Old Film Photo

This is a photograph of my grandfather, Agustin, in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1941. 

I have always had a fascination with old photographs. It reminds me of a time when photography was so serious and momentous because it was expensive to have photographs done. I love this photo in particular, not just because it's my Grandfather, but because, it's not one of those stiff, portrait photographs. It's a very photojournalistic photo of him walking down the street. There's movement in his pants and I like that his expression is not posed. 

This photo makes me miss my Grandpa...

Where I would take you...

Funny how growing up here, I never realized the impact my city gave the world on November 22, 1963. I grew up just a few short miles from the place where JFK was assassinated, in the very outskirt where his killer was later captured, I drive at the exact place where he was fatally shot at least 4 times a month, however, the impact, of this event hadn't resonated in my life.  I'm sure I was taught this in school but it's after doing my own research and seeing the movies and documentaries and of course, the conspiracy theories, I formed an opinion of my own. 

Almost every day there is tourist around down town, taking photos, making their own conspiracies and sparking conversation with the other people on that grassy knoll.

This spring break we took our own children to view the museum and the Dealey Plaza and the grassy knoll. While there, I shot this image and if you pay careful notice to all the people in the image, you can imagine what they are saying. There's the guy taking a picture of the X which marks the place JFK received the fatal shot. There's the other man, with his hand pointing and probably sharing his thoughts. There's the people in the grassy knoll, some just sitting, maybe they are imagining that very day, the people excited to see this beloved President, coming down the street in that car, getting a glimpse of the beautiful First Lady and her pink suit...

It may not be the best thing to be remembered by, but this is where I would take you. That maybe you can be impacted as now I have been by the memory of a President who did what he thought was best for the people. I'm not advocating any political message here. 

Just recognizing a man who stood up to a lot of injustices and who paved the way for equality and justice for all...

How I start my day...

This is not always how I start my day, in fact, it's hardly how I start my day, but I photographed it this way because photography can also represent, for me anyway, the way I want things to be. I usually start my day in a rush because I have to get the kids ready for school and the baby ready to be picked up. There's usually a mixture of crying, whining, complaining and yelling...I put my kettle for my coffee and hope that I get everything done before I have to be out of the door...how I would picture (photograph) my day starting would be this...

This is not some propaganda for religion or belief, but it's been my experience that when I start off my day with prayer and just solemn meditation I feel more inspired to do good. I feel good inside. I feel like I can handle the everyday battles in life. I have to try this way of starting my day more often.

Where People Gather

This week we gathered around to celebrate the homecoming of my cousin, Tiffany. 

It's a surreal experience to go through when you have a loved one pass away.

There was so many people that came to pay their respects to such a beautiful young girl. 

I really enjoyed my time with Tiffany. She was a girl full of life, full of hope, full of love for her family. I will really miss her...

We got to the church early to put up her photographs and as I was sitting there in that empty church with only the piano player practicing...I began to think that this was the very place people come to receive hope, where they come to start a new life, where they feel peace and it's that same alter where Tiffany was, that people cry out to God for their problems. It was here where now we gather. How can one place represent so many circumstances? I think it's because it's still the very place we come for peace. I've been at this alter many a times, and I've never left it the same. My problems are not solved because of this physical place, but the peace I receive is what keeps me trying. 

Tiffany is at peace as well. I know she is. Her spirit will live on in all the lives she touched. Like mine.

Mint

They call the Florida Gulf Shore, the Emerald shore...and there is parts that are emerald green, but here the ocean looks mint to me. 

I love going to the beach, to hear the waves hitting the shore line, the grand feeling of endlessness, the serenity...It's really not a vacation for me unless the beach is involved...

I was taking family portraits on the beach and I was just getting frustrated because they were not coming out like I envisioned...(anybody ever have that problem?). I kept telling the kids not to get themselves full of sand and not to look like they were squinting and it was humid, my camera was just not reading the right exposure and I had just given up. I started walking up towards the house, Sophia went to kick up the sand and she was walking by the shore. I looked back and I thought she was just beautiful with her white dress against the color of the water.

When she saw me coming, she hurriedly tried to get the sand off her leg but I told her to just do whatever she wanted and this is the image I got...still a little posed...(I mean can you blame her, I had just been telling her how to pose) but still the best sincere smile of the whole shoot....

by the mint water...

Crooked=Not Straight

I have always had a fascination with trees. Big, wide, oak trees...standing always so strong and protective. It's interesting now because we have this tree in the backyard that my kids will fight over who is going to be in the nook of the tree. It wouldn't be weird to find my son or daughter just sitting there reading a book...I just love trees. The best thing about a tree is that no two trees are identical. They seem to stretch their branches which ever way they want, really with no rhyme or reason...

I used to work at a landscape company when I was just out of high school and I remember going through the tree yard....and the guys would have these trees separated to the side...because they were not sell-able, because they had to many crooked branches...And one day, a lady comes in and noticed what I had noticed that the "crooked" trees where put aside and not cared for as much...to my delight and awe, she spent thousands and thousands of dollars to buy those "crooked" trees. She said they were trees with character, fun trees, climbable trees...I couldn't agree with her more...

All Dressed Up

I had another image in mind when I saw what the theme was for this week, I had imagined Bibi in a flowy dress and soft colors, curls and her great smile...I guess because I've known her since she was 7 years old it's stayed in my mind that she still a little girl...but she's all grown up now...no longer the little 7 year old who would peek through the door when I was in the house...

And a beautiful young lady she is, both inside and out.