BIRTHPLACE MAGAZINE: PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE 2010 - 2013

The first show I shot for Manny was a Funk Master Flex show at BB Kings on August 12, 2010. I was picking photography up as hobby for the second time and at that point I was still trying to find my way. I was 37 and all I knew was being a father, average boyfriend and driving a forklift. The opportunity to shoot the show was bit last minute and I wasn't sure that I wanted to go. I was just off work and picked up some beer, I was ready to check out for the day. Oh, and I live in Jersey but my above average girlfriend was persuasive. "If I could take pics I would go", "his blog is great..... call him", "WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING????" What I was doing was being a punk. I would rather be in my 'pepto bismol' cocoon (inside joke) safe in NJ doing the same ole instead of seizing the moment. So what if it doesn't go well at least I got to experience something from an angle that most don't. As I feared, not much went well and that was the best thing that could've happened. Despite whatever issues I had at the end of the day feeling that bass in my chest and still managing to capturing some decent shots (by 2010 standards) was magical. The lessons from that night have molded my current modus operandi. Travel logistics, cheap parking garage locating, bouncer and ticket agent coddling, photo pit etiquette, and getting a handle on stage lighting. Even the most mundane things such as knowing what hand a artist likes to hold the mic before getting pinned against a stage and not being able to move for the rest of the night. Manny allowed me to get my feet wet and establish relationships that exist till this day!

Manny,
Thank you Sir for allowing me on the job training. Thank you for liking the pics enough to ask me back.
Best of luck with everything.

This gallery is empty.