Tony Farmer - Lee College Basketball

I worked on a story almost a year ago that never ran. It still probably won't, but who knows. Tony Farmer was a high school basketball star in Cleveland who beat up his girlfriend in an apartment building lobby. He was sentenced to 3 years in jail and became an internet meme when he fainted in court after being sentenced to three years in prison. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ku6vyVoqsA After his release, he made his way to Lee College, a junior college in Baytown, TX, to play basketball. In 2017, he declared for the NBA draft but went undrafted.

The Athletes of Emery/Weiner - Part II

Remember Part I? This is Part II!

Mike Davis - Head Basketball Coach at Texas Southern University for Houstonia Magazine

When I got this assignment, my initial thought was Mike Davis? Mike Davis who took over for Bobby Knight and was almost a national champion at Indiana Mike Davis? Mike Davis who was dangerously close to signing Boogie Cousins to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Mike Davis? Yep, that Mike Davis who has been quietly killing it in the SWAC winning the conference 3 of 4 years and leading the Tigers to the NCAA tournament in two of them. Cool, I get to meet Mike Davis and chop it up about Jared Jefferies and Tom Coverdale. But of course, that's not how it went. He was a super cool dude and amenable to all my ideas but he's a D-1 basketball coach trying to prepare his team for an all away game non-conference schedule. Ain't nobody got time for Starghill saying "hold the ball with your left hand and look to your right." Mike Davis has a team to coach. Big shout to Monica for coming through with the assignment!

The Athletes of Emery/Weiner

Last year I photographed a bunch of athletes at the Emery/Weiner school here in Houston. These smiling/game-faced teens are now on banners hanging outside of the school's new stadium. Home of most of the outdoor sports and the defending state champion 6-man football team. Big shout to the Jags!

Simone Biles for ESPN the Magazine and The Undefeated

The 2016 Olympics in Rio has been an incredible show of talent by many athletes but I'm partial to one in particular...for a couple of reasons. The first reason is, #HTown. And the second is I had the great opportunity to photograph the 3-time world champion and 5 time Olympic medalist (4 of them gold), Simone Biles. I spent 3 days in May photographing her along with an ESPN crew doing an E:60 piece about her family life and her rise in the world of gymnastics.

I'm sure you've heard it before or can glean some of her personality via television but the way she talks, you wouldn't know that she is the best gymnast in the world or perhaps the greatest of all time. She's just outchea doing her. All 4 feet 9 inches of her effortlessly completing some of the most difficult routines en route to multiple championships and medals.

Big shout, Simone! Congratulations on a remarkable run in Rio. Check out more images HERE!

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. 

2015 TCU Horned Frogs Football

A while back, 9 months to be exact, I took a trip up to The Carter to photograph a few Horned Frogs of TCU during a bye week. Pictures were taken, fun was had and almost everyone showed up. Looking at you, Josh Doctson. Big Shout to Trevone Boykin, Mike Tuaua, Derrick Kindred, Kolby Listenbee and Jaden Oberkrom.

Matt Manalo - Artist

I met Matt at some random networking event where he was trying to convince "investors" to "invest" in his product. I use quotes here because I was one of the "investors" and the money that I was to invest was in the form of a few tickets that had been given to me at the door upon entrance to the venue. While talking to Matt about his product, I learned that he was a real, live, breathing, I-do-this-or-a-living, artist.

I hit up Matt because I wanted to take his portrait and photograph him while he worked. It was pretty cool stuff. He even has a tiny assistant that demands payment in the form of milk. Big shout to Mr. Manalo and his son...it was a pleasure.