Winter Boots

I made a poor choice in boots last year when I bought some low top Colombia hiking boots that weren't waterproof and, in retrospect, weren't very stylish. If the opportunity arose to go out after work, I was stuck looking like a 50 year old professor. This is no knock against Colombia, they make great boots for low temperatures, but again, I chose wrong.

So, this year I wanted to change. Yellow Timberland boots are a solid choice; they are water proof, tough, but the suede gets dingy easily, and many places have a dress code against them, and I'm too old to be turned away at the door because of that! I decided to go with leather; its waterproof, you polish it and go, plus you don't have to worry about brushing suede etc.

This year Timberland has release new styles that don't look "Timberland-ish" The Earthkeepers series is made with recycled leather soles and are less of a stigma than regular Timbs.

The Earthkeepers™ City 6" Boot


Earthkeepers™ Collection 6" Boot


I like both of these in brown. They will look good in jeans, and when I have to clean the snow off my car. See more here.

Power-featuring Dirk Nowitzki?

Mark Cuban is a genius for making this video for his Dallas Mavericks

Rhianna; British GQ 2011

I loved the short haired "Shut up and Drive" Rhianna. I'm not sure how I feel about the new red hair, but this British GQ cover is nice. Still trying to find out who shot this.

Rhianna also graced America's GQ last January.

Spartacus!!

This whole month I have been doing the Spartacus: Blood and Sand workout, developed by Men's Health Magazine for the actors who need to get in shape for their roles as gladiators on the Starz series.



Me and co worker James have been at it and we feel great, until we do the exercises! We thought we were relatively in shape until we tried this workout. The first day we were rolling on the floor in pain.

A few others have tried with us and dropped out. They are unworthy!

We are going to try to keep this going until summer. I have been 20lbs+ overweight for like, 3 years and its time to put a stop to it, Spartacus!!



Read more about this god forsaken workout here.

Photographer Chase Jarvis + Nikon D7000

This talented photographer/director tested Nikon's 16megapixel, 1080HD video features in the most fun way: traveling and running around with friends, and shooting a graffiti short.



The images show off the camera's clear HD resolution. Changing lenses allows for incredible depth of field and light handling capabilities. Chase's edits and quick cuts draw me in and make me want to see more. He creates an environment of fun that I wish I was a part of.

Where are my friends that frolic like that?

I have to give props (I'm a Canon man) to the D7000. Read more nikon.com

See more of this work and inspirations at Chase jarvis.

Anthony Winters-" Couple’s Story”

A behind the scenes video by photographer Anthony Winters. I love the unseen work that goes into a successful shoot. I'll do one soon.



I became a fan of his work because it reminds me of my own; photography set in an outside environment. He makes the background interesting, but not too much...I'll post more about him and his work that I like later.

Shout out to original posters alleyesonwho.com Check them out for more info

What is Graphic Design?

Who knew it could be so hard to explain?

My Lens: Felicia

Well, I'm still doing a bad job of posting my own photo work. You'd think that after all the trouble I go through trying to find and schedule models that I would be screaming about new shoots from the mountain tops, (and I do) but not on here.

Anyway, Felicia is one of the girls I thought got away; I approached her at an event early in the summer about shooting, and she seemed interested but I never heard from her again. 2 months later she called me with free time, so we hooked up.







She's a ballet dancer, and you can tell because she has amazing legs and moves so gracefully.



Felicia also has a great sense of style, so it was easy picking outfits. I can't wait to shoot with her again.

My Birthday 2010

The mess the next day.


Man I had a really good time at my party last weekend. I'm still eating the massive amount of foood leftover and smiling happily at all of the liquor that was given to me, and the ones I didn't get a chance to open.

I'm so glad I got talked into it, especially since I got sick this week!! What's worse than being sick on your birthday? I don't know how it happened, maybe when I was trying to break into a car at 2:30am, maybe when my shirt got ripped, I don't know...

My Pre Birthday Party 2010

I didn't want to have a party.

If I had a party and no one showed up I would have been very disappointed (like last year). I was convinced to throw my 1st ever adult birthday "get together" and have a few close friends over to drink, chill out, and lessen the blow of turning 30++

I subcontracted out for food; my friend Bruce flexed his culinary muscles on hamburger sliders, my sister and my ex-girlfriend contributed many dishes that were delicious!


I handled the drink menu. I served an Apple Martini, Long Island Iced Tea and two other mixes. Originally I wanted to have a different drink every hour, but as the guests numbers increased, I followed Carl's suggestion that I enjoy myself, instead of "working" at my own party.

Good advice!







I was also resident DJ, playing a mix I created (and borrowed! Shout out to Lee Jones, Davidson Ospina and Oscar P for hooking my party up!) I had so much fun!


I was really glad that my beautiful cousin Morgan (between my two nephews) was able to come up from Florida. I wish she brought some of her model girlfriends with her!

Naomi Campbell Kills People

Naomi Campbell has gone all Hostel on us in the new German issue of GQ, photographed by Solve Sundsbo. In the photos, she appears to torture a tattooed Russian mobster while looking fierce in her black evening gown.







This creative concept was probably influenced by the 2007 film Eastern Promises, featuring Viggo Mortensen looking very much the part.



There are so many creative movie-inspired concepts for shoots I want to do, but I often don't know where to begin, mainly with where to shoot. (where the hell are they?) I can't let that stop me though. I've got to step it up!

Props to photographer Samuel Eli for bringing this to my attention!

Inside The Studio 2010 - Marsha Ambrosia

I went to the highly anticipated interview of Marsha Ambrosia at Warmddadys on Sunday. I have loved her since Floetry, and it has grown as she has gone solo. Hosted by Laiya from Power99fm







She was surprisingly open and candid as she dove into subjects like the beginning of Floetry, the open mic Black Lilly days, getting signed, Floerty ending, her songwriting, basketball, her weight, and numerous celebrity stories. She was personable and took camera phone pics with every person who waited at show's end. I took as many photos as I could without looking like a stalker.

New Money? The Dollar ReDe$ign Project

United States Federal notes have gone through some changes in my lifetime, larger faces, holograms, bigger numbers, color changing ink, but I didn't think I would see this kind futuristic looking money.



The Dollar ReDe$ign Project is hoping to do just that by obtaining creative submissions from designers all over the country.

The American Dollar has not truly been redesigned since about the 1930s. The Dollar ReDe$ign Project is your opportunity to theoretically 'change' that.

The Dollar ReDe$ign Project hopes to bring about change for everyone. We want to rebrand the US Dollar, rebuild financial confidence and revive our failing economy.

I have honestly never thought about doing this. I don't think the country could handle a Black president and new looking money, lol especially when I think about the seldom used gold dollar and the Susan B. Anthony coins, but it is exciting to see the ideas and concepts. Maybe one day.

Look at the other design submissions here.

My lens: Paloma

I pretty much failed in my promise to post some of my photography, so I present Paloma, a cool woman I finally caught up with after meeting her in at the RM67 fashion show earlier this year.



I hope to shoot with her again very soon.

True Blood's Bloody Cover

I was so busy watching HBO's True Blood finale that I overlooked this cover for Rolling Stone's September issue, shot by Matthew Rolston. Saying this magazine was eye catching would be an understatement.



I when I look at this cover, I wonder about several things:

I wonder about the boundaries that separate art and pornography, the "envelope" thats being pushed, and whether it is a good, or bad thing. I wonder if this cover would have made it past the conceptual stage if the characters were Black. I wonder if there was any controversy, any protesting by the same people who claim to care about our morality. I wonder if the seeing the cover made people feel homophobic.

Y'know, just wondering...

A Cool MotherF@#r-Machete's Danny Trejo

I have enjoyed his menacing presence in numerous films and I smile whenever he lands a "good guy" role, like in Anchorman. The love for Danny by his fans is evident in how a fake trainer has now become a full length movie Machete this month. He is very high on my "People I Would Love to Shoot With" list. I love the character lines in this guys face!

Check out a short documentary on Mr. Trejo I found on ballerstatus.com created by one of my photographic heroes, now turned director, Mr. Estevan Oriol. His black and white film aesthetic translates very well to video.

Goodbye Nick!

One of my favorite bartenders, nay, mixologists Nick Jarrett is moving on to New York. He continued to work a couple nights in Philly, but the bus travel back in forth was too much.

We sent him out in style during his last night at his spot, the Franklin Mortgage Company, the place was filled with bartenders from around the city, and it was insane!

1st two images done by Lush Life Photography (before I got there!) The rest me!

American Dreaming Magazine Party 2010

I came across this magazine somehow on facebook. I like the idea of a magazine about style, music, and fashion, based in Philadelphia and I wanted to check it out.

I took my friend and model slash guinea pig Kharma with me and we had a great time. She blended right in with all the other models.





Sara K, executive editor.




I ran into photographer extraordinaire Jasen Hudson and Make Up Wizard Robin Lynette. (Can women be wizards?) I tried not to pester him with photog advice, but we could help but talk about flash modifiers.

I met some interesting people and hopefully some potential shoots can come out of this.

Late Summer Blahs

I have really been out of it!

This summer seemed to slip through my fingers.

I stopped writing here.

stopped shooting.

stopped working out.

Andrea moved back home.

Ah...time to get back at it!

I'm mad late on this, I saw the link a week ago that said "Fuck You" song by Cee lo but never clicked it.



Man this is the greatest! I love the moving typography (like the new Ford F-150 commercials I've enjoyed all year) and it makes the song even more fun.

New Marsha Ambrosius

I'm so excited! I just caught the buzz about this new song from one of my favorite vocalists, Marsha Ambrosius. I have loved her work as a member of Floetry, and guest vocalist on rap hooks (especially Why You Hate The Game. From the 5:50 mark, she Kills this track!!)

I also cannot believe her stunning new, thinner look on the single's cover. Why is it all of my favorite larger women are losing weight, and the ones I want to get smaller aren't? Ah...a subject for another time.

The song title "Hope She Cheats on You (With a basketball player)" is a little long and reality show-like, but it grabs the attention of scorned women like its supposed to.

Marsha rockin' a sample of it live. I love the ad libs!


I can't wait for her upcoming album this fall.