Homecoming.

I found her on tumblr where she was posting the most incredible self portraits.  I asked to take her picture and this is the first frame we took… such a beauty.

Thinking of Alberto Vargas today.

Censored for Tumblr 17/12/2018.

“Then He created a woman for Adam, from the earth as He had created Adam, and called her Lilith. Adam and Lilith immediately began to fight. She said “I will not lie below you.. for we are equal to each other inasmuch as we were born created from the same earth”. They would not listen to each other. When Lilith saw this, she pronounced the ineffable name and flew away into the air” - from an anonymous medieval Hebrew text The Alphabet of Ben Sirach.

“[Beauty as a form of power] is always conceived in relation to men; it is not the power to do but the power to attract. It is a power that negates itself. For this power is not one that can be chosen freely—at least, not by women—or renounced without social censure.”

- Susan Sontag, A Woman’s Beauty: Put-Down or Power Source?

Judy had moved to NY only a week before we met.  I remember her beautiful long straight jet black hair, and finding out she was Mexican.  I showed a friend some pics of her and he fell in love not knowing a thing about her.

Spent some time with Shelbie Dimond in Paris last year. She told me great stories about her past life and how she’s always rolling the dice. You can find her on insta as @spookieshelbie where she sells her darkroom prints, Polaroids, books, and takes commissions.

Madia in Milan. She opened her door nude, and had another photographer in the room packing up his gear. She ripped a bong while I loaded Polaroid. Her flesh pulling her in the opposite direction as she moved. Cutting through all that smoke was her beautiful face.

Censored for Tumblr 17/12/2018

Every day there is additional proof that the very qualities we have historically been forced to deny - strength, power, and endurance - are inherent in women to the same extent as in men.  The truth is, we have a greater tolerance for pain than men; we have far greater endurance than men.  There is evidence that pound for pound we are stronger than men.

Lisa Lyon, “Body Magic”

Made in remembrance of Trace Magazine’s issues of “Black Girls Rule”.

I found Violetta online and she really was the beginning. She arrived in sweats, had a Philly accent, only ate pizza, and had no patience for making photos. That said, she was still my favorite. She reminded me of Patti Smith, was both feminine and masculine, had wild natural proportions, and made incredible images.