The Past Few Days...

A few days ago I officially started moving things into storage. My buddy is letting me store my things in his place while I'm on the road so I came today to bring a load of things. I've come to realize I'm a minimalist. If it wasn't for my bed I could load everything I own in my car. How crazy is that? I'm 28 and the only things I care about are my dog, my camera equipment, and my computer. Throw in some clothes and I'm good to go. I'm simple, I don't need all those extra things like a new car, new clothes all the time, collecting things I don't use. Well one more trip and I'll be officially moved and hitting the road. 

My camera also has started to slowly give out. My shutter is messing up, and 2 or 3 pictures out of every 10 or so turn out messed up due to the shutter moving too slow and being caught in the process of taking the picture leaving a black mark normally at the bottom of the photo. Great, just what I need. A money issue already, and I absolutely need my camera. It's the tool I use to pay bills, to feed myself and my dog, and it's what I use for my own entertainment. So, there's an expense I wasn't expecting and certainly affects my financial situation but it's something I have to do. I need it, so I might as well pull the trigger. BOOM!

Cue Troy Tomlinson from Flaming Chicken Studio in Charlotte, NC. He told me he had a replacement camera for me for a good price and it worked out because I had to be in Charlotte a few days later for a photo shoot (and I was going to need a camera for it). So I went by his studio and picked up the camera and headed to my photo shoot which was just over the border in South Carolina. I went through the entire shoot just fine and was bragging on the camera (how good of shape it was) when all of a sudden...something broke inside. I did nothing, but something definitely broke inside. But what was it?

I took the lens off and inspected, and it was the mirror. The mirror just completely came loose in it, and fell out. Now I have one camera that isn't working properly, and one that isn't working at all. While I was calling Troy to tell him what happened I was going over it in my head and it sounded like I just don't know how to use a camera, since 2 cameras had relatively the same issue, but nope. It wasn't me. He told me to bring the camera back to him, he'll refund my money and he'll send it off to get it fixed since it's still under warranty. 

I left him with the camera and went to have lunch with my friend Danielle at this great Ethiopian place called Red Sea in Charlotte. We went to walk in and noticed it didn't open til 4 (it was currently 1 something). The owner saw us and came and let us in and cooked for us. He opened exclusively for us almost 3 hours ahead of time. The nicest guy and the food was great. (Again, go to the Red Sea in Charlotte!) While we were eating, Troy texted me and told me he had a loaner camera for me until then, so after lunch I went back by the studio to pick it up. I met an interesting guy that there is the camera man for a Discovery Channel show and learned a few things about the business just because I'm inquisitive with everyone I meet. Hey, I like knowing about people/things! 

Last night I had my going away party here in Greensboro. I had dinners and drinks with some really good people and I'm glad I got to see them before I left. Some of them were surprises. Others that didn't show up, well, I don't hold it against them. Things happen. I'll see them again in this life or the next. I'm just glad I do have some friends that are willing to see me off before I start this next chapter of my life. I mean I could just be on the road for a month and decide to come back home. Who knows? This is exactly what the trip and experience started out being about. 

Also, at the urge of a few friends, they convinced me to start a Go Fund Me page for anyone interested in supporting me on this venture as I won't be working on the road and completely coming out of pocket. I've created a few incentives for anyone interested, so that way I'm not just taking your money. I don't want you to think I'm begging, I'm just asking if you want to help. That's all. Please read the page and find out more about the idea. Thanks for reading!

Click Here For Go Fund Me!

Bad news

Someone once told me "Its not an adventure until something goes wrong." Well something went wrong.

My camera started acting up 2 days ago during a boudoir shoot with a bride I'm doing a wedding for. I thought it might've been in my settings but I realized today my shutter might be dying. Its an older body so it makes sense, but very bad timing! I leave in 7 days, what do I do?

Do I send it to Canon to get it fixed? I haven't been quoted a price yet but I know it'd take a minimum of a week and a half. I'll be up north by then, no one local can fix it. I've listed it for sale and hopefully someone is going to get it. It doesn't need an immediate fix but itll need something at some point soon and I can't afford that time.

Now: what do I do about a camera in the mean time? In my asking of friends about places to fix this, someone mentioned having a camera they can sell me. They're in Charlotte and fortunately I'll be there Saturday because I have a photo shoot there that day. Very fortunate. He absolutely helped me out although I wasn't expecting this expense. This sets me back a little bit for expenses on my road trips because as of now I won't be working on the road. So my money will dwindle fairly quickly.

So because of those thoughts, I've been thinking about what is after my trips ? When do I stop? Do I have an exit strategy? And where do I want to be? How do I expect to make money once the little bit I have saved runs out?

All of those thoughts run in and out of my mind. I won't let it stop me. Too many people are dying now a days and I don't want to die knowing I just sat around and did nothing. That I didn't explore this world, that I didn't meet as many people as possible and laugh as often as I could. I can't let that happen. I'm not saying if you don't live like this you're wrong, but I don't envy the 9-5. I envy the consistent money and I love the idea of stability but once I get a taste of it I become claustrophobic.

I hope my trip is more fruitful than its starting out to be, I don't want to be bitter before it begins. I want to be as optimistic as a kid and see things happen that are completely out of my comfort zone.

I won't let today beat me up.

The man Boone

This is the guy in Boone I bought the necklace off of. He doesn't consider himself homeless, just a traveler. Someone looking to explore without the restraints that society puts on people. He doesn't come from money, and he isn't a beggar by trade, so instead he makes necklaces out of hemp and jewels and makes some pretty cool designs and sells them so people feel like theyre getting something out of them.

He's originally from Colorado, and has his massage therapy license. That's what his trade is, but that's not what defines him. He told me of some places to visit, where I can 'fly [my] flag' (put up signs asking for help) and where I can't, he told me of his ups and downs and where he's been. I asked him where he's going next, and he doesn't know, he's just gonna go when and where it presents itself.

I asked him what his most expensive piece was, and I thought it was going to be the one with the biggest piece in it, but I was wrong. He showed me the one that was $20 (and that he would really prefer to only take $20 for it, as opposed to the others he'd haggle on - who haggles with someone needing money?) and so I bought that piece off of him. It's going to be my reminder that I can do it too, if necessary. I can make these travels work for me. I'm going out on the road with a few dollars in my pocket, and that if he can do it - so can I. I'm going to wear this as much as possible (it's hemp so really I could really wear it all the time - even in the shower).

I hope my trips inspire other people, like this guy inspired me. Laugh or question me if you want, but it's ok. This is my adventure. You live how you have to.

Pictures from Boone

Here are a few pictures from Boone that I've taken awhile to post. What a beautiful town and wonderful experience. I have a few more pictures to post from there but these are the ones I've looked through so far. In less than 2 weeks I leave for the north east and although I didn't see myself going that way at first, I'm very excited!

The 'Why'

A lot of people keep asking me the same question over and over: Why? Its a pretty simple question and I should be able to answer it but for the longest time I couldn't. I just said 'Why not?', and although that's a perfectly acceptable reason in my mind I felt compelled to really figure out why.

For the longest time I've had this feeling inside of me, this yearning to just go somewhere. To meet these people I haven't met before and see these things I haven't even thought of yet. I'm scared, yes, definitely but that's good. I don't want the mundane/boring or anything resembling what every day life tends to be for most people.  Day in and day out, rinse lather and repeat.

My best friend said he couldn't do this. He said he'd be afraid he'd be killed, and he's a much larger and scarier looking guy than me. Irrational fear? I don't know. That's his fear, who am I to call it irrational? Hell, I'm terrified of butterflies so I can't say anything. The point is, why be afraid of what you can't control? Or even if you can, why worry? I would rather die by someone out on the road than of heart disease from eating one too many Cook Out treys in front of the TV. At least my life would be something to talk about.

I'm lying here in bed as I write this. Music playing and windows open so I have the sound of beautiful music and the sound of nature going on right outside my window and all I can think of is how much I want to be on the road right now. Its not that simple. I don't necessarily want to be on the road, I want to be meeting people but I can't do that at 3am just anywhere. Maybe NYC but certainly not just anywhere.  Actually in most places I can't.

I've got 4 boxes packed. Just 4. And I have less than 2 weeks left in my house. I'm such a procrastinator. I will be dropping my stuff at my best friends' in Winston-Salem and then almost immediately hitting the road for the north east. When I get back I'll he hitting the road almost immediately (again) and going to Virginia &  West Virginia to explore some mountains and the mountain folk. Maybe meet some Uncle Dads or Aunt Moms. Or are those Mormons? I kid, I kid. I think I just offended a lot of people with that one. My apologies.

With that said, I'm going to try and sleep. I have a bridal shoot in the afternoon I need to get prepped for. I hope I didn't drink coffee too late last night....

Boone, NC

At 530 this morning I had just got back from watching the moon over Boone out on a cliff in the middle of the blue ridge parkway with nobody around but a nice breeze.

I stayed up there for about 2 hours with my friend Emillee as she showed me the beautiful landscape. We talked about everything and nothing. We heard noises, we made confessions, we laughed, one of us cried, and I took a few pictures.  It was a surreal experience.

This is essentially the first (unofficial) stop on my road trip. Although I haven't began to move, this is my 2nd day here and I'm loving it. I leave in 2 weeks , and I just got a call from my friend Greg Haskell (great tattoo artist) and said he wanted to link up with me on the road. So, if everything works out, I'll be joining him on his trip up North East, up the east coast. 

He told me him and his partner have something to do up north and asked if I wanted to join.  So we're going to meet up around the West Virginia area and me and my dog will be joining them and hitting the road. Lots and lots of pictures, laughs, and memories going down on this trip.

Today I met and got to talking to a homeless man selling necklaces instead of asking for money. I bought his most expensive piece (only $20) just so he could definitely have money for the day. 

He allowed me to take his professional portrait for my project and we talked for half an hour about how to travel and where to travel. Inspiration is everywhere, if you just step outside of your comfort zone. 

I'm grateful today.

Friends

Since I've announced my departure from the state (NC) many friends (those I haven't seen in a while and some I haven't met, online only) have been wanting to hangout. More and more of them. Its kind of a weird feeling. On one hand I really appreciate any time someone wants to hangout with me, because if you think about it its a pretty remarkable thing. Someone wants to put themselves into your life for a brief period of time just for a few moments in order to create (hopefully) memories.

Unfortunately I have less and less time to do so because there's a lot to do. I'm still trying to get work in order to save as much as I can, I still have to finish work that I owe, I still have work lined up to prepare for, I have to pack and make arrangements, I have to see family and then I have to see the friends that I can. I really wish I could see and spend time with everyone but i know its impossible. And a lot of them want me to come to them and unfortunately its just not financially possible. That money will be going to spending time on the road, and its probably not something they can understand but its the truth.

There have been some people I've been able to make time for and I'm grateful for being able to. One of them is someone I haven't actually hung out with too many times but we get along great and admire each others work. I'd venture to say I'm definitely more of a fan of his than him of mine, but I'm OK with that. His name is Jeff Howlett and some of you reading may know him, but for those that don't you should Google him. Or allow me to brag on him on him in his absence. He directed and produced a beautiful and inspiring documentary that you can currently find on Netflix called A Band Called Death. Now I'm not defining him by this one film, but its very popular and great reviews.

He's an amazingly nice guy. Down to earth, humble, generous. He invited me to Rock Hill, SC where he lives to do an old school wet plate portrait of me. When I came down, we (him and his gf and myself) went out to dinner, and on top of that gave me a few pieces of photography equipment to take on the road. Regardless of the cost to him or of what he gave me, he still gave it. He also extended an invitation to crash at his house whenever I'm passing through town.  See? Generous.

This from a person I've only hung out with a few times. It doesn't matter the amount of time you are with someone , it matters the quality of time you are with someone. I don't just mean Jeff, I mean with anyone. Make time count, dont take it for granted. Make friends with everyone and never ignore an invitation for conversation. Get to know the next person that stands next to you waiting for the bus, or someone outside smoking a cigarette, or the server at the restaurant you're at. They could be the most interesting person you know. Or they could be total shit heads, but you never know until you say hello.

This post is dedicated to Jeff Howlett. Thanks for being a friend, and for being so gracious. I do appreciate it amigo.

Salut!

2 1/2 Weeks

I leave at the end of the month. It sounds like a decent amount of time but half the month is over, and I'm left with just 18 days.

That's 18 days to see the friends I've accumulated in North Carolina in the last 7-8 years. How does one do that?  Quickly, I suppose, and in between that time I have to still try and get as much work as possible to save more money up because I won't be working on the road (maybe I'll find some, I'm hopeful), I have to edit remaining sessions that I've already done (and will do), and I have to pack. Fortunately I'm not a fan of collecting things and what I need to store I can put in my friends houses for awhile and the rest I'm putting in my car and hitting the road.

People keep asking me if I'm scared or excited. Yes. My emotions are running a gambit. Why wouldn't they? I'm taking a 15 year old car with 200,000 miles that I've had what seems like forever, and hitting the road with no destination with just me and my dog and I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm looking for. I want to meet people.  I want to get to know a little bit of everyone I meet on the road, and off the road too. I want to stay with strangers. I want to try foods I've never tried. I want to meet their family. I want to do things I've never done before. I want to laugh in ways I've never laughed. I want people that have never met me to call me a friend after I leave. I want so many things.

I've decided to continue what I started last year. I started a thing called The Happiness Project and it was a brief interjection of myself into random peoples lives and how they lived and where they lived and what made them happy. I made the mistake last year of doing video work with it, and I'm not a video guy. I don't know a lot about how to light, compose, shoot and edit video. I'm a photographer, and I know how to do that. So I'm going to take pictures of people in America and learn a little bit about them along the way.

I have 18 days, and I'm so anxious but this is my journey and its coming...