Colors of Fall

Fall and spring are my favorite seasons.

Taken in 11/2009 in NY near my college.

First Snow

We got snow here in NY the weekend before Christmas. I was in NJ at my fathers house when the storm began, these were taken in his driveway. I upload these now because I'm lazy and just finished editing them, and there is another snow storm on the horizon.

Taken in Lawerenceville, NJ 12/2009

Round Midnight pt2

Still working on the Round Midnight series to make my night time photography better. I guess I should say that none of these photo's were actually taken around midnight. It get dark around 4;30 5pm here in NY now so I can't wait out in the cold that long.

Taken back in November, just before the entrance to Prospect Park.
11/2009

The Flowers

"I'm very good with plants, when my friends are away they let me keep the soil moist..."

I was home bored last night, when I noticed the vase of dead flower, that I haven't thrown away. I haven't used my telephoto lens in a while. Mostly because it weighs a ton, but I figured I should give it some use. That and my tripod. I like the outcome very much. For some reason taking photo's of dead plants made me think of the video from Fever Ray "When I Grow Up"

Aurelia

Ink

I found this cool video of Brian Wren, my tattoo artist. He did the tattoo on my left wrist and my dragon on my thigh. I'm still in the process of getting it done. He's great, and I recommend you go see him if your looking to get a tattoo!

Is it a bumble bee?

Before school started back in August I took a trip to NJ to visit my father for his birthday. I notice this feeder hanging from a tree facing one of there windows that I found out was for Hummingbirds. I was crazy excited until I was told that the tiny birds are usually only see in the morning. I am not a morning person and I was leaving that night.

Luckily one of my brothers notice the birds(there were two) having a afternoon snack. I stayed by the window for about 5 minutes and caught this shot. This birds are very small and I would have swear it was just a very large bumble bee if I wasn't told other wise.

View Larger Here

World HIV/AIDs Day

Yesterday was World HIV/AIDs day. I was appart of a PSA with a couple of other girls for SuperHussy Media. Check it out!

Round Midnight

"TRUE! nervous, very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why WILL you say that I am mad?"

click here

Life and Art

I can't figure out how these photo could be posed. They Have to be real. Documents of real people, living there life. Living in the trees by day and sleeping in the dirt by night. Moving from place to place, these are the hunter-gatherers of our time.....

Zenzele

I hung out with this little chica yesterday. I babysat her for 2 years. Her and her mama are the reason I went to college right after high school. Photographing her at the park near my house and seeing other little kids that i would love to photograph made me think that kid photography might be my niche. This was one of my funnest shoots!

more images from the day HERE.

Back in the Day

When I took my class this summer with Flash Rosenberg I took my portfolio to one of the sessions. I was showing it to the class explaining why I liked this photo. I was describing the day, and how this women just popped out of no where and started feeding the birds, when Flash said something like a good photo needs no explanation.

Usually I don't take criticism well, but she has a way of making you feel like she really cares and wants you to do well! she was simply telling me that if I edited the this photo differently, it wouldn't seem like I was trying to make you like the photo also. I would feel confident enough to just sit back and allow you to appreciate my work.

Seize the Day

"Did you do something today, that put you closer to where you want to be?"

I have this quote written on a post-it and stuck on the wall in front of me. Anytime my eyes wander from what they should be focused on they land on it. I read it at least once a day, it makes me feel good when I can say yes. If you just keep pushing forward, keep putting one foot in front of the other, you'll be OK. I'm a firm believer in the saying "slow and steady wins the race"

Today I got a job after being unemployed and since May. I was worried about how I was going to help pay the bills and how I was going to stay in school. Its temporary but its a step forward!

Sophia J.

This was my first time shooting a infant. I had no idea it would be so hard! She had never been on grass before and was interested in everything but me. I still got a couple of good shoots in. I ran across these tonight and did the editing to then that I had no idea how to do last year.

I like looking back at old photo's that I thought were soo good and comparing them to what I can do know. It just makes me feel like I'm on the right path!

Photo's taken in 04/08(I believe) in Prospect Park BK NY

Colorful NYC

Taken in April '09.

Regret

to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc)

What if I have lost a friend
I like him
I like him enough to be with him, but I respect him and his situation enough to just be his friend.
Regret
I am tired
Of receiving blow after blow against the closed doors that leads to my emotions, that lead to my heart
I want to find a safe place to open the doors
I am tired
Of hurling hurtful words at open doors...trying in vain to right wrongs that I didn't create
I am tired of watching the destruction, its like a bad movie
Never ending
Recurring over and over again
Going round like a circle
Like a Phoenix's life cycle
I am scared that I'll be the next one walking the line to destruction
But with no one to fight against my open doors trying in vain to set me free....

Dear Shannon,

A whole year has passed since my lovely friend Shannon was killed. Its been a hard year with out her.....keep dancing sweety.

I saw her the friday before she was killed

She was so excited to start another year of school and work

She had barely started school..it was probably her 3rd week as a junior

She was so beautiful

She was so positive

I wish I had held her a little while longer

I will never forget that walk to the train

I will never forget her....

Taken Sept 30, 2009 NY, New York

The Traveler

I took this back in July. He seems like he's on a mission, no? I took a couple of images of him and he didn't mind at all. He was the perfect stranger.

Job Hunting While Poor(and Black)

Have you ever felt like being young and talented is pointless? (especially while black...I'm just saying) I have been unemployed since this summer. I had to borrow money (for metro cards) just to get to school. The money I received is was only ever enough for 2 months of school, I figured I'd have a job before I hit the 2 month mark. There was a job expo at my school today. The perfect opportunity to find some kind of job besides fast food joints. I don't own a lot of formal wear, but I figured as long as I was clean and put together I'd be OK.

I worn a nice cashmere sweater, a pair of pants(not jeans!) and the only other shoes I have, besides my dirty smelly sneakers, my converses. Two people said I wasn't exactly dress the "right" way and my resume and personality would have to make up for it. Which always has and will so I was OK with that. I finally get to the door of the expo after waiting an hour and cutting class and they turn me away! I try to explain my situation and I'm cut off with a cold "I'm sorry".

So here's my question how come I have to wear pants with a matching blazer, a crisp white button down shirt and a pair of pumps, before I can even get the chance to compete in the "real" "professional'" world? How am I expected to afford "professional" wear if I'm not allowed the chance to compete? They wouldn't let me into the expo because my pants looked like jeans at first glance(supposedly) and because of my foot wear.

A lot of times I've spoken to people or they've seen me work ,not of my race, and a look of surprise comes over there face. A condescending smirk. I used to think it was because I very quite in certain situations. Most of the time I'm just going over what I'm going to say and do to the last detail. But now I wonder, were those smirks because of the clothes I wear or my skin color. To be honest I always thought it was because of my skin color but I was OK with that. Mostly because I know who I am and what I am capable of.

I reached a new personal low today. Somehow I was able to hold thee tears back until I got out of the school. I sat on a random step on a corner and cried ducking my head anytime someone would pass me.

CBanks

"..the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice.."

I've known a couple of Christophers in my time.

Each one is a bit different from the other.

Though we never call them Christopher we call them Chris.

This one...well he's funny.

Very funny.

Like he'll piss you off but how could you not forgive him, he'll have you laughing until you pee yourself.

He's very funny.

Like if you make fun of him you better be ready to get tongue lash something fierce.

Some how he'll still make you laugh while he's cutting your ass!

I would know.

Though I'm not a sports fan. I can go on his blog and learn something, so I sound like a fan in front of the male species! And to continue to surround myself with creative and intelligent people he's on my list. The boy can hold a good conversation.

Nakeya Brown

"..the worth of a nation is defined by its women.."

And what a hell of a woman she is!! I don't remember how I came upon Nakeyas' blog but soon I was checking it daily for new post. Her work is such an inspiration to me, maybe because I want my work to look like hers someday. Picture my surprise when I found out we were the same age. Not to long after I meet her via Internet I had the opportunity to meet her in person at her first exhibit. Not only is her work fabulous but she's a beautiful person inside and out.

I think its very important to surround your self with creative and like minded people. I'm grateful to be able to call her a friend and hope she knows she can call me one too!

Mila Jovovich

I have always loved Mila Jovovich. Since I saw her in The Fifth Element. I love her even more now because it takes a brave women to take of her clothes and be photographed and then have them judged no matter what body type you are.

A quote I found....

"the heart asks pleasure first and then, excuse from pain- and then, those
little anodynes that deaden suffering"

-e. dickinson

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent people and
endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty.
To leave the
world a better place, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed
social condition.
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you
have lived. That is to have succeeded.

- Daniel Eldon

Found Here

The $2 Poem Shop

Photography

looking at the world through a glass lens
living between snapshots
dancing the fine line
serendipity

Anayvelyse

July 22, 2009

New York

The poet (and the poem she wrote from me) I came across in july. I just found out she has a blog. I'm very happy about that because I would love to photographer her again. Click here.

This Summer Was....

Fabulous!!

A Class Assignment

For more images click HERE.

Wensday

It amazes me sometimes how the simplest things can make you happy.

Today I bought a $2 poem about photography. Took some photos of a saxophone player. Had a burrito from Taco Bell and a coffee Starbucks.

I will try to upload the photo's from today, and some from the Q-tip concert last weekend, some time very soon!!

I haven't gone to sleep yet so that's why I was talking in the past tense.

Smoke the pole

LMFAO!! Found here.

3:45am

you know when your tired but can't sleep. when you want to talk to someone, no that someone, but you haven't heard from them in days and your not going to be the first one to make the first move. you know when you hungry but don't want to eat the little bit of food you actually do have in your house, in because you don't know when you'll have this much food again. you know. you know.


so do you know?

"King Restless"

I didn't do shit today. Though I had planned to do a whole bunch of things. Like read through some of my art books and find my card-reader so I can upload the photo's I've taken the last couple of days. I found the card-reader, not on purpose but at least its found. Now I can start sorting through images.

The park under the brooklyn bridge interpase was packed with little kids in bathing suits and parents flying kits. It was a lovely day!!

Dumbo, NY

Lesson Learned!

Dear photographers,

Always read your manual front to back. Or at least carry it around with you so you know what your doing. I went a whole year saying I can’t and in 30 seconds I realized I can.

Tattoo # 3

LMAO

Lessons from my Father

The first Man a girl falls in love with is her Father. He's the one that teaches her, with out words, how other Men should treat her.

Dear Father,

Thanks for teaching me that when a "Man" fucks up if he buys me something....its OK.

Homeless Man on the 4 train(5/13)

The train started to get crowded, seats filled up fast but the one next to him remained empty. And then she sat down next to him as him. They caught each others eye and she smiled at him. He got off at the next stop, but not before looking back at her and smiling. She’d probably been the only one to smile in his direction in a while. The only person to treat him like he was a person and not just a Homeless Man.

She made my day too! :-)

Today was a good day!

All images taken in Prospect Park. It was very peaceful, just me, nature and my camera. Click here please.

Lessons learned.

1.When toting a heavy camera around always make sure you have a spare memory card!
2. Making sure your battery is charged is also a good idea.
3. When walking through a park by yourself stay on the path because as soon as you get off it weird men appear out of no were!!!

Learn from my mistakes people. :-/

Inspired by that Mtv show "taking the stage".

I am photography.
Like he is hip hop.
Like she is a writer.
Like you are a poet.
Like they are in “love”. You know that young, wreckless love.

I am photography, its what comes out of me.

:-)

There's nothing here

I'm so tired.
I'm so angry...
I'm so tired of being so angry.

Dear "Father",

I would make a better MAN then you!

That how I feel, love it or leave it

Just Be.