Cashman and Epstein

Last Friday I was sent to photograph general managers Theo Epstein, left, of the Boston Red Sox and Brian Cashman, right, of the New York Yankees at a press conference and a few minutes later during the Distinguished Lecturer Series at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. It was interesting...

But

all my questions are for Omar Minaya, New York Mets' general manager! This isn't Omar just a good true fan I met and joked around with at another photo gig.

LET'S GO METS!!!

DID IT GO IN?

Can't tell you, but Oh!... you should have been there... Great game! Don't worry this isn't a game winning shot, it was taken early in the game.

Behind Closed Doors

Behind every door lies a different story 

Each day a new page is written

Every year a chapter is added

Shirley (left), a very warm and loving woman, cooks soul food for her family every Sunday at her home in Paterson, NJ. She says, "I don't mind feeding anybody, anybody can come and eat." With that said and the way the food smelt I just may show up at her home next Thanksgiving. 

This past Sunday I was sent to photograph Shirley and her family. Her loving family was arriving and sharing laughs, but across the street behind a different door was a different story, a young girl was being physically abused by her grandmother's boyfriend. 

 

An emotionally strong and pregnant 16 year old girl said she was doing her sisters' hair when her grandmother's boyfriend grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the floor. He then struck her 12 times, twice in the face, and pulled a knife on her. She eventually got free and called 911. She says, "He (her grandmother's boyfriend) is always abusing me." She showed a cut and bruise on her arm and limped back to her house.

A January morning down the Shore

My first assignment this morning took me down the Shore to Long Branch, NJ. I arrived much earlier than I needed to so I went to the boardwalk to kill time. I took some pictures, put my feet in the sand, but it is January so I kept my feet out of the ocean. 

I saw this person jogging and it reminded me that this is where Christine, Danielle, Greg and I will be running in the relay Marathon on May 4th! I told one of the people I met that I would be back for the big race in May... can't wait!

Detective Ron Richards

Last week a job took me to the Aviators Sports and Rec Center at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn where I had the honor to photograph and shake the hand of a true American Hero, Detective Ron Richards of the NYPD Bomb Squad. 

The smoke cleared, the dust and debris was swept away, but many of those who were in the thickest of it all on 9/11 have died, will die or are left permanently injured. Those that pass on leave behind families and friends.  

On January 10th a 10 - 13 (assist police officer) was held for Detective Ron Richards and his family. Richards has been diagnosed with a rare blood cancer (Multiple Myleoma) with advanced kidney failure. All proceeds of the event went directly to his family to help combat his medical bills.

He hugged his mother

He cried with his wife

He is surrounded by family and friends

He has 4 daughters, ages infant to 7 years

He has cancer

He is an American Hero 

Higinio Paz Bravo turned 94 years young!!!

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS A MI TIO ABUELO!!! On Saturday, the day after his 94th birthday, he wore a 64 year old suit that he bought in Cuba when he was 30.

La Vida Larga

My great uncle just turned 94 years young on Friday! As I am looking back through some photos from where he was this time last year (this photo is of us on his 93rd birthday at Palisades Hospital in North Bergen, NJ) I am reminded of the invaluable life lessons that he taught me then and continues to teach me now. Last year this time was shortly after the beginning of a long and grueling 5 1/2 months stay in the hospital. The family tried to do as much as we could and as exhausted as we were, we were always left feeling we could have done more. However, in the end he proved to be the strongest. I try to ask myself how do I begin to speak about a person and how could I possible end to speak of someone who has lived their life for those around them the way he has. Even to this day he is still thinking of ways to better life for the common person. 

If you ever have the time 

I'll show you the pictures of him working in the nickel mines at the age of 5

I'll tell you how he saved my grandmother's life

I'll introduce you to him

Let him show you his charm

Let his smile make yours bigger 

Let him tell you his stories

But you better have time 

Once he starts he doesn't stop 

Feliz Cumpleanos a Mi Tio Abuelo!!!

My great uncle just turned 94 years young last Friday! On Saturday he put on a 64 year old suit he bought in Cuba when he was 30. Then we went to his niece's house for good food and even better company!

But before you go anywhere you have to have some cafe...

He tossed on his jacket...

We made a stop at the bodega below his apartment building to buy lottery tickets and see a good friend. He is known as abuelo to all...

He is sitting next to his niece, Maria, her boyfriend, Bob, and her son, Donald... my cousins and an important part of my beautiful family. 

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS A MI TIO ABUELO!!!

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS A MI TIO ABUELO!!! On Friday the phone would not stop ringing from friends and family! Oh... he was happy!!! It was his 94th Birthday!!! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS A MI TIO ABUELO!!!

I stopped by to celebrate and we ate picadillo and drank cafe. The picadillo was absolutely delicious which means we didn't cook it. I will admit he is a much better cook than me, but when we try and cook together... well we both agree we like the food, but we know it could be better... Hey, but the company is more important than the food! 

Little Dude Shoots and Scores!

I saw this little dude shooting around before the start of Nike Super Six Invitational opener, Paterson Catholic vs Mount Vernon, at Madison Square Garden and decided to go cheer him on. I took some pictures and offered words of encouragement. He took about 8 to 10 shots before the players came back out and every shot kept hitting the front of the rim. He just couldn't get it over and in.

Then, after the game, as I was on my way to transmit the photos I turned around and the little dude was back out there... HE SCORED!!! 

Suzanne

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and photograph a lovely lady by the name of Suzanne yesterday. Suzanne lost 173 lbs in a year and half! It was an absolute pleasure to converse and work with her. Posted is a horizontal and vertical from one of the few different setups we did.  

NJ MARATHON

It's official!... The money was paid and the package arrived! My 2 older sisters, Christine and Danielle, and my sister's fiance Greg are running with me in the NJ Marathon Relay on May 4, 2008. It is a benefit for children's charities and Global Hepatitis Awareness. 

-Christine is going to run the first 5 miles 

-I'll run the next 8.1 miles

-Greg is going to run the next 5.1 miles

-Danielle will finish the last 8 miles of the race