During a photography exercise years ago, I balked at being told to photograph flowers
Until somethng in my head popped and said Whoever said they have to look like flowers?

I'm back.
These past few months personal and professional hassle almost made me forget what I love most about photography–it is the seeing part, finding beauty where none seems to exist, seeing it and wanting to share it. I never saw the need nor ever had the desire for fancy set-ups, fancy lighting, or other things that make for a glamorous photograph. Yes, of course, I do those things; sometimes I need to, either for work or personal requests, and I find absolutely nothing wrong with it, as long as it does not make me forget what in my heart of hearts I thrive on doing, and that is shooting “junk.” “Junk,” because nothing is ever real thrash to me, as a photographer. “Junk,” because, chances are, no one would bother to take photos of those; “junk,” because–and forgive me a little bit of ego trip here–chances are, I was the only one who saw it, or took the time to.
The hassle that nearly took me away from my gear drove me into some sort of melancholy, and the thing that arrested what could have been a downward spiral was a decision to walk alone for a while, just me and a 5D. 24/7. The photos I am about to attach may not mean or appeal much to most of you, but to me, they will forever remind me of the day I said, “This is my art, this is my photography. I am paying for it with my time, my money, and my energy. I hope you find it in your heart to respect that, but if you don’t it’s perfectly all right.”
My video of early macs.
Instead of an essay for an opening board or such, a poem dedicated to fire, by a daughter of fire.
Baba’s Child
Hedwig de Leon
By your gait I can tell; I know
when you are off for leisure, the pace
of unhurried cadence breaking
into a dance. It never fails to rupture
my trance: the leaps, stomps and pirouettes
of bare feet on yielding grass.
At times it is the certainty, the sure
footed march to war: I feel each inhale
each exhale each breath; never
labored always calm all ways
Quiet. The perfect backdrop
to your scream in the sky; the perfect
Silence soon shattered as heaven
roars with thunder and lightning zigs
and zags across the skies.
In a hammock on your back I lie
Cradled, nibbling fruits and nuts, wondering
Why? Why must you carry me in a sack
on your back even when you fight? Or hold
me to your chest while you snooze?
A shrug.
Great. Should I pester you for an answer, pelt
You with nuts, maybe? But then you
Opened an eye before I could: “Because,
You said, “you are a brat.”
“My brat.“
August 2010
19 Auagust 2010, and Fuego! opened at Penguin. Late post, yes, very. I kind of got a little possessive of my little fire babies, didn’t exactly want them out there in the wild cyber world. Silly, huh? But come on, give a photog a break. There was a lot that went on: African drummers came, Earth dancers came, goodness, even my Mom came. That really was the biggest surprise of the night. I was scared of a people-less opening, but No, we ended up drinking beer on the sidewalks. It was a fun night, problem is I couldn’t document it. Good thing some friends took some. Coming up, soon!