Don't be Afraid to Try Something Different!!!

It has taken me almost 10 years to truly let my hair down when it comes to my photography. When you are a child you are not afraid to act crazy, do things that are a bit flamboyant, or even create something that may not be gallery worthy. At the age of 23 I was introduced to photography. Before that it was all disposable cameras, and no clue of what I was photographing or even why. When I look back, I was much more relaxed, and not worried about composition, framing, exposure....... Maybe because I didn't know anything about that when it came to creating a photograph, all I knew was how to draw, and work with color pencils, pastels, conte crayons, and charcoal.

Outside of being a photographer, I have the privilege of being a Librarian for Denver School of the Arts (not a certified Librarian, but an assistant teacher with the position) and I also teach an after school photography program. For the last three years I have been working with students, grades 2-12 teaching them how to make photographs. I teach them the basic fundamentals of photography, and they create amazing images that I would have never thought of. Though I teach the students how to be young photographers, they have taught me how to let go of the control I hold so close, and just be free with my passion of making photographs, the one thing that I have been told to do since I started photography.

This year has been a year of evolution for me as an artist. This is the first time in 10 years that I have even considered myself to be an artist. Ultimately, the students I have had the opportunity to work with, and pass my passion of photography to, have helped me grow as a person and artist. I take pride in working as an educator, and help shape those of our future, but what I think we may not realize, it's our youth that helps us become who we are. At least that has been the case for me.  

 The images you are looking at are from students I have worked with, some of which had never picked up a camera before taking the class. As I said, I teach them the basic fundamentals, and they document what they see and feel through the lens of a camera.

What a Muddy Mess!

Normally, the idea of having dirt all over our body doesn't sit well, but for this shoot we embraced the idea of being covered in mud from head to toe. There are always a few individuals that always ask  "Why did I do this? It feels disgusting, and it smells like crap!"  Ultimately they are so excited at the end of the shoot, and anxious to see the end result. 
The very first shoot was with Solomon Phillips, Terrance as I know him. A model I had been interested in working with for some time. Terrance was very quiet, didn't say much of anything, but had no problem having his, what looked to be new name brand jeans, and boot covered in mud from the creek. As we began the photo shoot I was enjoying what Terrance, and I were creating.  The images looked very gritty, his facial expressions were on point, and the location worked out perfectly. We decided to changed the scenery, walking to the creek, we began shooting again, but this time he changed into some black swim wear. This set the stage the rest of the series, giving a more  natural feel that fit in with the landscape. Stripped down to the bare skin, covering important body parts so no one is ticketed or in the back of a police car, we went for a feeling of an animal in the landscape, very National Geographic. The Photographer is somewhere in the trees or landscape photographing the individuals in their natural surrounding without being noticed. That was our goal, that was the vision. 
Every model gave a different look and feeling to the series. The models and I tried to take advantage of the landscape, trying not to use the same location more than once, though that did not work being some location were just amazing. There were days when I had three shoots a day at various times of the day, and that dictated where the shoots would take place. If it was in the early morning we used the tree filled landscapes that would allow rays of light to shine onto the model. During afternoon we used the creek, since it was mostly shaded by canopy of trees, plus it kept the models cool. As the sun would start to set, the open grass, and creek gave off beautiful light with a warm etherial glow to the models, and because of that I tried to have all the sessions between 5-6 pm. Ultimately the light would define the look of the shoot. With the warm summer session coming to an end, and the cool Colorado evening starting to roll in, this series is going to have to be put on hold till next year. I intend to continue the Muddy Mess series for as long as possibly. I think there is still so much I can do, but you never know I may have my last three photo session of the year and feel it is complete. 

This has been a very fun, and successful series with almost a dozen images excepted on Vogue.it, Vogue Italia's website. I have worked with some amazing models on this project, some have become great friends. This has been one of the very first photo shoots where I have not tried to turn it into something with a fashion inspired look, though there are some that say it does look and feel very like a fashion shoot. Whatever the case may be, I love this series, and can't wait to finish the Muddy Mess series up for the season, and start up again next year. 

Inspired by Childhood

When I was a child there were only two places I wanted to be, the pool or the beach. I have always been called a water baby, or it has been said that I was an aquatic animal in my past lifetime. Whatever the case may be, I have always enjoyed being in the water.

My fondest memories come from being at my Grandma Julie's apartments. See, my Grandma always managed apartments, and those apartments always had a pool. The pool was my main destination on a daily basis no matter what time of the year it may have been when spending time with my Grandma. When you live in Los Angeles California, you can pretty much swim anytime of the year, it never really gets that cold. My Grandma, though she couldn't swim would always take me to the pool. I would jump into the water with no hesitation never knowing how cold it may be. The commotion of everyday life was silenced by the water, and pockets of air racing to the top and become a part of the air we breath. My eyes opened though I knew I would suffer for that after an hour or so, but as a kid I didn't care, the only thing that mattered at the time was me in the water with the feeling of freedom. My imagination would run wild swimming around like a dolphin, but without the grace, and effortlessness. Coming up for water, only because my heart is racing a mile a minute, due to lack of oxygen, and I had to in order to continue live and swim. It was the sense of being weightless, and cutting my way through the water back to civilization, and hearing the words of my Grandma "Mikey be careful, don't make Grandma have to come in the water, and get you, you know I can't swim!" I miss those words.

I haven't heard that phrase from my Grandma in over 15 years. Unfortunately she passed away July 25, 2012. Though I never told her, my Underwater Series is inspired by my childhood experiences in her pool, being able to be free, and whatever I wanted to be while in the water.

 The models I have had the opportunity to photograph, have been directed to be free, and let their inner child come out. The only rules for the shoot are not to open your eyes, and just have fun! I would hand them a large 4' x 12' piece of fabric, and say let this fabric become a part of you. Don't be afraid to dance in the water with it, and enjoy yourself. In the beginning the models would struggle as if they never swam a day in their life, forgetting to hold their breath, and keep their eyes closed. To comfort the models, and ensure that everything was okay, I would tell them stories about my childhood memories in my Grandma's pool. They would giggle a bit, smile, and it felt as if my Grandma was listening to me repeat the same words to the models as she would to me, "Don't make me have to rescue you while we are in the water." After all was said and done, the models would start to swim effortlessly with the fabric slicing through the water as if it was a part of their body. Toes would be pointed, fingers would gently cling to the fabric with a dainty feeling, and their facial expression, soft, and carefree. The models would seem ethereal for that 15-30 seconds of sheer bliss. Every model brought something new to the water, at times making me forget that I should be capturing moments in time as I admire their grace, and beauty while in the water.

The pool season is over in eight days to be exact. My Underwater Series will be put on hold for the next nine months. This project was inspired by my childhood, and the time with my Grandma who is physically no longer here, but always here with me in spirit. Taking inspiration from personal experience has allowed me to create what I feel is some of my best work to date. Those who view the series probably wont see the inspiration from time spent with my Grandma. The great thing about this project for me is that every time I visit this series, the memories of the most important person of the first 20+ years of my life will come to mind. A smile will appear, a chuckle or two will be heard, and knowing me, I may shed a few tears of happiness for the one who inspired me to create my Underwater Series. Thank you Grandma for inspiring me to create!