Tuesday, October 30, 2007

botanicals




new york botanical gardens. bronx, ny. october 2007.

love and health to all...

Friday, October 26, 2007

soggy dolly sods





the dolly sods wilderness area is in the monongahela national forest in west virginia. i spent the beginning of the week backpacking with my two dear friends, e-dubbles and nico atlas, in this beautiful area of america. we arrived monday evening to clear skies and 75 degree weather at night time that is. after visiting the ranger station the next morning the weather quickly turned and it rained for 48 hours straight, the temperature changed to just about freezing as well. the rivers had risen and what had been little stream crossings a day earlier had turned into raging rivers. after 48 hours wet and cold, we hiked out of the wild woods and back to civilization.

here are some photographs in chronological order. without rain, with rain, tenting it and stopping for a photo before a late breakfast of eggs, taters and flapjacks.

love and health to all...

Monday, October 22, 2007

a night in the life




last night was one of the more fascinating i've had in a long time. i had my camera with me and photographs captured many of the moments that took me by surprise and made me think.

the first interaction of the evening was with a wonderful young woman who was watering her flowers round 9 pm down near christopher street on the isle of manhattan. she was wearing a beautiful dress and watering her plants. hmm, i thought, i need to take a photo of her. thankfully i was with my trusty and very professional assistant, senorita shah ma (no relation to formal mughal emperor shah jahan), who remarked, "Ben, you got your camera with you." Ah yes yes, sometimes that is the reminder i need. I took some snaps and kept walking.

I reached my destination mintues later, a fiesta at the home of friend whose last name is partially shared with the home of the spiders of the world. The fiesta was catered by knives & fire. Chef in Control Ev Doggs, was in full effect and thoroughly blessing the masses with fine cuisine.

Coming home from the fete i came upon another remarkable image and moment in the world. On the corner of 14th and perhaps 8th avenue was a commerce bank, inside the atm area were three homeless fellas sleeping on the ground, sprawled out. As I was taking some photographs a young man approached, and stopped. He was trying to use the atm and i looked at him and he at me, "Wow," he said, "That's crazy."

"Yeah man," I remarked, "Times are tough." And it is true, when so much dough is used for warring and fussing and fighting, people suffer. It is more and more evident every day here in NYC that times are really tough and getting tougher for many. It's real and happening in front of our eyes...

Tomorrow I am heading down to West Virginia to spend a week or so walking in the woods with two of my dearest of friends. It should be filled with a lot of birds and leaves, wind and calm.

love and health to all...

Friday, October 19, 2007

senegal et mauritanie


near the border of Senegal and Mauritania. Spring 2004.

love and health to all...

Monday, October 15, 2007





love and health to all...

Monday, October 08, 2007

coiffure


St. Louis, Senegal. Spring 2004.

love and health to all...

Sunday, October 07, 2007

a front door but no...


...front wall.

Mexico, Autumn 2003.

love and health to all...

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

life is like a river...





I spent all day monday, kayaking with my dearest of friends- Sam, Susan and Yasmine. We were on the Hudson River for about five hours just above the GW Bridge and right below the Tappan Zee. The weather was wonderful and a little windy and we went over and played in the reeds west way. It was rejuvenating and the best thing I could think of doing on a monday.

Langston Hughes' 1922 poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" is one of my favorite of all time. I'd like to share it with you...

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow
of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went
down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn
all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

-Langston Hughes

love and health to all...

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

shaadi jewels and...





...gems.

here are some more selects from the shaadi in DC.

love and health to all...

Monday, October 01, 2007

a monsoon wedding in d.c.


I got four more cousins!! Yup, beautiful truth it is! My awesome cuz Emily got married to a beautiful man, an amazing pops and now, a newly christened Cousin! Peter and his kids- Sammy, Teddy and Joseph- are now part of the fams!

I got some great snaps from a curry blessed rehearsal dinner spread but wanted to share just one on this here Domingo eve.

Beautiful blessings forever to you two!

love and health to all...