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The majority of my life, I have used poetry, photography, and prose as an outlet. My goal is always to capture something beautiful. When I share my photos and words, I share with you my vision. I could simply keep these things in my journals and scrapbooks, but many years ago, with some soul searching, I defined that my true passion was this: To share my vision of beauty with the world Of course, I…

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  • Fellowship (From A Testimony)
    We aren’t all shooting stars streaking across midnight skies. We can’t all be suns to our world. We aren’t all dancing streams of energy. Some of us are just candles in the dark, praying the wind won’t blow. I have a fragile spirit. It flickers and it sways. But makeContinue reading “Fellowship (From A Testimony)”
  • A History of Survival (From A Testimony)
    We are not new to hard times. We must not let the world tell us how our joy should look. Instead we must remember where we have found it time and time again, generation after generation. And, that we built it on our own, for ourselves, piece by piece. WeContinue reading “A History of Survival (From A Testimony)”
  • The Light of Awakening (From A Testimony)
    We do not always awaken into sunlight. Sometimes we awaken into darkness. Drowsy. Confused. Scared. Uncertain. Sometimes the light of our new day is delayed. And we must learn to see in the darkness. There can still be natural light in dark places. We can still read by fire light,Continue reading “The Light of Awakening (From A Testimony)”
  • On Writing “A Testimony of Grace”
    I can hardly believe it is finally time to release my project – “A Testimony of Grace”. This project first began as a collection of writing I thought would be called “Candles in the Dark”. Much of the writing from that time can be found in the chapter A LightContinue reading “On Writing “A Testimony of Grace””
  • Fireflies
    I have had an interesting relationship with editing. I like my art to feel pure, true, and in the moment. When I was younger, whatever I caught on the page in that one sitting was all I would get for that poem. I rarely made edits or changes once IContinue reading “Fireflies”
  • Play versus Performance
    The last year or so, I struggled with the concept of monetizing my writing and photography hobbies in a more direct way. It had been my original plan to share on social media and then use social media as a pull for sales of books, posters, prints, and more. AsContinue reading “Play versus Performance”
  • Accepting Sunsets
    Sunset should feel like an exhale. I have concluded that I have been chasing sunrise. And if have to be honest, I would say I have been avoiding sunsets. Instead of an exhale, it felt like I was always holding my breath. Sunsets felt like running out of time orContinue reading “Accepting Sunsets”
  • Why I Craft
    It is important to examine your “why”, to make sure you know it and your actions align to it. I have identified numerous “why’s” and think I may have come across another. I write to deepen my knowledge of self. I share in order to let that self be known.Continue reading “Why I Craft”
  • Winter Wonder
    I used to have difficulty finding things to photograph in the winter. The sprawling snow seemed too difficult to frame and every other scene seemed cold and colorless. I figured spring and fall would be my main seasons for capturing nature’s beauty. Recently, I have had a shift. I decidedContinue reading “Winter Wonder”
  • Exploring Testimony
    I have moved just slightly beyond contemplating memoir to working toward actually putting some things together. As I do, I am not quite sure it is standing as a true “memoir” anymore at all. I am not sure I can take moments from my history and write them out. IContinue reading “Exploring Testimony”
  • One Liners
    Sometimes one line is all it takes for me to get excited. So many of my writings came into being or focus with just one line to kick it off. Often this is the first line, but not always. As I continue this act, or better yet practice, of sharingContinue reading “One Liners”
  • Iteration
    I am trying to lean into the concept of iteration. As the new year begins, I am looking into my habits, my rituals, and my projects. Sometimes, I get caught in the planning phase – how exactly does my morning ritual need to flow, what are the details of myContinue reading “Iteration”
  • Pen Power
    Write the vision and make it plain… Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV I have been putting detailed plans to paper for quite some time now. Every year since at least undergrad, even every quarter now, to stay aligned. I have been journalling and making plans on paper longer, so long that sometimesContinue reading “Pen Power”
  • Passing Down Through Tradition
    Lately our culture has a lot of conversation on generational things – breaking generational curses, generational healing, generational wealth. I found my mind wandering into the last topic of generational wealth, wondering how someone of traditional means taps into this in a real way. Many often think of generational wealthContinue reading “Passing Down Through Tradition”
  • Refining Rituals
    Ritual, when coupled with beauty, makes for a very adequate mooring. Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies We are creatures of habit. I was first told this statement in a sixth grade science class. Since then, I have come to see its truth over and over again within myself. I goContinue reading “Refining Rituals”
  • Make Room
    Creating the life you want. We often have a laundry list of things we hope for in our lives and then all the grievances for them not manifesting. So, what is the gap that is holding us back? Perhaps examining what we’ve made room for in our lives will showContinue reading “Make Room”
  • Move On
    It is impossible to step into this world and to not be changed by it. As you experience different things, as you expand your awareness, as you awaken, you cannot return to the dream. This is what happens with coming of age – with the loss of innocence. As youContinue reading “Move On”
  • Shifting Seasons
    Ever since I have begun to slow down, look closely, and open my eyes to everyday beauty, I look forward to capturing the signs of shifting seasons. As with some of my photography categories, I began macro, looking for big landscapes to capture, but have fallen in love with theContinue reading “Shifting Seasons”
  • Contemplating Memoir
    Lately, I have been contemplating memoir. Simply because I was asked by a family member to help them write theirs. So, I am wondering, now that the idea has been put out there, what that could look like? I write, I tell stories. But how does one tell their ownContinue reading “Contemplating Memoir”
  • The First Break
    I wonder if the butterfly experienced the slightest bit of fear as it broke through its cocoon? Did it see this as the world breaking into its shell? Surely, if it knew the wonders to follow – the glorious flight awaiting it – the fear would shed without hesitation. But,Continue reading “The First Break”
  • A Walk in Jamaica
    I had the great pleasure of travelling to Jamaica and I was sure to bring my camera along. I was not there for a great period of time and did not go to a great deal of places – so images taken are not me capturing the spirit of JamaicaContinue reading “A Walk in Jamaica”
  • When Night Comes
    When my last day turns into my last hour, what will remain of me? When my last hour turns into my last breath, will there be anything left? What will I have made of all these years? What story will be told in those mourning tears? As the sun setsContinue reading “When Night Comes”
  • Capturing a City (Travel Photography)
    Many times when I travel, I now try to get a photo outing done, both as a way to relax and a way to explore. I admire artists who do street photography, and how one captures the natural flow of life in a town or city. I am not quiteContinue reading “Capturing a City (Travel Photography)”
  • Finding Gratitude Through Everyday Beauty
    Gratitude is a powerful tool. And although many people are championing it in certain spaces, I believe itis still strongly undervalued. To get the biggest bang for your buck in “gratitude”, it is required to be integrated into your life beyond the shallow concept of being grateful and to anContinue reading “Finding Gratitude Through Everyday Beauty”
  • On Writing “Chasing Sunrise”
    ‘Chasing Sunrise’ came quite naturally for me. I get up early and I get out early. With that said, I am often catching a sunrise. The first one I tried to catch on camera was in Myrtle Beach. With a new Fujifilm camera in hand and such a beautiful backdrop,Continue reading “On Writing “Chasing Sunrise””
  • The Power of Play
    Creation has become my playground I have been seeing a lot of content on the power of play. Many people do not typically think of adults requiring “play” time. But, for the same reason kids play, there is an argument, that adults should as well. I agree. This does notContinue reading “The Power of Play”
  • Photographing People
    Memorialization   My journey with a camera began well before my first casual photo outing in college. I may have even received my own point-and-shoot camera in middle school – because some of my first photo files go back that far. But, I know for sure by the time I wasContinue reading “Photographing People”
  • Not Always
    Every midnight turns to dawn if we just hold on. And there is no day in our lives where the sun won’t rise. All that goes away returns again some day. What is now, will not be always, all nights do turn to days. Every midnight turns to dawn ifContinue reading “Not Always”
  • Lincoln Street Art Park
    Capturing Beauty and Framing Specificity. I travelled to the Lincoln Street Art Park in Detroit as one of my first intentional photo outings with my Fujifilm camera. I had not seen the park when passing by or just stumbled across its existence. I was not going for a work eventContinue reading “Lincoln Street Art Park”
  • A New Home (Dearest Lover)
    If I had to select one of my favorite pieces from Dearest Lover, I feel it would be “A New Home”. I still remember the spark that came alive in me when the first line came into my mind – “I’ve been looking for a place to set my heartContinue reading “A New Home (Dearest Lover)”
  • Confronting Trauma (Prayers for Living)
    It is so difficult for me to pick a single favorite anything – song, show, food. I am a lot better at lists of favorites. But still, if there were one prayer from my project that I would like to be shared, I feel this one took form wonderfully. IContinue reading “Confronting Trauma (Prayers for Living)”
  • On Writing “Dearest Lover”
    I have long loved poetry. It is such a beautiful art form. I think the seed was always in me, and then was nurtured by a love for musical storytelling. Listening to music gave me my first introduction to love poems. The deep expression, the weight of emotion. It hadContinue reading “On Writing “Dearest Lover””
  • On Writing “Prayers for Living”
    The concept for the “Prayers for Living” writing collection came to me on a winter night. As my spirit came upon the idea, I decided it was something I could and should explore, so I allowed myself to step down this path. The tempo and temperature of the winter seasonContinue reading “On Writing “Prayers for Living””
  • Learning Fujifilm (X-T100)
    I was initially hesitant to move from my Nikon Coolpix point-and-shoot camera and upgrade to a more professional grade camera. The reason I decided to first invest in the Nikon was because I knew I wanted to take pictures. I knew I loved capturing images, but I also did notContinue reading “Learning Fujifilm (X-T100)”
  • Why I Share
    I write to deepen my knowledge of self. I share in order to let that self be known. I am looking to share more and more of my work. I cannot be sure many will see it, but this showcase will be here for whomever may find it. Whenever theyContinue reading “Why I Share”
  • Why I Write
    I write to deepen my knowledge of self. Writing first began for me with a poem that did not rhyme. I created a very long metaphor about life being like a mountain and all the ways climbing a mountain and living this life are parallel. It was simple, but itContinue reading “Why I Write”
  • New Year Habit Setting
    New Year’s Resolutions and Setting Habits Every year, as I head into December, I begin an introspective journey of reviewing the past year and getting myself aligned for the next year to come. Taking time for alignment can keep me grounded as I go through the year, and every quarterContinue reading “New Year Habit Setting”
  • Parade the Circle
    This was my first “event” with my Nikon. Every year in Cleveland, Ohio there is a Parade the Circle event in the heat of June, and it is literally a parade of artwork – like a joyous, living art exhibit. These are the images captured at this particular year’s ParadeContinue reading “Parade the Circle”
  • Meditation – Uncertainty
    The words I use in meditation come to me out of necessity. My second meditation came when I was dealing with uncertainty – wondering what would come and what would stay. These words came when I needed them and often give me strength. Through this meditation I am able toContinue reading “Meditation – Uncertainty”
  • Love Like…
    I want our love to be like a slow sunrise and for our spirits to stand, warmed in its expanding glow I want our love to be like endless sea and for us to be like distant shores connected by its every ebb and flow I want our love toContinue reading “Love Like…”
  • Botanical Garden
    My Nikon Coolpix served me very well. This particular photo outing was to the Cleveland Botanical Garden. I knew there would be beautiful scenes guaranteed, but wanted to see how well I could capture that beauty on purpose. I may or may not be afraid of all bugs and mostContinue reading “Botanical Garden”
  • Echoes in Darkness
    I was so close now, to coming into the light. For a while I was running, tirelessly, like all my demons were chasing me. I dared not stop, not until I realized these were only the echoes of my own footsteps in the dark. Funny what things can become whenContinue reading “Echoes in Darkness”
  • Meditation – Darkness
    I began meditating in college, not well, but consistently. Although I had no idea what I was doing and could not put into words why I needed to, it was one of my best decisions. My meditation practice is not currently as structured as it began, but it is aContinue reading “Meditation – Darkness”
  • Nikon
    When I decided to begin respecting photography as a true hobby, I made my first camera upgrade. I decided to get a Nikon Coolpix point-and-shoot camera. The idea was that this would give me some new technology, but not be too expensive as to make me feel like I neededContinue reading “Nikon”
  • Daughters of Eve
    Each daughter of Eve has taken on her own journey. Each finding her own vision of womanhood. Each blessed and cursed by what she found. As they grew, they came to realize a hard truth. There was an equal darkness for all the light they held within them. They learnedContinue reading “Daughters of Eve”
  • A Seat at My Mother’s Table
    There exists a place that holds the very soul of this family. It is our dance floor, our doctor’s office, our therapist’s couch, our court room. It holds every legend, tale, and story. It has seen births, deaths, and all that life has to offer in between. In honesty, itContinue reading “A Seat at My Mother’s Table”
  • My First Photo Outing
    Howard University. Spring 2016. I now take what I call “photo outings” on a regular basis. This is simply a time for me to slow down my pace and explore a space with my camera. I still remember my first photo outing. Howard University, Spring Break, 2016 During my seniorContinue reading “My First Photo Outing”
  • Welcome
    The majority of my life, I have used poetry, photography, and prose as an outlet. My goal is always to capture something beautiful. When I share my photos and words, I share with you my vision. I could simply keep these things in my journals and scrapbooks, but many yearsContinue reading “Welcome”

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