Sometimes terminology gets tossed around and we all nod our heads like we understand what’s being said, when we don’t.  I thought I would take a few steps back and take a simplistic look at what personal change is, to ensure we’re all nodding our heads in understanding.

When I speak about personal change, I’m describing something personally trans-formative.  The personal transformation can be large or small but somehow you change a bit of who you are.  Personal transformation can be driven by external and internal events.  These events can be prompted by something you control and others “happen to you”.  I use the word event because often times, there is some very real event that occurs and a series of internal changes follow.  Let’s examine these situations, look at examples and why that creates personal transformation.

External Events - An external event is something that happens in your environment.  Examples of external events can be things such as moving, the death of someone, getting hired or fired, starting or finishing school, or children moving out of the house.  On the surface these external events look just that: external to us.  Yet, despite their external nature the internal impact is always there.  The internal impact is not always in portion to the event itself.  This is because we all process the impact in different ways.  I’ll discuss our internal reactions later.

The reason why an external event, even something as simple as moving has an impact on us internally is because it forces us into making changes to accommodate that event.  If you look at moving, you not only have your personal living arrangements completely impacted for a period of time, but you have new neighbors and are leaving old ones, new businesses to learn about and a new place to hang your toothbrush.  You are changing habits and that creates anxiety or discomfort.  You may also be creating a new social network and the dynamics of a new group of people will redefine who you are as well.  Good or bad, you will change who you are even if it is only slightly.  Other events mentioned could change you substantially such as a death of someone close or a job change. (more…)

  Posted By tyna     Mar 25, 2010       0 Comments  

My interview by a Dallas Texas USA based Magazine http://www.obaasema.com/index.htm

Hushed tones fall over the room as guests take their seats. Legs are crossed, red-soled stilettos bob up and down as the lighting is dimmed and all eyes focus on the only visible light.  Nigerian photographer, Tyna Ezenma, readies herself at her tripod to capture the first model to take the runway. She is at Fashion Week in New York, September 2009, and with seemingly endless energy, she invokes the ability to virtually make time stand still. Her view of the world and how photography fits into it is quite poignant.

“The awareness of the importance of photography in the African society is so disappointing. Most people here have not come to realize that photography is an Art, and that people actually studied it as a course. As a female African in a profession dominated by men, I have to work extra hard to prove myself relevant,” remarks Ezenma. Her quest for excellence in this area has certainly been worth the sacrifice.

While in South Korea, relevance was not an issue especially when she had her first photography exhibition. She was the only female and the only black person in the group; this certainly made the experience special, she admits.

“As a female it has been difficult “squatting” at some events to take photographs.”  But being a minority has its advantages. When you find unique angles with which no other photographer might have thought about, you stand out. So the obstacles can become the sole inspiration for finding one’s niche.”

And many have taken note:Several accolades including three international photography awards in the U.S. as well as published works by the International Library of Photography. While in Korea for a year, her work was featured as part of a group exhibition in Ulsan, South Korea, in November of 2007. (more…)

  Posted By tyna     Mar 20, 2010       0 Comments