Underwater Transformation About Face Underwater Transformation About Face

Happy New Year!!! Underwater healer project will be growing in 2014!

about, Underwater Healer About Face, uw maternity, uw portrait
January 1, 2014/by
Happy New Year, Everyone!! あけまして　おめでとうございます！ 2013 was an amazing, inspirational and evolving year for me. I felt like I was riding on a roller coaster emotionally and physically everyday. It was definitely fun and dizzy :) Looking back into all the underwater portrait photos in 2013, I had 23 portrait photo shoots including survivors, engagement, family and maternity! I was busy towards the end of the year especially working with 10 survivors in 3 states in 3 months besides my full time job! I managed my time to not lose myself and I think I made it through successful result! ２０１３年はとても刺激的で進化した一年でした。毎日、ローラーコースターに乗っているような楽しく、目まいのする、激しい毎日でした。一年を振り返ってみると、今年は２３の水中撮影を終える事ができました。サバイバーの人達、妊婦さん、婚約、ファミリー撮影、昼のお仕事の合間を探しながらスムーズにこなす事ができました。特に年末は１０人のサバイバーを３つのロケーションで３ヶ月で撮ったので風邪を引きましたが　自分を失わず、キャンペーンを成功する事ができたと思います。 My project, Underwater Healer About Face, helping heal cancer survivors through underwater portrait photography, was featured on CBS, The Huffington Post, The Huff Women, BuzzFeed, Weather Channel, IMDb, AsianWeek etc.  It was an exciting moment and I've never felt that kind of chill and goosebumps all over my body inside out. I loved that feeling. (definitely not good for your heart :) キャンペーンは色々なメディアに取り上げられ、多くの人達に見てもらえる事ができました。ドキドキして、鳥肌のがたち、心臓に悪い毎日を過ごしました。 I'm currently working on a book of cancer survivor underwater images with their stories. It'll be in English and Japanese. I'm hoping to extend my project all over the world and reach out to people as much as I can. This is my first book that I'm designing and I hope many people can read it and get inspire. 今はサバイバーのイメージコレクションの写真集をデザインしています。彼らのストーリーもそえてレイアウトしました。初めて自己出版する写真集。日本語にも訳してあるので多くの人達にみていただければ良いなと思います。 Thank you so much. I would not have been able to do this campaign without your support! I hope you all have a fantastic new year! 本当に皆様のご協力のおかげでここまでやって行く事ができました。ありがとうございます。２０１４年も良いお年をお迎え下さい。 Sincerely, Erena　下田恵玲奈 photo by Jeremy...
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Underwater maternity portrait photography for your eternal memory

about, uw maternity
November 30, 2013/by
Underwater maternity portrait photography for your eternal memory Over the weekend, I reorganized my other portfolio site, erenashimoda.com. I would love to meet new clients going forward. This would be the perfect Underwater maternity portrait photography for your eternal memory! Of course, returning clients are more than welcome!  Underwater maternity photo session has been taking off this year. I've met so many beautiful mothers excited with their new borns. If you know anybody with a happy tummy, please pass my information. Here are some of the sessions from 2013. You can also check out last year's here. Let me know what you think of...
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NYC Trip Photos

about, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
November 20, 2013/by
I'm finally uploading the  NYC trip photos! Arrived safely with my gear and welcomed by corn chips and Dunkin Donuts! Yum! Vicky helped me finding a pool for this photo shoot. We had to wake up early so only ONE beer to celebrate my arrival! She was my first subject. Getting ready in the early morning is brutal but her eye brows were perfect! (how did you do that!) Emily Morrison was my second subject. She was so adorable! Her mom was cute too. I was so happy to make her dream come true! Brian (on the left) was my third subject. He flew down from Maine for the photo shoot. He wanted to have a bicycle theme! I wished I got a used bike for the prop! Next time! Mailet is a CEO of IHadCancer (in the center), the company I partnered for the campaign. She was my last subject for the day. Her hair was synchronized with the motion and the movement was so graceful. Everyone did incredible jobs performing in the water considering it was their first time. I can't wait to show you all the final photos! After the photo shoot, we all went out to have dinner. Anthony, a president of  a design agency, Squeeky, treated us with bunch of pizzas and fancy bottles of wine! I brought my laptop to have the preview of  underwater portrait session. They were thrilled to check them out. It's so interesting to see them criticizing their performances. I just loved seeing their smiley faces :) Last night...
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Underwater Healer About Face in NYC!!

about, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
October 31, 2013/by
I'm getting ready to go to NYC! IHadCancer (the company I partnered for the campaign) is flying me out to take photograph of 4 people. I'm packing all the underwater gear in 2 cases just like the Seattle trip. I'm really nervous because this trip is going to be the toughest challenge I'll ever face in my life. 1. I'm photographing my friend Vicky who has been a great supporter for this project. I want to offer a complimentary underwater portrait session. 2. CEO of IHadCancer, Mailet Lopez is a breast cancer survivor. She wanted to create the community for cancer survivors, fighters and supporters connect. 3. Her friend, Brian is my first male survivor and he is flying in from Maine for this photo shoot. 4. Another friend of IHadCancer, Emily is going blind after multiple cancer treatments and a tumor on her optic nerve. She is only 25 years old. Everybody is important to me and I'll do my best work on each person. I'm SO nervous and excited to meet them specially, Emily. Please check out her TO SEE LIST, all the to do list before she loses her vision. Do you see underwater portrait in there? I'm so happy she found...
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IMDb, thank you so much!

about, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
October 27, 2013/by
I was just searching my article on the website and I found this on IMDb's website! Thank you for the post, IMDb! Washington, Oct 15: A photographer, who is on a quest to help cancer survivors rebuild their self-esteem, recently conducted an amazing underwater photo shoot for six such survivors. Erena Shimoda told CBS News that after her father died in a car accident, she was physically and emotionally broke and she had to learn how to deal with herself. But by helping other people, she was able to overcome her painful experience, Shimoda said. Shimoda had started an Indiegogo campaign and collaborated with IHadCancer.com to raise 17,000 dollars so she could shoot 10 cancer survivors underwater. However, the money collected was just over 10,000 dollars. But Shimoda decided to go ahead with the project,...
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CBS NEWS!!!

about, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
October 15, 2013/by
My heart was beating fast all day since they published an article about my campaign this morning. I've been waiting for this moment and I felt so relieved when I saw my work on their website! Thank you so much, CBS!! CHECK OUT CBSNEWS.COM I wanted to post few more images. I originally gave them 30 images but they only used half. You can view the 30 day campaign, Underwater Healer About Face. It seems so long ago.... This is Erica Yee. We are reviewing the poses to improve for the next shots. We both had a great time! Please view her beautiful images here! Setting the camera makes me nervous every photo shoot. I'm finally getting use to it! You can view the simple set up from my pitch...
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Thank you for coming to NightLife gallery show!

about, art show, uw portrait
August 23, 2013/by
I had an awesome time at California Academy of Sciences last night! Thank you, Betty for contacting me and curating the show. I absolutely LOVE NightLife. I couldn't get to walk around much to check out other events but I would definitely go back there again to check it out. My stuff was right next to the penguins. They were so cute, cuddling and getting ready to go to bed. A lot of my friends stop by and I was SO happy to see everyone there. I was so happy all night showing my series and I can't wait to do more projects! Thank you so much for coming out and all the support! I love you guys!! Have a great...
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Butterfly totem　蝶に伝わった私のエネジー

uw portrait
July 7, 2013/by
I hope you had a great July 4th weekend! I was at Bass Lake during the day with bunch of friends. I haven't been there since the last August. We cut the traffic with motorcycle and got to the place pretty quick! We hiked for 2 miles going through some tree tunnels and got to the water finally! We jumped in with our inflatable tubes and floats. (so cute to see big kids who ride Harley) The water was so warm but my underwater camera was not really good for the muggy water :( When we were hanging out floating, a butterfly landed on my leg, suddenly. It was rare to see it on me and I was told to search for the butterfly totem and I did when I got home. I was shocked to read what it was. The butterfly symbolizes a personal transformation, changes in your life. This is exactly what I want and going through to make it happen right now. I'm launching a fundraising campaign called Underwater Healer, About Face. About Face means to change the attitudes, views and turn things around 180 degrees. It's for the cancer survivors but also for myself. I'm looking to change something big! Butterfly sensed that energy on my scaled legs :) http://www.spiritanimal.info/butterfly-spirit-animal/ I had such a wonderful...
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The best morning therapy

Uncategorized
May 19, 2013/by
I go swimming about twice a week. I like the quietness and the emptiness in the early morning. I brought my underwater iPod the other day. I discovered the music helped a lot to keep the steady rhythm of my strokes and kicks. I was amazed how smoothly I was swimming and breathing. At the end of the hour, I decided to float on the surface and listen to the music. It was the perfect way to cool down and to relax before I get out the water. I had the best morning ever! I actually use my iPod for my clients. They all love it! Please let me know if you have any questions and interested in my underwater healing session. このごろ水泳に夢中になってる理由が、じゅじつで腰を痛めてしまって　(年です。笑）ヨガか水泳しかできないという。。。 ついこの間、水防止のアイポッドで水泳をしたら、音楽のせいもあって、呼吸とクロールにリズムかんがあったのに気づきました。 普通に泳いでいる時よりも、疲れにくい！やはり、呼吸は大切ですよね。実は私のクライアントにも使ってもらってます。水の中でゆっくりリラックすできるそうです。サンフランシスコに来る機会があれば、私のunderwater healer...
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