Angels and Demons

    This past week I took the most emotional picture of my life. I have thought about it often since and it almost brings me to tears every time I look at it or think about it. I feel as it were meant to happen, as I was far from where I was originally supposed to be shooting. I feel a little nervous to share it with the public, but I feel it has a powerful message that needs to be shared.
    This past week my Las Vegas Document class was given the theme, "Las Vegas Up High". The outing was to go up the Stratosphere Tower and photograph from the vantage point. I struggled most of the preceding week figuring out how I would be able fit this shoot into my series. Ultimately I got permission to try a different location where I might be able to be a little closer to the people, but still see them from above. I headed down the strip and parked in the Treasure Island parking lot. I figured I could shoot down from the pedestrian bridges and get my shots. That plan failed pretty quickly. Firstly the bridges all had glass all the way until the end and made it nigh on impossible to take the pictures. The second, and best problem were the compelling people that I met. I quickly realized that there was no reason to break from what I was doing; I needed to continue my series. Little did I know I would take a picture that would mean so much to me. In the end I decided to call this weeks photos "Angels and Demon's", because I felt like I was walking among angels who have their own demons.

I met her on a bridge where she was holding this sign. I am not sure I have seen a sadder sight. She looked to be in her early 20's, but had taking a real beating from life, and apparently from her husband. The saddest part of all was that she was missing a large patch hair on the right side of her scalp. It appeared that she had been either badly burned or had some sort of traumatic injury. She was permanently scarred. I always carry some cash on me so I can offer help in exchange for a picture. I carefully asked if I could exchange money for a picture, knowing she would feel self conscious. She said she would rather not, so I asked if I could take a picture of her sign. She then turned and covered her face with her hood and said that it was OK. Though her face was covered the only thing showing in her reflection was that bare section of her scalp. Had she shown her face, I don't think I could have posted it, for her safety and dignity. As it is, I think this picture tells her story and breaks my heart every time I see it.

      Below are the rest of the pictures from last week. There are a few more stories in there, but I felt like this one was special and I wanted to show it first.

These guys were perfectly happy to ham it up for me.

He was almost asleep when I tried to take his picture, but he woke up. I explained told him he was sitting in perfect light and he was cool with me popping a picture.

He fell asleep while I was walking around, so I got the original shot I was looking for.

He said they got caught up in a Craig's list scam. They've been stuck in Vegas 6 months now. He said that he can't get a job. He told me that everybody thinks it's easy to get a job, but it's not in Vegas. He had a felony 14 years ago and it keeps him from getting a job now.

This is Galen. He makes roses and crosses out of palm leaves (see the cover image above) and sells them on the street. He used to make them out of corn husks when he was younger and then met a guy here in Vegas that did them out of palm leaves. They guy refused to show him how to do it, so he googled it. Galen also used to do photography and he showed my his webpage using my phone.

Colorish images from the Circus Circus area.

   

      This week I thought you might like my images in color for a change; well my version of color at least. I don't like to let an image stop at the point where it was shot. I like to create a mood with color, and texture, and shadow. For now let's call these the re-imagined images from Circus Circus week of my Las Vegas Document class.

 They were fixing this sign when I got there and were still fixing it when I left.

 He said he would have smiled for me, but he lost a lot of money.

 This is Stephen. We related to each other, because he always has to say Stephen with a "ph" and I have to say Stephens with a "ph". He was the only member of his family born in America and is from L.A.. He says if he ever gets mad enough he will just move back to England, because he is a dual citizen. He wants to get back to L.A.. It wasn't until after I noticed his clothes matched his story.

 She was very happy to let me take her picture in her business.

 I really liked the different reactions to them noticing I was taking their picture. 

Zenno Styles

    This is Zenno Styles. I was walking down Casino Center during this week's Las Vegas Document   walk when I spotted Zenno. I began discretely taking his picture as he was preparing to cross the street. He spotted me taking his picture, set down the large, full trash bag he was carrying, and what came next is something I will never forget.

    Zenno thanked me for taking his picture, which surprised me and then asked if he could share something with me. I figured it was fare to hear him out, after all he was letting me take his picture. First he pulled out some papers (which turned out to be someone else's wireless bill) and then rummaged through his pockets to find a pen.

    I figured he was going to try to sell me something, so I was surprised when he began to write. He began in the middle of the page and started writing. I looked for a pattern, but quickly realized that there was no pattern or reason to what he was writing. Zenno is mentally ill.

    Zenno wrote for the better part of 15 minutes or so. I honestly couldn't tell you how long it was. He seemed quite content to write his message as I circled around him taking pictures. I began to notice details about him. He had very interesting finger nails. They had various symbols in black and white polish, though I couldn't tell what all of them were. Her also had several bracelets. One had skulls, the other had the name "Miguel" spelled in beads. It seemed to have been homemade by someone.

     Zenno also wore a watch, which he would check obsessively as he wrote. It was if he were checking it for information.

 

 I was loathe to leave Zenno, as meeting him was a singular experience, but I had to move on to another subject that I had spotted walking past and would soon catch his bus. I would try to leave and Zenno kept saying he was almost finished. He finally tore out the pages he had written on and gave them to me. They are now prized possessions.

 Among the things Zenno wrote on the 3 pages he tore out were the phone number for the U.N., the address to the National Treasury, and the phrase "Peace Drinks Iced Tea", which what I decided to call the piece below.

      I will forever wonder exactly who Zenno Styles is and was. How did he end up where he is? Who was he before? Why does he have these things in his head and what are they supposed to mean? I have lost 2 Uncles to mental illness and I know people who currently suffer from it. I feel that Zenno's writings are a peek into the mind of mental illness, and I will always treasure the experience.

Love, Las Vegas Style

   This week I found a lot of people that love seemed to have abandoned, people who put a lot of love into what they do, and people showing love to complete strangers. I added a fair few shots to my street portrait series as well. I met some really interesting people last week, and I am excited to get to share. One thing I wanted to note: For each week's pictures I have used a unique texture, shot that day, in the processing of those pictures. Each week has it's own unique look.

I was so thrilled when this guy stopped to talk to me. Saw he was a character right away. He was very open and gave me this great pose.

He said that he is going to be famous soon. He just hasn't been discovered.

Spotted him sitting against the wall of a 7-Eleven. Not sure he understood why I wanted to take his picture.

"I'm a Dictionary Mechanic".

Love is blind.

I watched this scene through my lens and smiled. He nearly missed his bus twice while making sure she had her directions straight.

This super nice lady owns a little antique/western mall downtown. Never knew it existed until that day, but now it's one of my favorite places in Vegas. 272 East Colorado Avenue.

Co-owner of the Chuck Wagon food truck and future owner of one of the coolest restaurants in Vegas. It's being built in an old railroad bunk house. 272 East Colorado Avenue.

Remember, for every stuffed bear you give on Valentine's Day, there is one that is discarded and passed out on the street somewhere.

Split

Conspiracy

Stirrup

Lurking