Mid-Air

Starting over is a bitch. Right now, nearly everything and everyone around me is new. Its the fear of the vague and unfamiliar that I struggle with. Not being able to get comfortable and settled as easily as I once did. Looking for a new routine that suits this current environment. Not letting other people's shit and grime detour or stall my progress.  I am a creature of habit, in need of routine to stay focused and serene. Every day is a hurdle... but I start each day with a run and some squats... so hopefully my legs won't give out mid-air. 

Still, there are a few familiar faces that I should not neglect. I thank them for their generosity and patience. Especially Matt, whose generous gift (thank you again!) and encouragement pushes me to jump back in the game and get a little dirty. 

Archiving

As I stated in the blog 'Jacked' I am beginning to archive some of my past works. I didn't think that a full blown website was quite appropriate at this stage so please enjoy a few oldies but goodies. I will probably do these kind of posts a few times.

p.s. These images are seriously random and have no real relationship to each other. They were shot with a film camera between 2000-05ish.

Beware the 'Glossy Veneers'

Glossy Veneers are what I call men who are full-time fronters. Those dudes that have looking good down to an art. I mean, watching them dress is like watching an angel formed from a block of ice. The attention to detail is mind-boggling! Making sure their soap scent doesn't clash with their cologne, and if it does, mixing fragrances to equalize the effect... Matching the diamonds and gems in their bling to the accent color in their shoes. Brushing their lips to bring out the natural red and applying a semi-matte gloss for that all night LLCoolJ lip licking look.

Veneers far surpass the maintenance habits of Metros. For Metros, its all about the hair and the clothes. For Veneers it is the full package.

Be real... that shit is hard to resist! But resist you must! For within the Glossy Veneer is a whole grimy mess of undetected, unattended and unresolved issues. You've got the mommas boys, the chauvinists, the wife-beaters, the man-whores, the happily unemployed, the cry babies, and the bad credit havin', ambition-less, ain't gotnos!  Think about it... why do you think they spend so much time putting themselves together to perfection? They are typically so mentally and emotionally unattractive that to even slightly appeal to a worthwhile woman they have to gloss it up! Veneers have the emotional maturity of 12 year old boys. You would too if you spent 90% of your time perfecting your outer layer. 

So... save yourself the heartache of being constantly disappointed, stood-up, cheated on, and out dressed... Beware the Glossy Veneers! 

   

Lykke Li @ Sixth & I Historical Synagogue

Determined to consistently feed the soul, try new things and go new places...

 
  
Don't know about you, but I am into all kinds of music, and I was excited to kick this year off with a very cool concert with Lykke Li @ Sixth & I Historical Synagogue in DC... Crazy venue, by the way. Beautiful and ultra moody but we were, for real, sitting in pews (me in my sheer top, leather leggings and freakum boots! quite a sight). Needless to say I was relieved when the lights dimmed and everyone rushed the stage, in true concert tradition, to get their groove on up close and personal with Lykke Li! 

Jacked!

In November I left NY. Too expensive, too much work, not enough personal time. But tell me why, during the last week that I lived there, ALL of my photo equipment was stolen. ALL of it! Two cameras, 3 lenses a flash and my tripod mount.  I was heartbroken. Not because I care about materials all that much, but because one of the reasons I was leaving NY was to have more time and money to work my art again. Satisfy the creator within and The Creator above.

I used to consider myself a Fine Art Photographer. That was before the full time gig... before I got sucked into the NY hustle and the posh posh art scene, where I mastered the art of walking the walk and talking the talk.  The art of looking, viewing, supporting...It was cool at the time because I was confident that the path I was on would lead me somewhere worthwhile... and it did in a sense. I know now EXACTLY what I want. 

I KNOW I want to photograph again... not for public exhibition purposes (not that I would turn the opportunity down) but for sanity's sake. For balance.   

I KNOW I am NOT cut out to work for other people. My vision of how things should be, and what needs to me done in order to be successful, is too strong and impeding to be an employee. 

I KNOW that family and friends, relationships and love are THE priority. 

The problem, as usual, is how the hell to get what I want? Obviously, there is no single answer to that, and I have about 30 different ideas about what to do in order to get what I want. But I guess the bottom line is to keep it moving! Forward movement, right? 

Archive the past, live in the present and pray for the future. 

Wish me luck.

What is a SBF?

Some of you know this one right? A SBF is a Single Black Female. There are so many of us, of course we have an acronym! There is nothing wrong with being a SBF. Half the time the title is a badge of honor, signifying struggle, strength and self-sacrifice. On the other hand the title can be synonymous with that 'angry black female' crap, or 'baby momma' drama, which I simply refuse to indulge at this time. 

I'm just here to recognize all the other SBFs that are entrepreneurs, business owners, artists, career women, world travelers, writers, whatever! Just those hard working SBFs that are devoted to living the best life they can and don't settle for less than they deserve. Those who believe they can have their cake and eat it too!

 I am one of you.