Fall Update
Hello everyone! The year may be coming to an end in a few months but I am not slowing down! Going to be taking a trip to NYC soon for the Photo Plus Expo! Also I have been doing a lot of learning when it comes to star trails and astro photography. (Timing is everything) I am excited to continue to update you guys with more and more photos! Keep checking back for updates!
This weekend, I even had a studio shoot with an incredible photographer / videographer and editor. Her name is Tammy Hineline. I encourage all of you to check out her website because she is one hell of human being and an even better photojournalist! She can even make my ugly mug look good! Check it out!
Stay busy! Stay hungry! Keep in touch.
Net Neutrality
It is a very simple issue, and I would not post a blog about this unless I felt deeply urged to and the idea of the free and open internet is something I am very proud of. We need to stop ISP's from slowing down sites which do not pay them money for "fast lane internet" (yes that whole comcast/netflix issue) This is going to stifle new start up companies and allow ISP's to control free speech that we use on the internet by slowing down any site they don't agree with. It has already begun to happen, but we can still stop it.
PLEASE right to your congressmen/women and demand they help keep the internet open and free.
Great Men are forged in Fire.
Kyle is an inspiration to human beings all over the world.
At this point in my life I consider myself extremely fortunate. I have gone on what could be the most extraordinary adventure of my life thus far. From June 16th until June 28th I was assigned to follow Retired Marine Corps Cpl. William "Kyle" Carpenter around the country as he executed his Medal of Honor Media Tour. This consisted of his closest 100 friends and family flying out to Washington, D.C. and celebrating and honoring his award. Kyle was awarded the Nations Highest award for Valor after selflessly throwing himself in between a grenade and his friend.
Now for those of you who do not know, when you go to boot camp you learn very early on the kill radius of a grenade. You are told that anything within five meters of a grenade when it goes off is dead. Anything within 15 meters is severely wounded. It only takes 3-5 seconds for a grenade to go off once it is thrown and that includes the time it takes to land next to your feet. It is with this knowledge that he acted as selflessly as he did. What may surprise you is that Kyle would still to this day acts with the same intentions in mind as when he was in Afghanistan. This is not because he has received an award. This is because that is the kind of person Kyle is. He is selfless, he is highly self motivated, and he is in my opinion as well anyone who meets him, one of the most humble souls you will ever come across.
This is undoubtedly due to in part by his parents. His Father is one of the most loving fathers a boy growing up could ask for. If you do not believe me, look in his eyes when he recounts the story of Kyle in the video Letters. His Mother, is a classic mold of any great Mom. Caring, loving, with a hint of a southern accent and an amazing cook.
During my last two weeks with Kyle I got to see and experience more than I ever would have in a normal life. I visited the white house and stood next to the President of the United States. I toured Capital Hill, and met the Senators (even got a Gamecocks Cup.) We flew out to San Diego to meet the Padres Baseball team. Went into the locker room and hung out on the field. We went to Wounded Warrior Battalion West (and East.) We even stopped in New York City to see the Stock Exchange, Time Square, David Letterman show, and the 9/11 Memorial. I stood on the observatory deck of the Freedom Tower and wrote on the concrete that was still under construction. I could probably write a book about all the things we did. (Did I mention I spent my 24th Birthday just hanging out with the guy?) I honestly do not have the vocabulary to describe exactly everything we did. It was amazing enough to be able to live through him vicariously.
Kyle is an inspiration to human beings all over the world. His story is so perfect and genuine. He has experienced and suffered so much that he deserves all of the positive feedback he receives. He has touched my life, inspired me to be a better, more humble human being.
Kyle Carpenter was born in Mississippi, raised in South Carolina, Forged in Fire, and it was my unequaled privilege to have experienced the warmth and generosity he has shown me. Thank you Kyle.
New site; New Blog
So I finally came around to building a website for myself. So with it, I might as well build "Mike Guinto's Blog" anyway, hi! My name is Mike, Michael, Mikey, or to some, simply, Guinto.
I have been practicing photography since 2006, and I have been working as a professional photographer since 2011. I am 24 years young this month and I will be 25 when I exit the Marine Corps. I plan on going back to school and working as a free lance photographer while I earn my Masters degree.
Everywhere I go I have the opportunity to meet and photograph some of the most interesting and beautiful people and places and things. I feel I am very fortunate to have the opportunities I have been given as well as being able to learn from the people I work with. I have more experience than your average college student could ever dream of having and I cannot wait to continue on with my passion for photography.
I am going to attempt to update this blog as regularly as I can with updates of where I am working or what I am doing. So stay tuned and keep checking back for more photos and blogs.
If you ever have any questions, comments, critiques, gripes, moans, or complaints, feel free to contact me via email.
