John Cornicello Presents A Photo Conversation With Blain Harasymiw 10:00 am June 7th Pacific Standard Time (2:00 am June 8th, Tokyo Time). CLICK HERE. John hosts a weekly photo conversation with a special guest or a specific theme or topic, hosting professionals from around the world. And the assembled members that participate in the discussion are a who's who in the product photography studio world, among other visual art themes. Our host John is down-to-earth, chilled out, an easy to talk to, talented, professional visual artist. He is a master of lighting and is a passionate studio portrait photographer educator.

My introduction to John’s Photo Conversations goes back months as I expressed my appreciation in comments for the content of the conversations and the guests who are icons in the field of the visual arts and who know the difference between a shutter speed and an f-stop. Just seven years ago, I started using my given name and started a personal website; I was always too busy with my commercial work and executive duties. I used a pseudonym and never took credit for my work, but that has changed. When I first spoke with John, he thought I was strictly a wildlife photographer, as I have always kept a low-key professional photographer profile. And I still prefer my commercial photography workflow that way, including food, precious stones, fashion, architecture, gardens, etc.

For those who don't know me, here is a little more about my photographic journey and the upcoming discussion this June 2021.

I was born in Northern Canada, raised in a First Nations Canadian community, and embraced the culture. Being part of a wilderness and visual arts family, I have spent over six years of my life in the deep bush, and, as a child, my family and I would spend two months every year canoeing the northern Canadian waterways just before the Canadian tree line where the loons and timberwolves would call out at dusk, and the dancing northern lights served as entertainment accompanying the symphony of wildlife around the evening campfire. As Canada has more lakes than all the other nations combined, about 1.4 million, it was the perfect school for survival and gave me the appreciation I still have for nature’s majesty.

Mentors guided me from an early age to respect my environment, my surroundings and to treat all sentient and spiritual beings as my family. An adventure chasing the light will only show people with preconceived notions the fallacy of their perceptions and opinions. Authentic Japan is a beautiful and Zen-filled land where it took me 7-10 years to stop calling myself a visitor, and each time I learned something new, I would blend it into my subconscious, creating a deeper understanding. This practice rewards me sharpening my senses and constantly recalls me to the beginner’s mindset as each day brings me one more learning opportunity.

I am always seeking that defining image that characterizes me as a photographer. Still, as a multi-themed visual artist, in one day, I could photograph fashion, street photography, landscape, products, or portrait. Still, I feel most fulfilled in the field of nature and wildlife photography. Non-natural visual artists are constantly distracted by the little things and have a narrow appreciation of their surroundings. Their chi anticipates the next text message or update, but that steals the power and energy from breathing the moment. During my photography adventures, I encourage participants to remove distractions from their mindset, such as setting their smartphones to ‘Do Not Disturb’ or ‘Manner’ mode while in the field. This allows the participants to reduce the amount of background noise interfering with their understanding of the beginner’s mindset.

The upcoming discussion will undoubtedly cover various topics such as The four seasons of Japan, one of my guiding principles, the beginner’s mindset, my guide, the Concierge of the Zen forest, shrines, temples, festivals, people, wildlife, and wildlife portraits, among others. No topics are set in stone, so the discussion will not be single-themed. Definitely, multi-themed could be technical, philosophical, or historical, as I am well-read and experienced in Japanese sociology, culture, and history. I commonly refer to these concepts as Japanese dogma, and I enjoy tales of Bushido, the Kofun period, and I identify and have a bond with the First Nations People of Japan, the Ainu.