Monthly Archives: February 2011

Javaka Steptoe

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While volunteering at the New York Public Library, I became interested in children’s literature. Almost every week I was reading a new book to a new child. Every child I worked with, was able to pick out a book of their interest for me to read to them.

It didn’t take long for my journal to be filled with children author’s, illustrators, and photographers. When the year was up and I started to work, I missed working with children and reading children books. To fill this void, I contacted all the artist that I could, offering my services for almost nothing but experience in return.

Javaka Steptoe, an African-American children’s book artist, replied to my email almost immediately. We begin working together.

A little after I began to work for him, his recent book, Jimi: Sounds like a Rainbow, (written by Gary Golio and Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe) was listed on The New York Times Best seller list.

Working with Steptoe gave me a better view of the “children book world” and has allowed me to meet legendary artist like himself. Some of them assumed that I was also an illustrator or at least an author. Well, not yet.

One of the most exciting  book events I’ve been to so far happen at the beginning of this month.

I was blessed to attend the 19th Annual African-American Children’s book fair held in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Community College of Philadelphia gymnasium.

As a little girl, I always enjoyed going to book fairs.  However, I never been to one as grand as this one.

For starters, there were a good amount of authors and illustrators there to meet the children: Javaka Steptoe, Sean Qualls, Bryan Collier, and Renee Watson just to name a few.

Imagine being in third grade and meeting the person who wrote your favorite book? I didn’t even imagine that when I was a third grader. There was also gifts for the children which I think the kids enjoyed the most.

I enjoy working with Steptoe and look forward to more projects in the future.

Pictured here is Me, the Orange, and Steptoe
(Steptoe left an apple, a banana, a pear, a orange and a bottle of water on the table during the fair….these hungry kids came by and asked for everything…I kept the water and Steptoe kept his orange.)

Chinese Store

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This little kid decided to put on a one man show while I was waiting for my order.

He kept walking and running up and down the counter smiling at me. Somehow every time I tried to photograph his face, he’ll quickly turn away while laughing.

That’s his mom in the background smiling.

Later on, I went back and gave them the pictures I took.

On the number 2 train

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I took this picture about two years ago. I remember it was the 25th of December.

I woke up early to take pictures. I ended up on the train with a huge family from Puerto Rico.

It was a while before I worked up the confidence to ask if I could photograph them. And when I did, I was glad. They were so kind and all of them wanted their picture taken.

We exchanged contact information before departing, however; the email that I got didn’t work so they never got their pictures.

This picture here was my favorite. This lady has so much beauty and soul. (Don’t ask me what I mean, look at/ read the photo and see for yourself.)

Mary Mitchell Kids playing

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The more I look at this picture, the more I remember that day.

These kids are playing a game called Cat Mouse.

When I first started working with them, they couldn’t wait to teach me the game and I couldn’t wait to learn.

Needless to say, I woke up the next morning, sore. I couldn’t play cat mouse again until next week.

Reading the Bible in the Midst of it All

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I am on the bus and looking out the window and this is the reflection I see in the window. The city I live in and a Bible. The man sitting in front of me on the bus is reading his Bible. You can’t really see him in the photo.

“The Word of God holds its own” – Bishop Goodwin

The quote above always come to mind when I see this picture. It seems to say, the world will continue to move and go in its crazy ways but the word of God will always be still and the same. As the picture, the Bible is there regardless if you choose to look at it or obey it.

Shrimp fried in Il Tratturello Olive Oil

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The other night my sister, Yunice, cooked for the family.

We had white rice, tossed salad and fried shrimp ( the orange drink is orange juice) and it was good.

Instead of using vegetable oil, she fried the shrimp in Il Tratturello Olio Extra Vergine d’Oliva. The oil was so rich that I could taste it (and still can); nevertheless, it was not overpowering or too much. It was just right.

Now,Il Tratturello Olio Extra Vergine d’Oliva is made in Larino, Molise.

According to Gustiaom.com Larino is a place in Italy not truly discovered… I am not sure what it means to live in a place that is undiscovered, but it sounds somewhat exciting! Something else that is exciting is each olive oil bottle is  very limited, approximately 3,600 litres. Each bottle is manually numbered and comes with a red wax seal. It’s like, no two bottles are alike.

By the way, the seal on my bottle is number 2, order yours from Gustiamo.com today for a true Italian olive oil experience.

Mary Mitchell

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Of all the pictures I took at Mary Mitchell, this is one of my favorites.

The kids were outside waiting to go on a trip to the park and I was walking around with my camera.

I saw the photo in my head first and then asked a few children if they could pose for me.

And they jumped into the frame and did everything so beautifully.

Raina

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This photo is a dark room photo revisited.

I met Raina while in high school. I think she was two grades below me but we became good friends.

When I needed a model, she sent me a message saying she would gladly do it. She asked me what clothing and accessories to bring.

In this photo, I am trying to capture a picture I saw from Kirk Franklin’s Hero album. One of the singers had on a dress and converse sneakers. I loved the way it looked. So I asked Raina to bring a similar outfit.

Everything I asked Raina to do, she did perfectly. Her hair style brought so much more to the photo.