1000 Words: WHERE I'M FROM

"Up the block, around the corner, and down the street, from where the pimps, prostitutes and the drug lords meet" - Jay Z

In our neighborhoods, we have common areas, resting spots, post up's, blocks. You'll often hear someone say "On the block", "Up the block", "Around the corner" or "In front of the building".. these places are mentioned with no exact location but an understood whereabout. These "common areas" are often a place of convenience for everyone of the neighborhood or of the crew... a "safe" familiar place. I put quotes around safe because its only thought to be safe, because that's what or where we are familiar with. We hang out on corners that we have seen people get murdered on.. We've seen people get shot, stabbed, beat up and the block/corner would clear out for a while but, hours later, we're right back in the thick of it. From the outside looking in, when people see a group of young men convened on the corner, most would assume that it's a group of men wasting time.. wasting the short precious time that we have on this earth, short because of the color of our skin, because of our age, because of our environment. But just as much as this corner is dangerous, this corner is a hub of information for survival. That corner, that store, that stoop is our CNN, our FoxNews... It tells us who's alive, who did what, how this person got caught, or why this person isn't here anymore.. The exchange of information in these dangerous places are life saving.

I know you don't think I'm going to type 1000 words, right? Lol.. The 1000 Words article is in reference to that old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words". This article will explain the meaning, idea(s), or influences behind each photoshoot. I prefer to do things with purpose, significance.. Doing a random shoot, at a random location, holds no value.. Everything that I do.. will be done, with intent.

Since the development of Troubled Youth, it has been my idea to use my own life's experiences as the backdrop for the imagery in my shoots. Each shoot has an element or reference to my life, whether past or present, the association is relevant.