What’s in a name?

“’What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet”

-       Juliet, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Our name is the first possession that is given to us; something to belong to us, something for us to belong to.

We are born into families who bestow their name upon us, being born into our destinies. When Romeo fell in love with Juliet; he did not know that she was a Capulet, the rival family of his. And Juliet tried and tried to wrap her mind around what it was exactly that make our names so important.

Why should it define us when we could rather define it? When we can choose what our names represent or why people will remember that name once we’re gone. Or if they will remember it at all.

What’s in a name? It’s a label and we are the packaging. And although we can’t escape it, the way Romeo wished he could cut it out of his body if it would make a way to be with Juliet, we can make our names stand for something pretty great.

The Novel

“Writing fiction is the art of weaving several lies to arrive at a greater truth.”

-       Khaled Hosseini

A good novel is like life delivered by the author to the world in the form of words between two covers. And there is no such magic as the magic contained in the written word.

Novels try to make sense of the world we live in while creating new worlds in our minds. Through the thoughts of even a fictional character birthed from a writer’s mind, you can make sense of what is going on in your own. The written word possesses a strange kind of power over us humans; it can bring us to tears, make us laugh, leave us craving something we never thought we wanted, or fill us with a hope we never knew existed.

Perhaps it is because it calls for us to be in charge of our own imaginations and to paint our own picture from a pallet of words, which makes the novel so special and unique. Or perhaps it is because it celebrates the art of story-telling that contrasts so much with our daily lives. In a novel, the story has been completed for us by the writer and we are not responsible for the actions of the characters, unlike in life where we have to take charge of what is written next in our own stories and be responsible for the choices that we make.

If you ever doubt the worth of the written word, of the novel, think about a time when you have picked up a book and have not been able to put it down because it had cast its spell on you and wrapped its words around you.

What is your favourite novel? 

[ Hello ]

A warm welcome to the newest member to the Lee Folkard Photography team; Sholene Ramdass.

Below is her first official blog post;

As the newly appointed assistant at Lee Folkard Photography, a very big hello!

Having so many interests and passions in life, I've never failed to grab any opportunity that has come my way. Applying for the position of assistant at Lee Folkard Photography, though, was a spur of the moment decision that proves that many things that are meant to be in life often happen without giving much thought to them. But now having got this awesome job, much to my surprise, I’m thrilled and very excited for the future!

This position will allow me to let my creative spirit run free and involves a lot of what I love – writing, fashion, entertainment, and photography of course, and will also broaden my horizons as a BA student majoring in Creative Writing.

 I hope to continue to keep you enthralled and captivated, as Lee has done so brilliantly, with the blog posts and to add a new element to Lee Folkard Photography, which has already established itself as an incredible company to be watched.

This is a new journey and there are great things on the way!

Sholene Ramdass; Photography by Lee Folkard Photography