Underwater Transformation About Face Underwater Transformation About Face

Spinal cord injury survivors’ underwater transformation on Abilities.com

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“No water, no life. ? No blue, no green.” – Sylvia Earle Abilities.com Abilities connects the disability community to live and online resources that promote greater independence. Underwater therapy combines total immersion with portrait photography to reinvigorate the body and elevate attitudes. Please read the article...

Los Angeles 2017

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Let's go to Los Angeles!! It's been awhile- WooHoo- I love traveling! First stop, Wolf Mountain Sanctuary! One of my bucket list to see beautiful wolves! Hmm...The sign needs to upgrade... It was SO hot out (more than 100F). Wolf said, "Human time..(sigh) my early shift begins with these two...(sigh)" "HEY, heeey human, where are my carrots!!??" I brought carrots (organic!) for them but I was not allowed to feed them at that time :( "HEY human, got it, got it! I'll pose...where are my carrots?" The guide repeatedly told us they are not dogs. But you know....I want one!!! His big face didn't fit for selfie- "Carrots?" There was one more human friendly wolf. She is 15 years old, an oldest wolf at the sanctuary. "Oh hey, human:)" She was a friendly grandma. Just like this! I was so happy to meet 11 wolves. They were rescued from hunting in Alaska and from abusive owners. We found a cafe 247 for lunch. Home made Chiiiips! As soon as I got to the Airbnb, I had to jump in the water to rejuvenate! Next stop, Natural History Museum! Next stop, Anime Expo!!!! Check out the VIZ Media Blog! SO MANY people! I heard it was twice much bigger than last year! At the Food Wars panel, the creator, Yūto Tsukuda had to challenge some American snacks: Spicy Cheetos! It was a huge surprise for me when they played a manga trailer I worked on!!! I got super emotional seeing and hearing fans' reactions. The creator loved it, that means a lot! Thank you so much!...

Medical conference 2017

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It was one of my dreams to be part of medical/health field. My work was displayed at a medical conference!! They look gorgeous!! Thank you for your continuous support! ガン関連のメディカルコンフェレンスで 私の作品とバックストーリーがギャラリーに飾られました!3年連続での サポートありがとうございます?!! Please read a story of a breast cancer survivor, JoAnn. Please read a story of a stomach cancer survivor, Steve, a breast cancer survivor Kim and a testicular cancer survivor Scott Please read a story of a thyroid cancer survivor Pauline and a brain cancer survivor...

UW Fashion Photography with Zena Holloway in Bahama

Travel, uw portrait
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UW Fashion Photography with Zena Holloway in Bahama and an extra stop in Florida I've been scuba diving for over 12 years and I became a scuba dive master in Venezuela. I started taking photographs of fishes and marine life. And one day, I saw Zena Holloway's work, Swansong, I instantly thought I want to be like her. Over 10 years later, I found out she was leading a workshop organized by Aquaspirit in Bimini, Bahama! If I miss this opportunity, I might not see her again. I finally decided to sign up to meet her in person! A dream came true! I did a mini interview with Zena at the end of the workshop. She gave us a great advice! SO... my adventure began from this huge canvas... #oceanhug Arrived in Bimini, Bahama! I cried looking at this crystal clear water!!!! It looks like a painting... SO GORGEOUSSSsssss!! The sky is not covered by any buildings. I felt like I was in the planetarium. If you have guts to walk up stairs on these. I'll give you $5. Don't worry, it's super safe. Rainbow before the sunset... aaand this is the place I stayed. At welcome dinner to meet Zena, other photographers and models! People are coming from 11 different countries!!?? So awesome to connect through our passions. AND I ran into Tammy from San Diego!! When I photographed 3 cancer survivors in San Diego last year, I got to rent her pool! Thank you so much for supporting my my project! It was a great night! The food...

Academy of Art University

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Back in 2001, I graduated from Academy of Art University as a New Media major. And few month ago I was interviewed by the editor from AAU and it was published! I was so happy to see the article! The article is online now! Please check it out! "Ever since she was a little girl, Erena Shimoda fantasized about being a mermaid and calling the ocean her home. As an adult, she felt like her childhood dream had almost come true the first time she went scuba diving during a trip to Honduras 14 years ago. "  - See more at:...

Florida Trip Report 2017

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I've never been to Florida before so I was super excited! I got all the good luck stickers on my bags and I was ready for the new adventure! I arrived in Orlando and drove 2 hrs north to meet my friend in Geinsville.  Jamaican jerk chicken was delicioius!! This town reminded me of CA.  I met a lot of cool people through my friend all night!  And it was actually COLD there!! The live band was awesome too! The next day, we went to Ichetucknee state park. And first thing I saw was this warning... I think I still have 2 arms and 2 legs... The spring was beautiful!! 72F all year long! The next early morning, I had a trip to see Manatees!! It was one of my bucket lists! It was a beautiful misty morning I saw them!!! They were so cute!! A post shared by Underwater_Beauty_SanFrancisco (@erenashimoda) on Feb 21, 2017 at 8:53am PST Then I went to Weechi Wachee to see mermaids!! This spring theatre is around for 65years! Beautiful show! I wanted to be a mermaid when I was little. This place is giving hopes and dreams for everyone. The next morning was the big day! I met a cancer survivor, Les at Devil's Den! This place is a magical spot! If you are interested in scuba diving, you should get an open water certificate from this place. The instructor, Don was so friendly and supportive to my project. I highly recommend this place! Les is 52 years old and was born and raised in Maryland. He lives in Florida...

Underwater Healer About Face in Florida!

Travel, Underwater Healer About Face
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I'll be in Florida from 2/10-2/15! Arriving at night on the 10th and leaving early in the morning of the 15th. Super short trip but I want to make the best out of this trip! I'm excited! Originally, I was not going to work BUT that never happened for me :) I just LOVE working with cancer survivors, sharing stories and making beautiful memories together. Les is 52 years old and was born and raised in Maryland. He lives in Florida for the last 30 years. He is a 2 time cancer survivor (skin and lung cancer) He used to go scalloping every season. He says, "One reason I want to do this, if I can be truthful, is because I'm kind of worried about getting back underwater since I have only 1 1/2 lungs and no idea how long I can hold my breath anymore. The second reason is because I haven't done anything just for me since cancer took my life and I don't have any pictures of myself! I also want to make my daughters proud :)" Amber grew up in Hot Springs Arkansas and spent time in Ketchikan Alaska as a teenager. Then she lived in Alabama for 14 years until she moved to Florida. She was diagnosed with PTSD and Colorectal Cancer. She has also been left with a colostomy bag and that is a constant pull at her feelings of beauty and causes much doubt and sadness. She says, "I hope to have the opportunity to...

Fem Worldview Magazine

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Thank you so much for featuring my work. I'm honored to be a part of this beautiful magazine, Fem Worldview to inspire other women in the world. "From the Editor:  It is with great honor that Erena Shimoda agreed to allow Fem Worldview Magazine to present her extraordinary underwater healing project for cancer survivors.  I am a swimmer.  I love the water.  I am never happier than when I am floating in a pool, or diving underwater, free from stress and petty annoyances.  Sometimes I close my eyes and think I’m still in Bora Bora.   Sometimes I close my eyes and dream I’m a child.  Everything is possible in the water.  Until you immerse yourself in the water, you aren’t yet free.   Come with me and take a journey with people who have survived the worst fear – cancer.  Applaud them and praise them as we allow Erena Shimoda’s gift of photography to grace us in her underwater world." About Fem Worldview Fem Worldview Magazine is a publication showcasing extraordinary women from around the world.  Fem Worldview is a global journey brought to our readers through exquisite imagery and powerful journalism with no-holds barred presentation.  Fem Worldview is a publication that is embodied with integrity, consciousness, research, education and...

Meet Sara, a breast cancer survivor

Underwater Healer About Face
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I had an amazing day working with an adorable couple who wanted to celebrate their 10 anniversary under water and after that, I got to work with a beautiful breast cancer survivor, Sara. She was born and grew up in the south bay, and have been living in San Francisco most of her adult life, other than going to Berkeley for undergrad and UCLA for law school.She was iagnosed breast cancer in December 2015, when she was 38. After the photo shoot, she said, "I totally would recommend underwater portrait to other survivors! For survivors, I think it's an experience that can help you feel strong and confident again, especially because Erena was so warm and encouraging. It is a nice escape from thinking about cancer. It also is a moment where you can feel like you're in control and you're guiding the concept and deciding what to do, instead of being told what's happening to you and your body by doctors. It's a fun "appointment," instead of all the mandatory doctor appointments that poke and prod you. I think it also would be a great experience for anyone, not just survivors. It is such a unique, artistic experience and different way of seeing yourself." Thank you so much, Sara for being a part of this beautiful project to inspire other survivors and everyone in the world. Her underwater transformative images are stunning! I can't wait to show them to you...

My Survival Story

Underwater Healer About Face
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My Survival Story I was so happy to meet Martin and Katarina from Switzerland last week! They are traveling the world to capture cancer survival stories for their project, My Survival Story. They contacted me several months ago through Skype. They wanted me to be a part of their project to inspire other survivors. One of the survivors, Tina said, "Survivors need survivors to survive." I was excited to share my story, beautiful images of survivors and how underwater portrait photography heals survivors' emotional scars. I loved hanging out with them. It's been awhile... to be interviewed... since the NBC show! We met a breast cancer survivor, Betsy from San Jose, CA. She is a NP at Stanford hospital. This is also my 3rd breast cancer survivor with a nurse background. May be their work schedule and stress caused cancer...  Martin and Katarina interviewed her before the photo shoot. Betsy told me she doesn't usually wear make up. She is beautiful with or without it :) She did amazing work under water!! After underwater photo shoot with Betsy, I asked her how she felt underwater... Pictures are coming soon!! Then I took a photo of Martin and Katarina! Photos are coming soon! They were fascinated by how dreamy the photos look :) Before they came to San Francisco, they were in San Diego to meet Scott and Mandy! I met them in March for my Underwater Healer project. Scott is a 2 time testicular cancer survivors and he froze his perm when he was 21 yrs old. His...