i first met my boy R at our home church more than 5 years ago.  in that time, we’ve sung together in two national choir competitions, and have created a million memories with mr. smith.  a couple years ago, R met a beautiful woman named D during a chance trip to the movies.  now, these two are happily engaged and i couldn’t be more blessed to photograph their wedding this august.

if the pain of  losing one of our ancestral project students wasn’t already enough, it got even worse when we discovered tonight that yet another was senselessly killed…in front of her son. (photo source: facebook.com)

(featured photo credit: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle) as part of my contribution to the project shine in peace (@shine_in_peace), i’ve been doing quite a bit of research on the violence in the streets of oakland.  last night, i happened to come across a photo essay in the san francisco chronicle detailing the death, funeral, and the aftermath of lamont deshawn price, who was murdered on thursday, february 16, 2012 on the 8100 block of birch street.  he was oakland’s 18th homicide during the year 2012.  the article detailing the shooting and lamont’s death was alarmingly short, featured no details outside of a basic lead for a story.  yet, the comments left by “liberal” san franciscans/bay areans tell a much different story.

this july, i’ve been given the esteemed honor of speaking at the midwestern african american genealogy institute.  the event is taking place july 7-9, 2013 at harris stowe university in st. louis, mo.

more than 10 years is a long time to wait between family portraits…

it’s amazing what you get into after a chance meeting at washington dulles.  

i’ve been quite busy as of late…adding some new products to my aresnal…merging storytelling with the photographic experience so that my sessions last longer than just the day they happen.  i’ve been waiting a while to get the creative juices flowing in this regard and i am ELATED to show you what i now have available.

number 9 for 2013…tyler jamison.  death number 9 in oakland from gun violence in 2013.  crime stoppers is offering yet another $10,000 reward for information, the victim is one of my former students.  :( 

somehow, don’t ask me how, i managed to come across this parody ad and i literally hollered. 

isaac rogers was killed april 21,1897 at a train depot in fort gibson, indian territory. as he stepped off of a train, clarence goldsby shot him once in the body and then three more times in the head.  goldbsy was never found.  what a way to go out when going to pick up your check.

recently, i happened to unearth a hilarious bit of writing from march 7, 2000.

how many times have i heard this?