School Girl Dreams in Living Color

Puerto Rican School Girl
Barrio Rocha, Moca, Puerto Rico

My cousin never married but he always wanted to have a family. His mother fostered many children late in life. He chose to adopt two sisters that she fostered; he has raised them with the help of his parents.

The sisters once had nothing but nightmares and little hope. They had nothing to look forward to and nothing to hope for. Thanks to my cousin's love and the kindness of his parents, for his children nightmares have been replaced by soothing dreams.

The uniformed young lady in the picture above is on her way to becoming a model. That's her dream. Although she must wear a uniform to go to school, she has already figured out how make her own statement. She has found her voice. The nightmares are gone and the dreams have come in their place.

We Have Faces

One of the things that intrigues me about photography is the complexity of photographing a person. The more I study the subject, the more I realize how difficult it really is to capture the many faces of the subject. The face we see may not be the face the subject wants us to see. Conversely, we may not capture the true face and essence of our subject because we've not bothered to go beyond the surface.

Photographing people and capturing them in the right light, as they truly are, requires patience and inter-personal relationship skills. It simply is not just a mater of camera, lense, and lighting (natural and artificial). For me, at least, it requires some kind of an emotional connection between between the subject and myself. 

Several years ago, I discovered the value having a conversation with my client throughout our session. The results were extremely pleasing and I decided that I would continue to use that technique. This conversational approach enables me to capture more personality dimensions that otherwise a two dimensional image would not cast.

Portraits which lack intimacy, a relationship between photographer and subject, inevitably leave the viewer flat and void of feeling. The end result is simply a testament of technique and technology.


These portraits of my friend were shot in my home studio. The intent was to capture the many dimensions of the man I know and to render images of him in a flattering context. It became evident to me quickly that it was a complicated endeavour almost like reading tea leaves. It was complicated because I had to learn to see the various sides of him. It required patience and relationship. I relied on his immediate feedback and the quickly became a collaboration between photographer and subject. We created the photographs and crafted the final outcome.

Choices: In My Life

Choose
iPhone Artistry
From: The Power of Words Card Collection

Choice is the one thing that we have in abundance. Each day we awake, we face multiple decisions. We make decisions from bathing and hygiene, to selecting our clothing for the day. Some can kill us over a long period of time if we choose what we ingest daily poorly. Life is about making decisions. Like Indiana Jones, you must choose "wisely." 

Wrong or right, we must make decisions. We make financial decisions some are good and some are bad. We make driving decisions and select routes based on familiarity and celerity. We choose to speak or not. We choose our friends. We even make unanticipated career choices.

This morning, I choose to make an affirmation. I choose to believe that universe provides ample opportunities for those that actively engage life, that sustained motion and activity ultimately yield gains. Without sowing there can be no harvest. The choice lies within me to change and turn life's pages.

Today, I have less luggage than when I started this journey two years ago.  However the journey is far from over and plenty of choices lie ahead of me. Choices that contain opportunity and reward. They may even be more fulfilling than those that I've had in the past.

Nostalgia is an important part of my life. I think I will leave you today with a Beatles song, In My Life its timely to our discussion. Continue to make choices abundantly. Move confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Remember the Good Times

Good Times
Victrola at Hacienda Buena Vista
Barrio Margueyes, Near Ponce, Puerto Rico

Some things act as catalysts bringing back incredible good memories. That was the case with this victrola spotted in the corner across the expansive living room salon at Hacienda Buena Vista. It sat alone but the horn drew me in and you could hear the music that must have come from it and you could visualize the dances choreographed in that room.

My mother use to tell me of her two story home near San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. How her father had money and how they use to entertain with lavish parties and dances at their home. For a moment, as my sister and I walked across the open open room, we reconnected with her spirit and her past. We visualized what she experienced and how grand it must have been. All those excited young girls waiting to dance the evening away. Who would they meet and who would they marry?

Mom never ever forgot the good times and she had many; enough to outweigh the hardships she later endured while raising her family with her husband in an unfamiliar place. Mom taught us how to draw from the good times.

Good times are for a reason, accumulate and store them. They should not be forgotten. They serve a purpose; when times are tough we dip our ladle and draw from the well to quench our thirst and refresh our soul. Can't forget the good times. Find the good times in your life and recall them.

"Good Times" image will be available for sale along with others in my new card series: The Power of Words.  Contact me for additional information.

Power of Words

Be Still

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary

 to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."

Hermann Hesse

For nearly a year, my wife and her cousin have been trying to get me to print cards with simple words and messages. After experimenting with some scenarios, I am ready to launch a new set of cards and images. They will be available soon.

"Be still" is something most of us were told as a child. As an adult, be still is an admonishment to reflect. There are times in our life that we need to withdraw, regroup, meditate, and renew. Solitude is not a bad thing. Finding an opportunity to listen to the universe by gazing at the stars may very well be the change in perspective you require. Be still and get rid of the noise. Find yourself again.

Dream On

Dream On
Rincon Lighthouse
Rincon, Puerto Rico

                                                           

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

~Dr. Seuss

One of the classic hits from my generation is Steven Tyler's "Dream On". Both the lyrics and music remain as relevant today as it did when we first heard it on our favorite rock radio stations.

There's nothing wrong with dreaming. In fact as we get older we need to be reminded to dream on. Dreams provide an outline of where you want to be. You must act to fill in all the empty spaces and complete the sketch. Without the outline you can't get there, but without action you can't achieve your dream.

Reluctantly, I've dreamt of being self-sufficient. Circumstances have forced me to pursue that dream now rather than later in life. The journey I am on is one that's more compatible with my personal interests. The only thing that has held me back is self-doubt and fear of financial failure. Now I have no room for doubt and I can only press onward in the direction of a dream long forgotten. It's good to dream but it's even better to work on them and make them come true. To all of you I invite you to: "Dream On."

My Valentine

Bridal Valentine
Mixed Media: SLR and iPhone
 (Special Thanks Courtney Kaiser Sandler and Vanessa Price)

Nearly twenty-five years ago, my valentine met me at an outdoor gazebo (altar). That day our whole family got married, Justin and Steven too. It was a beautiful day. We were surrounded by friends and family at an outdoor poolside ceremony. The sun's light was pale compared to my beaming bride. As much as a macho stud I portended to be; I choked up. Her beaming radiance touched me. To this day, she still lights up my room when she walks in.

Today don't forget the glow. Think about the magic that brought you together and imagine how less bright your world would be without each other. Forever is a long time but just not long enough. Since I also shoot weddings, I think a little Randy Travis in order. So today, I just want to say, I am going to love you Forever and Ever Amen.

Pick a tune and sing it for the rest of your life.