Acapulco was an interesting experience for me. I became a Mexican citizen in September and felt incredibly compelled to help document the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Otis. Part of me wanted to make my grandfather proud. Part of me wanted to pay a debt to a country that I never lived in but that has somehow been so good to me and a large inspiration for who I have become as an adult. I was shooting a project in Leon for my dear friend @goodpeoples & her company @protocollective when I heard news of Hurricane Otis and I am thankful that she gave me some time to pause our project so that I could do my part to tell the story of what happened in Acapulco.
Acapulco was destroyed in more ways than one. Peoples’ homes were flattened and their lives were scattered across various parts of the city. The citizens went days without food as well as power, water, or cell service - all vital utilities to a city as large as Acapulco. I cannot begin to describe the details of what I saw or the stories I was told other than to say that despite all of the sadness and destruction, I witnessed the best in people across all walks of life. I received so much love and care from the people I was supposed to love and care for. I along with my colleagues at @wckitchen donated tons of Maseca to tortillarias, handed out thousands of bottles of water and thousands of meals per day only to be hugged and fed by the same people as a show of respect and gratitude. I had some small cries along the way and suspect a solid big cry is not far. I also had some giant laughs and met some amazing people.
Acapulco I love you.
I shot these images for Proto Collective on location at the Cimermex factory in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
I was asked to shoot the people who cut, stitched, and assembled Proto's new shoe, the AALF-Y.
Shooting this project was a dream come true for me. I love Mexico and the thought that I'd get to immerse myself in the culture while shooting a project I believe in was a win-win.
To see more of Proto’s line and the final version of the AALF-Y visit: Proto Collective
Photographing the unhoused is an important thing to me. I spent many of my early days as a photographer taking pictures of people who live on the streets. In doing so I got to hear many stories about how one ends up unhoused in LA. Much of what I heard goes against the commonly cited idea that these people are “lazy” or would rather “do drugs and get welfare than work.” On the contrary a number of folks that I have photographed work low wage jobs around the city or found drug use to be their only reprieve from the trauma of life on the streets, a coping mechanism. Some of the kindest and gentlest people I have ever photographed live unhoused. Each of these people has a story, is someone’s child, and is not too different from you or I.
I’ve spent a lot of time in boxing gyms and have met some of the best people I know in those spaces. There is something about boxing that is very democratic, rich or poor, nothing outside that ring matters once the bell rings. I once watched a member of the Foo Fighters get his ass whooped by some cholo from East LA who had no idea that he just beat the shit out of a millionaire in an amateur boxing match. I love boxing and boxing gyms for that reason. Who we are outside the ring means nothing inside the ring.
I have wanted to shoot Ronald Cruz for years. We met in the cafe that I once owned and I’ve followed his career since then. Ronald is a class act. A tough as nails fighter. I have nothing but respect and admiration for this man.
I shot these images as part of a video documentary project at HOMEGIRL CAFE in Los Angeles.
I have spent most of the pandemic on the ground running with the Feed Hope team documenting them as they cook, plate, and deliver thousands of free meals per day to families in need all across Los Angeles. I have watched members of this team survive covid, street violence, drug and alcohol relapses, and still come in with a mission focused mindset to cook for people in need. This project is near and dear to my heart and has been featured in Forbes, EaterLA, and the LA Weekly.