Exploring Memphis

A few weeks into the summer and this week I'm finally catching up on some blogging. I'm really getting to know myself more as a photographer and the reasons why I get the type of images I do and the type of images I don't, and thats a breakthrough for me. This summer my focus is to just make more meaningful images no matter the situation, just being a photographer at all times whether its a news assignment, fashion, nature, serious or not serious I just want to try and make interpretive and creative images. 

These images just come from a random call I got one day after photographing the guy above in the blue shirt, Lil Noid or Derrick Harris. He called me up and told me he was going to show me his old neighborhood he grew up in before going to jail. This is a well known area in Memphis called Binghamton. 

The set of images made in the studio is where Derrick took me after we left his neighborhood and went to where he records his music, this area of memphis is called Mitchell Heights. It was my first time going here but I really would like to go back and walk around to explore, I haven't done as much as I would like to this summer. 

Enjoy, feel free to leave a comment.

(some photos may appear not sharp viewing in the post alone, so click the image to see full resolution quality)

First freelance assignment for The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

For my first assignment for The Commercial Appeal this summer, I was asked to accompany columnist David Water to an interview and photograph an ex robber, and musician Derrick Harris a. k. a Lil Noid one of the original members of Three 6 Mafia in Memphis. This photo was to run with David Warters' column "Safe in Memphis." 

Naturally I was nervous, I didn't want to mess up one of my first assignments for the newspaper, all I thought about on the shoot was capture good light, moment, and a simple portrait (tight medium and wide) for variety.

Below you can see more images from the shoot. 

Enjoy!

The Underestimated (Spring Semester)

What can I say about these group of guys? BigSto, MC Freeman and DC. These guys are truly amazing people. I feel fortunate that these guys let me in the circle to document their lives and their road to make good music. Countless hours these guys spend in the studio and I went right along with them when I could I truly some them create authentic music with beats rhymes and a pad and pen.

These guys are onto something with the music they are creating, and I enjoy the documentation these guys are allowing me to do.  Looking forward to better pictures and more great music from them.

New Adventures with Jean P (from April)

When I think about documentary photography and photojournalism, I think about having that one story you keep going back to and for me that story is with musician Jean P Johnson. There is a genuine connection Jean and I have, when I photograph him I get inspired to try new things with my photography. Jean is an amazingly talented MC from Canton, OH, and ever since I first photographed him I knew it wouldn't be the last time. Jean has since left Ohio University but these images are from his return to perform on campus, opening up for Ace Hood.

 One thing I noticed about Jena is that he works relentlessly on his craft or rhyming and music quality. He won't put it out until he is totally satisfied with what he has created, and he also has a great team of peers around him who help push his work to that next level.

Besure to check out Jean's music at jeanpthemc.bandcamp.com 

Athens Hip Hop Shop - January 2013