Early Mother’s Day post and gratitude for my family…
Another sweet moment from April and my grandmother’s birthday weekend in Oklahoma was taking our family’s portraits, and in particular, the large group shot.
After we finished, my cousin, Skipper, said the picture of all of us reminded him of a great photo of my grandparents before they boarded a train for their honeymoon. They are with a ton of family and friends that came to see them off.
My grandparents were wed in November of 1951, so I imagine the photo happened not too long after that. Look at the coats, the hats…my goodness. 75 years ago… Black excellence, my cousin said. I agree.
What a gift that our family is still thriving and loving and we’ve stayed connected. A new generation supporting and loving our aunt, mother and grandmother. And what an honor to capture an image that will be a part of our family story of the next 75 years. 🙏🏾
Happy Mother’s Day to all. Take those photos tomorrow and cherish the moments.
#family #love #legacy
Happy birthday to me.
I haven’t done a self portrait with my DSLRs in a long time. Earlier this week, I shot myself close up with a 50mm prime at F/2 😬. For non-photographers, that takes bravery. No where to hide. Get ready to photoshop the imperfections….
I never did any Photoshop though, just lighting and color. I wanted to keep it honest. Some, I thought I looked miserable and I didn’t. Others I thought I was happy, and looked really sad. But, it was me. I saw myself for the first time in a while. Perfect to do it around a birthday, of course.
When I look at these shots…
I see the receding hair line and the gray hairs.
I will always see the scars: chicken pox and the time I almost took my eye out at summer camp but got lucky.
I see the glasses long overdue for a replacement.
I see the imperfect shave (always in a rush).
I see the crow’s feet from the laughs and smiles - the fake people pleasing ones, and much more often the real, genuine ones ☺️
I see a man that with each passing year looks more like his father and grandfather at the same time.
I see the love given. I see the romantic comedy mishaps and unhappy endings. I see the lessons learned.
I see the love received. I see the gratitude for friends and family and the “lifetime” people.
I see the losses endured.
I see the healing. I see the reconciliations. I see the emotional depth. I see the serenity. I see the work it took to get there.
I see the genius artist (kidding). I do see the one with imposter syndrome though (always). I see the accomplishments. I see dreams and visions yet to be realized.
I see me…the best version yet.
I see a man with a lot more living to do.
This is 42.
#birthday #selflove #selfportrait
Lots of great energy flowing right now. My script has finally left the nest…
I submitted to the Page International Screenwriting Awards today 😬
The final title I landed on was, “After Dad, After All.”
Yep, it’s literary and a little poetic, but I’m owning it. The comps that kept me grounded were: This Is Where I Leave You, Wish I Was Here and This Is Us - family dramedy, coming of age story with some laughs.
This is the first of four competitions I’ll throw it into, but just feeling a big release today.
The story was born in 2013 as a way to purge feelings from my mom passing. It became a fictional family and world that has brought me comfort over these last 13 years. I’d be honored if it becomes something more, but I can also see this moment as a way of closing the chapter from where the story began.
It feels good to create. It also feels good to be done 😅 if I currently owe you photos, my sincere apologies; I’m finally coming out of the writer’s cave.
The song with this post is by Vance Joy and from an acoustic album was “the sound” of the story, for sure. Million things I could go on about. If anyone would like to read it, I can send it 👍🏾
#screenplay #screenwriting #gratitude
What a great weekend thanks to my photography life…
Friday: Got some portraits for my friend @truestoryword who I haven’t seen in years. He wanted some professional looks for LinkedIn, work, etc (don’t call it a headshot 😅) We had fun with it of course.
Saturday: Wonderful time at the artist collective and workshop event, Encuentro, hosted by @great_leap . Grateful to @picsbydela for the invitation professionally and personally 🙏🏾
Sunday: Last month, I photographed promo images for Room By the Sea, currently running at @outsideinthtr .
I actually followed through @jessessa ’s invite to come see the show and bring a friend. You know, enjoy it, and have fun and not just work 😅. Thank you for the tickets, Jessica!
Great show and fun times with @lalaleahmua . 🙌🏾 LA is also really small and of course there was some serendipity and a few other LA friends there ☺️
Very grateful for a fun weekend.
#losangeles #photographer #friends #goodtimes
Nice break from the routine last night…
Went to the @academymuseum Best Picture Producer’s Spotlight. Great panel featuring guests from all 10 nominees. I owed it to myself after watching them all this year, for sure.
First time inside the David Geffen Theater, and it didn’t disappoint. Got to see some artists I’ve appreciated and admired for a while…
Guillermo del Toro was in the house ✓
I’ve been a Jerry Bruckheimer fan for literally decades ✓
and I’ve become a fan of director Joesph Kosinski over the last few years ✓
Best $10 I’ve spent in a long time. Those 2 gallons of gas can wait 😅
#losangeles #academyawards #academymuseum
Join us at Outside In Theatre March 8th for a #SENSORYFRIENDLY PERFORMANCE of Room By The Sea, a new play by John Guerra!
Swipe ➡️ to learn more & grab your tickets at the link in our bio! ⤴️
📸 : @mallurypatrick & @hashimoto_images
#outsideintheater
#roombythesea
Gabs and Mal-Pal: The 2026 Reuinon…
What a blast to catch up with @gabbycelenza and have a fun LA day!
We started as wizards making a potion to turn a dragon back into a cat at Paniq Room in West Hollywood @paniqroomweho . We escaped with 4 minutes on the clock, and a ton of hints from the awesome Trey - seen here with the “cat” ☺️.
We followed it with pizza at Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock @casabiancapizzapie . Definitely add that place to the “good pizza in LA list.”
Even got a quick @danezo sighting while he was at work in Glendale. (I’ll delete the shot if he hates it ☺️)
Wednesdays are for fun with Tennessee friends, I guess ☺️ Just what I needed. Great timing, and glad Gabby reached out while they were in town for a minute. Cheers to nearly 20 years of friendship 🙌🏾
#LosAngeles #reunions #friends #fun #pizza
Always love a good Ben and Whitney hang!
This year, we hit the Academy Museum after a stop at Pann’s Diner. Second time I’ve gone and it had about 60% new and different exhibits, so that was awesome.
All the Cyberpunk, Barbie, storyboards and costumes you could ask for. (Ben outtake left in intentionally ☺️).
Always grateful to see these two 🫶🏾
#friends #reunion #losangeles #academymuseum #welovemovies
That’s B,
Born and raised in Harlem, she wanted to be a lawyer who eventually became a senator, but after graduating high school, she enlisted in the US Navy. She served for 8 years in total - 4 active duty, 4 in reserve. She was deployed to the Gulf War and served tours in Japan, Korea and more.
She eventually went back to study law, but in the year of her graduation, she was offered a job with Disney, in Consumer Products. She felt it was too good to pass up and went on to enjoy a 10+ year career with Disney, never following her law track after all.
Presently, B has been traveling, living, working between New York and Los Angeles. This bicoastal life has been brought on by losing her home in the Altadena fire last year.
The challenge of paying her old mortgage while working on both coasts, living in extended stay hotels, or with family, has been heavy, but she remains upbeat. She admits this challenge is avoidable but she refuses to settle for offers from developers that she knows are unfair and opportunistic.
Her home and land was valued at 1.5 million so she politely declines offers of $700,000. Good for her.
I usually have an inclusively forward theme with these shares, and B fits the usuals: what a great woman, Black woman, veteran… But overall, what a great human being. I told her of an upcoming opportunity I am pursuing and she gave nothing but encouragement and empowerment.
“You never know what life’s gonna hand you, right? But it’s always good.”
You’re right, B. Nice meeting you and God bless. 🙏🏾
#strangers #stories #losangeles #usnavy #veteran
