What is your definition of LOVE? Is it perfect?
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
"I Generate My Own Heat"
I met Kurt today on my way back from the small business development center. He was jamming on his saxophone for over an hour here at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles. He said that he has been playing the saxophone for over 20 years, he said "you name it, i can play it." Unfortunately i didnt know any songs to request so i just asked him to keep jamming. He didnt hesitate to play another tune. I told him i would be back to visit him, he smiled and sent me on my way.
Note to self: whenever going somewhere, make sure you have the CURRENT address and not the old, outdated address. I attempted to go to the small business development center (SBDC) today to get some information on starting my own business and getting some books printed up. when I got to the address i noticed it was a beauty salon. I asked some people standing nearby if they knew where the SBDC was and nobody had any idea. When I got back to my office I got online and found out that the office has moved.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
New Hope?
I was heading back to my office when I seen this homeless man reading the newspaper. When i saw the two presidential candidates on the back side of the newspaper i began to think to myself, "will the new president wage a war against homelessness?" then i realized, "probably not!"
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
"Im An Artist"
This man was sitting in an alley passing time when i approached him. He told me that he was an artist and that he has some work on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., however, he didnt want to give me his name. He said, "the picture doesnt need a name." I said, "It's not for the picture, it's so I can look up some of your work." He replied, "I'll see you around."
"For Better Or For Worse"
I seen this couple sleeping as I was walking south on broadway coming back from the library. I'm researching government grants and other information for small business owners
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sing One More For The Crowd
I was standing on the corner with my camera in my hand waiting for a picture to develop when this man came towards me singing boldly and waving his arms as if he was truly performing. I took a few shots as he passed by. After i took the pictures he remarked, "those are some good pics right." Then he requested that I print a few of them up for him and come back and find him. He said he wouldnt be hard to find . . . .
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Lady In The Streets
A Lady In The Streets. I seen this lady as I was heading up broadway one day on my lunch break, she was sitting at a bus stop just watching the daily traffic go by when I approached her and asked if i could take her picture. she agreed to the picture, the entire time remaining emotionless.
Monday, June 16, 2008
From Years on the Streets
I sometimes wonder what motivation the homeless people have to live. i wonder what i would do if i were in there situation. would i quit? would i give up? i really dont know. you know the old saying, "you cant judge someone untill you walk a mile in their shoes."
Steve
i have no idea what he is doing here, but he was sitting in this position for a while. I asked him if he needed anything and he said he would like a bite to eat, so i bought him a subway sandwich and some water. i see Steve almost everyday. he appears to be one of the worse off of all the homeless that i come across. you may recognize him in some others pictures that i have posted here on flickr.
Noontime Nap
Aww, the relaxing feeling of a hot sun mixed with a cool breeze. It doesnt get any better than this. Or does it????
18 With a Bullet
I met this man on the bus this afternoon. He is from 18 Street, the largest gang out here in Los Angeles. I blacked out his face to protect his identity
"If I Wasnt A Nurse...."
Emergency
part2
(story begins here)....so the police arrive at the scene and huddle up by their car for about ten minutes trying to figure out what they are going to do, all the while the homeless man is still throwing things at people and yelling at them and eating something white off of the street. as soon as the policemen break their huddle i ask one of the cops "what do you normally do in a situation like this?" he replied, "nothing except maybe roll him up the street to the corner." next thing i know the police car drives off and the policemen go their separate ways while the homeless man throws his shoes at someone and spits at someone else, now sitting in front of the store that he trashed.
part3 here
sNapped
part1
of course there is a story behind this photo:
while on my way to mcdonalds i hear a commotion across the street so i glance to my left to see what it's all about. all i could see is a circle of people surrounding a storefront and items flying thru the air. i reach in my bag and grab my camera before making my way across the street, the whole time wondering why there is a wheelchair in one of the lanes in the street. when i arrive across the street i see a man with one leg laying in front of the storefront throwing items and hitting people.... (story continued here)
My Perspective
sometimes we get so busy with the cares of this world that we forget which way is up. this picture is dedicated to those people out there who are doing their best to do right, but sometimes go wrong. continue to listen for the voice of the Lord, and when you hear Him, do as He says to do. practice obedience.
John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
1 Samuel 15:22
. . . . Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.
Penny Arcade
I met this man at the library here in downtown LA. He told me his name was Penny Arcade. thanks for the shot sir
(Insert Title Here)
I seen these youths when i left the library here in downtown LA. thanks for the shot guys.
The Flower Fades
Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV)
"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
I love the graffiti wall in the background. I might re-shoot this pic with a smaller f-stop so the wall can be seen a little clearer.
Beauty
Sometimes you have to take a step back and see where God has taken you and thank Him for His grace and for protecting you. We live in a beautiful world, but sometimes you have to slow down to recognize it.
Thank you Lord for all that you have done for me and continue to do for me!
What Happened To Peace?
Revelation 6:7-8
"When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth."
On my walk back to the office I came across this little message stamped on the sidewalk and I couldnt help but agree with the message, especially because in these last few days many kids here in the LA area were killed due to gang violence and outright stupidity.
Prayer
Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
I seen these young ladies praying outside as they waited for their dance audtion to get onto the show "So You Think You Can Dance."
I have never seen the show but i hope they make it, we need more prayer warriors on tv.
Miracle Patient
This man took a shotgun slug to the face two years ago. He said his name in the hospital was miracle patient. While we talked he quoted the "Footprints" poem to me.
The Other Side
This man didnt mind me taking this picture because I promised him I wasnt a cop and that his identity would be pretty well hidden. He said he was one of the lucky people on that block because he didnt live there, he just goes there to smoke his crack.
Miracle Patient
This man took a shotgun slug to the face two years ago. He said his name in the hospital was miracle patient. While we talked he quoted the "Footprints" poem to me.
"You Do This For Yourself And For Others"
Hebrews 13:2 (New King James Version)
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."
The other day while on my lunch break I headed out walking towards the skid row area of downtown LA when I came across this lady pictured above. She had a very pleasant spirit and she spoke encouraging words to me. She recommended that I carry business cards on me at all times and that I continue to follow the leading of my heart. She asked me, "why do you do this?" I replied nonchalantly, "I just do this for me." She replied back with a smile, "no, you do this for yourself and for others."
The Forgotten Land
Walking thru what I call The Forgotten Land I came across this photo of Jesus. I was reminded of His love for me and I thought about the 23rd Psalm. "Yea, tho I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil . . . ."
Can You Hear Me Now
This lady saw me walking around with my camera and asked me what I was there for. I told her I was there to document the other side of life. She said she couldnt believe how a completely separate world exist in the east downtown area known as skid row. she said that at times she had wanted to take photos and document the life that she has grown to know. most of la doesnt know how bad things are in skid row. she asked me to continue to bring light and expose the area for what it is so that one day change will come.
Coleman
Today I went back to the heart of skid row to take some photographs. I met this man named Coleman, a cancer patient. We talked for about thirty minutes, mostly on his previous career as a painter. While we were talking another man came and sat about five yards from us and smoked his crack. When the man was done he got up and walked off in the original direction he was heading while me and Coleman continued talking. Coleman did give me some food for thought. He said, "before you change something or get rid of something first find out why it's there." I told Coleman that I'd be seeing him around, for it was time for me to get back to work.
Cancer Hands
I asked Coleman one of the dumbest questions of the day, "do your hands hurt?" He replied, "of course they do. you cant get a swollen finger without it hurting."
The Pain In My Hands
I asked Coleman one of the dumbest questions of the day, "do your hands hurt?" He replied, "of course they do. you cant get a swollen finger without it hurting."
"He's Alright"
Today I came across one of the nastiest scenes I've seen in a while. This gentleman was passed out drunk and had gone defecated on himself. He had flies all over him and the smell alone was almost enough to make me throw-up. There was another man that walked by in disgust, unsure if the man laying down was alive when two other homeless men walked by. They shook their friend on the ground to make sure he was breathing, then said "he's alright" and walked off.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Busy Hands
I see this man everyday so today i bought him a burger and talked with him briefly. he is always doing something with his hands; either playing with his change or playing with his deck of cards.
Closure
I had an interesting conversation with a friend from Church the other night. We were talking about the things we need to do better in 2008 to have a better walk with Christ. We both admitted that we struggled with closure; how we both needed to slam the door shut on some things and people in our lives that are contrary to the Word of God. It's amazing how the Lord is involved in fellowship amongst believers, and how He hears and answers our prayers. I had prayed for closure with a very trying situation in my life and before I knew it my phone rung and I got some much needed answers in my life. True, there will be times when the answers will not be afforded to me but it is still my will to close those doors and walk by faith knowing that the Lord is faithful.
Mohawk
My neighbor's son needed a hair cut so when we asked him what he wanted. He replied, "a mohawk." I give it to the little man for knowing exactly what he wanted and for not wavering even after we all looked at him in surprise and disbelief. Update, he loves his mohawk.
Everything I Need . . .
. . . is right here with me
"That's me, pt.2" You might remember I took a picture of this gentleman one day when leaving my office. i was headed toward the bus stop when i seen him and decided to take his pic. i missed my bus that day. well i came across James again today but this time he was sleeping and i didnt want to wake him up so i just snapped his picture and continued on my path to Carl's Jr feeling a little bit guilty . . . .
Room For Two, Day50
If you look in the background you can see another homeless man's possessions but you cant see him because he is sleeping on the other side. this is approximately 100 yards from my office building. when i first started working here i almost couldnt handle leaving my building for lunch knowing there were so many hungry individuals on the street. is it a good thing or a bad thing that i'm starting to be able handle these situations better?
Meditate On The Word Of God
Joshua 1:8 (New King James Version)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
My friend Lori was at church early last night reading her Word before our Communion service. She is a true woman of God and she is excited about what God has in store for her in 2008. Thank you Lori for allowing me to shoot the pic.
Naptime
i'm guessing you are getting used to seeing images of people laying on the sidewalk. welcome to my world
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