Inspiration, Family, Portraits Tracy Inspiration, Family, Portraits Tracy

Hustler

His hustle, I’ve always admired it. His creativity, always envied it. His style, always peeped it.

Chris Clayton aka Chris Cardi in NE Washington, D.C.

My younger brother continues to live on his own terms. One thing is certain, us Clayton men are stubborn. But please don’t mistake the stubbornness for arrogance, ya see the arrogance is in the DNA. In all seriousness my brother Chris has always lived a creative life, he’s actually the first “creative” I’ve ever known. Growing up I’d watch him make his own board games, fashion his own clothing, always heads down in his sketchbook, always creating.

Takes balls to leave a comfortable corporate gig to follow your creative pursuits. I wish I had that courage. Oh and I wish I had that hustle, that creativity, that style.

As his company motto says: Live Fresh. Die spoiled.

Stay hustlin’ young man.

Now enough about him, back to me. This is my blog so get that spotlight back on ya boy, moi, me. More and more I’m enjoying making photos like this. Little photo essays, snippets of of my life. I used to love walking the streets for hours chasing that “decisive moment.” Side note, check out Daniel Milnor’s piece on street photography. My photography has evolved and Milnor’s piece put into focus what I’ve been struggling with.

Nowadays I just let the photos come to me, organically. Perhaps one day I’ll get off my ass and pursue a long term photo project. But right now all my photos are personal and I’m enjoying this document your days approach. That approach is taking my camera everywhere and let come what may.

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Film, Portraits, Inspiration, Family Tracy Film, Portraits, Inspiration, Family Tracy

It's Been A Long Time

You not legit with the camera until you post a mirror selfie. 

It's been a long time / 

I shouldn't of left you / 

Without a strong rhyme to step to... 

At least that's the opening bars of one of my favorite hip-hop joints of all time. Indeed it's been a while, something major happened since my last post back in March.

I became a father. 

Needless to say, I've been a bit preoccupied and photography took a backseat for bit. As my wife and I prepared for parenthood we've had conversations about not losing ourselves in this baby. In other words, remembering we had identities before we became parents. 

For me this means continuing to pursue photography as a means of a creative outlet. That's shooting, developing, and printing my images. With an emphasis on shooting. I would say one of the most difficult aspects of photography, isn't vision, mastering the camera, or even developing film. It's simply making the time to actively go out and shoot.  Compound this with a newborn,  you get the idea. But like with the people in our lives, you make time for what you love. Besides, I've got a beautiful new subject to document. 

Baby Clayton | June 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Stay shootin’ | Shoot for self. ”