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About
The premise I have worked with for the last few
years has been documenting African Americans
who live in housing projects that either can't or
aren't trying to improve their situation. I aim to
focus on people and things that tend to be overlooked
and of no importance in the eyes of the
majority. While home for spring break, I
photographed my family. My background is "the
projects"; my parents still struggle with an aspect
of life created by them. This was a complex situation
and could be seen as controversial. I went to
great depths to accurately depict the complexity
and reality of my family's life. I understood I had
access to these usually inaccessible places and
I took advantage of it. This has been the reality
that I have been struggling with my whole life - the
reality of both my parents using crack cocaine.This was a photo-graphic documentary project,
but also has a personal component that brings
clarity to the misunderstood. I researched other
artists such as Gordon Parks, Eugene Richards
and Roy De Carava, who photographed close
to home - family, friends and aspects of African
American culture. These photographers went into
the ghettos / neighborhoods and captured moments
of the struggle and joy of these places. It's
from them that I receive my motivation, understanding
and inspiration to convey my message
and maintain the dignity of my chosen subject.
Follow me at: twitter.com/AFamilyPortrait
Website: www.rbimagesinc.com
Email: me@rbimagesinc.com
years has been documenting African Americans
who live in housing projects that either can't or
aren't trying to improve their situation. I aim to
focus on people and things that tend to be overlooked
and of no importance in the eyes of the
majority. While home for spring break, I
photographed my family. My background is "the
projects"; my parents still struggle with an aspect
of life created by them. This was a complex situation
and could be seen as controversial. I went to
great depths to accurately depict the complexity
and reality of my family's life. I understood I had
access to these usually inaccessible places and
I took advantage of it. This has been the reality
that I have been struggling with my whole life - the
reality of both my parents using crack cocaine.This was a photo-graphic documentary project,
but also has a personal component that brings
clarity to the misunderstood. I researched other
artists such as Gordon Parks, Eugene Richards
and Roy De Carava, who photographed close
to home - family, friends and aspects of African
American culture. These photographers went into
the ghettos / neighborhoods and captured moments
of the struggle and joy of these places. It's
from them that I receive my motivation, understanding
and inspiration to convey my message
and maintain the dignity of my chosen subject.
Follow me at: twitter.com/AFamilyPortrait
Website: www.rbimagesinc.com
Email: me@rbimagesinc.com