give it a try

Pitch Black

2008-08-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

American Life #1

2008-08-25T14:15:00.001-07:00

SO its been about four blogs in one day! What's up with that? Well I have to be out of my apartment at the end of the month due to ... the times. So for a moment I will be a modern day drifter until I get a proper and stable job. I have been in this apartment for four years and despite the way I am leaving(internal tension), its time - I think- for me to go. And because I will have a roaming existence, I was kind enough to leave enough of my work that it can hold you guys out for a while. Change has to happen.

In the mean time I am starting a series called "American Life". It is a depiction of the time of now. The contemporary life of the "Americans" of now or should I say the American existence. It reflects the life of the hip, youth, and the everyday man. I feel an examination is needed because the world is becoming increasingly complacent since we have so many toys now to be distracted by. So I guess this is my reflection on the supposedly "contented" masses that live in this digital world. All critical feedback is welcome.

Natalie: the dirty portraits

2008-08-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Roy Hargrove and Esperanza Spalding in Concert - JR Music Fest

2008-08-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Esperanza was spiritual
-----
She was a joy

Roy wellllll he was the king thats all I can say

He is a master at what he does and his stage presence is

undeniable.
--
--
Here are the pics

FASHION: the It girl

2008-08-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

Photographer : me
Stylist : Pamela Shepard
Hair: Eve Nareya
Make-up : Geeta Khanna
Clothes : marithe francois girbaud

Flashing Lights

2008-08-21T15:55:00.001-07:00

I Give you my Breath-nibbles

2008-08-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

When Love is a
Malady you have to nurse

Then you have to find a way to assuage the pain
Less the sorrow of it makes you into a patient
With a saddened pulse

And this is how my heart is ....

Guyanese Rum Drinkers--- old times

2008-08-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

All we drink isss RUMMMMM - and not white but brown- distilled 10yr old rum- Its a guyanese thing.

them watching some gyrl
1 ." boy i could hold that thing down"
2. "man look at that bamsy roll"
1. " eh if me wife ain bin here i woulda tackle she"
2. " boy you too soft, you fricken yuh wife, i gon get a wine watch me"

"""""rannnnnnnteeeed"

is two a them me get

this one --- he is rum buddy - too much coolie blood.

boy we need to fine a rum shop after this

meh wife aint looking - time to thief a wine

There I am. I was part of this melee

SELENA ---

2008-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

NUMA- the dirty portraits

2008-08-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

The Rebels- the dirty portraits

2008-08-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

Khay

Renee

Tecla

The Rebels

NOW......

2008-07-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

if you want to feel something for photography besides what I offer you

then check ==================================

http://www.hedislimane.com/hedi2005/hedislimane2007.html

That Girl

2008-07-27T11:13:00.001-07:00

She was there when I was in the club- back when- and so I pulled her out of the vaults.

BEAUTY- Selena -

2008-07-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

EXTRAS

The Team
Geeta- Make-up
Eve--- Hair
Kwesi Abbensetts - Photographer

New York 08/16 -The City- One Day

2008-07-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday,13th Brooklyn 2008-Me and Friends

2008-07-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Xosha

2008-07-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Jesus is a Woman

2008-07-09T12:33:00.001-07:00

Mengly

2008-07-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

English Bwoy : Adam

2008-07-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

He walked London bridge, jumped over the pond and landed in the land of Fort Greene. Apparently America is treating him well.

This IS a pre Blog

2008-07-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

I did this shoot last night and I am only showing you a little bit of the photos. These photos are just a teaser and that's why it is a pre-blog. More will come later. But what I wanted to share is that, as a creative I am plagued by a lot of self-doubt and too much humility at times. At times it gets in the way of my self-promotion. And they are many times I question whether I am a good photographer or not. Some days are high and others are low but I still keep on moving forward. And that's my motive, to move forward. This is why I have a blog. Last night this shoot was a big step forward and it told me that I have the talent. I also have to give thanks to the team - Geeta- makeup, Eve- hair and Selena - my wonderful and rare model. Everyone was excited with all of the pics- they were so great- that choosing will be a hard task. I captured these pics with the minimal of tools and a lucky accident. Then again an accident is only a sudden change.

AFRO PUNK: the Spiritual

2008-06-28T01:15:00.000-07:00

its About to be on again..........................

Kill Joy

2008-06-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

When you fire a gun, you harness an explosion in the palm of your hand. Thunder and lightning. For a fraction of a second you are Prometheus. For a brief moment you are Thor. You are Zeus, throwing lightning bolts from Mount Olympus. You have ultimate control. Control is the secret to a happy life. Laboratory experiments with rats confirm that those who have even the illusion of control over their own fates live longer, happier, healthier lives. When nature turns red, and it does more than you might think, a gun is the ultimate lever of personal control.

Clayton Cubitt (c)

I am the gun and the photograph is my bullet. I shoot you.

Kwesi Abbensetts (c)

Debbie-

2008-06-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

So I saw her in this outfit last night and ... well I wanted to shoot her but not in the night. But knowing her, I might never get the chance again. So I said Debbie I am gonna do a shoot and she said, "Maaaannn, now, right here? You serious." and I said, "Yes." So here is Debbie working for the camera.

Secada

2008-06-21T12:58:00.001-07:00

Today at Habana

2008-06-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

Her hair was long,
and looked like she had a good life
..........
she had heroin marks on her legs,
not mosquito bites, from where the needle had stung her
all over and over
bags in her hand, one from Daffy's
she had gone shopping today
she still cared about vanity

a miniskirt on and sandals,
cause it was a summer day
she fit the part.
made it easier for me to see the tracks

her weight was down and face in a slight contort
but she walked along
like she was regular folk.
Oblivious to herself,
A heroin addict strung out
walking past Habana.

This is ALL I have of you

2008-06-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

MY COVER and FEATURE IN LADY GUNN MAG

2008-06-11T14:03:00.001-07:00

check out ladygunn magazine - I shot the cover and the denim feature -

http://ladygunn. com/

The Concert - Taylor McFerrin, Heavy, J Davey ---The Mosh

2008-06-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

Click on the large picture..

Underground- 2 shades of Khay

2008-06-09T23:18:00.000-07:00

She's magical .......
works a spell and now .......
I'm enamored.

first color

the other color

Wonders Aglow- Musing

2008-06-06T14:54:00.001-07:00

so we started out on an evening like this .... walking along

then she said she need to make a run, left me to attend to her things.
she had wanted sushi but it didn't look right. so she ran off to the right
and came back bearing something pink and cold ... with whip cream on top
a smoothie .... ummmhm and she gave me a sip, sugar warms the cold
so we walked off to the shore and music was our beckon and the sky became our strobe

and the lights, man they danced , they danced before our eyes, while she told me something about how her friend was cute. I nodded, thats what i do
these light told me there is a heaven

And he wanted his heaven too, laying without reaching
and his fellows well they were more active, not so into it
and I returned to the heavens while she kept me company

And she decided to venture to the edge of the beginning of time, the tide that brought us here.
she stepped into it, god knew why she wore her rain boots that day. he knew she was coming, coming to his sideand so he washed over her, washing over her . she was sanctified

and they .................. welllll
and then ......... this happened, love was shown- i had never seen it before, but the blur was my evidence that i had finally caught a glimpse of it and it was STELLAR.
Love looks like this

they? ...they were in their own wonderment and they didn't know what i knew
awww man they didn't know
and so my insides became this and this .......
the sun sank and we moved along
and I was still like this
i snapped out of it when i saw her(down below)- she gave me a different story - some where in the undergrounds of Delancey.

Habana Daze- the re-occuring actors

2008-06-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

Bacoo

2008-05-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

A spirit of small stature that pelts stones at houses and moves objects within a house. He is supposed to live on banana and milk. Stories abound of the existence of bacoos in Georgetown and other areas in Guyana. Could have come from Surinam and are said to be trapped in a corked bottle unless released. Active mainly at night, it is said that a satisfied bacoo will answer the wishes of its owner.

'Baku' in many West African languages means 'little brother' or 'short man'. It also is related to the word the word 'bacucu' meaning 'banana'. In West Africa, the short races (such as the pygmies) were believed to have magical powers. This seemed to have been brought to Guyana, where the short races, or 'bakus', were still regarded as having magical powers.

http://evilparrot.blogspot.com/2006/05/guyanese-folklore-bacoo.html

Behind the Scene- Born as a Raggamiffin Show

2008-05-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

Summer has Come

2008-05-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

Habana Nights-

2008-05-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

HEAD HELD HIGH

2008-05-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

The MIGHTY JANELLE MONAE

2008-05-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

she is so trill.
she is so fly.
she is so kind.
she is so large.
she is so tiny.
she is so She.
she is so pamela.
Did i say she is so tiny.
tiny, tiny, tiny, so shrilllllllllll

Did i say her voice is so LARGE.
she is so generous.
she gave me something.

LOVE for the music and the performer.

The love is JANELLE MONAE

Just for me ............................ that finger

A BLUR is all you need.

2008-05-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

SHAMANIC SPIRITS

2008-05-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

THE BLK JKS -- straight from South Africa

2008-04-28T02:38:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of experiencing this band right here in Brooklyn -- the BLACK JACKS. They came all the way from South Africa to share their music. I felt like I was privelidged to be able to photograph them, when they performed last night at HARRIETS ALTER EGO. They came to america took the train at first, thought it was crazy, came above ground, got bicycles, rode the city and recorded at Electric Lady. The studio that Jimmy Hendrix built. You can find them right now on the cover of FADER magazine. They are an exciting band and have the potential for great music in their future. The band mates were all humble and positive and I think it is this spirit that will move them forward. I love to experience people with talent when they are just starting to blossom and that's what I see in the BLK JKS.
All hail the BLK JKS

Unconditional: No love lost.

2008-04-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

THE CHILD

THE MOTHER AND CHILD

THE MOTHER

Ian

2008-04-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossom Party: NOIR

2008-04-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

Faltering

2008-04-16T02:38:00.000-07:00

Apology, for what

We are all sorry for the
things we have done,
the wrong we have all done,
the hurt that we have
wrung out of every tear,
the cheat we have stolen
from every offered faith,
the innocence that we have
stained by just leaving them
plain, newly old, rusted and used,
a fruit that rots
in the dry dust,
a new adventurous soul
bows her head to conceal
the grief, defeated by the world
(alone is safe)?
we are sorry for cracking the
mirror, and unveiling
that we weren't so cute or sweet after-all,
just a figment to excite your wishes,
pains that you were such a fool
we are sorry for all of these things
then why do we always play the game
again and again

Somehow I Fell In Love

2008-04-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

JOHANA- redux

2008-04-09T10:42:00.001-07:00

BEAUTY- Monteka

2008-04-06T22:46:00.000-07:00

photograher- kwesi abbensetts
stylist - pamela shepard
makeup- danita womack

THIS IS ZEBI - The Girl of BORN as a RAGGAMUFFIN

2008-03-31T06:27:00.000-07:00

First to get it out of the way . I shoot women. I love to shoot women. I get a high when I can find a image within the frame that can emote the essence of a woman.

Now on to other things. I have been having an affair with hair lately. Big crazy hair and what better way to capture it than to use my camera. Then it becomes my duty to transform that person. Hopefully I achieve this purpose.

So my subject - Her name is Zebi- she is shy in front of the camera, so she didn't want to show her face at first. By accident we started with her back and then I ignited a spark and then the magic took over. Oh she is the designer of the Born as a Raggamuffin - clothing line.
http://www.myspace.com/raggamuffindesigns
Here she is ......

THIS IS SUZI ANALOGUE

2008-03-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

When the Partying is done ....

2008-03-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

The Dancers

2008-03-17T00:07:00.000-07:00

Last Night Was a Good NIGHT

2008-03-11T02:10:00.000-07:00

SHE is in A Movie Yall

2008-02-25T01:29:00.000-08:00

JOHANA, Bushwick NYC

2008-02-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

RES AND TALIB KWELI AT MIDWAY, NYC

2008-02-23T18:45:00.000-08:00

Red Riding Hood

2008-02-23T01:55:00.000-08:00

JOHANA and the Trench Coat

2008-02-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

Myself as my own Subject.

2008-02-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

Humbling my spirit
my soul
it is so i can be closer to you
seems for so long you have been on a stroll
come back home
and rest in my core
to know i can be whole again
and again

Children ... mothers, fathers, guardians, family

2008-02-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

Wildcowgirl

2008-02-06T09:25:00.001-08:00

Sun Rays

2008-02-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

i want to thank
you
you for the pleasure
the pleasure
of not being dead
dead in my own life
to not think
i was just one boulder of reserve
unmoved within years.
i now know i can still reach
for the pleasure
i can still,_____________________________________
rich in the pleasure
i can now roll down the hill
a boulder at play

Nights like This

2008-02-04T23:13:00.001-08:00

Things I can’t find

In New York,
I can’t see the moon
The street lights laugh
When I mourn,
I can’t look to
the stars to wonder
Times Square is too brilliant squander
So bright this city,
Makes me wonder if there’s
Even a heaven out there,
God never comes closer,
might be why so many
search for something behind
Cobble stone alcoves
the lights ... they scare the spirit
it's true

Stalwart Greif

2008-02-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

the air is thick with [brooding] the kind that wrings the [heart] and later by itself [dries] even if it still wants to rain tears [under the sun] it is a sadness that runs thick [of love] taking so long to wash away the pleasantness [and sins] that brought it to the end [it bears] Yes! That how I felt when it thundered and pelted rocks as my penalty. I hadn’t realise that I brought the curse upon myself when I yielded- kind of like letting my heart swell and stretched to be uplift- by the most mammoth weakness I know- Hah! LOVE! She was a dancing shining kind, more vixen than maiden. I was beckoned into the lure and from thereon is when every moment became too involved. So now my fellows and friends I say beware and fend for yourselves I now lay on gray sheets my familiar bed of mourning and sorrow you ask me oh I drink sorrow to drench my spirits things are happening now I rather they not see My friends I tell I much rather the carousing dark and his unfaithful promises at least I can rest to know night is night at least I know what is when love is something else

the air is thick with [brooding] the kind that wrings the [heart] and later by itself [dries] even if it still wants to rain tears [under the sun] it is a sadness that runs thick [of love] taking so long to wash away the pleasantness [and sins] that brought it to the end [it bears] Yes! That how I felt when it thundered and pelted rocks as my penalty. I hadn’t realise that I brought the curse upon myself when I yielded- kind of like letting my heart swell and stretched to be uplift- by the most mammoth weakness I know- Hah! LOVE! She was a dancing shining kind, more vixen than maiden. I was beckoned into the lure and from thereon is when every moment became too involved. So now my fellows and friends I say beware and fend for yourselves I now lay on gray sheets my familiar bed of mourning and sorrow you ask me oh I drink sorrow to drench my spirits things are happening now I rather they not see My friends I tell I much rather the carousing dark and his unfaithful promises at least I can rest to know night is night at least I know what is when love is something else

Strobes and Color

2008-02-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

yeh

2008-01-28T23:28:00.000-08:00

She wonders if I dream
Like the way she lives
No
I can’t imagine
I know when I sleep
It is black, not even the Shadows paints grays
Its kind of deep sleep
Saturated until the
Blue rising pulls me
Limp out,
She wonders if I dream
Like the way she lives
And I say its for foriegners,
They like to travel

life is a trip right now

..............

Isn’t funny

when You tug me inside
When you pull strings
In my flesh
They register like
A thousand sanddunes
Makes me hot for you

This heat, it rises
The flames march all
Over my body
I want to wipe away
With cold water,

But the sweat tells me
I can’t keep you cool
I will never sleep

With you again
Beneath me

I need to be on top

Such subjugation
Will never be allowed
I need to
See where from this heat rises