“Ver la Vida
lindamente�
Issue 1
April 2017
Michelle Severino
Copyright © 2017 Michelle Severino All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or in any means – by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retreival systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed and Bound in Philadelphia, PA. Artwork , Design, edited and text composition by Michelle Severino Printed in the United States of America by Fireball Printing 3237 Amber St Box 3 Floor 5, Philadelphia, PA 19134 Hosted on www.issuu.com
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To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. Elliott Erwitt, 2015
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Michelle Severino I conducted an independent project, called “Ver la Vida lindamente,” which evidently turned into a social experiment halfway through, regarding “Ver la Vida lindamente” which translates to “See life beautifully” in Philadelphia. When I started my career in Photography in 2010, I wanted to spread some love. As a 24 years old, I set out to craft a simple, easy-to-share message. “I wanted to create the perfect positive message that you could share with everyone.” After playing around with various phrases, it struck gold with three little words: “You are beautiful.” “When the phrase hit me, I just felt like it was the absolute perfect thing,” because “Everyone’s beautiful in their own way.” I asked people to allow me to take their photos for a project. Some of them I knew. Most of them I did not As I photographed them, I told them the purpose of my project. “I’m taking photos of things I find Beautiful” #breathInbeauty I want to clarify that my intentions were not to get a reaction out of people. I was simply Photographing beauty and this is the result. Here it is.
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“Ver la Vida lindamente”
Table of Contents
“Ver la Vida Lindamente� Intro
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Operation Beauty
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Emily Drinker
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The Meaning of Beauty
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Portaits
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About the Photographer
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Operation Beauty Mike Mike, 55, and his dog, sitting outside on a beautiful day, at the Matthias Baldwin Park, right next to Community College of Philadelphia, Pa on Tuesday, March 21st, 2017 Mike, de 55 años, y su perro, sentados afuera en un hermoso día, en el Matthias Baldwin Park, justo al lado del Colegio Comunitario de Filadelfia, Pa, el martes 21 del marzo de 2017.
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Emily Loo Emily, 20, spent time Outside on this beautiful day, at the Matthias Baldwin Park, right next to Community College of Philadelphia, Pa on Tuesday, March 21st, 2017
Emily, de 20 años, pasó tiempo afuera en este hermoso día, en el Matthias Baldwin Park, justo al lado de Community College of Philadelphia, Pa, el martes 21 de marzo de 2017.
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“ There is a kind of Beauty in Imperfection” Conrad Hall
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Emily Drinker “I’m out here, in this nice weather to clear the mind, because I felt sad throughout the Day, but you just made my day, thank you.” Emily Drinker sits outside on a beautiful day, at the Matthias Baldwin Park, right next to Community College of Philadelphia, Pa on Tuesday, March 21st, 2017
“Estoy aquí, en este buen tiempo para aclarar la mente, porque me sentí triste durante todo el día, pero acabas de hacer mi día, gracias”. Emily Drinker se sienta afuera en un hermoso día, en el Matthias Baldwin Park, justo al lado de Community College of Philadelphia, Pa, el martes 21 de marzo de 2017
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“I’ve never met a strong person with an easy past and I like to apply humor in difficult situations. Laughter is good for the heart, body, mood, and also relieves anxiety, stress and pain. With that being said, “It’s ok to be a glowstick, sometimes we need to break before we shine!” No matter what we’re going through, we’ll come out better on the other side.” Tammy, Claims Representative, Jackson, MS “Nunca he conocido a una persona fuerte con un pasado fácil y me gusta aplicar el humor en situaciones difíciles. La risa es buena para el corazón, el cuerpo, el estado de ánimo, y también alivia la ansiedad, el estrés y el dolor. Con eso se dice, “Está bien ser un glowstick, a veces tenemos que romper antes de brillar!” No importa lo que estamos pasando, vamos a salir mejor en el otro lado.” Tammy, Claims Representative, Jackson, MS
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“Beauty, to me, means you aren’t hiding yourself from the world. Beauty means that you care for others. You care for yourself. And you care for a better world.” “La belleza, para mí, significa que no te escondes del mundo. La belleza significa que usted cuida de otros. Te preocupas por ti mismo. Y te preocupas por un mundo mejor. ~Michelle Naef “Ver la vida Lindamente”
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“Life Doesn’t have to be Perfect to be Beautiful.” “La vida no tiene que ser perfecto para ser bella.”
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The Meaning of Beauty
The Urban Dictionart has defined, Beauty as a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.
It’s those sensations that ignite the real flame of confidence and beauty in the souls of those constantly bombarded with messages telling them to believe otherwise. Beauty is in the heart, and the way it shines through.
But really, What Is the Real Definition of Beauty? No matter what, we are all unique women, with experiences and memories Beauty has been defined in so many that tie together seamlessly in our ways. Beauty is happiness. Beauty has own versions of beauty. We are all varied throughout time, various cultures different shapes, sizes, colors, and and the vast different perceptions of the heritage. We are mothers, daughters, world. Beauty has been described and and grandmothers. We are all an depicted through pictures and concepts inspirations. We are the lives and change penetrating our minds. we create, and that is beauty. Beauty to me is feeling God’s presence. Beauty to me is knowing God loves me no matter what the world says. Beauty to me is standing up for my Catholic faith when the world says I’m wrong, but I know I’m building my house up in paradise and the Lord is smiling. Beauty to me is speaking to a homeless person, shaking their hand, and letting them know that they’re loved, that they’re human just like us, letting them know that I see Jesus in them. Beauty to “I think of the times I’ve been most me is humility. Beauty to me is giving happy and whether or not those align love and prayer and forgiveness no with common beauty standards. It hasn’t matter what. Beauty to me is Jesus been the nights my hair stayed intact, Christ. body dressed attractively, or skin shined flawlessly. It’s been the moments I felt beauty because of happiness, which was not derived from my appearance — at all.” According to the Huffington Post, Lexi Herrick wrote, “It’s the moments we feel free and real. It’s the moments we feel proud and eminent. It’s the moments we feel alive. It seems like that element should be inherent, but it isn’t. Beauty is often distorted, misunderstood and shadowed by a wide amount of conflicting pressures. It is something we endlessly strive for, rather than see in the true essence of our happiest moments.
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El significado de la belleza
El Diccionario Urbano ha definido, la Belleza como una combinación de cualidades, como la forma, el color o la forma, que agrada los sentidos estéticos, especialmente la vista. Pero realmente, ¿cuál es la definición real de la belleza? La belleza ha sido definida de muchas maneras. La belleza es la felicidad. La belleza ha variado a lo largo del tiempo, las diversas culturas y las vastas percepciones diferentes del mundo. La belleza ha sido descrita y representada a través de imágenes y conceptos que penetran en nuestras mentes.
Según el Huffington Post, Lexi Herrick escribió: “Son los momentos en que nos sentimos libres y reales. Son los momentos en que nos sentimos orgullosos y eminentes. Son los momentos en que nos sentimos vivos. Parece que ese elemento debe ser inherente, pero no lo es. La belleza es a menudo distorsionada, mal entendida y sombreada por una gran cantidad de presiones conflictivas. Es algo por lo que nos esforzamos sin cesar, en lugar de ver en la verdadera esencia de nuestros momentos más felices. “Pienso en las veces que he estado más feliz y si o no se alinean con los estándares de belleza comunes. No han sido las noches que mi cabello se mantuvo intacto, el cuerpo vestido de forma atractiva, o la piel brillaba perfectamente. Ha sido en los momentos en que sentí belleza por la felicidad,
que no se deriva de mi apariencia - en absoluto.” Son esas sensaciones las que encenden la verdadera llama de la confianza y la belleza en las almas de aquellos constantemente bombardeados con mensajes que les dicen que creen lo contrario. La belleza está en el corazón, y la forma en que brilla a través. No importa, porque todas las mujeres únicas, con las experiencias y los recuerdos que atan sin problemas en nuestras propias versiones de la belleza. Todos somos de diferentes formas, tamaños, colores y patrimonio. Somos madres, hijas y abuelas. Todos somos inspiraciones. Somos la vida y el cambio que creamos, y eso es belleza. La belleza para mí es sentir la presencia de Dios. La belleza para mí es saber que Dios me ama sin importar lo que diga el mundo. La belleza para mí es defender mi fe católica cuando el mundo dice que estoy equivocado, pero sé que estoy construyendo mi casa en el paraíso y el Señor está sonriendo. La belleza para mí es hablarle a una persona sin hogar, darles la mano, y hacerles saber que son amados, que son humanos como nosotros, haciéndoles saber que veo a Jesús en ellos. La belleza para mí es la humildad. La belleza para mí es dar amor, oración y perdón, pase lo que pase. La belleza para mí es Jesucristo..
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“Ámate a tí mismo. Es importante mantenerse positivo porque la belleza viene de adentro hacia afuera.” -- Jenn Proske
“Love yourself. It is important to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out.” -- Jenn Proske “Ver la vida Lindamente”
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Feroza
“Lo que hay detrás de nosotros y lo que hay ante nosotros son cosas pequeñas en comparación con lo que hay dentro de nosotros.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson “Ver la vida Lindamente”
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“A Women is Most
Beautiful
When She Smiles.” Una mujer es la mas Hermosa Cuando ella sonríe.”
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“Beauty to me is feeling God’s presence. Beauty to me is knowing God loves me no matter what the world says. Beauty to me is standing up for my Catholic faith when the world says I’m wrong, but I know I’m building my house up in paradise and the Lord is smiling. Beauty to me is speaking to a homeless person, shaking their hand, and letting them know that they’re loved, that they’re human just like us, letting them know that I see Jesus in them. Beauty to me is humility. Beauty to me is giving love and prayer and forgiveness no matter what. Beauty to me is Jesus Christ.” ~ Emily Severino
“IF YOU ARE Confident YOU ARE Beautiful.”
“SI USTED ES Confidente USTED ES Hermosa.” 40
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“NOTHING MAKES A
Women MORE Beautiful
THAN THE BELIEF THAT SHE IS
Beautiful.”
“NADA HACE A LAS MUJERES Más hermosa EN LA CREENCIA Que ella es Hermosa.”
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“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nunca pierdas la oportunidad de ver algo hermoso, porque la belleza es la escritura de Dios.”
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“A Childs laugh could simply be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.”
“Una risa de niño podría Simplemente ser uno de los Sonidos más hermosos en el mundo.”
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“La belleza es relativa. Se puede encontra la belleza en un nino. Se puede encontrar la beleza en alguien en la calle. Mirarle la cara a un nino con ternura es Belleza.” “Beauty is relative. You can find beauty in a child. You can find beauty in someone on the street. To look at a child’s face with tenderness is Beauty.” Brine
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“La verdadera belleza viene de dentro, se trata de valores y el respeto y el amor por ti mismo y los demás, no se trata de apariencia superficial. Se trata de aceptar las cosas que no puedes cambiar y de estar agradecido por lo que tienes.”
“True Beauty comes from within, it’s about values and respect and love for yourself and others, Its not about superficial looks. It’s about accepting the things you can’t change, and being grateful for what you have.”
Melissa
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“La belleza es cuando estás 100% cómodo con la mente, cuerpo y alma que Dios te ha dado. Esto es algo que creo, pero tristemente aún no he alcanzado. “ “La vida es dura y hay veces que no es fácil estar 100% feliz contigo mismo. Pero, obviamente, es algo con lo que todos debemos trabajar.” “Beauty is when you are 100% comfortable with the mind, body, and soul God has given you. This something I believe, but sadly have not yet attained.” “Life is hard and sometimes it’s not easy to be 100% happy with yourself. But obviously it’s something we should all work towards.” Jerica Gerena “Ver la vida Lindamente”
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The child is the beauty of God present in the world, that greatest gift to a family.” Mother Teresa “El niño es la belleza de Dios presente en el mundo, ese regalo más grande para una familia.”
Jeantette Gerena
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“Beauty is the ability to love freely.”
Genesis Sanchez
“La belleza es la capacidad de amar libremente.”
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“Para mí la belleza significa alguien con el corazón grande. Porque la belleza está dentro primero y es para siempre.” “To me Beauty mean someone with big heart. Because beauty is inside first and is for ever.” Carmen Lopez
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“It means the soul Because if you do not have a good heart and you are compassionate, even if your physical is not the best, you are a person’s Beauty. And apart from all the nature and creation of God, that is Beauty.”
“Significa el alma Porque si tu no tienes un buen corazon y eres compasivo, aunque tu fisico no sea el mejor, eres una Belleza de persona. y aparte de todo la naturaleza creacion de Dios eso es Belleza.” Nora Lopez
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“God is the Ultimate experience of Silence, of Beauty, of Bliss, a state of inner celebration.”
“Dios es la experiencia última Del Silencio, de la Belleza, de la Bienaventuranza, Un estado de celebración interior.”
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“Beauty is not in the Face, it’s the light of the heart.” “La belleza no está en la cara, es la luz del corazón.”
Nathalie Ciprian
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“To be beautiful for me is to manifest all the beauty that is within me, to have love for others, to be sensitive to the suffering of the other, to show your goodness without limits, to appreciate the things that surround us, nature, People, ideas, is to be humble, to have compassion, to love without limits, to appreciate every moment, to appreciate it as unique.” “Ser bella para mí es manifestar toda la belleza que hay en mi interior, es tener amor por los demás, ser sensibles ante el sufrimiento del otro, que tus actos muestren bondad sin límites, es apreciar las cosas que nos rodean, la naturaleza, la gente, las ideas, es ser humilde, es tener compasión, amar sin límites, apreciar cada momento, apreciarlo como único.”
Ana Severino “Ver la vida Lindamente”
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“Pienso en mi mamá ... Su gracia, su fuerza ... ella es la encarnación de la Belleza.”
“I think of my mom ... Her grace, her strength ...she is the embodiment of Beauty.” Leah
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“Para mí la Belleza está en la naturaleza, la flor, los paisajes, los pájaros, y el mundo.”
“To me Beauty is in Nature, the flower, landscapes, Birds, and the world.”
Nick
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“La belleza es algo que está en la superficie que es agradable de ver, pero no es algo que el mundo vea.” “Beauty is something thats in the surface thats nice to look at, but its not something that the world see.”
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“Imperfection is Beautiful.” “La imperfección es hermosa.”
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“Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child’s eye - it is very beautiful.” Kailash Satyarthi
“La niñez significa sencillez. Mirar El mundo con el ojo del niño - es muy hermoso.”
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“No Beauty Shines Brighter than that of a Good Heart.” “No hay belleza Mas Brilla más brillante Que el de un Buen corazón.”
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“Stop comparing yourself to others. You are you, nobody else could be you even if they tried to be. You are unique and beautiful. Nobody else is you.” “Stop comparing yourself to others. You are you, nobody else could be you even if they tried to be. You are unique and beautiful. Nobody else is you.” 82
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Beauty
Someone who has experience the care of another and can live with love there life a goal set before them and not settle for anything less.
It’s more than skin deep. To see ones beauty is to look through ones eyes looking into the depths of ones soul. A passionate one. Where love can heal the In essence reaching deep wounds and the spirit into ones depths. can be transformed into A life giving persona a new vessel through the Someone moving in the water of life in front of an moment and withstanding assembly bringing out the the test of time. humility of all. A radiance of joy A long sufferer who is dead but has found a resurrected life in the fellowship of others and found community in unknown places. A new creation.
It’s one what lies on the surface but what goes skin deep and moves through our veins into our heart and flows out of us. By Sabrina Jefferies. “Ver la vida Lindamente”
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“You should clothe yourselves instead with the Beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” “Deberías vestir Usted mismos Con la belleza que Viene de dentro, La belleza inmisericorde De un suave y tranquilo Espíritu que es tan Precioso para Dios.” 86
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Beauty
Grace�
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER My name is Michelle Severino. I’m a Photographer and a Journalist. Photography has been my life. The stories one can tell through photography is amazing. I’m part of a community, a community that needs a story to be told because it hasn’t been heard. I want be part of the Hispanic community where there voice can be heard and that’s why I’m in the photojournalism world. I am blessed everyday to be able to do what I LOVE! My photos were feature on Motivos Magazine as an Intern in Summer 2015, I also interned in summer 2016 at Al DIA News Media, and had work published on their Newspaper
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Michelle Severino - Photographer / Journalist
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Sobre mi Projecto Dirigí un proyecto independiente, llamado “Ver la Vida lindamente”, que evidentemente se convirtió en un experimento social a medio camino, en torno a “Ver la Vida lindamente”, en Filadelfia. Cuando empecé mi carrera en Fotografía en 2010, quería difundir un poco de amor. A los 24 años, me propuse elaborar un mensaje sencillo y fácil de compartir. “Quería crear el mensaje positivo perfecto que pudieras compartir con todos”. Después de jugar con varias frases, golpeó el oro con tres pequeñas palabras: “Estás hermosa.” “Cuando la frase me golpeó, me sentía como si fuera la cosa perfecta absoluta”, porque “Todo el mundo es hermoso a su manera”. 92
Le pedí a la gente que me permitiera tomar sus fotos para un proyecto. Algunos de ellos lo conozco. La mayoría de ellos no. Cuando los fotografié, les dije el propósito de mi proyecto. “Estoy tomando fotos de las cosas que encuentro hermosas” #breathInbeauty Quiero aclarar que mis intenciones no eran obtener una reacción de la gente. Yo estaba simplemente fotografiando la belleza y este es el resultado. Aquí está. 93
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