Through the Viewfinder: Are Our Eyes Wide Shut?

By LeVoyd L. Carter II
©2007 LeVoyd Carter II
All Rights Reserved



I recently had the pleasure of spending eight days in Washington D.C. I enjoyed all of the normal things that make D.C., such a wonderful city - the architecture, museums, restaurants, shopping and etc. All that I could “see” I actually loved of the city.

Among various places, I visited the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, which was filled with many morsels of treasured history that all Americans should experience at least once. I was personally moved by how well documented the Civil War and the participation of African Americans in the same are captured. It is the accessible documented history of my ancestors living, fighting and honorably dying for the God given right as human beings to be free from the man made shackles that enslaved their flesh.

The images inspired me to pickup my camera and to start photographing D.C. as best I could in such a short period of time. As I may have shared in a previous writing, for me to look through the viewfinder of my camera is to silence the world around me. As I look through the viewfinder to compose my photographs and before pressing the shutter release button, I began to focus on the simplicity of D.C. while eliminating all unnecessary distractions. My mind intuitively began to process what my eyes and mind had obviously seemed to ignore prior to me looking at D.C. through my viewfinder. What was before me was astonishing.

There was a history in the process of being made, but not necessarily being recorded for display in the hollowed halls of a marble clad museum. The pictures that were being framed not to hang on any ones’ wall of honor were of homeless men and women making tents out of soiled blankets they had collected. Others slept on the stone and concrete retainer walls throughout the city that maintained finely manicured lawns and colorful arrays of plants and flowers. As the money flows daily in excess through the nations capital on beer, liquor and wine, extravagant dining, shopping and etc., [and yes, I indulged] many of these individuals ate from trash cans, suffered from the visual characteristics of drug abuse and withdrawal and the signs of mental illness. Why had I not seen this condition and reality prior to looking through my viewfinder?

As I continue photographing, a dear friend said, “You should take pictures of the old churches because they will be gone in a little while.” I didn’t quite understand what she meant until I saw this little boarded up dilapidated church in a strip center struggling to represent and find its place among the government buildings, Gothic museums and monuments, liquor stores and strip clubs. Like the lily growing from the crack in the concrete sidewalk, the little church is struggling to stay alive, preserve its historical honor and fulfill its present purpose while contributing to tomorrow’s history in a way that may not be remembered, recognized or valued. This is especially true for both the rural and urban churches found in the oldest of predominately black neighborhoods*.

As I looked through the viewfinder, I saw people from different backgrounds and nationalities hoarded like cattle each morning with the pensive looks of disgust, displeasure and disappointment etched into their faces. What were they thinking? Why does everyone seem so unhappy, sad, insecure or angry? Is it now taboo to be pleasant? Is smelling the roses a sign of weakness or dishonor?

Have the rigors of day to day life in an attempt to survive really taken a toll on how we view ourselves and how the world views us as Americans? Have the endless failed wars, “war on terrorism”, “war on drug”, “war on poverty”, and all the other politically motivated declarations caused us to lose sight of what life is really about (living, experiencing, being happy, leaving a legacy and etc.) and how “we” individually and collectively can positively contribute to this world?

I don’t know the answers to any of these questions. I only know that when we look at the vastness of the world, our cities and towns and our personal environments with our eye wide open, we tend to miss and take for granted the beauty found in a blade of grass, the smile despite on the face of a homeless person despite their predicament, the innocence of the child finding a momentary priceless treasure in playing peek-a-boo with a stranger or the rejuvenating power found in each breath of fresh air we experience. A history is being made everyday and each of us is an active and contributing participant in the same. How will you contribute to our history?

As for me, I want to make a positive difference everyday. When I am viewed through life’s viewfinder, I want to genuinely convey joy, laughter, positivity (in words and actions), compassion and empathy, vibrancy and generosity, appreciation and humility. When I become a permanent part of tomorrow’s history, I want to make sure I leave a lasting impact that is positive and leaves this place much better for me having been granted the blessing of participating in and to an extent molding a positive life and history. One day when my legacy is seen through the viewfinder, my earnest expectation is that what is seen, experienced and remembered will be that which is good, pleasant and inspiring to the eternal spirit of mankind – as the same continues to forge tomorrow’s history.

Exercise your power to live and experience life to the fullest! Craft, mold and write your own positive history through your thoughts, words, deeds and actions! Remember, you never know whose looking at you through their viewfinder. Peace and Blessings!



*See Eddie S. Glaude, Jr, Exodus: Religion, Race and Nation in Early Nineteenth- Century Black America (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000)

Images by LeVoyd L. Carter for Joseph Alexander Photography
©LeVoyd L. Carter II 2007 – All Rights Reserved.

The Power of Effective Communications in Life, Love and Relationships

There is a great deal of power to wield by each of us if we would continuously focus on being effective communicators. No matter what your passion, chosen profession or who you consider your friends, associates or colleagues, one of the tools each of us can have and use to maximize each situation, circumstance and opportunity is effective communication.

I will use myself as an example. When the stress of the challenges in my life pushes me to my perceived breaking point, I have developed the bad habit of focus, retreat and isolate. As I focus on eliminating the source of my stress, I tend to retreat and isolate myself from my family, friends, love interests and etc. In other words, I lose myself and my ability to effectively communicate during this period of time which usually does not exceeding a week or so.

During these periods of time, it is very difficult for me to return phone calls, to plan and hang out with friends, family and love interests. All that I basically do during these interludes is focus on eliminating the stressors. It is ironic because the saying, “Cat got your tongue”, seems to literally apply to me when I enter this coping mode. For many years, I have been able to get away with this approach to striking some form of balance in my life. However, recently I lost what could have been a long term friendship at a minimum with a wonderful person because of my withdrawal and isolation – coupled with the lack of effective communication.

I guess, as a means of explanation and not excuse, I am no different from many men who want to fix every problem that presents itself in short order. Sometimes I find myself offering unsolicited advice in an effort to fix a perceived problem that may not actually exist. Well (as I laugh at myself), in this correspondence I am simply suggesting that there has to be an effective way to
communicate to those people we care about and value in our lives, even when we are experiencing periods of stress, high anxiety and crisis.

As intelligent and cognizant individuals, we are normally equipped with the power to feel another person’s pain, loneliness, joy and etc. This empathy leads us to react in such a manner that either allows us to amplify and/or share in a person’s emotional state and respond accordingly. That being the case and mildly understated, it is important that we make the effort to effectively communicate with those who are most important to us, as life continues to throw its stressors at us. This is especially applicable to those special people in your life who have grown accustom to your calls, hearing your voice, being in your presence and being comforted by simply knowing that you’re there.

Why? Well, the lesson I recently learned is that while you are pulling away or as I like to describe my coping actions as focusing, retreating and isolating, others are reacting to your unusual and, arguably, selfish behavior. Sometimes family and long term friends can overlook the non-customary and unpredictable spurts of behavior, accept it as the norm, while allowing love to serve as a bridge that fills the gap when communication and physical presence are lacking (the enablers).

But, what happens when a relationship is new and beginning to take root and form? Can a relationship after a short time withstand a period of coping replete with silence, absenteeism, and seemingly a lack of empathy? My initial response to this question is that each relationship is different and as a result may produce different outcomes. However, in my situation described above, I lost a dear person because I was not an effective and consistent communicator over the course of several weeks. In addition and in retrospect, my lack of affirmative communication


actually sent a very powerful message to the other person in my relationship. In a nutshell and among other negative things, the messages I sent include the following:
1. You are not important;
2. You are not a priority;
3. You are of no concern or consequence;
4. Your feelings do not matter;
5. You are to be at my disposal;
6. You are to engage me at my will and pleasure; and
7. You are to be communicated with only when I want to communicate and when it is convenient for me.
Does this sound like a message you want to convey to a family member, friend, colleague or anyone for the matter? From my perspective, that answer is a resounding, “NO.” Nevertheless, as the sayings go, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” and as such, this law when coupled with the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” make perfect sense.

In my situation, I was totally oblivious to the fact that my actions of “focus, retreat and isolate,” had a very real and compelling negative impact on my young but very important relationship. In fact, the reaction to my resurfacing and attempting to communicate and reconnect was met with little to no enthusiasm (rightfully so) and the tables had actually turned (equal and opposite reaction). I could not get in, I could not find that conversation I had grown to expect and enjoy and the companionship I then longed for was all but gone. Are you wondering why? If you answered yes, then by all means read on.


My friend took the time to check on me and to make sure I was alright. She also made it very clear that she would waste no more of her life in idol chit-chat waiting for my next stressor to present itself. In my opinion, her actions were a sign of sheer intelligence, courage and self-preservation, despite how painful it may have been. Some readers may think or feel as if she were selfish and should have been there for me as I emerged from overcoming my obstacle(s). I may have felt that way initially as well, but in hindsight, I disagree. Every action, inaction or omission sends a message or a communication. I basically told her during my hiatus, that she was unimportant to me. No matter factually how untrue that message may have been, it was the message that was conveyed loud and clear – not from someone else, but directly from me via my action, inactions and omissions.

I lost a friend and companion because I did not take the time to make a five minute phone call once a day (despite how difficult I may have found it to be). I did not ask a person I cared about to join me for a bite to eat, despite the fact that we both needed to eat. This is unacceptable behavior. As a result, when I asked the question, “Where do we stand,” her response was justified although it caused me great anger, anguish and confusion. She responded, “I have nothing for you.”

The reason I am sharing this message is because each of us must take an inventory of the relationships that are important to our lives. Realize that just as life, the people and relationships that are important to us can be here today and gone tomorrow. Will you be left with fond memories or deep regret? Nurture your relationships because they are frail and easily broken. Unlike me, the relationship you could lose due to neglect and the lack of effective communications could be with your parents, children, siblings, spouse, etc. These relationships are far too important to neglect and possibly lose.


Take the steps necessary to learn how to be an effective communicator – especially in times when life throws you unexpected stressors. Build up your reservoir of empathy and compassion that can be tapped into via your unique tool of effective communication. Last, manage your life and your relationships so that you can live life happy, fulfilled and most importantly with no regrets. Call to action – Exercise everyday the power of effective communications. Be well.

Article By LeVoyd L. Carter
©LeVoyd L. Carter II 2007 – All Rights Reserved.
Acknowledgements: R. Benton and K.Walker thank you for your honest comments and contributions to this writing.
Image by LeVoyd L. Carter for Joseph Alexander Photography
©LeVoyd L. Carter II 2007 – All Rights Reserved.