs going beyond to support one another.

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Such a warm and encouraging story and photo, @PaulPavlinovich , and such a strong and beautiful woman @Kwiksatik . Thank you for sharing.

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