My broken focus
Right now is the most beautiful morning i have known since being in Oakland,
Once the windows were opened and the warm air hit my face i couldn't be more happy with the end to a beautiful weekend that completely changed my outlook on my life here in the east bay.
Sadness got a hold of me recently and i thought that i would leave a lot sooner than later because i couldn't stomach the memories of the past that i have shared here....it was just too overwhelming but, luckily i am john coyne and i can put my pain aside go out and enjoy my life and see what it has to offer me, and so i did.
I did the art & soul festival Saturday and Sunday this year because i met a guy at the Latin stage that wanted me to work some shots for the performances. His name is Theo Williams and he is a really dope producer for Culture 360 a center for the arts.
In between sets on stage i would wander around the streets and vendors and see people i know ,meet people i don't ,pop off some hip shots and enjoy some deep fried Twinkies and BBQ. I had an amazing time and it re-vitalized my outlook on this beautiful place i live and it couldn't have come at a better time, cause i was loosing hope in Oakland.I wil post more about my perfect weekend soon but, for now i have hundreds of photos to look over so i can share them you all of you!
love life & godbless
-jjc
Change
Tonight i put aside my after work routine of eating healthy shit and spending 2+ hours at the gym tryin to get my fat self in shape. instead, i sat on my ugly ass couch and watched Barack speak to the world while suckin down a few pacifico's.
I am very happy to say that i voted for this man and i believe that he will be our next president and do amazing things for this country.
Although only time will tell how well he sticks to his word ,i have nothing but high hopes that he will make that difference and he will make that change.I kinda wished i went to the parkway theater to watch it with fellow supporters but,i didn't have the motivation tonight. It was pretty warm today and it kinda sucked out all of my energy otherwise i would have been there.
After watching him it reminded how important i am in this world and how short life can be.It is a very monumental time to be alive right now and as i watched the crowd in the mile high stadium i saw so many little kids on the shoulders of their fathers with their families and between them and Obama it made me cry.
I have always been so self-less and it's time to make a change in me and my world.Time to network and get my photography out to more than just the bay area , time to pull my dreams close to my heart and find out where i want to plant my feet or where i don't , time to get over my fears and insecurities and let people into my life instead of shying away from interaction.
I'm gonna take a nice long vacation soon so i can clear my head a bit and look inside to see if i can find out where to go now that my life's plans have changed.
Starting from scratch couldn't be anymore difficult but, i know that god has his strange ways and i have to respect that.
this image was taken this time last year on one of the most memorable trips of my life.
-the big island of Hawaii 07'
The struggle of just being us
"Just like vanilla sky, every passing moment is a chance to turn it all around...
I'm a gifted,caring,dedicated,dependable,positive human being and i have a lot to give when it comes to this world.
My unique persona will be appreciated and respected."
these are a few snaps that were taken in San Francisco within the past 2 years.
I think imma head out to Oakland's art & soul fest this weekend
won't be the same but i will make the best of it and i'll post images when i can.
Bam
I was excited to see Bambu of the native guns last night, he is an amazing performer and speaker.I was lucky enough to be there thanks to my good friend Zoneil Maharaj of oh dang magazine.
Unfortunately, being a good photographer and open minded avid supporter of all hip hop artists still leaves me quite unnoticed because of my skin color.
but, i will continue to shine as my lens leads me to great things irregardless of my ancestors.
Another day
If things could go the way we wanted them i suppose there would just be too much happiness in the world.
Every morning we get up hoping for a better day, hoping to bring loved ones back and hoping to make things the way they used to be.
We try to do whats right and pray for our dreams to come true.Sometimes it takes alot of mistakes and sadness to bring us to where we need to be..i myself am not someone who gives up too easily and although no good deed goes unpunished i still feel at times that my struggles are justified.
I believe in love and i believe as long as you continue doing what you love that same love will come back to you.
Joe Wigfall
Joe is someone who i just stumbled over and i think the world of his work. When i watched this video he made a statement that i have made so many times to myself about what we do as street photographers.
"i had to do this for me"
"yea i would love to be doing this full time but, right now thats not happening"
"get so frustrated i do nothing, that makes no sense and that doesn't encourage anybody else either"
"and it's not over yet"
this cats incredible!
Land on my feet
When i look through the small amount of photos that i have of my hometown alot of things go through my head.After being in Oakland for almost 3 years i have grown such a love for this place i don't quite know if i ever want to leave but, after recent devastating events in my life i just don't know what i want anymore.I hope and pray that things will get better and i would love to stay here a long time.I will finish my work obligations here in the hills, continue shooting and working to better myself and my work and see what happens within the next year. Time will be the only deciding factor in my future and i will do my best to make the right decisions from now on.
End of the day
Today was a 100% tiring and i'm finishing it off with some sleepytime tea and a photo from last sunday night when i was out wandering west oakland and ended up in jack london square. I must have walked about 30 blocks that night and still am not as tired as i am tonight.
It's funny how my personal life reflects my photography..sometimes you can actually tell whats going through my mind by looking at my work.I am currently working on vol .1 of caught in the scramble the book so, i'll be praying that people enjoy it and want to buy it!
I will post info when i'm closer to being finished
godbless & goodnight
-j
Happy couple
This image was taken almost 3 years ago when i first moved to the bay. My good friend Chris that i worked in San Diego with took me there with his roommate and girlfriend.
It was the first time i was in Berkeley and the first time i visited the Albany bulb, It is a very amazing place filled with secret hippie hideouts, abstract art,sculptures,graffiti and some of the most incredible views of the east bay and San Francisco.
I should be there today but, as luck would have it things never go the way i plan them.I probably won't ever be back there again but, once was good enough to document the summer of 06' and my journey though the Albany bulb.
Memory lane
There were times when i was disgusted with this ave. but, without it i wouldn't be who i am today.
Taken in early 07'
Hold your head up
The emotions i feel when i'm out wandering the streets is difficult to explain. Most of my work consists of abstract objects, cityscapes and architecture but, once and awhile i capture a few of the many souls that pass me by as i take a break from my hustles through the alleys and neighborhoods. Now i am not by any means a good portrait taker but, there are just moments in time that i witness from these strangers that have such an effect on me.
This past Saturday i spent more than 9 hours walking countless city blocks in San Francisco and capturing a record 2000+ images. I had to get away from Oakland for the weekend since i lost my heart there over a week ago. I definitely use my photography as a means of relieving pain or sadness or even stress.
These images are ones that made me think about the things that i truly dream of. Not the most incredible images from that day in my opinion but, it is more about how that moment in time effected me.
"I want a little me that i can buy Polaroids for"
Fat Border minus the fat laces
Tonight was an extremely painful night,one of which i never new was possible.
People are the most insensitive creatures on this planet.
