Many (including myself) waste unspeakable amounts of water everyday. We leave the water running in our houses for ungodly amounts of time, and we never take into consideration how much water is going to waste.  We only know that it will always be here when we need it. As soon as we place our grubby little paws on the knob to turn the faucet on, magic happens through the majesty of H2O. We never realize what an amazing luxury we have.  We also never realize the mind-boggling numbers of people that don’t have the luxury that we take for granted.

1 in 6 people don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water. Ok… Let me stop you before you burst into confetti from doing the math…. 1 billion+. Over 1,000,000,000 people drink water that’s engulfed with:

charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations [http://twitter.com/charitywater] You can help them. Visit chariywater.com for more info.

charity: water 2010 September Campaign: Clean Water for the Bayaka from charity: water on Vimeo.

Here’s a spec ad that I made for charity:water

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Children make the best models simply because they always so uninhibited.  I truly believe I could have asked them to kill a Yeti, using nothing but a ball of yarn and a Tickle Me Elmo and they would have done it without hesitation. Here are some of my favorite shots from shoot.

(This is my favorite, for various and obvious reason)

I know you’re probably sitting in your comfy office chair twisting from side to side saying to yourself “Silly photographer, all kids aren’t the same.“ I know this.  Leave a comment, tell me about your experience … come on don’t be shy!

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From playgrounds to Corporate America, girls and women alike have been entranced, and damn near sent on a rampaged by the 2008 Anthem “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”.   Surprisingly, the song hasn’t died yet. Whenever the song is played, pandemonium strikes Clubs, Super Markets, Pastor and First Lady Appreciation services, Big Mama’s repast dinner, Pearl Harbor memorial services, etc… simply put where ever the song is heard you are guaranteed to see women and gay guys others  break out their best bedazzled onesies leotard, and become Beyoncé drones. The irony of it all… the woman belting the everlasting singles’ tune is MARRIED!… She’s married to one of the biggest hip-hop entertainers to ever live.  I was baffled by this enigma (Thanks Duval County Public School system vocabulary!) so I went all Michael McDonald and ish and took it to the streets. I asked single women around the city… Why are you single?… and these are  the top ten responses:

10. Looking for an ideal person

9. Time

8. Too Picky

7. They just want to be single.

6. Afraid of Cheaters

5. Low self-esteem

4. S#@% … High standards (<- verbatim)

3. God is making me a man, so I’m waiting on him

2. Some people just aren’t worthy of me

1. Cause we B!@#$%* (<- also, verbatim)

After receiving my answers, I realize that many of the women I spoke to… probably weren’t very lovable. So here’s where you come in… why do you think women are single? Leave a comment, share the post… DO SOMETHING!!!

I too remember when I found out I wasn’t a Single Lady… Rough Times smh

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At the time I was struggling to pay my bills on time. I didn’t have time to think about buying a reflector.  So Iwould take a rinky-dink manila folder, or a folding display board and cover it in heavy-duty aluminum foil.  Ghetto I know… but IT GOT THE JOB DONE!  The foil gave me just enough fill light on my subject, to take a great shot.

Of course I’ve grown since then, I moved on to using a Car windshield shade as a reflector. (lol, yes I eventually bought the real deal, if you’re wondering)  They’re only like 10 bucks, and they’re amazing to work with.

The guys over at DIY photography have post that shows you how to make a stand for your inexpensive reflector. It’s Awesome, I definitely give it two thumbs up.

This was my setup for my last shoot : Alien Bee Strobe, Reflector, Stool, and a wall (I didn’t take a picture of that)

And here are some of my results

What are some of the ways you’ve improvised to create some great shots? Leave a comment below.

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