5 DAYS 5 PICTURES: 2011

Sunday, October 16, 2011

5Days5Pictures re-emerges in Philadelphia 10.17.11

Race Street Pier - Friday Night Disc Jockey

Apartment View of West Philly

Ben Franklin Bridge

Hurricane Irene - The tail end of a very loud, exploding electrical transformer night

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Feeling of Falling Short 5.6-8.11

Elmo on the Strip looking frightened, Las Vegas, NV

Wynn Casino and Shops, Las Vegas, NV

The Cosmopolitan from the pool, Las Vegas, NV

The scene outside Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

Lights on the Strip, Las Vegas, NV

Looking north from Henderson, NV

Ron Paul: Lovelution/Evolution sign, Mojave Desert

Big Bird looking sad on the Strip (perhaps he missed his flight), Las Vegas, NV

Sunday, April 24, 2011

2 Weeks, 4 states, 4 Cities. 4.3.11 - 4.16.11

Walnut St. over the Schulkyll River, Philadelphia, PA

Post Office, Philadelphia, PA

The Washington Monument, Washington DC

L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station, Washington DC

Mallory Cave Trail, Boulder CO

Mallory Cave Trail, Boulder CO

Quad at University of Washington, Seattle

Capitol Hill, Seattle WA

A sculpture at the Seattle Center, Seattle WA

Wall of gum, near Pike Street Market, Seattle WA

Somewhere over Washington state

Las Vegas Layover, McCarran International Aiport, LV, NV

Finally going home

Monday, March 14, 2011

Assumed Identities - Portrait Naratives Project - USC PPD Fall 07

This was a project I completed in the Visual Methods for Policy Making course at USC in my junior year, 2007. I figured I should post it since it's almost been 4 years. It was interesting to me to illustrate this perspective; it is a focused looked on a specific community but I hope it gets your mind going a bit:

Nicolette – Balance

I think that people may think I play sports here because I have an athletic build, I’m tall, and I’m black. If it wasn’t such a bad assumption, I would take it as a compliment because athletics have been important in my life. But also, I would want people to recognize how multifaceted I am and not just accept popular assumptions. I do many things well and I want people to see that in me.

Stefon – Architecture

I think that it’s dumb and presumptuous for people to stereotype black students on campus. But it doesn’t surprise me because stereotypes are rampant in our country. People feel more comfortable when they assume they know the people around them, but the problem is most of the time their assumptions are wrong. If someone assumed I played a sport, I’d say I play Architecture. I choose to be an architecture student and I choose the lifestyle that comes with it.

Ajani – Discipline

Image and appearance is a big issue at USC because people make assumptions of other people by the way they look. It is frustrating at times to think that many people I pass everyday have a narrow idea of who I am as a person. I have worked hard to overcome a lot in high school and I work even harder in college because I want become a doctor in the future. The process of becoming a doctor in the future is hard, but is something that I choose to endure to achieve my goals. Unfortunately, people recognize my skin color first rather than my drive and discipline as a pre-med student.

Charles – Businessman

I would like for people to look at more than one side me. I may have athletic ability, but it’s not my main focus or passion. Having been raised in a single parent household, I’m focused on using academics to establish a solid career that will support my future family. I also want to be role model for other black men searching to be successful. I see myself as a future CEO of a business because I see myself as a businessman.

Jeff – Knowledge is power

I feel that I’m not taken seriously as if I don’t deserve to be here sometimes. Some people assume that I’ll succeed with a ball in my hand and not with the words in my mouth. I find this really disrespectful and ignorant. In the future, I see myself running this world with my thoughts and ideas. If I want to run the world, I got to learn how it works. Therefore, I truly believe that knowledge is power and I plan on using that knowledge to become a powerful lawyer. But for now, mock trial is my sport and law books are my playbooks.

Courtney –Fashion

Its ignorant. I try really hard not to assume anything about anyone so I don’t end up offending them and looking stupid later on, but it seems like that mentality is not reciprocated. The excuse I hear most often is ‘well maybe they haven’t been around any black people before so they base their perceptions of all black people on what they see in the media (hence most of the ignorant assumptions and questions ie ‘are you an athlete?’) My response to that is we are all USC students and educated enough to know that what we see on TV is not a direct or even accurate representation of any group and to assume that it is, is extremely offensive and ignorant. It shows more of a lack of couth and a lack of respect more so than a lack of education or exposure. Therefore, since appearance seems to be so important, I use fashion to show my personality. Fashion is a way to make my statement for the day because it requires no verbal expression. I love fashion because allows me to express my identity to the world despite the ignorant assumptions people may make about me.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Week of 2/28/11

Citicorp Building Art Sculpture/Westin Bonaventure Hotel - Downtown Los Angeles, CA 2.28.11

Seven Oaks Dam flood release, Santa Ana River - Eastvale, CA 3.1.11

Broken tree branch, Santa Ana River - Eastvale, CA 3.1.11

Mudd/Quick Sand, Santa Ana River - Eastvale, CA 3.2.11

I met these boys after they walked across the river barefoot. They were searching for an abandoned boat they rode down the river 2 days earlier. It felt hardy boy/huckleberry finnish, therefore I figure it's worth posting - Eastvale, CA 3.2.11