When the student is ready, the teacher will appear

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." 

- Lao Tzu, Tao de Ching / in the book “How to Find Your Own Way in a Chaotic and Confusing World”

This quote has always resonated with me. When we are truly ready to learn something new, to open our hearts and minds, the right teacher or mentor will suddenly appear in our lives. They will be there to guide us on our journey.

Some days ago, I saw Eduardo Ringo again after 18 years. He was 10,000km away in Echaporã at my office. We spoke for a different reason, but listening to him brought back memories. He still looked the same! Like a young, enthusiastic kid.

I asked him, "What is your secret?" He replied, "I don't drink that much. I try to stay in shape." The simplicity of life.

I met Eduardo through my father's second wife, Regina. In 2005, she recognized my enthusiasm for photography, just as my aunt Guita had, and introduced me to him. His family ran a photo store in Marília, the biggest city near Echaporã. At the time, I was taking hundreds of photos daily with a small Canon Powershot S410. It had 4 megapixels and was designed just for point-and-shoot photography. But a toy had become a therapeutic tool in trying to understand life. With a simple click, you could capture the beauty in a moment.

When I met him, he had the same energy and enthusiasm at 28 that he has now at 50. It's just as I feel today at 45. We are all just children playing in the park. When we do what we love, life is easy and exciting.

At the beginning of my journey as a photographer, I was using a small Canon Powershot with 4 megapixels, a mere toy compared to Eduardo's top-of-the-line Canon cameras with over 20 megapixels. His equipment made me feel like I was finally holding a weapon, not a toy. He didn't have to take the time to show me all that, but he did. His guidance transformed me from a novice to a professional, and for that, I am forever grateful.

The photojournalist John Spink had told me in Atlanta the year before, "If you took those photos in China with a point-and-shoot, you'd be dangerous with a 20D." Never underestimate the impact, good or bad, that our words can have on human beings. That's why we should always be kind and generous. This is a challenge, especially today in a very polarized world.

Eduardo showed me his cameras and the incredibly perfect and detailed photos he was taking of Arabian horses in Brazil. His work was a revelation, a testament to what dedication and skill could achieve. I not only got to learn about photography but also about business. He was taking photos of horses and rodeos. He was a country boy doing what he should do. He had a team of people editing his images, printers, and a whole business. I was meeting my sensei or master.

This photo is very special to me because it is the only time I have seen this lens. It is a rare Canon Lens that allows you to capture photos in low light. When you are shooting rodeos, you are in low-light situations, and you can't use a flash. So Eduardo found the best tool for the job. That is the job of the master—to master the moment and use whatever is necessary to accomplish the job.

Later, in 2011 or 2012, I found myself wandering the streets of Paris or travelling around Germany, shooting photos for Frommer's Travel Guide. My heavy backpack was full of lenses and two cameras, making me feel like a warrior. Another photographer friend, Quique, has tattooed a picture of an empty frame on his arm. I asked him why he did that.

"It's because I am ready for the next photo," he said with a glint in his eye, a contagious sense of anticipation.

Eduardo, your mentorship has been a guiding light on my photographic journey. Your influence has been invaluable, and almost 20 years later, I am even more grateful for the lessons you taught me. You showed me the behind-the-scenes of professional photography, and in doing so, you changed my life. Your generosity and kindness are the hallmarks of a true master, and I am forever grateful for your impact on my personal and professional growth as a photographer.

Thank you, Eduardo, for your generosity and time. Your guidance, your wisdom, and your kindness have shaped me into the photographer I am today. 

I am forever grateful. 

Obrigado e arigato, sensei!