adaptability docility in the depths of fragility

"There are old heads in the world who cannot help me by their example or advice to live worthily and satisfactorily to myself; but I believe that it is in my power to elevate myself this very hour above the common level of my life. It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are, if indeed you cannot get it above them, than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise."
Henry David Thoreau .
.

On September 23, 2011 (at age 29) I was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer.
I have been through 6 weeks of Chemo and Radiation.
I have surgery scheduled for February 7, 2012 resulting in a permanent colostomy bag. At that point I will learn if the cancer is gone or if I will continue with chemotherapy.

Life is suffering.

my battle with cancer
BUY PRINTS
poetry
tumbler
omg facebook
deviant art


my groups:
Ishtexture - View this group's most interesting photos on Flickriver

ishism - View this group's most interesting photos on Flickriver

simplexity - View this group's most interesting photos on Flickriver

non-pose pose - View this group's most interesting photos on Flickriver

Photos of f∞lish kamina (104)

f∞lish kamina's favorite photos from other Flickr members (6,484)

Contacts (179)

See more...

Groups (4242)

Show more... Show fewer...

Galleries (6)

See more...

Testimonials (16)

  • view profile

    spaceinyerface says:

    "Kamina's work inspires me to do more- to BE more- every singe day. I hope that someday I am able to speak with my photos the way Mina does so effortlessly and I consider myself absurdly lucky to be able to call her my teacher and, way more importantly, my friend.

    She gave me a camera and taught me to see.

    (unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn unicorn)"

    3rd February, 2010

  • view profile

    NatashaRuz says:

    "I detest critics. I never understood why anyone's words should have the power to determine what is 'good' and what is 'bad'. For me, the best (and only) way to determine if something is 'good' or 'bad' is to consider what emotion or feeling is evoked in me.
    Karmina's photos have elicited a wide range of emotions; I've laughed out loud, I've been uncomfortable and I've shed tears. When an image touches me, brings forward a memory or a feeling then I know that I'm involved with an artist, a soul-toucher. That's a rare find, and one that I'm elated to have found in Karmina's stream."

    30th January, 2010

  • view profile

    RubyT (hoping my internet keeps working -_-) says:

    "She inspires me. She pushes me to try things. She makes me see with a different eye. The unicorn eye in the middle of my forehead. I need this. I ♥ this. I ♥ her. I am proud I know how to make a ♥ with my keyboard."

    24th January, 2010

  • view profile

    ĐāżŦ {mostly absent} says:

    "Imagine if you collected some particles of funny, sweetness, caring, generosity, gorgeousness, talent, unicorns and love.

    Then imagine you put all those particles into the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland.

    Now imagine you accelerate those particles to 99.9999991% the speed of light and let them collide.

    What would result is the tiniest amount of pure Kamina.

    It's priceless."

    24th January, 2010

  • view profile

    chicka-d photography says:

    "My sister on the other side of the universe. My inspiration. My friend.
    You are incredible. Beautiful inside and out.
    I am so happy that you came into my life when you did.
    I cannot describe what this woman has done for me, except to say, she's changed my life.
    Dreams do come true. Unicorns are real.
    And Kamina is proof.
    Her photos take me on a journey of life beyond life, worlds beyond our world... they take me to somewhere I want to be.
    What an amazing mind and incredible photographer."

    21st January, 2010

  • view profile

    ohteeds says:

    "Kamina- Like being slapped in the face with a brick made out of unicorn scientists."

    16th January, 2010

  • view profile

    Owen Schaefer says:

    "What great about Kamina's photography? It's honest.

    I'm not talking about some kind of artistic integrity question, or saying that it's more gritty and real than other people's. This is not the "Yeah, man. She tells it like it is, and life is pain!" kind of honesty. This is the kind of honesty that is serious when it's serious and silly when it's silly. These are images from a mind in all its moods and meanings. She doesn't shy away from metaphor, but doesn't dwell in it. She is documentary when it is called for, and unboundedly subjective when she sees fit. Her images are by turns brutal, whimsical, haunting, goofy, surreal, abstract, and patterned; and each builds part of a world that is strongly her own.

    Here's another thing: Kamina not only uses, but makes textures, and still manages to fit them into images in such a way that they add to the depth rather than subtract. Where so many people's textures become a scratched surface through which we see the photo darkly, Kamina's become pools to dive into, motes of dust in the sunbeam, drawing the viewer back into the world of the photo.

    And Kamina shoots children (in the photographic sense only, as far as I know) in all their riotous, twisted childhood glory. She presents them artfully, and yet without the sticky-sweet innocence usually foisted on them by adult photographers. These are real kids, from the adorable to oddball, posing in scenarios in which the kids are sometimes even complicit. I once told her, and still believe, that she shoots the photos of kids that they would shoot themselves.

    And she doesn't even know how great she is. That's how great she is."

    9th December, 2009

  • view profile

    sandy hutton says:

    ""i have to say your stuff is astounding, it's definitely bounding from strength to strength with the elegance & wisdom of a unicorn.""

    16th August, 2009

  • view profile

    lowercase me says:

    "i am super awkward and a poor wordsmith
    and have been desperately trying to sum you up in
    9 words
    or less
    9, my favorite number"

    6th August, 2009

  • view profile

    {katie} says:

    "okay, so you've looked at kamina's photostream and thought, "damn, what a kickass photographer. and wait a second... unicorns? there are unicorns? okay, i have to check out her profile. if she's as amazing as her pictures and witty comments have led me to believe, i'm going to have to marry this woman."

    well, you can't. she's mine and you can't have her."

    19th July, 2009

  • view profile

    -ilonQua- says:

    "Ishkamina's stream is pure poetry! there is no way back when you meet her pictures on you way...She's like magician. You will start wonder how does her mind interact with those precious and surprising ideas/images/scens/qoutes. In her art childern's honesty and imagination meet wiseness of the exploring mind.
    Thank you for you inspring points of view!
    Ilonka"

    16th July, 2009

  • view profile

    neill.shenton says:

    "There's a parallel universe populated by good looking, interesting looking people, fun people. Here people are happy to be photographed and aren't self conscious. The route to entry is past a gatekeeper who advertises with hearts & smiles. But do not cross her as just below the surface lies violent jealousy.

    The rest of us watch and wonder."

    31st May, 2009

  • view profile

    Antique Mulch says:

    "e-banter with you is a game of rochambeau in which the throws are either ornery, passive aggressive, or cute. Cute is horrible. jerk."

    29th March, 2009

  • view profile

    Le Silly says:

    "Kamina is both beautiful AAAANNNNDD takes amazingly beautiful photos! She has made some of the most beautiful pictures of kids i have ever seen! Complete package, right? Just when you've seen it all she throws her amazing bokeh sparkle photoshopping skillz at you and leaves you breathless! Keep it up miss talented lady! :D"

    4th October, 2008

  • view profile

    Heidi Diane says:

    "It's taken me quite some time to sum up her entire photostream and I've come to the conclusion that her photostream is:
    Simply enchanting."

    2nd November, 2008

  • view profile

    meat monkey says:

    "i testify that your cuteness is only outstripped by your braininess :)"

    6th January, 2008

Joined:
November 2007
Hometown:
portland, oregon
Currently:
keeping Portland weird
Occupation:
office monkey
Website:
KCP Galleries