Lonely Talent

Lonely Talent...The streets of New York City are filled with so many creative and talented people that most of the time go un-noticed.  Throwing a dollar or some unwanted loose change into an empty instrument case or container of some sort, without the aknowledgement of the talent that is sitting in front of you.  Do New Yorkers really take the time to listen to these unknown people that are, in a way, making our journey through the streets somewhat more peaceful with their sounds.  These musicians obviously aren't there to make big bucks off our sparce change.  But why are they there sitting on the park bench or on a street corner, alone?  I spent a great amount of time just observing these musicians while i was  photographing, putting my camera down and just listening.  It was emotional journey for me trying to figure out  who these strangers were and feeling their passion through the notes that they played.  From Guissepe in Thompson Square Park, who played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" repeatly on his saxaphone, to the band in Central Park that played a variety of different songs.  These musicians were an inpiration to me and I wanted them to be noticed through my eyes in my photographs.  Stop and actually listen next time you encounter some "Lonely Talent".

Different Worlds, Same Street

When I moved to Hempstead in 2008 I immediately noticed the difference in cultures between two towns that were very close together - Garden City and Hempstead. Even though I was used to being exposed to different cultures, I had never been exposed to such opposite towns that are located so close to each other. In the past, I have given this issue exposure through writing, but now I wanted everyone to actually see the obvious, as well as the subtle, differences that can come as a shock to to many.

Amawalk

Fishing for most is a hobby, a weekend sport, and a way to relax. My father Vincent finds the sport of fishing to be much more, and it has held his passion for decades. This series was shot in my father's workshop and on the Amawalk Reservoir in Northern Westchester County, NY. In the Northern Westchester and Hudson Valley region watershed areas, lakes, rivers, and streams are plentiful and put to use all year round in a number of ways. The popularity of the sport of fishing is prevalent in this area, and holds the affection of many. I wanted to not only document the act of fishing, but also shoot a smaller subculture of it, the art of tying flies. By creating these tools needed to fly fish, an even more prideful connection is formed to the sport and the spoils of it.

Upon the Surface

People have always intrigued and inspired me, from their posture to the way that they present themselves. I walked around some of my favorite places and parks in the city (Washington Square Park, Madison Square Park, through Gramercy/Flatiron, etc.) and took portraits of strangers that I found visually pleasing. I wanted to connect with these strangers through the lens of my camera and gain a personal relationship with these strangers for just those few moments in time. After each encounter I wanted to portray my interpretation of that individual through the use of close-up, abstract images of buildings and the ground that we walk on. I feel as though everyone has a back-story and I wanted those secrets and unknown facts about these strangers to show through my comparative images.

Memento

Tattoos are a stigma of our youth culture. While some people just ink themselves in the midst of drunken nights or for no particular reason, others actually use them as an emblem, an ideogram: to represent a part of themselves that only they know. I think there is something beautiful, honest, almost intimate, and secretive about such tattoos, especially when they’re not meant to be spectacles. This is what I tried to evoke in this series. I was interested as to why people would go through pain to permanently adorn their bodies. These people and their stories captivated me.  

Fanatics

The experience of going to a baseball game once was just to see the game, though now, the idea of going to a ballgame is that of a social experience. There are many more activities to do at the ballpark now, and as a result the focus is less on the game, and more of how and with whom you spend time in the ballpark. Whether it is tailgating prior to the game with fellow dedicated fans, passing on the tradition of going to baseball games to a son or daughter for the first time, paying homage to one's recently deceased father, or being able to remember the simple joys from ones childhood by reigning in a free t-shirt, there are countless stories existing within the stadium that are often more compelling than the on-field competition. The image of baseball that most people see is that of overpaid prima donna jocks and owners who charge too much for admission, yet it is the individual and shared experiences of the 30,000-42,000 people paying to see these athletes that truly adds a human element to the experience of attending a game.

Coney Island Polar Bear Club

Polar Bear Club, many people know what it is, but few ever brave the cold waters. My initial draw to the club was purely on a personal interest, to find out what made these people want to plunge into the sea when its under 30 degrees out. Having gone on several occasions, I cant say exactly what makes me want to go back, but the people are inviting even if the environment may not be and my final goal of this investigation was to bring the viewer directly into the waves and give them a view similar to that of the participants. With regulars returning each week from October through April, members form close-knit society. Granting a front seat to the action, the customs and habits of these swimmers are put on display. The ritualistic behavior becomes the key focus within the club and a sort of majesty can be felt within each encapsulated moment.

Recognize!

Collegiate Women of Color (CWC) was established in February of 2000 by two Hofstra students, Takita Mason and Tynisha Thompson. The founders wanted to give women of color (Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc.) a forum where they could discuss issues such as racism and sexism as it occurred on campus and worldwide. CWC is dedicated to promoting sisterhood through education and experience and is a dedicated organization that is attempting to break down the social divide between people, especially women of color, on Hofstra University’s campus and beyond. Although this organization is called Collegiate Women of Color, it's open to everyone of all ethnicities and backgrounds.

When approaching this project my original idea was to take pictures of the ladies in meetings, events, and fundraisers. As I was shooting these events I notice that you wouldn’t really get personality or strength from these ladies as I envisioned. So I decided to take a personal approach and do close up portraits of a few members and executive board members. I wanted people to see these everyday women who actually work really hard in everything they do on and off campus.

[Top Left: Krystal, Samantha,Yemi, Bottom left: Julie, Charlene, Kelley]

Arriving Early and Staying Late

Arriving Early and Staying Late is a glimpse of the crowd outside Broadway's stage doors. Being this close to the very fans that are the life blood of the theatre industry was truly an experience. Watching these people, these fans, interact with the people they idolize was fascinating, on many levels. On the one hand, you see a person who's passionate about the show they've just seen, and the actor they've just witnessed, and wants to capture this moment to remember for a life time. On the other, you have the people who have no regard for the actor's personal spaces or comfort zones, and will do anything to get their pre-printed 8x10 glossy signed. Capturing the crowd's moments with the actors and each other was a moving look into the mindset of this very specific type of interaction. These people and these situations are one in a million, and something I will most likely continue to capture for the rest of my life.