So Long Vibe

© Vibe Magazine

So I just found out via www.whatsthejackanory that Vibe folded.
I always knew I would be on the right track when I was awarded an assignment with Vibe Magazine. So you can only imagine how upset I was to hear that Vibe Magazine had folded. June has not been great month for good news. Vibe magazine, in my opinion the only best to find the best of the best in terms of urban American imagery. It's my version of Italian Vogue. The best of the best photographers were shown in Vibe Magazine. Damn. Now what. I guess like everything else I will adjust and keep it moving. It would have been nice to work with them though. Time waits for no one. This past month has been alot of awakening.
Emily Shur, has a interesting post on her experience with Vibe Magazine. Check it out here

Speechless

I remember the"Bad" Tour was my first concert. I was in kindergarten and my parents bought me this black head band, that reaD "BAD" in that dripping font. I loved Michael Jackson and the next day my mother let me wear that headband to schoool. I said the pledge of allefgience thinking to myself. "I'm Bad"!

Right now all I am feeking is sadness. Its a crazy feeling, its like a chuck of the world is just gone. I was to a girlfriend last month about which celebrity we thought would make the world come to a screeching halt. We both agreed hands down Michael Jackson. Of course people have to pass on to their next lives, but why did this day come soo soon. So much talent. Right now, all I can think is how much this sucks and how crazy the media is about to get over this man. Wow. When I think he is going to come back and this is all just a dream. Its not a dream. Michael Jackson is gone.

I love this picture of Michael and Janet, becasue it reminds me of a picture I would take. I just love the color, and I loved seeing Michael and Janet together.

God Bless Michael Jackson and his family.
Its so important to live everyday the best. Make your dreams happen

Helen Levitt

The summer of my junior year in high school. I signed up for this photography class at Columbia College Chicago. It was apart of the high school summer institute program. For several weeks Columbia was filled with artsy high school kids from across the nation taking all sorts of fun classes. It was a lot of fun.
I cant remember my instructors name,but she introduced me to Helen's work.
I was big into street photography in high school, and children. My teacher thought I would enjoy her work. She was right!. Helen documented street life, but there were tons of kid pictures and each one of them were amazing.

Since that summer I have always been in love with the work of Helen Levitt. Her work was very raw, and exciting. Even though the images were simple and beautiful. There was always something going on. I wanted to be in her images. The kids in her pictures were always up to something. Each time I look at one of her pictures, it puts a smile on my face.

I learned from Helen's work. That you are suppose to have fun when you shoot and always



Helen was 95. So she had a long life. Its still sad though.

The blog of NPR has a nice piece about her, and an interview too. Check it out here
RIP Helen. You were the bees knees

The pictures above are some of my favorites from Helen

Thanks unknown photo teacher for telling me about her :)