Documentary Photographer

Spiritual Retreat in Peru

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As I am getting back home from Peru, of the biggest takeaways of my trip was a new understanding of the word “medicine.”

So often we think of medicine solely in terms of western use such as pills or drugs, and only in certain contexts do we ever hear the term medicine man or medicine woman and understand what that actually means.

This trip has truly opened my eyes to what medicine truly is. It is anything that brings you back to your true essence, back to yourself.

Confidence is medicine. Love is medicine. Wisdom from plant and animal spirits are medicine. Good company is medicine. Music is medicine.

We all have different medicines to share. Some people are here to inspire, some are here to heal, others are here to act as a mirror for others to see their true nature. During this trip, I received the medicine of accomplishment, nourishment, and a sense of belonging. The medicine I was asked to provide was laughter, compassion, and peace. With great reverence I hold these sacred gifts, these medicines, to invite you both to partake and hear the call to share your own with the world as it so dearly needs during this time.

Proof Bakeshop

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My favorite assignments are the ones that combine food and documentary photography. These stories go beyond taking colorful pictures and share the backgrounds of the workers striving to perfect their art. Their workplace is their home, their coworkers are family. This Creative Loafing article, A Day in the Life of Proof Bakeshop, covers the goings-on around the clock at a new Atlanta bakery. Combined, me and my fellow photographer Eric Cash spent an entire day photographing and getting to know the business and employees. Starting from preparations at 6pm the night before to 6pm at closing time the next day, these employees don't miss a beat, even at 2 o'clock in the morning. While the food was delicious, I would go back just for the company.

Not only does this bakery have a feature story, but they also won Best New Bakery in the Critic's Pick section of Creative Loafing's "Best Of" issue. Below are some of my photos from the morning and afternoon shifts. Check out the full CL story here.

Hong Kong, Part 3

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Visiting the Mongkok Goldfish Market, Flower Market, and Bird Market were some of our last stops in Hong Kong before wrapping up exhibition presentations and heading back home to Georgia. These markets, which open to the streets throughout the city, span quite a distance and attract both tourists and locals. The goldfish market was remarkable, it included an array of goldfish spanning from the size of a thumbnail to half a foot across. The smaller fish were displayed hanging in water bags along Tung Choi Street in the entrances to the shops, with the larger fish in tanks in the exterior. Aside from just goldfish, reptiles, crustaceans, and any other kind of aquatic species you can think of can also be found here, as well as numerous shops solely dedicated to aquarium care. The flower market, easy enough to find with it's location on Flower Market Road, was full of locals buying flowers for graduations and summer weddings. The quantity of florals to choose from was impressive as well, ranging in every color and texture you could imagine. Our last stop, the bird market, was located in a garden adjacent to the flower market. Here, vendors sold not only birds but exquisite cages, food, and toys.

#HKX15

Hong Kong, Part 2

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The neighborhood that we are staying in, Sham Shui Po (which is on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong), is definitely one with color. Now that our group has had a chance to explore the area a bit and venture outside of the comfort zone of tourists, we are better able to make observations and comparisons about the different neighborhoods. Sham Shui Po is definitely one of the poorer districts, and with some online reading I found an unusual article by CNN that describes this neighborhood as the "murderous psychopath" to the more sophisticated Hong Kong Island. Far from the tourist's eye, Sham Shui Po provides some interesting insight into Chinese culture that is lost in the more polished areas of the city. The specialty markets and food in this area are some of the best examples. The food is inexpensive, often no more than a few USD, and the variety ranges from traditional Chinese cuisine to Vietnamese and Taiwanese. One Chinese Dim Sum restaurant that is within walking distance from our hotel even has a Michelin star, an honor reserved for only the best restaurants throughout the world. Along with the Michelin star there are also numerous food carts out on the street, and with careful guidance from a friend who has much experience picking out the trustworthy stalls from the suspect, we are able to try a few new dishes. A few favorites so far include BBQ Pork Buns (of course), Lo Mai Gai (a rice cake stuffed with meats and spices, steamed in a lotus leaf), and Stir Fried Ho Fun (a rice noodle dish).

Aside from exploring the city, our team continues to work hard to put together our group exhibit. Our days are split between studio hours in the morning and afternoon, and excursions into the city later in the day. After a morning of printing in the photo lab, our excursion today was to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Sha Tin. While ten thousand seems like a steep number, after visiting the monastery this estimate seems quite generous. The temples are elevated with life-size golden Buddha figurines lining the entire staircase that leads to the top. My pedometer reads that I've climbed the equivalent of 40 flights of stairs today. The interior of the temples were of course filled with Buddhas as well, these ranging from a few inches to what had to be about 40 feet high, all covered in glittering gold. 

#HKX15

Hong Kong, Part 1

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Recently I was lucky enough to be selected for an exclusive artist's trip to Hong Kong, somewhere that throughout all of my previous travels I had never set foot in before. The beauty of the city instantly hit me. I had imagined that although larger in scale, it would be more or less similar to the experiences I had in other cities such as New York or Berlin (like the overwhelming traffic on the streets and in the subway and general city grime). I was surprised to discover that this was barely the case- what struck me first was how outstandingly kind and polite the people were and how clean the city was by comparison, as well as the ease of getting around. All of my expectations immediately went out the window, leaving room for refreshing new impressions to take their place. After being here just under a week, I can confidently say that I've only become lost once! 

One of the treasures I value most about the city is the balance of the urban bustle and serenity. While this is something that can be found in many places across the globe, I find that in Hong Kong this balance does not have to be sought out, and instead it presents itself minute by minute. A 7-Eleven can be found on most any street corner, busy or not, but gardens and temples are also nestled throughout those same streets. The beaches are beautiful, peaceful, and tropical, but even on the surrounding islands there is still free Wi-fi to be found in local cafes and cityscapes that can be seen in the distance. 

To see what my teammates are doing search #HKX15 (Hong Kong Experience 2015)! Check back soon for more photos and updates.

Photos of the Year

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This image of mine, previously featured as a Time and Place photo for Creative Loafing, was chosen to be included in Creative Loafing's December cover story- The Year in Photos 2014. I take this as a very high praise, and am so proud to be included and published next to such talented photographers!

12:15 A.M. AUG. 10, 2000 MORELAND AVE. S.E.: This photo was taken at the Starlight Drive-In, Atlanta's only drive-in movie theater. That night it had been pouring, a steady summer rain, but there was a brief moment when it lifted and people began to…

12:15 A.M. AUG. 10, 2000 MORELAND AVE. S.E.: This photo was taken at the Starlight Drive-In, Atlanta's only drive-in movie theater. That night it had been pouring, a steady summer rain, but there was a brief moment when it lifted and people began to get out of their cars. I immediately grabbed my camera and started taking pictures, trying to capture the unique quality of the place. Everything came together at the right moment. I saw a woman's silhouette was framed in a doorway at the same instant that a light came on inside the car in front of me, illuminating the figures of the two men inside. The movie playing to the right, adding a third source of light amid a dark background, completed the shot. It was a passing moment, there only for a second before everything shifted.

Link to the full story here.

FLUX NIGHT 2013

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FLUX NIGHT is an annual arts event that happens one night only in Castleberry Hill, a neighborhood of Atlanta. It is described as a night of art and experimentation, including everything from performance pieces, art installations, and parades, to King of Pops and other great local tastes. This year, a couple of us went to document the event and published a photo book of the various projects. Here are some of my shots from the evening-  

Check out their website! http://fluxprojects.org/

Experimenting With Film Photography

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Lately I've introduced myself to the world of film photography. I never imagined how meditative the process of working in the darkroom could be. Still working out some kinks, but this is my first series, of many to come.   For these images, I drew inspiration from lost places and forgotten things. The idea of "lost" has always fascinated me, most likely driven by my sense of discovery (which has always pushed me into unusual places). To me, re-discovering lost territory is like looking into the past, and into another world.   Look for more to come!