A month in Tulum, Mexico as a photographer
In June of 2021, I got the opportunity to spend close to a month in Tulum, Mexico as a creative director for a travel agency. The whole concept of the trip was very new to me and nothing like I expected. I spent my entire trip living at a luxurious retreat in the jungle called Jungle Keva Tulum. Here, my team was treated with three privately cooked meals a day, an infinity pool, “treehouse” lofts, etc...
My primary role was being a creative director and lead photographer. I got to meet many new people and create new concepts, photos, and relationships with them. I remember every guest wanting something different, and every day was a new adventure for both sides of the lens. Tulum is a rich cultural and visual location with limitless creative possibilities, which I took advantage of for my art. I believe I shot somewhere between twenty to thirty thousand photos during my three-week adventure.
Im not much of a writer, or blogger, and let my images express the moments that I capture. so I am going to keep this post short of writing, and rich in photography. Before I go, I would like to mention how blessed I am to have gotten this experience, and how many new friends I made. This trip not only helped me develop in my career technically, but helped me develop new social skills and gain confidence in my own abilities.
I hosted my first open studio event!
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been putting together a networking event for local Detroit photographers and models. My goal was to bring together a group of creators and shoot some dope content. While planning, I got the opportunity to collaborate with Detroit designer Williampalmerhommé for the event! I booked an amazing open studio in Detroits Russel Industrial Center on the Peerspace app (an amazing app for any kind of space bookings) and turned out to be even better than the pictures I had seen beforehand.
I am planning on doing more events and workshops soon to connect more people within my community. Photography is an amazing source to meet new people, let alone new friends. I love the creative industry and am blessed to be able to host events for a purpose I find inspiring.
Downtown LA's tent city: the dramatic growth of homelessness
A sure cultural shock is awaiting to hit any who wanders through Downtown LA and its ongoing homeless problem. Blocks after blocks are engulfed in tents. I was in shock when I witnessed mailboxes outside tents, fire hydrants used as water sources, and the overall ecosystem developed by a homeless population with little way out. Police moderation has withered as the threat of covid-19 and recent ongoing protests have continued to increase the city’s homelessness. Party’s, restaurants, and nightclubs can all be found on rooftops, as the wealthy individuals distance themselves from the reality of the streets. You can find tents posted outside some of the most expensive penthouses in the city. This mixture of individuals left me in awe, an entire world has been built within this city. New developments continue as the city progresses toward long-overdue reparations.
Travel after Covid-19: opinion from a world traveler
COVID-19 has had a harsh impact on world travel, as borders are closed, limitations are in place, and a nationwide scare consumes individuals. But I believe that this only makes people more hungry to get away and explore. Airbnb’s are fully booked as the pandemic continues, and more and more people are sick and tired of living in their little bubble. Once borders reopen we are sure to see a surge of travelers, as remote work has vastly grown and travel expenses have decreased. People have begun to understand that we are naturally born nomads, with curious minds meant to wander.
Downtown LA: an over-fantasized concrete jungle
For years the media has planted an image into people’s minds, perceiving LA as the modern age “American dream”. Teens and millennials from all over the country dream to live in this city and believe everything is possible in LA. A city with one of the most concentrated homeless populations, drug problems, and overall grime, is praised as a social capital. Downtown Los Angeles is unlike any other large city in the US, This is a jungle. Every day you are ought to witness something revolting, or outlandish. If you can make it in downtown LA, you can make it anywhere. Most living in this city are just surviving its harsh environment. Capital and federal greed continue to overprice this city’s living expenses, as the homeless population continues to grow to unimaginable numbers. California residents will come here on weekends and submerge themselves in its wild nightlife, using it as their playground. Opportunity is shallow, especially considering the impact of covid-19. You have either made it, or you are just faking your success to fit into LAs "lavish" lifestyle. Now let’s consider the good aspects of life in DTLA. There is an immense amount of local businesses you can connect with. Not all people are fake, and many are some of the most real people I have ever met. As I’m currently writing this, rent in DTLA has experienced a hard hit and is now very affordable to many new individuals who previously couldn’t afford LAs premium. The city is a hub between the valley and the Pacific Ocean, making it a perfect middle-ground for ventures. I think if you can get past LAs growing problems and capitalize on its positives then you would be a good candidate to take on the city.
Airbnb Lifestyle: an entrepreneurs dream
If I could “borrow” most of my physical possessions, leaving myself free to travel at will, I would do it instantly. And I think this “Airbnb lifestyle” has a good chance of becoming the dominant model for younger generations. As remote work grows, so does the freedom of entrepreneurs and others wanting to explore. The convergence from owning things to borrowing is expanding, and so is the overall demand for rental properties on apps like Airbnb. These rentals all come equipped with necessary amenities and furniture, flexibility, and everything else someone would need to live comfortably. This Nomadic lifestyle is growing amidst the new social norms placed by society, and I’m all for it. Within the next year, I hope to join this movement as I take my creative knowledge all over the world.
I am #TurningTheTide...
Without healthy oceans, we cannot survive.
From the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the climate we live in, we all depend on our oceans. Today, they are more important than ever. Healthy oceans absorb carbon from the atmosphere and help reduce the impact of climate change.
Our oceans are in immediate need of protection. Industrial fishing, pollution and marine debris, habitat destruction, coastal development, global warming, and ocean acidification, are all threatening to irreversibly destroy the ocean’s delicate ecosystems. What was once considered an endless source of food to feed the planet is now on the brink of collapse. Many species of fish have now been depleted to less than 10% of their pre-industrial fishing levels in the past 50 years. Not only have we lost over 90% of the population of widely consumed fish such as tuna, salmon, and cod, the ancillary impact of commercial fishing has similarly annihilated thousands of other ocean species. Along all the equatorial and tropical coastlines, delicate reefs filled with biodiversity that evolved over thousands of years to protect coastlines and nourish local communities, are now dying out within a time span measured in years.
““We are entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history.””