Underwater Transformation About Face Underwater Transformation About Face

Underwater Healer About Face in BOSTON 7/17/2015

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June 11, 2015/by
Underwater Healer About Face in BOSTON 7/17/2015 Underwater Healer = an underwater portrait photography as a form of healing About Face = a complete change in attitude 180 degrees Help cancer survivors rediscover their beauty through underwater portrait photography. July 16, 2015 we are meeting 3 cancer survivors to do an underwater healing photography project, Underwater Healer About Face in Boston! Also giving a talk at Apple store on Friday the 17th. We want to thank you who signed up for underwater portrait session in 2014 and 2015 to support our project moving forward. A partial portrait session money is going to be used for the Boston trip. Flight, transportation, Airbnb, pool rental fee and all other expenses. The rest of the money is for the Bay Area survivors (approximately 3) in August, 2015. It's never too late to sign up for an underwater portrait session to support cancer survivor project! Please let me know if you have any questions. Since 2013, I've met 14 survivors. And now, I'm adding 3 more mermaids to my underwater healer map! Chien-Chi HuangSurvived from triple negative breast cancer (stage 2). She was diagnosed at the age of 40 in 2005. Katie Shute Survived from breast cancer (stage 2). She was diagnosed  at the age of 40 in 2013 Kim Santagata Survived from triple negative breast cancer (stage 2). She was diagnosed at the age of 26 in 2014 . I'm really excited to meet these beautiful ladies and see them transform into mermaids through underwater portrait photography! Please come hear the story and...
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40th birthday with sharks in Hawaii

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April 25, 2015/by
40th birthday with sharks in Hawaii I've been busy lately! I was in Santa Monica for a presentation at Apple Store few weeks ago, I hosted a Sumo wrestling birthday BBQ party and I just came back from Hawaii! I was in Oahu for 5 hours last year to meet a cancer survivor, Amber and my friend, Kimi. We had such a great time doing underwater photo shoot but it was too short! I'm glad I'm back on the island for 5 days this time. On my birthday, we did a PELAGIC MARINE ANIMAL RESEARCH DIVE to see sandbar sharks! I was so excited! They came so close to us! We were super lucky to have 100ft visibility! so beautiful... They love to play with the bubbles from the boat! So cute! I felt like I was in a dream, swimming in the deep blue and seeing 20 sandbar sharks. I'm so happy with this shot! Juan and Ocean are so knowledgeable, confident and humble about sharks and the ocean conservation. Please check out their site to learn about them! http://www.oneoceandiving.com AND Ocean is a captain, scuba instructor, freediver, and everything ocean! Super woman!! It's so cool to see a female captain! We stayed at a condo with a beautiful ocean font view in Haleiwa. We snorkeled every morning!   We drove to Honolulu to see my friend, Kimi Werner at Ocean Expo! I see her every year for 4 years now. Since I missed her in January, I feel it's complete! Thank you, Kimi- It was so coincident to...
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Apple store underwater healer event in Santa Monica

about, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
April 6, 2015/by
Apple store underwater healer event in Santa Monica It was such an amazing experience being in Los Angeles to give a presentation on our campaign, Underwater Healer About Face, help cancer survivors rediscover their beauty through underwater portrait photoghraphy. I've done this last year at SF Apple store location but I still have a fear towards public speaking! practice practice... Ok, time is up! I'm going to do this! I was happy to meet new people, see old friends and co-workers! I showed some of the creative underwater shots. This is an underwater BJJ. The images were featured on Fightland, VICE and printed on the February and March Issue. I also want to thank Fightland for the contribution to support our future underwater healer project to help cancer survivors! Thank you! I shared a story of one of the 13 cancer survivors, Amber from Hawaii. She survived from Thyroid cancer when she was 20 years old. Chelsea is a pediatric cancer survivor. She was diagnosed brain cancer when she was 8 years old. She shared her story and an underwater experience to inspire the audience. The presentation was successful! For the Q&A session, I asked them what they thought of our campaign. Erin is a professional underwater photographer. She gave us positive comments and encouragements for the future project! It meant so much to us. Thank you so much for your support, Erin! Diane is a BJJ practitioner (purple belt) and a medical school student. By hearing from a future doctor, her opinion meant so much for all...
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Underwater Yoga Portrait Session from Maui

about, Travel, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
March 2, 2015/by
Underwater Yoga Portrait Session from Maui I'm back on the mainland and still spreading the ALOHA spirit!! I'm finally uploading images of underwater yoga portraits from Maui retreat! We all had a great time underwater. I'm missing everybody... Our annual happy baby pose! Also Matrix!! I'm going back there in January, 2016 for the same underwater yoga portrait session in Maui. Underwater group portrait photography is included in the package, everyone!! You can reserve a spot by contacting Lisa Danylchuk http://howwecanheal.com/retreat-with-me/ You can also see other Maui photos from here https://underwaterhealer.com/about/2015-maui-yoga-retreat I hope to see you guys in...
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Interview with a Brazilian TV show　ブラジルのテレビ局とインタビュー

about, uw portrait
October 1, 2014/by
Interview with a Brazilian TV show　ブラジルのテレビ局とインタビュー I got a email from a Brazilian TV show, MULTISHOW. They told me that they are launching a new TV program and it will suit perfect with my Underwater Healer Project. They wanted to interview me in person. ブラジルのテレビ局、ムルティショーのプロデューサーから連絡があり、来年の新しい番組に私の去年からしているキャンペーンがぴったりだと言う事で、サンフランシスコの私の家（オフィス）でインタビューがしたいというメールでした。 I was super excited to have people over from Brazil and I felt definitely flattered by it. I'm grateful to be part of the show and to share my story to inspire the world. もちろんオーケーを出してすぐにスケジュールをくみました。他国からも興味を持っていただけて私のストーリーが世界中に広がってくれるのはとても嬉しいです。 The director, Gustavo and the cinematographer, Manuel were super nice, interesting and professional. I talked for 40min. I'm a listener and usually don't talk much so I felt like I used up 1 year worth of my voice and tons  of calories! They had few shots of me editing photos and my mermaid decorations. I hope I told everything they needed to know... It was a great experience meeting them and talking in front of the camera!　ディレクターのグスタボとシネマトグラファーのマニュエルはとても親切でoおもしろくて、プロフェショナルでした。４０分ほどのインタビューで喋りまくり。普段は聞き手なので、一年分の声とカロリーを燃やした感じです。笑。その後は私が写真を編集している所を何ショットか撮ってくれました。彼らが知りたいことをすべて話せてたらいいのですが、少し心配です。 For the perfect composition....The cinematographer, Manuel is fixing my best friend's underwater portrait photo from Puerto Rico. 私のベストフレンドの写真の位置を完璧な場所に動かしているマニュエル。 AND it is a SMALL WORLD. Manuel and I have a mutual friend, Branca!! I asked Branca if Multishow really exist in Brazil (hahaha). Meanwhile, Branca was trying to meet Manuel to catch up! Crazy! He was too busy and they had no chance to meet up :( I hope three of us can meet...
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Sport Diver Magazine 2014 July Issue

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June 5, 2014/by
Sport Diver Magazine 2014 July Issue スポーツダイバー7月号ページ21に載りました〜！！ I was interviewed by Sport Diver magazine few month ago. Somebody emailed me that I'm on the Printed July issue!! This magazine was hard to find in San Francisco! One of my friends suggested to try calling Smoke Signals  They had 3 more left!! I bought them all! (I was too excited:) スポーツダイバーの雑誌に何ヶ月か前にインタビューされて７月号に良い記事で載ってるよいうメールが読者からきました！この雑誌は結構見つけにくいのでサンフランシスコにある本屋に電話をしまくりました。親友がスモークシグナルはあるはずとの事で、朝７時オープン直後連絡したら、３冊残っているとの事。興奮して３冊とも買ってしまいました！ Sport Diver magazine July 2014, page 21! Click here to enlarge the...
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Solo Exhibit at Tokyo Gallery Midoriso

art show
May 7, 2014/by
水中ポートレイト写真家、下田恵玲奈が手がける水中ヒーリング  プロジェクトの展示会『Underwater Healer About Face"』 Solo Exhibit at Tokyo Gallery Midoriso 展示会 2014年 17日（土）18日（日）12:00~17:00 オープニング•レセプション•パーティー 日時 : 2014年 5月 16日（金）18:00～21:00 場所 : 中目黒「みどり荘」 東京都 目黒区青葉台3311 2階/ 3階 http://midori.so/ カリフォルニア州サンフランシスコをベースに活躍する水中写真家、下田恵玲奈が癌克服者に捧げるプロジェクト。水中でのヒーリング活動を手がける下田恵玲奈の願い、それは、癌克服者が自己の美を再び見いだせるよう、彼らの内成るパワーを引き出すチームとなること。 癌克服者が経験する癌告知から手術、治療、副作用、そして再発への恐怖といった経験。それは肉体的にも精神的にも 辛いトラウマ的な経験だが、癌を通じて生に向き合い諦めずにチャレンジするというかけがえのない経験から彼らは自らの人生をさらに強く美しく塗り替える生命力を得るのだと下田は語る。癌サバイバーが再び自信を取り戻し、セルフイメージを高める事が出来るように、彼らの内なる輝きを水中ポートレイトとして贈る手助けを活動の一貫とし、２０１３年、アメリカ各地にて１３人の癌克服者達の写真撮影を行う。２０１４年の３月、彼らの美しいイメージと、ストーリーを記した本を出版。そして今回初の東京での展示会がギャラリーみどり荘にて開催されることとなった。 画期的で慈悲に満ちあふれる下田恵玲奈の世界観を五感で体験する３日間。 http://underwaterhealer.com/testimonials http://igg.me/at/aboutface/x/1633174 Erena Shimoda's "Underwater Healer About Face" Solo Exhibit at Tokyo Gallery, Midoriso May 17 (Sat.) and May 18 (Sun.), 2014 12:00~17:00 opening reception May 16 (Fri.) 18:00～21:00 San Francisco, CA – April 21, 2014 Erena Shimoda, a San Francisco-based underwater photographer has launched an innovative and philanthropic fundraiser to benefit cancer survivors by rediscovering their beauty through underwater portrait photography. Solo Exhibit at Tokyo Gallery Midoriso In 2013, Shimoda photographed 13 cancer survivors across the United States and published a corresponding book of the photographs and beautiful stories of the survivors. She will be exhibiting her photographs as well as her book at Midoriso in Tokyo, May...
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Genentech USMA conference in Arizona, Phoenix

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May 6, 2014/by
Genentech USMA conference I was invited to Genentech USMA conference in Arizona, Phoenix from April 21-25 to present my underwater healer project. They flew me out and gave me a gorgeous hotel!! For the opening night to welcome us, the band, Pink Martini played! I wish I had talked to them! Sante Johnson came with me to give a beautiful speech in front of more than 500 doctors. She was one of the survivors from my underwater healer about face campaign, 2013. She survived from breast cancer. In the end of 2013, she was diagnosed and she is sick again. She agreed to share her experience going through her treatment. (Thank you, Sante!) Monday night, We finally got to meet the organizers and Sante rehearsed her speech. Tuesday was the BIG day for us. Sante's husband sent flowers to wish us the best of luck!! So sweet! Thank youuu-!! Then we checked out my images if they arrived safely from SF! Whewww they did! Sante's speech time! The place was packed!! I was so nervous for her! I was holding an iPad to take video. Her speech was beautiful. She talked about her artistic life and experience going through her treatment. She also talked about my underwater healer project how therapeutic it was to experience the transformation. When she finished her speech, everybody stood up. I started crying! After the speech, we all went upstairs to see my images. I stood right next to them and Q and A sessions with everyone who appreciated my work. They were...
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Underwater Healer Project Book Release Party

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April 17, 2014/by
Underwater Healer Project Book Release Party Thank you so much for coming to my book release party!! It was a full 3 hours and I hope I've got to say Hi and Bye to everyone! I was selling my first self-published book from the cancer survivor campaign. All the money is going to be spent for Tokyo Gallery show in May. My mother was helping me out all night long-!   I was also selling my metal prints from my Japanese Folklore Yokai Project. It was selling a lot! All the small ones are GONE! I printed 10 canvas gallery wraps from my cancer survivor project and these are shipped to Arizona for Genentech Conference. I packed and shipped on Monday! I hope they arrived safely.... One of the cancer survivors, Sante came to support my party! I'll be going to Arizona with her. She is giving a big talk in front of 500+ audience about her experience of  transformation and letting go. She is also going to mention about the underwater healer project experience. I'm so thrilled and grateful to be a part of medical conference with my project! I'll be showing my work and Q and A after Sante's talk. It was so nice to see everyone. I was really nervous how it was going to turn out but I'm happy with the result! I still have some books left before I take them all to Tokyo. If you are interested, please email me. Thank you so much again for your support! I'm grateful...
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Come celebrate for my first self-published book!!

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March 31, 2014/by
April 12 Come celebrate for my first self-published book!! @WORKSHOP 1798 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California 94115 I recently self published a photo book of 13 cancer survivors and their inspirational stories. https://www.behance.net/gallery/Underwater-Healer-About-Face-Photo-Book/15560457 I would love to celebrate both the success of the indiegogo campaign http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/underwater-healer-about-face and the book release with my contributors, friends and family. I'll also be showing and selling both prints and the photo book. All the proceeds will go toward renting a Tokyo gallery space, MIDORI.SO for my exhibition that will happen in May. My work was featured on different media. (yay, thank youuuuu-!) http://underwaterhealer.com/press Most recently, it was featured on Comprehensive Cancer Center site http://www.cccnevada.com/2014/02/05/underwater-photographer-uses-art-to-empower-cancer-survivors/ (Thank you sooooo much!) I was invited to USMA conference, organized by Genentech in the end of April. (This is craaaaazy!) It means a lot to see this project spreading around! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support, everyone! I would not have been able to do this campaign without your support!! Besides my book, I'll be selling my YOKAI metal prints and other canvas prints from the previous shows. Prices are half of the gallery price.   Hope to see you there. Erena (and it's my...
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