Columbia Heights Village 2015 Holiday Party

My My My...

One image from my recent shoot with retired homicide detective Lieutenant Joe Kenda, star of Investigation Discovery's show "Homicide Hunter" as it appears on Discovery Channel Store's ID website.

Lt. Joe Kenda and Spike Lee

When will you ever see these two names in the same sentence? Within a 48 hour period last week I had the opportunity to work with both of them.

First, it was Joe. I was the still photographer while he was shooting a series of promos for his show "Homicide Hunter" on Investigation Discovery Network. I am a fan of the show, by the way, and throughout the day we had a few conversations about his experience as a homicide detective and how he became the star of one of the highest rated programs on ID. He is very open, natural, engaging and funny and shared some great stories. During a break, while crew was shooting B-roll, I asked him if he wouldn't mind posing for me personally.

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Two days later, I had a 6:30am call time (ouch!) as on set photographer at a television studio near Capitol Hill, where film director Spike Lee discussed his upcoming film, "Chi-Raq" and diversity in Hollywood with TV One's News One Now host and managing editor Roland S. Martin. Post interview, we had a fun Brooklyn/Bronx moment where Spike crossed his forearms and bellowed "BX in the house"! Very cool.

Halloween in Columbia Heights

I am really fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph a wide range of assignments and people, including some of the highest ranking figures in politics, government and entertainment. While I am incredibly thankful and appreciative of those great opportunities and the access, the assignments that I get most personal satisfaction from are shooting portraits of people who do not have such lofty positions in our society; like those struggling with poverty, homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse and released convicted felons struggling to acclimate back into the mainstream.

Last weekend, I was asked to shoot a Halloween Party at Columbia Heights Village Apartments in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington, D.C. This is a subsidized housing development, with the majority of its residents receiving some form of financial assistance from government. Like so many American cities, the pace of gentrification is rapid in D.C.  and many low income citizens are being displaced. This gallery shows some of the faces of the city who are not lobbyists, elected or appointed officials, entrepreneurs, real estate developers or attorneys. These are a few faces of those who are so often overlooked and ignored.

Natalia

I typically do not shoot senior portraits, but Natalia's mother, a colleague of mine, was quite persuasive over many weeks so I agreed. I am glad I did. With her Mom as my assistant, Natalia was a delight to shoot. 17 years old and preparing for college, she is smart, polite, funny and creative--she brought her 35mm film camera to the shoot loaded with Kodak T-MAX. This photo, taken in Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. was her mother's idea who suggested Natalia climb up a tree in her dress and Doc Martens boots. 

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La Taberna Del Alabardero

New Fall menu dishes created by Executive Chef Javier Romero for this historic and award winning restaurant featuring authentic Spanish cuisine.

Comunicad, LLC

Comunicad, LLC is a "full-service, cross-cultural public relations and marketing communications agency" Here are portraits of the team recently taken in their Arlington, Virginia office.