Born in Paris in 1959, Claudio Basso has had an impressive volume of fashion-photography work published across four continents and has been a dedicated Buddhist practitioner since 1981 in the Order of Interbeing. By early 2000 Claudio legally adopted his Buddhist name Bodhivata Dharmashanti, given to him by his root teacher, the Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh. Following a near-death medical experience in 2008, Bodhivata decided to pull out of the fashion frenzy and dedicate his talent to describe his spiritual connection to Mother Nature. His following work in Zen Landscape Portraiture has been widely recognized by the public and noted art collectors. He is the author of three books: Being the Flow (co-authored with Bodhipaksa), Being Peace; and Being Happiness. He is currently writing his fourth book, entitled Emails to Myself – Suggestions for a Good Life. Bodhivata lives in New York City.