The CHD:WCK! Experience

the moss, the trees, and everything in between...

2011-10-24T10:00:00.010-04:00

somtimes i have to ask myself "why not?" in order to keep creating,
but i often fear that what i've captured or created leaves "why?" unanswered.
to an extent i've especially worried about this with shooting nudes. there are tons of personal reasons why it's creatively satisfying and practical for me to be shooting nudes. i use them to explore and challenge my own beliefs, challenge those of others; i strive to create images accepting what is natural, as well as to create images that are modest while revealing. i hope my images are beautiful, i want them to be sensual, and perhaps subtly sexy.

currently, with the images i shoot of people, i'm aiming to capture shots that arouse emotion. that was something i had in mind when i shot this young lady.

when i first came across her model portfolio, i thought she was beautiful, but beauty alone (even when accompanied by freckles) doesn't usually inspire me to create anything. but when i saw her personal images (via facebook)the whimsicality (is that a word?) of her personality shone through, and that was something i desired to capture.

i don't know that these images reflect much of her personality - other than her graciousness to do whatever it took to create beautiful imagery - but for me, these images connect being nude to the state of being natural. and the purity of that makes me feel a certain kind of way.

The Morning Sessions w/Jamale Davis: BASS GOD

2011-10-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

KaBoom! Playground Day at the Johnston YMCA

2011-10-14T05:13:00.010-04:00

"Over the past 15 years, KaBoom!, in partnership with community businesses, brings to life dream playgrounds for communities in need one slide at a time. Through a generous donation by Forester's Life Insurance, the Johnston YMCA built a KaBoom! playground, creating a fun, safe environment for North Charlotte, NC. As part of the YMCA's commitment to be for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the playground will be open to our community to encourage healthy and safe play for families."

on october 8th, i was honored to be able to capture the combination of volunteerism and diligence at work. over 300 volunteers descended on the grounds of the Johnston YMCA in North Charlotte to build a beautiful playground for the neighborhood children, all in less than six hours. In addition to KaBoom! and Forester's Life Insurance, many volunteers took part in painting much original art including a mural designed by local artist Will Puckett with John Hairston, Jr. painting and coordinating the painting of many other original pieces that hang throughout the playground. the images below capture how beautiful it is when people come together to work for a good cause. also, check out Johnston YMCA's website to find out more about the positive work they do "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. "

mural design by will puckett

other original artwork painted and coordinated by john hairston, jr.

more images on facebook.com

and don't forget to "like" the Johnston YMCA page!

itzsoweezee

2011-08-13T10:59:00.006-04:00

"i guess a diamond ain't nothing but a rock with a name

i guess love ain't nuttin but emotion and game.

...gotta change how it's goin down."

-de la soul

note to self:

2011-08-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

i MUST grow. i want to be of value to those i've been blessed to have in my life.

...in her own skin.

2011-06-15T22:05:00.003-04:00

i think the human form is incredibly interesting, but i find the female form is especially beautiful. i often find myself in awe of how much variety there is to the feminine form and how it can still be beautiful. i see thin women, fat women, tall women, short women, black women, white women, indian women, spanish women, asian women, fit women with chiseled physiques,soft women with squishy parts, busty vuluptous round women, long lanky linear women, women with large butts, young women with firm bodies, older women with bodies that bear the celebratory marks of creating life,

mature women with the fine lines of living, breast that defy gravity, breasts that embrace it, red heads with pale faces and fiery freckles, dark smooth skin, women with straight flowing hair, women with thick bushy hair women with short curly hair, women with...

and while i appreciate the typical standards of beauty that we see in western society, very few women are beautiful in that way. i hope to see the day when everyone embraces the beauty that is theirs.

Kanye West's Time Has Come!!

2011-06-14T17:06:00.003-04:00

CLICK ON THIS LINK! CLICK ON THIS LINK! CLICK ON THIS LINK!

I'M BLOGGING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A HARDCORE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE DIGGING THROUGH OLD MAGAZINES (in order words, it's an experience i'd love to talk about, but i'm not articulate enough to make people understand how i feel.)

my favorite thing about old magazines - besides ripping up the pictures and gluing them onto something else, is being reminded of the time before you knew what you know. THE FADER mag was my first exposure to kanye west and it's interesting to read an old article to remember my introduction to a person before this thing called life transpires and changes your whole view of things.

meet Netchem

2011-06-07T23:05:00.006-04:00

in 2009 when i took a trip back home, i stopped at a show i heard about online of work by artist/photographer nakeya b. i had met nakeya online going to the show was my first time meeting her in person. also meeting nakeya for the first time was emerging artist and photographer netchem hairston. nakeya briefly introduced us, but through keeping up with nakeya i began keeping up with netchem. mutual respect for each others' photography as well as desire to grow as working artists, has built a very positive relationship between netchem and i. now when i go home to visit Jersey, i always try to go over to Brooklyn to connect with netchem. last time we got to roam around, build, and capture some images. (she was craving a soy cheeseburger, but when her favorite place was PACKED! she dragged me through three neighborhoods before we settled on a great burrito spot. lol)

there are certain activities that lend themselves to getting to know people better, and walking around and shooting with new people is definitely one of them. of the things that i love about netchem here are three.

1. she's a lot bigger person and personality than her small frame reveals.
2. like me, she loves to eat and not gain weight.
3. she's a soldier: she shared some negative experiences in her life, with no sense of bitterness or complaint. she wants to be better, and just keeps her eyes focused on being that.

and since i'm done talking, check out netchem for yourself.

FUSE rooftop cookout in BKLYN

2011-05-30T10:33:00.005-04:00

The Band Called FUSE had a rooftop cookout before the release party of their brand new album "Suckerpunch Gospel" at SOUTHPAW (NYC) yesterday. For now, dig this live version of "Texas North, 5AM" performed at 92Y at Red Clay's Rugged Soul release party on 3/4/11. and here's a few pics i snapped while at the cookout.

Arielle Chambers as My Creative Process

2011-05-16T03:38:00.013-04:00

if my creative process where an attractive young woman with fixations for chai tea, t-shirts, cold brew, coffee, magazines, and [pepperoni], i imagine this is what it would look like.

baring of the soul...

2011-05-08T17:38:00.007-04:00

misfortune: when nature puts its foot down

2011-04-26T21:14:00.003-04:00

the tree didn't fit INSIDE the car. (that sucks)

spotlight on: Rupert Shrive

2011-04-14T00:06:00.007-04:00

stumbled across this artist's work through french vogue.
this is... AMAZING... what more can i say?
gotta look into his work more.

the B SIDES

2011-04-04T13:21:00.007-04:00

while working with the lovely Londyn Pe yesterday, she got an important phone call. she took it, and i love making the most of the candid in-between moments.

UNAPOLOGETICALLY

2011-03-14T07:27:00.001-04:00

life is too short. if people are willing to give you their attention, you owe it to them to share something challenging, inspiring, or edifying.

betty rivera

2011-03-09T02:38:00.004-05:00

wandering in brooklyn pt. 3

2011-03-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

i'm just sayin'...

2011-03-01T11:48:00.007-05:00

one way or another, it's all being watched. are we too busy to care?

wandering in brooklyln pt. 2

2011-03-01T11:38:00.008-05:00

http://www.rrobots.com/

supreme visuals.

2011-02-28T10:10:00.004-05:00

wandering in brooklyn pt. 1

2011-02-25T20:01:00.007-05:00

...

2011-02-25T19:57:00.000-05:00

welcome to new york.

2011-02-21T14:32:00.004-05:00

wandering...

2011-02-14T18:37:00.004-05:00

freakishly (well, for THIS winter anyway) warm february weather in the QC.
wandered around a bit. no... actually, i traveled with purpose, but since it was warm, i was a little more receptive to keeping my hands out of my pockets and on the shutter. got a few gems today.

cool.

love from the sun/beautiful round belly

2011-02-11T10:00:00.002-05:00

a pleasure to shoot the lovely asha again. this time capturing the beauty of her body as it hosts an emerging life.

Common Empathy

2011-02-02T00:10:00.006-05:00

i was honored to connect with Rodney of Common Empathy to create some visuals to accompany his clothing line. it was refreshing working with rodney, because while the t-shirts look great, he's more concerned with the messages spread through his clothing - not simply the aesthetic. Looking into it further, Common Empathy really about tee shirts. it's about sharing insights. the t-shirts are really just a tool to be able to reach a wider audience with beneficial and powerful messages.

for more info, check out:
http://commonempathy.bigcartel.com/
http://commonempathy.tumblr.com/
commonempathy@gmail.com

the PURSUIT of happiness...

2011-02-01T18:16:00.001-05:00

“sadness can be caused by a great many things, but YOU are the only human being on the planet who makes you UNHAPPY.” -c. eliot cartwright

the beauty of man...

2011-01-31T02:13:00.006-05:00

"masculinity" can't really be this frail. men are beautiful too.

"Swatty" in the new studio space.

2011-01-18T23:41:00.006-05:00

i want to have a whole bunch to say, but i don't. this was my second time shooting Davita "Swatty" Galloway in her own skin. oh yeah, i remember now... she recently cut her hair, and wanted to document the change. i was down. we shot in my new studio space. since i now have a steady place to shoot, i hope to get a lot more shooting in.
that's it. latr.

Lauryn HIll in REVIEW

2011-01-09T09:16:00.006-05:00

( not my pic. found one on the internet, but this is what lauryn hill looked like last night - maybe a little less makeup)

in 2001 when lauryn hill performed and renounced a lot of the traps and pitfalls of celebrity in favor or being a real human being with frailties, loves, and priorities other than music, i applauded her. many started to think she was going crazy. i had her back.

but in the years since, i'm sure you've heard the different rumors swirling. and while there were positives, there have been many disapppointments. a lackluster fugees "reunion" single. one former bandmate said she needed some help, while the other said she was straight up "crazy". i've seen many images of her with clown-like makeup caked on her face. i didn't know what to think.

when i heard lauryn was coming to perform in charlotte, of course, i was excited. i wanted to see for myself what a 2011 lauryn hill performance would be. i just wanted to see lauryn do her thing, whatever that was. after i bought tickets, i started reading reviews that at various tour dates, she had been up to 4 hours late, performed for 20 minutes, and even passed out on stage. so i tried to lower my standards completley and not even expect to SEE lauryn hill.

MY ACTUAL REVIEW:
the show was supposed to start at 9. when we got there at 8:30, there was a line that stretched almost completely around the block - and it was bone-chilling cold (new york cold in north carolina - so nobody was prepared). for the next 40 minutes, the line barely moved. not really sure how to explain how it feels standing outside in the cold for an hour when your face and extremities are getting numb, but it was torturous. and MAYBE ms. hill would show up. well, by 9:30 we get in side and around 10 the opening dj starts running through some incredible classics, keeping it purely true school hip hop, reggae, and house. he did an excellent job of warming the crowd up. hit after hit and a packed room got moving. he runs for about an hour and 10 minutes. by now, of course the anticipation for ms. hill has built up, and around 11:10 her tour dj comes out. tour dj plays some of the same classic hip hop songs the opening dj played which of course started killing the vibrant spirit built up and made the crowd want lauryn even more. in comparison to the local opening dj - lauryn's dj sucked.
at 11:30 (not too shabby considering the opening act started at 10 and played continuously) lauryn hill steps on stage with her 10 piece band. hip hops favorite lady has arrived and the crowd shows her love. she greets us and opens up with a bob marley cover. she then goes into some popular tracks from miseducation, starting with "lost ones". her voice was a little raspy, but when isn't it? she then goes into "zion", and afterward tells an amusing anecdote about her oldest son who is now 13 (damn!). her energy was live. her band creates amazing new soundscapes to freshen the decade plus year old lyrics, and almost every song was stretched out and "remixed" to make it about 8 minutes long. she followed miseducation with five tracks from off the score. she left the stage briefly, and came back with "turn your lights down low" and a few more cuts from miseducation and the score. she really brought it. my only complaint was, she flew through rap verses, making it a little difficult to follow along, but i understand performing live requires way more energy than studio recording, so it may not always sound as smooth. i applaud her.

i don't know what to think of ms. hill as a person right now. but she's a great artist, her personal life isn't my business. i don't know what she did or didn't do at other shows, but in charlotte, nc, she really showed her fans respect and put her all into the show. she earned my ticket money - an overall pleasurable experience. if she every releases new material sometime soon, i'd definitely pay to go see her again.
she should fire her tour dj.

BAZAAR-LE VOGUE

2010-12-02T11:10:00.003-05:00

i’ve been inspired to push ahead with a lot of old ideas that have never fully come to fruition. in the words of the old Japanese sage/shoe maker, “JUST DO IT”.
running off a limited edition of 10 12 x 18 prints. available at chdwck.com

AphroWoman: Bizarrely Vogue

http://chdwck.com/artwork/1712476_AphroWoman_bizarrely_vogue_study.html

ride or die chicks - jessica

2010-11-05T14:12:00.004-04:00

jessica is awesome. and i love this image, but i'll let her tell the story.
fortunately, it's not about domestic abuse or anything nearly as sad.
you've got to love that she'd let me capture her like this.

downtime...

2010-10-29T12:46:00.002-04:00

The Procrastinat[E K]ing

2010-10-23T10:18:00.003-04:00

SOMETHING I'M LEARNING: a sense of urgency is important and should be dictated by nothing other than the fact that time will always move forward.
urgency should not be dictated by deadlines or the actions of others. once it's decided that something needs to get done, then now is the best time to do it.

SOMETHING I HAVE ALREADY LEARNED: if you plan on doing it "later", you don't plan on doing it.

aphrowoman: ember

2010-10-22T15:18:00.007-04:00

among other cool things, ember is an excellent dancer. she and i briefly linked up this morning and walked around the four blocks that comprise Uptown charlotte. i shot some pictures and we discussed some ideas to possibly collaborate on.

"hopin' that my seeds know a little more than i know..."

2010-10-22T07:43:00.005-04:00

" the people who love you the most probably won't be "beautiful",
and the ones who most positively impact your life will probably be corny as hell."
-c. eliot cartwright

CHD:WCK! Photography: The early years

2010-10-16T21:25:00.005-04:00

(click on image to enlarge)

before i moved to charlotte, nc, i was very on-again-off-again with my camera. i came across some images from my early shooting days (circa '04ish?) when i was still in new jersey.
i'm still really diggin' a lot of these. i would love to shoot with all these people again soon.

SIDENOTE: all of these people are incredibly creative and gifted. only one owned a business at the time we shot. now all but one (maybe all) are entrepenuers.

O'DEEZ on EASY...

2010-10-12T19:04:00.000-04:00

i overdosed on easy.
"But I'm alive on arrival.

Though i don't know why i chose [that route],
I guess that's the time when I'm not depressed...
...but i'm still depressed, and i ask what's it worth?
ready to give up so i seek the Old Earth
who explained WORKING HARD may help you maintain -
to learn to overcome the heartaches and pains..."
-inspecktah deck (at 22?)

still in progress

2010-09-30T01:28:00.007-04:00

few experiences have been more beautiful and engaging than being allowed to photograph women who are comfortable being photographed in their own skin - no make up, no costumes, no disguises, no pretenses. it's an honor to know that people are trusting me enough to let me show them to you as i am seeing them.
i've been growing with my portraiture for a few years now, but i have been very surprised to find that the most comfortable, liberating, and engaging photo sessions have been nudes - for the subjects, as well as for me as the photographer.
for the "in her own skin" series, i've captured eight (8) subjects so far, and i'm very interested to see what else i learn and what continues to unfold as the series progresses.

mercedes

2010-09-26T21:09:00.013-04:00

model: mercedes
styling/make-up: yanneek brinson

absolutely LOVED working with mercedes and yanneek!
mercedes came out early and prepared to do whatever necessary
to get some great shots.
yanneek was incredible as a stylist, mua, and even quite a bit helpful
as a creative director.
looking forward to working with this team on a few more concepts.

the weekend KURE (the end)

2010-09-16T08:07:00.006-04:00

we stop and get a few souvenirs...

capture a picture of an abandoned kidnapping van.
hope everything turned out alright...

on the road again...

the end.

the weekend KURE pt. 4

2010-09-16T00:25:00.002-04:00

last day on the beach...

the weekend KURE pt. 3

2010-09-16T00:23:00.002-04:00

finding food, fishing, waves crashing, eating, drinking, people watching, floating, exploring, finding, and tanning... fun in the sun.

the weekend KURE pt. 2

2010-09-15T00:00:00.006-04:00

walk out the hotel room and here we go...

the weekend KURE pt. 1

2010-09-14T23:23:00.011-04:00

khalilah and i finally got a chance to getaway for the weekend.
we had an awesome time at kure beach - awesome sea, sand, and weather.
i brought my camera and tried to take more images to capture my surroundings.

pet peeve #3

2010-09-01T18:23:00.003-04:00

being sent on wild goose chases.
...and wild gooses (geese).

good morning.

2010-08-26T08:08:00.001-04:00

good morning.

2010-08-26T07:58:00.002-04:00

confrontation (an over-analyzation?)...

2010-08-25T14:20:00.004-04:00

today i realized i don't actually fear very many things.
but i do fear confrontation.
i don't fear change.
i fear INITIATING it.
i don't fear what's unfamiliar.
i fear APPROACHING it.

fear of confrontation is one BIG fear,
but it's only ONE fear to overcome.
baby steps...

let's get it!!

2010-08-10T01:40:00.003-04:00

lesson learned #65

2010-08-04T00:55:00.000-04:00

"people expect to get paid for some banal job that anyone can do, but then expect that the products of talent come cheap." C. Eliot Cartwright

lesson learned #64

2010-08-03T23:26:00.005-04:00

"people in costumes tend to arrive in character" - C. Eliot Cartwright

jasiatic. ...again.

2010-08-03T18:05:00.005-04:00

this one is kinda old now (most of you have probably seen it), but i wanted to post it because it's the only jasiatic shoot i've done that i haven't blogged, and i wanted to have a link of the progression:

http://chdwck80.blogspot.com/search/label/jasiatic

a worthy investment...

2010-07-30T12:50:00.001-04:00

i'm just sayin'...

2010-07-30T12:07:00.000-04:00

"if you're trying to build a path to your door, you might as well make it wide enough to accommodate all that may stumble upon it." -C. Eliot Cartwright

with more to come...

2010-07-25T10:40:00.004-04:00

can jamie come out and play?

2010-07-24T09:39:00.015-04:00

late night and low light. thanks jamie.

the CHD:WCK! invasion - my favorite distraction

2010-07-08T23:55:00.008-04:00

"chad cartwright wakes me up, and invades my life with his lense on any random morning." -jasiatic

i feel myself getting stronger...

2010-07-05T12:38:00.000-04:00

just thought you might want to know.

grinfactor part i: carlleena person

2010-07-04T22:09:00.003-04:00

this past friday night i got to check out the work of Carlleena Person at the Arthouse on Cullman Street in NoDa. i love her simple yet explosive use of line and color. i already have some of her work in my home, and this show made me realize that i need more.

grinfactor part ii: featuring the art of michele hoffman and friends

2010-07-04T21:58:00.007-04:00

some more images from the Grinfactor Gallery at NoDa's Arthouse on Cullman Street.

...in her own skin.

2010-07-02T11:08:00.008-04:00

...In Her Own Skin is a celebration genuineness, variety, and beauty. I’m constantly in awe of the variety in which beauty is found. but i'm also intrigued by a lot of the insecurities surrounding the female form, though the source of insecurities are common (sagging breasts, cellulite, stretch marks, weight). I’m looking for female subjects to capture nude for a series I’m creating about beauty and female body image. I want everything - i'm not looking for “ideal”. I especially would like to capture full-figured women, very thin women, older women (40’s 50’s), women in their late 20’s/early 30’s with more than one child, young women (18 – 25), and a woman immediately (within a month) post pregnancy. I don’t have a photo studio, so most of the shoots will be on location (outside) though if that discourages anyone, I’m willing to try to find somewhere indoors to shoot. This project is not erotic. Final images will be flattering and edited - but "flaws" will not be retouched.

Below I’ve posted comments from a critique of the first shoot from the series.

“I knew you were going to have a completely unique approach to this series. I find the "human being just being" vibe expressed through the facial expressions and body language appealing. I love the shots conceptually, the purely playful body language, the irony. I'm left with a feeling that the overall set is expressing discovery and the fact that this discovery isn't based on any self awareness, the feeling of her comfort with her own form is even more apparent. “
–Develon Douglas, photographer

If this sounds interesting, please check out my online portfolio and contact me through the CONTACT tab on my website:
www.chdwck.com

creative play... round two

2010-06-20T13:55:00.010-04:00

fun in the shades...

creative play... round one

2010-06-20T10:39:00.004-04:00

candace: human. woman. creative. beauty.
when people get it - then it can flow.
understanding makes it so much easier.
i thoroughly enjoyed shooting her.

pray for a NEW day...

2010-06-15T08:37:00.003-04:00

i woke up today to count my blessings,
and prayed a prayer of thanks for today.
but it felt empty.
why?
because today is not the day after yesterday.
today is not the day before tomorrow.
today is not ANOTHER day.
every today is a NEW day. ALL day.

what does one do with a BRAND NEW day?
perhaps take the things that i like from my old days and put them in my BRAND NEW day...
perhaps throw out all the rest of the old days...
perhaps treasure the NEW day and not let anyone play with it,
so as to mess it up?
it seems fitting to RENEW my relationship with the one who created this BRAND NEW day.
maybe with my BRAND NEW day, i'll start acting BRAND NEW!
maybe i should develop some BRAND NEW habits...
spend all day in my BRAND NEW day...
reach out for some BRAND NEW goals...

at the end of my BRAND NEW day, i'll count my BRAND NEW blessings.
and tomorrow, my prayer of thanks for the day won't feel so empty.

...capturing the process

2010-06-05T00:45:00.004-04:00

recently, photographer Armando Bellmas asked to come into CHD:WCK! studios and capture me at work/play. i'll let Armando tell you the rest:

Inside the Artist Studio with Armando Bellmas

plain not responsible

2010-04-14T09:39:00.005-04:00

i've just always found it interesting that non-personal entities could release themselves of any responsibility for something in their possession/control.
i often try to imagine a situation where that would work for an individual.

"oh, thanks for letting me have sex with you. now, if you'll just sign HERE... what?... oh, this? it's just standard procedure... now if these old crusty condoms should break and you forget to take your birth control, this release says i am not morally or financially responsible for my sperm and any life it may particpate in creating."

i don't know... it just doesn't seem like it would hold up very well in child support court.

atl...iens pt i.

2010-04-09T12:08:00.012-04:00

my first time in the ATL. my lady Khalilah who used to live there gave me quite a tour. here's the first of some of the pics i took while in Atlanta, GA. a great place to visit...

BREAKFAST @ FLYING BISCUIT

APHROWOMAN AND HER FASHIONABLE FRIENDS

PLAIN NOT RESPONSIBLE

DUMPSTER DIVIN' IN LITTLE 5 POINTS

true to one's self

2010-04-05T00:39:00.002-04:00

would i be any less of a BLACK ARTIST if instead of painting women with black massive afros, i started painting red-headed white women with really pale faces and fiery red freckles?
...cause i thinks that's hot too.

30...

2010-03-15T09:10:00.001-04:00

it's just four days away. that's some weird $#@!

stir krazy...

2010-03-15T08:56:00.003-04:00

it's about that time again. a lot of small positive things have been happening for me, and it's making me more cognizant of the bigger things out there. but to do more, i'm going to need to treat my artist to new experiences - experiences that inspire my spirit and make it grow. i'm getting stir crazy and a trip back home will refresh my spirit. can't wait to go and build with people i met last time out, and create some new connections - hopefully, create some new work.
gonna talk to the various powers that be today to see how soon i can make this happen.

finding a better way...

2010-02-28T15:48:00.003-05:00

just tryna be more creative and expressive aesthetically. i've been playing around with a series of collages. i love the ripping of paper and just cutting things out because i like them and them rearrange them to tell a personal story. i like these collages because they're not big and i tend not to overthink the process creating them.
this is another from my PUNCH CLOCK PROMISE series.

...more from daveed's imagination

2010-02-18T01:18:00.006-05:00

i love this kid. his imagination knows know bounds.
unfortunately, my photos don't do his creativity justice,
but his blackberry with a sliding face made from a tic tac box
and some paper, is dopesauce!

daveed presents: CHD:WRLD!

2010-02-18T00:08:00.009-05:00

the mini mcelvanes -nailah (age 13), daveed (age 11), and maia (age [4]6), are the coolest kids to ever grace the face of this earth!! you can't meet any one of these children and not have your mind blown. and really don't sleep on maia (the youngest) - she'll probably teach you some $#@! that'll change your life!!

and how fortunate am i?!?! they've adopted me as their big brother and target of their love and affection.
i felt i've been slackin' on my big brotherly duties and was missing my younger siblings, so tonight khalilah and i stopped over mama catherine's house and enjoyed a TACO NIGHT in our honor.

well, as i walked into the kids' room, i look around and am shocked to find that daveed has created CHD:WCK village - the innercity section of CHD:WRLD where you can find dinosaurs throwing helicopters into the CHD:WCK! houses (a dilipidated housing project), SUVS, cardboard homes, and billboards advertising CHDWCK.com. tears nearly came to my eyes!! how many of you have ever had a tiny village built in your honor? well i had to capture it. wanna see it? here it go!

document your creation

2010-02-13T07:40:00.002-05:00

every artist needs to keep visual records of their work — to document
their creations and for insurance purposes. top quality images
help you gain access to juried shows, produce printed promotional pieces,
and to submit work to galleries.
anyone who has ever tried to photograph their own work will know that
it is a meticulous challenge in the best of circumstances,
and a downright waste of time and money if not done correctly.

you crafted the masterpiece! have professional images do your work justice!

lesson learned #52

2010-02-09T20:42:00.003-05:00

unwrap the present.

jersey boy

2010-01-31T00:23:00.011-05:00

it snowed last night and into this morning in charlotte, nc.

i may be from new jersey, but i've always believed that any temperature below 50 degrees is unreasonably cold. however, my girlfriend khalilah was really enthused about the snow

and convinced me to get out for a walk in it. we took a walk down the street to sedgefield park for the first time since we've moved to this neighborhood, so that was cool. but while i had my camera around my neck, i focused keenly on keeping my hands in my pockets. i took them out only long enough to capture this.

man stuff...

2010-01-26T08:54:00.003-05:00

CHD:WCK! in Africa

2010-01-24T22:30:00.005-05:00

two things i must do this year are see THE ROOTS live in concert, and spend a month in Africa. i have no idea how i am going to make my Africa trip happen, but i decided to create a collage to keep my goal in front of me.

lesson learned # 43:

2010-01-23T22:51:00.001-05:00

the reason you don't adjust your prices for people is because the people you adjust your prices for, won't buy your stuff anyway.

still kewl azhel

2010-01-21T17:36:00.007-05:00

still kewl azhel, photographer and muse, e.lisha covington keeps me wanting to hone my craft as a photographer. her eye is incredible, and since she's never without her camera, she's always ready to capture the most interesting images.
a few days ago charlotte had freakishly gorgeous weather, so we went out and caught some shots of the qc, then we captured each other on the wrong side of the lens. check out her blog. it's required viewing.

start the new year off... right?

2010-01-21T17:29:00.006-05:00

new years day seemed like a good day to wander around the neighborhood and see if there was some new beauty to capture. the expedition found moderate success.

comforting (...at least to me)

2010-01-19T17:04:00.003-05:00

as i get older, lengthy periods of time seem to get shorter and shorter - months blow by like days, and years like a few months. but no matter how fast time may fly by, a day always feels like a day. each new day gives me ample time to accomplish what i'm supposed to accomplish that day.

hey my man... what it look like

2010-01-17T23:17:00.003-05:00

one of my biggest problems in life is i tend to think TOO much. i always want to know what something is going to look like before i get into it. instead of jumping into the project, the fear that it won't look or end up "right" is paralyzing. at the end of the day when nothing new is done, and i have nothing to look back on as progress, i feel defeated, my energy drained, and my momentum lost.

one thing i'm learning and trying to embrace, is that the vision is enough. just the fact that something MOVES me to create is sufficient reason to jump into it. the net will appear. there's no need to ask myself, "hey my man... what it look like?" when i jump into it, the resources will become abundant. people will cooperate. and when the door opens, everything will come out just the way it should. the final product will be amazing.

jelissa mone

2010-01-14T11:46:00.008-05:00

random

2010-01-04T20:42:00.003-05:00

growing... content with progress.

2010-01-01T01:01:00.013-05:00

after a much needed conversation with Catherine, i realized i need to count my blessings before i craft what the new year will look like.
so here's my review...

JANUARY 09: i found that the path less traveled led me to find inspiration in texture

FEBRUARY: i came to the realization that sometimes you just have to do what you got to do. it doesn't take much to get where you want to go. just clean underwear, a few dollars, a bus pass, a camera, and a memory card. only good things can happen from there.

MARCH: i launched CHDWCK.com. not much more satisfying than having a place on the web where people can specifically go to see your work.

APRIL: i participated in my first group show: Gentrify Me - a show about community change and gentrification.

in regards to photography, i discoverd my interest in capturing people doing what they do best or enjoy doing most.

i took a trip back home to new jersey/new york and met some amazing artist, including liz marotti and nakeya brown.

MAY: i found an approach to portrait photography that i was comfortable with

JUNE: did an internship at Center Of The Earth Gallery through the summer. a HUGE learning experience. in my spare time, had some fun with my muse, jasiatic.

SEPTEMBER: i particpated in the show, Texture, Dreams, and Rustic Pinwheels with de'Angelo Dia'Bethune, Elisha Covington, and Shanthony Exum.

OCTOBER: i had more fun with jasiatic and shot in a supermarket

DECEMBER: i participated in the NoDaRioty All Arts Market, sold and traded tons of artwork

and i shot for Rheba James Baby Clothier

AphroWoman: Attributes got accepted to be part of the Lodi Projects' LETTERS Exhibition in Raleigh, NC in january.

i learned and accomplished quite in bit in '09. but i got A LOT of work to do in new year. thanks to everyone who has supported my growth. KEEP IT WRANGLER in 2010.

AphroWoman: Native Tongues (extremely tentative title)

2009-12-29T12:34:00.003-05:00

apparently this is still in progress... i'll say more about it when it's done.

PUNCH CLOCK PROMISE series

2009-12-29T12:29:00.006-05:00

this is not AphroWoman... but i made it. part of the PUNCH CLOCK PROMISE series. the series is based on lyrics in Lupe Fiasco's song, "Gold Watch": "Might not go to college/but my street smart polished.../Firm disbeliever in your punch clock promise."
i don't feel like typing right now, so i'll explain more when i post up the rest.

so inspired!!!

2009-12-04T17:23:00.003-05:00

this picture so perfectly captures how i feel right now. i feel like i jumped to get the goodies on the table, and while on my first attempt i didn't actually make it - if i can just hold on a little longer, i'll be able to pull myself up and get the reward.

i participated in NoDaRioty, a local art market featuring all kinds of artist. i sold an AphroWoman piece that i wasn't really expecting would sell that night, but a couple walked in, saw it, and immediately responded to it. and though i didn't sell much photography (though i was able to grow my art collection with some trades), i got so much positive feedback on it! it feels strange to do something so personal and people like it - not only do they like it, but they are truly affected by it!

i put all of me in my art, but i don't give nearly enough time to creating. i can accomplish so much more! thank you mr. cat. your persistance is my inspiration this coming four day weekend!

super mario fix

2009-11-08T15:02:00.002-05:00

clever.

ROBERT MARS

2009-10-29T06:39:00.006-04:00

some incredible artwork i stumbled across by artist Robert Mars.

"I am determined to capture the independent aesthetic of the not-so-distant past that has been replaced by homogenized corporate culture and standardized cityscapes. Industrial design, graphic design, architecture, vintage neon and mid-century icons all render important roles in my work.

My paintings employ layers of color, subtly collaged printed matter from the 1950’s and 1960’s, and stark, black imagery. Remote, indistinct landscapes capture the once poetic, and now nearly lost highway strips of the American past. Formerly the promise of hope and prosperity; these icons are now a sign of desperation and ruin."

Supermarket Shooter

2009-10-28T21:15:00.008-04:00

tryna up my street cred, i decided to go shoot in the supermarket GUERILLA style!! this is what i captured before i got kicked out. i'm so hardcore...

jessica is cool.

2009-10-28T09:39:00.005-04:00

chillin wit' jae (part ii): throwin' $#@!

2009-10-26T19:51:00.010-04:00

chillin' wit' jae (pt i of a possible iii)

2009-10-26T18:28:00.010-04:00

some days when i have off work, i like to just drop in on jasiatic
and shoot the poo. she's cool 'cause she lets me hang out, kill a few minutes/hours and play with her kids. we talk about photography and a personal thing or two. she'll shoot me for her blog. i'll ask her for tea. she'll get up an make herself some and (i honestly believe) forget to make me some. she's a pretty busy woman, but she makes it look like fun.

k-pilla (at work and at play)

2009-10-26T17:46:00.005-04:00

"...it's where you at"

2009-10-26T17:39:00.001-04:00

faux real doe...

2009-10-09T16:21:00.000-04:00

my big brotherly duties

2009-10-01T22:50:00.007-04:00

last night my little sister asked me to create a poster
for her seventh grade stundent counsel campaing.
i created this. it's simple - i know, but i hope it's way fresher
than the posters actual seventh graders created.