Monday, September 29, 2008

Traci


I first met Traci off the OMP site for models and we really hit it off. I met her and her boyfriend about Christmas time and I remember thinking she was a bit too skinny. She is the sweetest, warmest, fun-loving individual and her beauty is more than skin deep. I was beginning to branch out in my art work and we began to meet more often. She became ill with a blood poisoning that sent her into a tailspin. She lost even more weight and seemed remote to reality though she did try her best to power though it. She’d call sometime in the afternoon and want to talk about nothing in particular but everything in general. We’d talk about her family, politicks, religion and about natural health for hours. Sometime she’d drift off in mid-sentence and instead of rushing in to fill the void I learned to wait and give her a chance to finish her thoughts That was and is a most valuable lesson to learn, it’s one of the tools in my arsenal now. Just wait and let the other person do the talking, no one likes to have a conversational void and many times in not rushing to fill it you can learn valuable detail they didn’t mean to tell you. Anyway her illness took a year to clear and for her to return to good health and we began to talk about shooting again, then I had my stroke. She was a good friend, someone I could now call to relieve my stress when I was in the hospital. I could talk to her and not worry about how I sounded and if I was making sense to her. She and her boyfriend came down to stay at my apartment and bring me some clothes and later she came down to clean my apartment before I returned. That’s my friend Traci, what a pal.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Firsts Shoot


In June of last year, just in time for my birthday I finally got to shoot my first art project since my stroke. I wanted it to be relaxed and comfortable so I could test my skills and see how I worked under the least amount of pressure. I got my friend Traci to come down for the day and just play. I was very uneasy about being able to shoot again after a two year layoff, my work is an extension of me and my soul. She had some wine to relax after her drive and we talked then she had a new bathing suit to show me. I guess we were both nervous for our own reasons but we took it slow and counted on the years of friendship to see us though. As I got more and more comfortable the old habits took control of me and I started to see her as angels and light..., curves mostly. I got into my rhythm again and pacing and things began to flow. We worked for about two hours in different outfits, shirts and without, we worked on the bed as I had planned and then did some bodyscapes. Here is one of the firsts. As I’ve mentioned before I like to work unscripted, I have an idea what I want to accomplish but I leave it up to the magic to get us there.

Monday, September 22, 2008

"A Moment in Time"


My friend Lin from Fluffytek Art Blog encouraged me to get off my butt and post some of my images and tell my story. In November of 2005 I had a traumatic stroke. It was an Ischemic stroke, a landslide in my brain, I was totally paralyzed on my right side so the clot was in the left half of my brain. For about a week it was touch and go as to whether I’d live or not. I won’t bore you with the details right now but I found a will to survive that was so strong and complete that I’m here today. I was in the hospital for a month, in rehabilitation for almost a year and a half and this summer I have officially been reading for a full year now. It’s been a long hard struggle finding my way back but I mean to get there. I’ve been able to shoot a little but haven’t found the will or interest to return to my old ways. I feel like I was given the chance at a new life, a better life and my desire now is to help others find their own ways to make it back to their own lives. I don’t mean to preach or proselytize I have no agenda, pills or way of life that I’m pushing my aim is to tell my story and perhaps it will help.
For a little information I’ve been working in photography for most of my adult life. I personally shoot event photo’s but I’ve worked as an assistant for many fine photographers I’m proud to tell you. I lived in New York for 5 years and put my time to good use shooting with young model on their way up. I’ve always loved finding out about people and finding ways to report a thin slice of their lives at a given moment in time. I returned from NYC some 10 years ago and like many of you I’ve struggled with the changes in our industry and economy ever since. My stroke changed all that, changed my life and how I view it forever. Join me now in that quest to find myself.