GUSDE

gusde

Before becoming a wedding photographer, I did a few photo shoots for some major national and international magazine. Some of them are: Rolling Stone, Elle, FHM, Esquire, Go Girl, Bella Donna and a few others. I liked it but I felt that I did not belong to this kind of photography.
Then on day, a friend of mind asked me to do the photo shoot of his wedding. I really enjoyed doing the photo shoot and I realized that I fell in love with wedding photography.
Marriage is a life time commitment that I think should happen only once. I am a photographer who is married with 2 kids. I know the feeling of being in a wedding. The happiness, the love, the laugh and the new beginning of another life.
This is why I love taking photos of weddings. To see people with smiles of happiness, tears of joy and the whole day just makes me happy. It’s not because of the job, but I am happy to be a part of the weddings.
I have never seen a sad wedding ever in my life. And it should not be. It should be the happiest day of our life.
So, what could I ask more? I do what I love and people love what I do for them. In the future, while looking at their wedding pictures I take and tell the story to their kids, they will remember me. That’s what makes me feel special as a wedding photographer.

30th wedding anniversary of Peter & Jen by gusde

GUSDE, PRE WEDDING

CLOSER

“I want you close to me like songbirds want the trees
Coz when you’re close to me my worries flee from me
Coz when you’re with me, my feet don’t touch the ground
Now I’m not a king, but when I’m with you I feel like I’m wearing a crown
For you I sing”

I repeated this song over as I drove home from capturing a couple session. Non-the ordinary, a very special couple session, Mr Peter and Mrs Jen who have been married for 30 years. What a remarkable journey that is. Their genuine affection, devotion and warmth really touched me. I feel every second they just want to be closer to each other, laughing and talking just about everything. Such a beautiful portrait, a fond memory to capture.

What fascinated me was that they wanted to do this, that they wanted to give appreciation to their life journey, to their togetherness. Often, we feel the older we get, the less important it is to do what we actually want to do as our kids and family come first and that we don’t want to be selfish. But, for once, why not? It’s a milestone that does need celebration, or an appreciation rather. And I value that, I highly respect that. But I understand, many senior couples will put this aside given the aforementioned reasoning. So, children, why not give this sweet thoughtful present to your parent and for them to celebrate their togetherness. Let’s give them a moment to value their life journey together….. #respect

BERNARD & BELLA, PRE WEDDING AT SUMBA ISLAND BY GUSDE

GUSDE, PRE WEDDING

TO FALL IN LOVE AGAIN

There’s a place I go to

Where no one knows me

It’s not lonely

It’s a necessary thing

How’s your adult daily life look like? Waking up, rushing to or for work, socializing, trying to get some more business opportunities, problem solving at work/in family, feeling tired, going back home, sleeping and on repeat the following days. Have you ever sit still whilst holding your coffee cup, in a corner of a café trying to catch your breath, thinking that how busy our life is. How consuming our daily routine is. That sometimes we feel so flat and numb despite being in a crowd? How to bring the spark back?

Recharge, rejuvenate, dismiss from your daily routine for a few days. Find a place where you are no one, where time feels slower, where the pace of life isn’t as fast as you normally encounter. I’ve found this in Sumba. There are plenty of beautiful places I’ve been to, but none feel as special as Sumba. The amazing landscape from savanna to lines of hills to pristine white sandy beach, undoubtedly mesmerizing. But what so precious about this place is the feeling it gives you when you’re there, priceless. Soak up the morning sun, breathe in the fresh air, gaze at the wide open beautiful landscapes. Peaceful and soulful.

I’ve always been enlivened to have clients going to Sumba because somehow, I feel they fall in love again here. Where nothing else matters, but their togetherness. Where no one else know them and they could just be themselves, effortlessly.

BECAUSE SHARING IS CARING, AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL – HELP PORTRAIT 2017 AT SUMBA ISLAND

ADIWARNA, CHARITY, GUSDE, MARIO JR, TRAVEL

“Sharing is caring. Teaching our children to share is teaching them compassion and love”.

For those who have been to Sumba island in East Nusa Tenggara may have agreed with me how raw the island still feels. Children are no way seen playing with gadgets. They are free, wild and naturally happy. Regardless the limitation they have, it doesn’t bother them. No internet, who cares? No mall, who even cares? Having to walk to school miles away, it doesn’t bother them at all. They sing, they chat, they pick fresh leaves while walking. They have limitless playground, they run free, wind caresses their smiley faces. What a priceless portrait I’ve seen right in front of my eyes.

It touches my heart and it has reminded me of my childhood in Bali many many moons away. Having the same thought with some like-minded friends, we decided to do something in Sumba. Why not HELP PORTRAIT? We hope that, in the many years to come, they will still remember how pure the island was, how beautiful their childhood was, like what I have always remembered about my childhood. Sharing is caring, and it’s true. To see the sparks in their eyes while we took photos and gave away some books, it’s absolutely priceless. And then you realize, the best things in life aren’t things, but these type of moments.

About HELP PORTRAIT:

Help–Portrait is a global movement of photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists using their time, tools and expertise to give back to those in need

Thank you for all the volunteer : Gusde Photography team, The Light Motion video team , Jenny (JL Makeup art)

WHEN PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM COLLIDE

AWARDS, CHARITY, GUSDE, WEDDING

Passion (n): strong and barely controllable emotion.

Enthusiasm (n): intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.

This is how it’s all started. When my passion for photography and enthusiasm in learning more collided, it naturally creates an intense curiosity and somehow has made me survived until today. In my career of being a photographer for 10 years, not once I have felt bored. There’s always something new to explore. Having taken thousands or even millions of wedding photos, I still find it enjoyable and fall deep into the emotions exuded by these people during the wedding. My eyes can’t escape from their motions.

It is therefore such an honor to be able to share what I have felt, what I have gone through in this so-called photography journey to people who have the same interest as I do. Spending time in Sukabumi, West Java with Fellowships was truly a rewarding experience. Seeing these photographers’ enthusiasm in planning and executing this event and great interaction during the event had made me feel genuinely appreciated. No better word can express how grateful I was being part of Fellowship. Thank you all for your warm embrace. Cheers to the future. Keep striving for the best!

Likewise I’d like to thank Nikon Indonesia for supporting this event. Your contribution means a lot for us. Thank you for keeping innovative in helping us making everlasting memories to our clients and the people we value the most. #iamnikon.

Photos taken by Fellowship members

GOD’S WILL, STAY CALM

GUSDE, MARIO JR, TRAVEL

I’ve been actively following all news in regards to Mount Agung, our majestic sacred mountain. Some news somewhat are too frightening and worrying. I keep on asking myself, is it really that necessary to be overly panicking and dramatizing the fact that Mount Agung is bursting its power?

Yes there will be impact obviously. People, mainly those living nearby within the affected zone are already evacuated. And as much as possible, their livestock and pets too, it’s ongoing still. Government, civilian, people, private sector, us as their fellow Balinese/Indonesian have offered all we can to keep them safe and comfort. Can we not focus on getting them living their daily life as normal as they could at the evacuated camps? Can we not try to stay calm so psychologically they remain feeling content?

Bali island and majority of its people live from tourism. Can’t we be wise in sharing unnecessary information that will eventually impact our tourism in the long term?

Nonetheless, who am I trying to explain what it is inside my mind to the whole island. All I can say now is, let’s try to keep calm, do our utmost to give hands to our brothers and sisters in East Bali. If we, who live away from the affected zone, can’t keep ourselves calm, what about them? They need our moral support too.

I met an old guy, who is evacuated from his hometown to a nearby unaffected village, a man who happen to experience this force majeure twice. This wise man said “It’s God`s will, nothing to be afraid of. Follow our government instruction, trust in God and we will be fine. Mount Agung is giving its abundant natural wealth to Bali. Stay calm and thanks the God, because him who always protect us, human being.”

If they, who are directly affected, trying to stay calm and positive, trying to live their daily life as normal, why can’t we morally support them in doing so? Think before we share unnecessary thing on social media. Be calm, be wise.

Words by Santi . Photos by Gusde & Mario Jr.