Tuesday August 25th.

I have been feeling a little rushed and confused lately. Im not sure exactly what it is, its a plethora of things. Sometimes I lose sight of the big picture and get sidetracked by silly routine and ignorant distraction.

I realize that taking photos always makes me feel better. Getting on my bike, with my camera, and leaving for hours results in a release of jumbled energy. 9 miles later I feel better...

Halloween in August.

I'm participating in an art auction. After some thought I got together lots of candy, a microphone, kids, scary pictures, scary music, and stuff to make stuff with to complete the project. Here is one of the images. I'll let you decipher. It was a blast.

My family.

There are a few things that I take complete and total pride in. My family is one of them. I love them mucho. They are so much fun!

Maria Inez Rodriguez.

Mary Agnes Rodriguez is a local artist who I met when I started volunteering for San Anto Cultural Arts. She is an amazing artist, and has a story that needs to be recorded. So, thats what I decided to do. I have contacted a few local artists and poets within my community who I feel would be an honor to photograph and talk to. Maria Inez (aka Mary Agnes) was the first.

I meet Mary in her studio at the Gallista Gallery. I wasn't sure what to expect, or how things would go, so I went with no expectation but to hang out and photography her. I really just wanted to hear her story, and what a story she has. We talked for almost 3 hours straight and only stopped because she needed to go back to the from of the gallery. From the minute we stepped into her space till the second I walked out the door, it was non-stop conversation. I couldn't have asked for me, it couldn't have gone more perfect.

The lighting in her gallery space was great, Mary's the kind of person that makes your feel immediately comfortable. It was like hanging with family, listening to a tale.
I learned so much about her, and about myself in such a small amount of time. We made plans to continue the conversation in the near future.

The photos I took of Mary suit my standards. I have so much respect for her that I must do this photo documentary correctly. I'm gonna make a short audio/photo doc about her. I'm gonna take my time, and do it right.

Two things we talked about:

1) How work (murals, paintings, photographs) has a story a to tell. How seeing a piece of work is one thing, but knowing the "behind the scenes," (as Mary put it) adds so much more to it.

2) Sharpies are damn reliable markers, and could be used for like everything!

It was a huge honor to listen to, and photograph Mary Agnes....


Mary plays the clarinet in a San Antonio Community Band. In middle school she dropped her art class to join band. This is Mary in her band shirt with her new drum jamming out.

I sat on the floor and listened to everything she had to say. It was inspiring and motivating .

Photo + Audio, take uno.

Testing, testing, mic check. Just a little test.

Photo + Audio

I have a goal. I want to start working with photography and audio. I want to make short photo documentaries with audio backgrounds, viewable in quicktime or real player. My head is swimming with ideas and possibilities. I'm lucky enough to have computer programs and equipment to accommodate my needs. It just takes sitting and absorbing everything the programs have to offer. The, I await a creative spark, and go from there.

I'm working on a short invite for my photography show. It will take the place of a flyer-and maybe convince skeptics.

The Castillos.

Today I had the honor of photographing Rafaela and Manuel D. Castillo for San Anto's annual Huevos Rancheros Gala. San Anto Cultural Arts has a yearly fundraiser that involves a huevos rancheros breakfast, art auction, and the crowning of a King and Queen Huevo. This year we are honoring Manuel D. Castillo Jr., our late executive director as King Huevo, and his mother Rafaela as Queen. This is the second year I have photographed the king and queen. I really wanted to make the photo perfect, to honor them. I also wanted them to be as comfortable as possible.

A professional setting just wouldn't have fit. I made best use of available lighting and background. You always have ideas of what the perfect image might amount too, but rarely does it happen. Sometimes you get something even better, or maybe not as good. Photographing people in a controlled setting is difficult-it suffices to an artificial aroma.

And I believe that photographing artificially numbs an image-it detracts from original content, or idea.

I really hope the photos came out okay, I have yet to edit all of them. It was truly an honor to photograph The Castillos. I hope Manny would have like the images.

My first photography show.

My first photography show is in the making. I have settled on a date, time, and place. I have confirmed music and possibly a keg of good Mexican beer (keg stands!!). I have theory on space that I want to make a part of my mission. It relates to creating your own when nothing else that exists seems adequate. It relates to community and the source of inspiration, the how, when, where, and why. 

I would have never imagined months ago that I would be putting together my own show. It seemed so far off. I know thats because I was allowing my conception of shows, space, art, etc. to be tainted by what some consider to be "the art world." funny. My goal isn't necessarily to be a part of that. Maybe thats a really strong statement. For me photography is about preservation, it's from a photojournalistic/photo documentary point of view.  At this point my interest is documenting my community, because its beautiful. I don't think art is separate from community, everyone from it should be a part of the art world.  From your neighbor, to the ice cream man, to the man on the corner that washes your windows, all should be invited and welcomed.

I picked up my first test print for the series I am showing. I don't mind sharing it in advance.

I think It will do...

Photo of The Day.

Socks. 

My grandma.

My grandma is the strongest woman I know.

Cosmico..

We wait patiently for cosmic revolution. We listen, we are patient, we educate ourselves and our people. We are on our way.

Aztek Princesa.

Photo of The Day.

sabroso.

Pop Pistol.

Pop Pistol is a great band. They seem perfectly in sync. There are 3 members and not one over powers the others. They equate to balance and their music is so internally satisfying that there is not much need for an extra effect. They are satisfying, and I had a great time photographing them. Here are a few from the shoot. Hope you enjoy.

I like this one cause they are smiling, awww.

An exciting evening awaits.

Months ago I thought about how amazing it would be to teach photography to kids. It really was just a dream at the time, some thing that seemed so far away and hard to attain. I happily admit that I was wrong.

Tonight is the opening for 210 In Focus: Fotos From The Westside. I worked along side lead photographer Mark Menjivar, whom I am so happy to have met. His work is great.  I spent the week with amazing people, with other photographers, taught them what I now, and learned what they new. 

It seemed so natural, and so easily done. I guess thats what happens when you love what your doing. If someone had told me 4 months ago where  I would be at this exact moment, I might have cried out of relief...I hope, for the sake of the kids, that lots of people come tonight.

The photo on this flyer was taken by a 5 year old!

These fotos were mounted on the wall, they look beautiful.

One of my favorite fotos, taken by Matthew.

I wanted to do something special for just the kids. I had these cupcakes made for them. They're little cameras!!!  Sweet Lizzy's Cupcakes are homemade with lots of love, she made those camera candies by hand, 24 of them!!! I'm not even gonna go into how they taste...amazing..

Alex from Pop Pistol.

I did a photo shoot for a local band, Pop Pistol. 

<3

Photo of The Day.

Guess what this is..

Photo of The Day.

Mmmm, pretty colors.

Photos of me.

The ladies at Martinez Street Woman's Center sent me photos they took during the workshop. That was really nice of them. The executive director would like me to go back to do another workshop for their after school program. I'm thinking about incorporating some help, so each girls gets lots of individual attention. I can't wait.

Home.

I love history, and I love where I come from.

My article. Written by the young ladies of Studio Fm-Martinez Street Women's Center.

The workshop I did for Martinez Street Woman's Center's-Studio FM is complete. Studio FM is the home for a summer program, as well as after school programs put together by the center. It's FREE and the girls get to do all kinds of stuff. I was really impressed by the amount of activities that were scheduled. They go every day from 9-5, and are provided with meals. I must admit that looking over all of the fun things they had scheduled made me want to show up every day and beg them to let me participate. The program was all summer long and was so jam packed that I wasn't able to go back for the last portion of my workshop, which was the writing part. 

The last leg of my Juice-box Camera Workshop consists of the participants writing about their photograph, or their experience making theme camera. They are free to be creative as they want to be. One little girl during my first workshop (she was 5) picked an image that contained a bunch of bright pinks lines. Her photo developed into a story titled "Angelina's Pink Rain Forest in Argentina." After I helped her develop her story I new I was on the right track. I new Literacy Through Photography was possible for me. 

 

When I arrived to distribute the girl's photographs and present them with their certificates I was greeted by the above article. The girl's produce a newspaper containing all of the stuff they did throughout the program. The newspaper includes their writing, artwork, and documents their summer adventures. Above is what they wrote about the juice-box workshop.

  I was so happy that they took the time to write and publish their writings.  They had some great things to say, and it sounds like they really had fun. That makes me sooo happy. It makes all of my fears subside. My life-style is not conventional. I don't wish for things, or homes, or new cars. I just want to be happy. It took me a while, at the age of 30, to realize happiness for me is about giving back.

Please take the time to read what they wrote. Click on the image and it will open up larger.

I would like to thank Joleen Garcia (Executive Director), Alisha Pierce (StudioFM Program Coordinator), Becca Najera (Promotoras Program Coordinator), and Melissa (who really helped me during the workshop. You ladies are impressive and I can't wait to work with you again. 

 

GIRLS RULE!