Monthly Archives: February 2011

February 25, 2011 · 3:58 pm

ADVENTURES! Where IS Mister Levius? Five Unbelievable Months in Two Posts (Part 2)

Part 2: New York Fashion Week’s on the horizon- but stranded in London…did I make it against the odds?

I had only a week’s time to try and get everything together, and while the numerous NY Fashion Week invites brought me close, the perpetual money situation brought me so far. I began asking friends and family for help but no one was able to give in time. NYFW would start on a Thursday, and so by Friday I decided to do something absolutely crazy- travel to London’s Heathrow airport with $25 in my bank account and try to “make it happen.”

What was the outcome? It surely took a lot of “bloodshed” to get to glory. I approached a couple of airlines to try and fly that day or the next day with a round trip ticket, and they’d all give me a price that was non-negotiable. Thankfully I never had to disclose how much I could give based on my bank account…for I surely would’ve been laughed at.

I had no access to Internet but for 20 minutes because of lack of funds (Wi-Fi at Heathrow cost a fortune). The phone booths ate up my money when I tried to call to New York to let family know what was going on. It was just one link of unfortunate lack after another…and I ended up staying over at night in an airport with no booked ticket and no money, trying to make it happen.

Make that 2 nights. I spent a total of two and a half days sitting (and laying) on uncomfortable seats, with only 1 Nutri-Grain bar, some cereal crumbs, some cookies, and one to-go pasta dish to eat during that entire time. And if you think I was not doubting or wavering I thought whether this was worth it or not, you’d be dead wrong. This seemed so stupid! There were so many times where I had just wanted to give in and just go back into London, at least resting on the fact that I’d be right there for London Fashion Week. Yet again, something in me, I cannot develop into words, would “tug” at me and just wouldn’t let me give up. Something was making me stay, and as “over it” as I was, I gave in. It Continue reading →

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Filed under A D V E N T U R E S !

Tagged as Adventures, catwalk, challeges, global, mercedes-benz fashion week, mister levius, motivation, motivational, new york city, new york fashion week, Photography, stories, success, testimonies, travel, world traveller

February 24, 2011 · 6:00 pm

ADVENTURES! Where IS Mister Levius? Five Unbelievable Months in Two Posts (Part 1)

(Are you ready for this?)

Very few of you know what’s happened to me in the last few months…many more only know bits and pieces. And you won’t find any info about my recent situations on my website…until now.

So what DID happen after shooting my first Fashion Weeks?

After a successful landing and experience shooting London Fashion Week in September- I unexpectedly became stuck. A diminished budget and a standby flight surprise changed my whole itinerary for what was meant to be 10 days… into five months.

Scared, overwhelmed, but not hopeless, I sought out help from people I knew when I visited London 2 years ago while studying abroad. There were many “close calls” as far as transitioning, but I never went one day homeless.

When money would get dangerously low, I’d get a donation (or paid work!) at the right time. Ever heard of the idea of “an ‘on-time’ God”? Well, I surely understood it in a whole new light.

Besides the super-stressful money and accommodation issues, I began establishing myself in the city I fell in love with three years ago- the networking, the making of amazing new friends, the photo opps, etc. I was having the time of my life and didn’t need a lot of money to do so. I’ve grown to love London even more and want to continue building my brand there.

All I had in those five months were 10 day’s worth of clothing and luggage (2 bags)- it showed me how little you really need to live off of to be content.

During the first few months, I really set out to try and do all I can to get back to New York by mid-December…and finally get some stability back in my life. But as of December 2^nd, something was “tugging” inside of me to stay. A little afraid, I searched for answers by quieting my mind- should I stay or should I go? I trusted what my intuition said and decided to stay- and freakishly had a lot of peace.

Ignoring the circumstances, I still set out to do what I had planned to do: shoot my second season of New York and Continue reading →

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Tagged as Adventures, challenges, crazy, dreams, goals, Inspirational, motivational, pushing, story, success, testimony

· 3:09 pm

Special Announcement: Where IS Mister Levius? Debuts Today at 6pm EST

CAUTION: The 2 part true story of my recent journey that debuts today is NOT for the faint of heart. Get ready to be amazed…and inspired.

February 24th, 6pm EST

{Inspire the World.}

Proverbs: Theodore Roosevelt

(Photo taken by Travis Levius)

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

–Theodore Roosevelt

…this should be written in every textbook, every religious text, in our sermons, in our classrooms, posted on bulletins in the workplace, framed in our home, seen across computers, television screens, and phone devices. Wishful thinking it may be, but I often wonder how dynamic this world could be if hundreds of millions more would start living in the triumphant path Roosevelt described above. While I can’t talk to the millions (yet), I would like to encourage you, reader and friend, to reflect on your life and your life goals, and determine if you’re trying to live your best life or the safe life. The safe life, 10 times out of 10, does no one any good; the best life, 10 times out of 10, impacts generations.

Which course will you choose?

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Tagged as 2009, 2010, architecture, chicago, greatness, inspiration, mister levius, motivation, Photography, quotation, quotes, roosevelt

February 22, 2011 · 9:20 pm

Video: The Wisdom of Will Smith

Aside from being a hilarious and talented entertainer, Will Smith has a tremendous desire for others to live greater lives. It’s funny how people anticipate “money shot” Q&A from celebrities about who they’re dating, what they’re driving, etc. In this montage of several interviews, it’s clear that Mr. Smith has been past the trivial rubbish for a while… and has been generously providing viewers with meaningful content about secrets to success for years.

It is wonderful to see an uber-successful celebrity using fame to inspire millions of others- because in the end it’s all about paying it forward to others.

One of the quoted highlights of the video:

“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity. What’s the point of being realistic? It’s unrealistic to walk into a room and flip a switch, and lights come on. That’s unrealistic. Fortunately, Edison didn’t think so. It’s unrealistic to think you’re gonna bend a piece of metal, and fly people over the ocean, in that metal. That’s unrealistic! But fortunately, the Wright brothers and others didn’t believe that. And it just seems like such a ridiculous- ridiculous- idea to me, to embrace the idea that ‘It’s not gonna happen’ and ‘That’s not real‘…as SOON as you say it, now you’ve just made that real.”

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Tagged as Interviews, Video, Will Smith

February 7, 2011 · 5:00 pm

GRAND FINALE- Oscar de la Renta/NYFW Experience: Show #17!

Introducing: The Main Event of the New York Fashion Week season.

This was my last show to photograph for New York Fashion Week, and it surely ended with a BANG- the front row was nothing but fashion industry all-stars (Andre Leon Talley, Rachel Zoe, Franca Sozzani, Joe Zee & Robbie Myers, Patrick Demarchelier, etc) and the models lucky enough to walk the de la Renta show have been the face of many of the high fashion campaigns you see in magazines and billboards. Don’t believe me? Check out the recent ads for Gucci, Burberry, Dior, and Chanel…just for starters. It was an exhilarating cap to an unforgettable journey- from college student, to pocket camera amateur, to Fashion Week photographer in one year.

What blows my mind the most is that it only gets bigger and better for me. I intend to be a FORCE in the fashion industry…and going through the financial hell to get to my passion’s beckoning call has proved well worth it.

The Mister Levius Fashion Week Experience: Complete.

(or has is just begun?)