New Work and Website

For the last few weeks I've been busy working on a new site, and finishing up on some personal projects. Tonight I launched my new website along with new work. You can view it here.

Hell and Back

Last Sunday I had an assignment covering retired NBA star Luther Wright from Linden, NJ. Wrights story and testimony is incredible. He went from playing for the Utah Jazz, to living on the streets. Wright is now back on his feet after finding a path through spirituality. He now lives his life day to day trying to stay off drugs and helping others who are going through similar situations. It was a blessing and honor spending the morning with him. You can read the remarkable story here.

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I wish I could keep up with updating this blog, however to be frank, I can't. These days there are one-to-many things going on. Besides working at AOL News, I am also freelancing. Therefore most of my time away from the office I spend marketing. Sometime in December, something great will be happening. It's part of my marketing strategy that I'm very excited about it, and I will announce it here.

New York has been such a difficult community breaking into. It's so competitive here, unlike any other location I have ever lived. With that said, this city and the large community of photographers here, have pushed me to continue shooting and developing stories. Currently, I am working on three stories. Two are almost finished. In the future, I don't think I will take on so many personal photographic stories because it's far to difficult being able to focus on just one. I hope to be complete with at least two by next month. For now, below are images from some assignments and occasional personal stock work.

"I believe in the sun even if it isn't shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent."

-Unknown

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I love my career, life's never ending adventures, people, communities, diversity, color, the country side, culture and everything else good that God created. It's just been one of those periods in my life that has been great. Between AOL News, freelancing, shooting stock, and working on a couple of personal photo projects, I've been staying very busy. Even though the industry is in a period of transition and re-organization, its been exciting times lately. I'm constantly inspired by my fellow colleagues' passion, their work and their drive to continue doing what they love!

Below are some images from assignments and personal work. More to come...

"'I can't do it' never yet accomplished anything; 'I will try' has performed wonders."

- George P. Burnham

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Its been awhile since I have posted on my personal project - |lā′ərs| of ny. Below are some additions to the set and of course, nothing is edited. The images are just the best from each day of the week.

Besides continuing this personal project, I have been trying to finish another project I've been working on for over a year now, about the Guardian Angels. It's been a daunting task because I've been waiting for one picture to happen for over 6-months now. Yes, just one picture. What that is I will not say, but for those of you that have snuck a peak of my work, you know what I am talking about.

I try to shoot as much as I can throughout the week, but I've also been working on the picture desk at AOL News. Great things are happening, and I am excited to be part of the team. I really enjoy photo editing, but photography is still my love. However, I enjoy having a foot in both worlds. More to come...

"If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up."

- Richard Avedon

Meet The Breeds

I love animals, especially dogs. Today I had a fun assignment covering the 'Meet the Breeds' dog and cat show. To see more images, check them out on LIFE here.

There were 41 CFA registered cat breeds and 160 AKC registered dog breeds shown at the event. Some were ugly as heck, while others I wanted to take home right then and there! More to come...

"Beware of doubt — faith is the subtle chain that binds us to the infinite."

- E. 0. Smith

Coolaid - In Color

Originally my photo essay on Coolaid and his crew was in B&W, but lately I've had comments that they should be in color. I am starting to agree. I don't think these were to be in color to begin with. That is not how they were intended to be shot. Check them out on my website, in color, under the 'stories & projects' area.

A Day at Coney Island

Again, one of the most bizarre places I have ever been to. This time, the entire area was populated with Orthodox Jews. It was a very cool scene to see. Below are some pics after spending an afternoon at the beach with my good buddy Matthew Williams.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27

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Its been awhile since I’ve shot in B&W, about a year actually. I have been shooting B&W film recently, which made me so thankful for digital because of the cost involved. It’s really a different look and feel, and it sure is fun, but sometimes I need to tell myself to stop shooting the film camera like it is a digital camera! The images in this post are not film, rather digital and converted into B&W. I would very much like to scan some images and upload one day. That will be another project for another day.

These days, I’m working at AOL News on the picture desk. It’s part time, which is fantastic, because it allows me to continue working on personal projects and freelancing. It’s the best of both worlds! And speaking of personal projects, I would like to start doing some more while I am still in NY. Even though we will probably be here for a couple more years, that time will pass by very fast. Take all the moments and time you have now to start and finish personal projects. That is what I tell myself all the time. More to come…

Doubt springs from the mind. Faith is the daughter of the soul.

- J. Pete Senn

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The last couple of weeks have been very good. My wife and I moved out of East Harlem and onto Roosevelt Island. It’s a nice 5-minute sky tram, or subway stop away from Manhattan. The view is incredible, and the location is quiet and safe. Our last place in Harlem was terrible. I guess it’s a common story when someone new moves to NY. People tend to get a hole in the wall apartment, or bad location for the first time. We were just sick of all the drive-bys and gun fights behind our apartment, not to mention having 3 drunken men trying to break into our home, while we were watching a movie! Crazy…

Freelancing has picked up, so that is also a plus. I’ve also started a new venture with AOL News. I’ll be working on the picture desk, something very similar to my last gig with TIME Asia. AOL News is heading in a new direction, and is doing some incredible things. So I’m stoked to be on board. I hope to continue posting here on a regular basis, however the busyness of my life was just turned up a few notches. I’ll try to keep up! More to come…

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”

-John 4:18

9/11 - Floating Lanterns

9/11/09 - 8 years later - A traditional Japanese ceremony took place at pier 40, where people came to write notes to those they lost in the 9/11 attacks. Faces of those who died were also on the lanterns. As the evening approached, people said their prayers, and lit the lanterns and proceeded to float them down the Hudson River. Fortunately the rain stopped long enough for the people to float their lanterns. I just wish it wasn't a cloudy day so that I could have seen the two light beams where the WTC once stood.

9/11 - 2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks. Most were civilians, including nationals of over 90 countries. Do you remember where you were when this tragedy took place?

"Forgiveness is man's deepest need and highest achievement."

- Horace Bushnell

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Back to shooting more for my personal project |lā ərs| of ny, I visited some new places in the city that blew me away. First, I must say that Coney Island is by far one of the strangest places I've ever been to. The people all around are such characters, and along with the style of dress it is something you would see in a movie. I was expecting it to remind me of Venice Beach in California, but no way, it is totally different. A different kind of beast.

Exploring these new areas for the first time with my wife and mom was totally cool. Since I usually prefer to explore alone, so I can concentrate on shooting, but it was great going around with the family. Oh, and we're moving from East Harlem to a little island between Manhattan, and Queens called Roosevelt Island. I love big cities, but I also like to retreat to a nice quiet place to focus and think. Plus, the fact that gun fights have been going on behind our apartment the last few days have put us on high alert. And that's no fun.

The pics below are some for the collection. After all is said and done with this project, I'd like to focus on something else. What? I'm not sure. Currently, besides this project, I'm finishing up with my long overdue story on the Guardian Angels. I'm praying I can finish that soon. More to come...

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

- Corinthians 5:7