TaKasha Francis and Melvin Hopkins for Houstonia Magazine

A couple of months ago, I photographed TaKasha Francis and Melvin Hopkins for a story about Houston's Department of Neighborhoods for Houstonia Magazine. I met and photographed Francis at city hall where she runs things as the head of the department. I don't think I've ever actually stepped foot in the offices of city hall before the assignment but everyone was just so damn nice! Is it a function of the new administration (big shout Sylvester Turner)? Or is just how people usually get down in my city? 

Then I rode around with Hopkins on a hot summer day in his city issued white vehicle looking for property violations. Y'all better cut your grass and get those vehicles off the lawn...or else the Department of Neighborhoods is coming for you! Anyway, check out the article HERE. 

A Couple of Stories on Religion for The Atlantic

I had the opportunity to work on a couple of stories about religion here in Texas for The Atlantic. The first was a story about a group of cheerleaders in Kountze who successfully sued for the right to make and display posters and banners with bible scriptures on them. The second was about the Jewish community here in Houston in a neighborhood called Meyerland. I definitely knew of Meyerland but had no idea it was home to Houston's largest Jewish community. I'll let you read the articles here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/kountze-cheerleaders-free-speech-religion-banners-football/476892/

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/orthodox-judaism-millennials/476118/

Big shout to Emily and Emma from The Atlantic, Keke and Tonya for your time, the Traxlers for letting me wander around your store and Josh and Alicia for allowing me into your home during the Havdalah ceremony!

I met this guy at a car wash in Kountze. His name is Jeremy and he pulled up with a mouth full of gold blasting country music. He showed up to vacuum and wipe down his 1997 Buick. We chopped it up for a bit and then I had to meet the Moffetts at the courthouse. Big shout. 

The Place Upstairs for Houstonia Magazine

The PLACE Upstairs is an interesting little shop on the second floor of a building in Midtown. There are a bunch of vintage and quirky goods for sale including skulls, a casket, an incubator and early 20th century dolls. Even the shoot at The Place was interesting. I took this particular photo at 11:33p on a Wednesday night after talking with Laura and Mike (the owners pictured) and perusing the store while sipping a 16oz can of PBR. I took this photo just a couple hours prior. All in all, a good night for me with the camera. BIG SHOUT to Laura and Mike who opened their store on an off night and chopped it up with me for a few hours. You should ALL go check it out. You'll have a good time. Check out the write-up in Houstonia here.

Real Estate 2015 Issue for Houstonia Magazine

Last month I got to know Houston a little bit better as I drove around to photograph a bunch of different neighborhoods for Houstonia's 2015 Real Estate issue. Although there were 25 neighborhoods highlighted in the issue, I was only tasked with visiting five and finding something interesting in those places. I went to places I haven't yet explored and saw communities that I didn't even know existed. My list consisted of Montrose, Bay Oaks, the Energy Corridor, Cross Creek Ranch and Westview Terrace but you should probably pick up the magazine if you want to see the rest! Big shout to Chris Skiles for the assignment that gave me a reason to further explore the city.

100 Things Every Houstonian Must Do for Houstonia Magazine

A couple of months ago I was asked to embark on a mini project as part of a huge list of '100 Things Every Houstonian Must Do' for Houstonia Magazine. Sadly, of the list of five things that I was assigned to shoot, I had only completed two. A tumble down the hill at Hermann Park and a visit to an ice house? Check and check with both being completed before my age reached double digits. Thanks Dad! Traders Village? Nope. Texans tailgate? Nope. Western two-step dancing? Hell nope.

The process was incredible. Traders Village has a LOT of crap but it also has pretty much everything you could ever need. I became completely enthralled with the electronics and toy stores that sold every single video game system and action figure that I had growing up. I almost bought a Sega Genesis but that would involve me playing more video games than I already do. My Houston football allegiance does and will always belong to the Houston Oilers but my time roaming around the Blue Lot before a Texans game was a (blue) lot of fun to say the least. Every time I stopped to photograph an interesting looking set up, they fed me. And not just burgers and dogs, either. I'm talking stuffed jalapenos, filet mignon fajitas, bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp...you get the picture. The last stop was a trip to the SSQQ Dance Studio where the two step was one of the many dances being taught to a large crowd sectioned off in 4-5 different spaces. It looked like fun but luckily I didn't get pulled onto the hardwood to break it down.

Anyway, check out the rest of the list and marking things off. If it means you have to come to Houston...so be it! Shout out to Chris for the assignment!