Roll #64: Puerto Rico

I was quite happy to get these images back from the lab.  Looking through the archives, I guess I never blogged any of the images from this particular shoot.  I'm so excited, this series is now complete!

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James was fifteen when I met him and like any other fifteen-year-old boy, life basically consisted of the simple staples: sports, socializing, and school.  During the week, the Evangelical School for the Deaf, located in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, was the place James called home.  It was at ESD, over a period of a few weeks, that I was able to get to know James.  The language barrier was quite difficult to overcome.  While James was very patient with me, remembering the few signs that I had learned in the previous months was a slow and painful process.  But eventually--through much pointing, writing, drawing, and gesturing, we made notable progress. 

Roles reversed.

Toward the end of my month-long stay in Puerto Rico, we were able to visit Loiza, where James lived on the weekends with his aunt and extended family.  Loiza, being one of the most dangerous places on the island, was a rough place to grow up.  James recalled stories of his family frantically pulling him to the ground in response to the sound of gunshots, and walking past a dead body on his way to the public basketball courts.  All things considered, James fared just fine.  While none of his family members and friends could communicate with him fluently, James found fulfillment in connecting with others on the neighborhood courts.  Basketball was James' one-way ticket past that language barrier.

James currently lives in the Midwest and is attending an academy for the deaf. 

Special thanks to the Evangelical School for the Deaf and to James, for allowing me to be a part of their world for a month.  It was an amazing experience.

The Duke

It just amazes me how contagious creativity can be.  Here are a few images from my afternoon of brainstorming for future projects. . .

  Chris Webb

Actor // Poet // Musician

03.29.12

Spoken Word Poets

Trying to make it through the last half an hour of the workweek?  Do yourself a favor and check out these three spoken word poets:

 Jose Palos

 Janette...ikz

Ezekiel

Janett...ikz

My good friend, Nick Bravo, is near finishing his second CD entitled, "Recognize Excellence."  Last week I joined Nick and poet/musician Janett...ikz in the studio as they worked on the final song for Nick's album.  The album is set to release in the next month or so.  It will be available on NickBravo.com, Re-lic.com, as well as, iTunes.  I advise you to buy it--it's ridiculously good. 

And if you've not yet heard of Janett...ikz, well then, shame on you prepare to be amazed--a powerful voice, with an even more powerful message.  Check out some of her poetry here.   

Roll #65: Edinburgh

More from the Scotland trip, taken from atop Athur's Seat.  These are from an old Hasselblad XPan.  Happy Monday!

Click here for project story.

Roll #66: Scotland

Last year I had the opportunity to travel to Scotland for a job.  Here are a few outtakes from day one of the trip.  There are several more rolls from that trip somewhere in the mix.  More to come...one day!

Click here for project story.

Roll #67: The Landlord

One of the rolls from this project came back blank.  How that happened, I will never know.  Hopefully it's an isolated incident.  Anyhow, I photographed my super-awesome landlord last week, so I thought I'd share that instead.  Hope that's okay with everyone.  Click here for project story.

 

"Milan"

Escondido, CA

01.11.12

Trollies & Trains

I spent some much-needed time home for the holidays.  These images were captured in Colorado Springs, about a half an hour north of my hometown.  Trains are one of my favorite things to photograph; I just find them fascinating.  Their history, the symmetry, the colors--oh the stories they tell. 

Roll #68: Utah

And so the countdown begins.  Click here for details.

These eight frames are from a pit stop I made [somewhere in Utah] while on a cross-country road trip from California to Minnesota.   Talk about a different world.  I believe I stuck out like a sore thumb!  :)

I hope you enjoy this project as much as I already am.  Happy Friday.

Letting it Be

I've found it's often times the best way to make a truthful image.  All images captured in San Jose, California, on 12.30.11.

 

Kateri, Musician

Anthony, Musician & Producer

Striking Gold

For about five years now, I've held off on taking miscellaneous rolls of film to the lab.  You know, shoot a roll here, a couple of frames there.  Well, last week I was rummaging around in my equipment room, and came upon 68 rolls of exposed film!!  Shame on me.  To be honest, finding that much exposed film is like hitting the jackpot.  There is nothing in a photographer's daily life more exciting than getting film back from the lab.  So, welcome to my next project.  I'll be posting images from a new roll each week.  Stay tuned.  Happy New Year!