One Person At a Time...

Inspire

[in-spahy^uhr]

verb, -spired, -spir·ing.

1. To fill with an animated,quickening, or exalting influence

2. To produce,or arouse (a feeling,thought, etc.)

These past two weeks I have been getting a lot of feedback from my photographs. One of my oldest friends told me my work inspired him over the weekend to go out and take photos for himself. I seriously can't begin to tell you how happy him saying that made me feel. It's exactly what I want to do. To INSPIRE more ART and CREATIVITY in this world. From audible art forms to visual poetry inspiring someone to do something is such a wonderful gift you don't even know you're giving.

So anyway, sold my first print last week and I STILL don't have the shop section up on my website. More on that by the end of this week hopefully.

I Want Flow...

So I listen to a lot of Hip-Hop and R&B and was out running an errand with my girlfriend. I was criticizing how some artists have the potential to be great, but there are nuances in their vocals in relation to the track that just aren't right.

For an example I'll use Lil Wayne considering he just got out of prison today: From his Lights Out album, which was the first Wayne album I ever purchased, to Carter III, he got progressively better. His metaphors kept getting better, and it's like he finally figured out where and when his voice would sound better at a certain point in the track. "A Milli" was outrageous, and the fact that he recorded parts of that song as a freestyle in a hotel in Amsterdam is a testament to how good he has gotten over the years. (Proof)

During that car ride that my girlfriend and I were taking, we were also comparing some new rappers to older ones. I swear...the next song that came on the radio was Jay-Z's 'Hard Knock Life'. After the song was over there was a long pause, and the first thing she said to me was "I'm sorry, but nobody can rap like he can". THATS the damn truth...

Jay's flow is ridiculously good...period.

So what does this have to do with my photography? Well a couple days later I was having a conversation about my photography and where I would like to go and some of the ideas I have. The comparison between the growth of rappers like Jay and Wayne was brought up and how it related to what is going on with my creativity. I realized I want a flow. A flow that no one else can compare to. A certain style of images that is unique to me, and only myself.

I want to do something amazing.

Bottom line is...I want my flow, and I'm not going to stop taking pictures until I know I got one. Even if it takes me a long ass time...although I hope it doesn't haha.

Keep Creative.

Getting out of the quicksand...

It's been almost 2 months since I've updated my blog and I'm pissed. I'm more pissed at myself than anything else. I just can't believe how much I've been procrastinating solely because I pride myself on working hard, and working towards my goals. I set myself a goal to update this blog at least twice a month when I started it and lo and behold, that hasn't happened. Theres been some creative road blocks here and there, and I think it's time for me to step my game up once again. My hustle has withered down to a slow creep but my brain has been churning out ideas for future projects like crazy. Projects that have largely been inspired by the music I listen to,how that music is always changing for the better, and how I'd love for my creativity and the subsequent images to do the same.

I have been looking at my past photos and have realized that I need some sort of an overhaul. I want more color, more emotion, and more of a statement. I want my images to connect to people and I want to create an image that makes you go "....WOW".

I also want to be able to look into a popular magazine and find one of my pictures in the centerfold...but baby steps Mario...baby steps....

anyway

Since my last update, I've been published on BBC.com under one of their weekly photo contests titled "Back to Work" where a self portrait was chosen. Big thanks to my number one supporter for sending in the picture to BBC without me knowing ;)

Lastly, I finished editing the photos I had taken for an organization called Pitbull Centerfolds (www.pitbullcenterfolds.org) in mid October and am waiting on a reply to find out when the calender is finished for publishing. It's very exciting to be published in a calender, so I can't wait to see what It looks like!

So yeah, until next time, KEEP CREATIVE.