Last week, I had the privilege of being a judge for @daveks Black and White Photography Contest.
If you’re not familiar with the competition, it’s something that anyone can join by simply submitting original work that is categorized with the tag #bwphotocontest. To make your work easier to distinguish from photographs being submitted to different competitions, I also recommend using the current theme of @daveks’ competition in the title of your post.
This is the second time that I have had the honor of judging a competition on Steemit, and while choosing a winner is no easy task, looking through all of the entries and seeing the truly high caliber of the work that is shared on Steemit is very rewarding.
One thing I especially love about being a competition judge is that I always seem to find at least one really great content creator that I may never have come across had it not been for the responsibility of having to thoroughly check all of the posts entered into the contest.
While being a judge for last week’s black and white photo contest, I came across two very promising new Steemians, one of whom I would like to introduce to you now. If you haven’t looked at his blog yet, I really recommend that you do.
@kuenok
How is this guy not already famous?
That’s the first thing I asked myself after looking at his blog.
Someone who quit working for Google to spend a year traveling around the world and who found a way to save $25,000 in four months to do so, someone who was raised in multiple countries while growing up and has been both a stuntman and a Bboy in his past lives, someone who now spends his free time pursuing photography and free diving, with all of these interesting experiences and stories to tell, I can’t imagine how @kuenok will not be a leading Steemian six months from now.
I expect a lot from him and am really looking forward to seeing more of his photographs and can’t wait to hear about the year he spent traveling around the world.
Do yourself a favor and have a look at his series OneBreathOnePhoto.
ONE photo at a time, of ONE moment in time, on ONE breath of air. @kuenok
For @kuenok’s introductory post, please look here:
To read about why he decided to quit what must have been a great job at Google and other interesting posts, please have a look at the following links:
HOW I SAVED UP $25K IN 4 MONTHS
Credits: All images in this post are attributable to @kuenok.
@boxcarblue - Thanks for introduciing @kuenok. I admire his free spirit. Wish I had the courage at a younger age to do what I have done now - Got out of the rut of being a successful executive and started looking at the small joys of life. Thanks . Upvoted.
I am continuing my focus on wildlife. Today I wrote a blog on Snoozing parrots with my musings about Thomas Carlyle equating parrots to economists. I request you to take a look at it when you have time. Your comments, as always, would be an encouragement and incentive for me to make better blogs. Thanks
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Upvoted.
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Awesome post!
Love seeing someone promote other quality content creators. Its one of the best gifts you can give as an established Steemian.
I just started my new project where every day I compile a post with the "MUST READ POSTS OF THE DAY" and promote quality content creators. It has been very rewarding.
Keep up the great work.
SteemON!
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I've wanted to try doing a curation project like that too, but never seem to get around to it. I've always enjoyed and appreciated when other people have done it. It's fun to see their choices and to look at new material that come with a recommendation. I'll have to check out your Must Reads.
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Yes, its a LOT of work, spend about 4 hours on it a day. It is fulfilling though.
I do hope u check out the post and I welcome your feedback and appreciate the support.
SteemON!
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Wow Thank You so much! I am beyond flattered!
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write this wonderful intro about me. Let alone reading my stories and really understanding who I am.
I feel that I do have a lot to share, but a lot more to learn from everyone else here on steemit, just as you said above that you may never come across an interesting post if you don't look thoroughly enough, because that is exactly how I found you @boxcarblue, all thanks to the awesome #bwphotocontest by @daveks that I just so happened to stumble across the other day, which ultimately led me to your post on Tanabata!
Although I'm new to steemit, I feel that this is why I like it so much, because there are great steemians out there and it only takes a click from a comment or two to find eachother! so please do say hello if you ever come across my future posts, I hope to make many cool friends here :)
Thanks again for the intro @boxcarblue! I feel pumped to keep on steemin :)
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I'm glad to hear that you're pumped. Keep sharing those pictures and stories.
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Indeed, a great find!
@kuenok has some outstanding photos and experiences to share. Looking forward to more of his work!
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Definitely someone to watch.
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Thank you for so much for introducing @kuenok. I actually really love that first picture. It gives such a lovely sense of scale but has a feeling of infinity to it.
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It's a great picture.
I saw on your blog that you are or used to be a chef and a baker. I've been curious to ask you about that--where you've worked and what kind of cooking/baking you've done. I have a similar past, but haven't done much of either since coming to Japan.
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Those are more passions than a profession. I am actually a financial analyst by trade. I just grew up in a family that loves to cook. So, I eventually ended up picking cooking and baking as a hobby. I actually really just find pleasure in people enjoying the food that I cook and bake for them.
A lot of food that I make tends to be more of the comfort food variety. I hope you don't mind the pictures in this reply but here are some examples of what I normally cook:
I'm sensing that you might have had a more professional background in cooking and baking. I'm also curious to ask what you have cooked and baked as well in the past. Also, what made you decide to move to Japan? I am actually originally from New Jersey in the U.S. but I moved to the Philippines a couple of years ago.
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That chicken looks great! And the red velvet cake brings back some memories. I used to work in restaurants that tried to be fine dining in smaller Upstate New York cities. At that time fusion was very popular and cooking with French-based techniques and sauces. I also worked in a French bakery for five years making high-end mousse cakes and chocolates. That was interesting. On my own time, I did a lot of sourdough baking. I had the most fun doing that.
These days, comfort food is my favorite. I don't really like going to overly refined restaurants anymore. I really like big flavor and rustic presentation without any gimmicks.
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I have been looking at his posts now because I have seen him shared on your feed before. He is a great photographer and I am glad to be in a community with photographers doing amazing things! I can't wait to share my aviation experiences through the lens and sensor on my camera. Good luck to you!
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Very beautiful photos, thanks for pointing out!
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You're welcome.
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cool article
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Check this guy out. He has some great photographs and some interesting stories.
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That first pic is just breathtaking!! So perfect in every way :) Definitely going to follow him!
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I'm glad to hear it.
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Beautiful! Check out my Malibu post and my others! Followed you!
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Thanks. I'll check it out.
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Awesome awesome!! Some people are just so creative!
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This guy has some great pictures! Check'em out.
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Cool, thanks for introducing us to @kuenok. Going to check out his blog now.
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I hope you like it. I'm guessing that he's got a lot to offer.
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Awesome pics! Followed ya!
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They're not my pictures. They're @kuenok's.
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I will go check him out - thanks for helping the community.
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I like to try to do what I can and give back. A lot of people have helped me over the past year, so it only seems right for me to do so.
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Checking out @kuenok rightaway. He is a very interesting person by your description. And, he seems to be an amazing photographer too! :)
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I hope you like his blog.
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Thanks for the recommendation @boxcarblue. I am down with following someone who free dives and takes pictures while doing it.The pictures you showed are amazing. @kuenok has lived quite a life and I am sure will have many more experiences to share with the community!
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Thanks for following up my recommendation.
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Reminds me of Star Wars.
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The first picture?
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Very good B&W post and amazing post ! Well done!
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/20120805_287664471703366_111982936_n.jpg?oh=abe2a8267a4c35f70c3d37dc07e182e0&oe=596C3087)
https://steemit.com/bwphotocontest/@bugavi/b-and-w-photo-contest-entry-2-happy
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That's a cute pic!
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Hi "boxczrblue " Welcome to Steemit.
I can Follow You.
You can follow me.Thnx
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I've been around for a while, but thanks for the welcome just the same. I'll take a look at your blog when I can.
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This certainly brings my attention to @kuenok! I have so far participated in one of @daveks contests and was fortunate to receive Honourable Mention... :) ...and did see kuenok's winning piece; somehow was in a hurry (as usual) and did not take a step further to check him out - which I will do now! Thank you for this, @boxcarblue - it is not easy to find and keep track of people as well as be 'seen' in the big steemit world... What daveks & you are doing is great! Thank you!!
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I'm glad you're going to check him out. I'm trying to think of which photograph you did just by your name. It wasn't the one of the waterfall, was it?
You're right. It can be hard to be seen here, and even once you've become a little established, it's hard to continue being seen.
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I did check him out and it appears we're in neighbouring countries... :) And yes, I was the waterfall one - Sipiso Piso! :D Fancy that, you remembered! I'm impressed! With the number of posts you view...
Well, I guess only way forward is to truck on... Nice chatting with you! Wishing you a good day ahead... :)
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