A photographer’s frame work for witnessing our shared humanity | Tony Menias | TEDxChicago

Core Message - The speaker shares a personal journey of transitioning from medicine to photography, emphasizing the importance of noticing and appreciating the simple rhythms of life [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] - The speaker advocates for presence, slowing down, and empathy as keys to understanding the universal human experience and fostering connection [17] Personal Transformation - The speaker's initial career path was in medicine, influenced by family expectations [4] - A pivotal moment of failing a board exam led to a journey of self-discovery and a career change to photography [5] - The speaker's travels and interactions with diverse communities revealed the essence of a simple, honest, and heartfelt life [2][3] Photography as a Medium - Photography became a tool for documenting and understanding the world, capturing moments of simplicity and shared humanity [3][5][6][13][14][15][16] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of observing without judgment and allowing life to unfold naturally [15] - A photograph taken in Myanmar led to recognition from National Geographic, solidifying the speaker's path in photography [7][13] Universal Human Experience - The speaker highlights the shared joys and instincts of children across different cultures, emphasizing the commonality of human experience [10][11] - The speaker believes that empathy dissolves differences, revealing presence, beauty, and belonging [14] - The speaker suggests that love and connection can be fostered by embracing chaos and living simply [12][17][18]