I rode “bitch” on Kristen’s new motorcycle, a Honda Passport C70, to Robert E. Lee Park in Baltimore Friday, April 20, 2012.

Yeah, I know. I know. It looks like a scooter, but it has gears. So, technically, it’s a motorcycle. She humorously calls it her “Hog,” but I think calling it a “piglett” is a bit more appropriate.

Yikes! The Piglett stalled on Roland Ave.Kristen got it working …with a little help from my memory of operating my grandaddy’s riding lawnmower.

Check out that sweet basket up front!

City Springs Elementary School first grader Jahmal Harrison, and his mother Tameka Harrison, wait inside the school before their 40 minute bus ride to their shelter in North Baltimore Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Tameka, who can’t work due to a facial injury, volunteers at her son’s school, where poverty is the norm. Ninety-six percent of the approximately 650 student body qualifies for free lunches. Tameka and Jahmal, who suffers from lead poisoning, used to live in one of the close-by housing projects, but have been homeless for the last two months. They’re currently staying at Sarah’s Hope Shelter in West Baltimore. Tameka thought she was going to be moving into an apartment Friday, under the auspices that both the security deposit and the first month’s rent would be waived, but the latter was not. So, they’re staying in the shelter a little while longer.

Two Fridays ago I got a call from Charlie Borst at Education Week. He asked me to help illustrate a story about the effects of poverty on students’ educational success.  A tough task, for sure, but I was up for it.

For those of you who don’t know, Education Week is the paper of record for U.S. public schools, grades k-12. Their audience is smart and small — educators, public school administrators, education policy makers. So, the written stories can be pretty data and research heavy. The photo department, headed by Charlie and Nicole Fruge understand that photography can humanize an information rich story.

So, being tasked with finding a student who was not only poor, but willing to be photographed and who’s parents were willing for them to be photographed as well, in less than a week was a bit daunting for sure.

Going through this experience made me ask for help. I got some amazing advice from talented documentary photographers Kathleen Flynn about contacting non-profits, and Monica Lopossay, too. Both helped me think about how I should approach subjects, too. But I also really learned the benefit of culling contacts from past assignments. The principal at City Springs Elementary School, Rhonda Richetta, was a wonderful host the last time I shot there (for another Education Week story). I just dropped in, unexpected, and asked for her help finding a subject. And

Miss Richetta knew the perfect parent and student — Tameka and Jahmal Harrison.

Willing and open subjects are gifts from the photo gods! She didn’t put a hand up to me to stop shooting when she disciplined her son for hitting (back) another student and she was willing to let me photograph her and Jahmal at their shelter. Unfortunately, the management at Sarah’s Hope wouldn’t give me access.

I also learned that when a willing subject is presented to you, it’s up to you to maintain that trust.

Sometimes you just have to listen to your subject’s story with an open mind. Let them rationalize their past and present, and try to understand and empathize where they’re coming from. After all, we’ve all made mistakes. and we’ve all been in a position to learn from them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to simplify the complexities of why people — families — become homeless.

All I’m saying is, if a subjects wants to open up and tell you their story, let them, and know when to put the camera down. Who knows? They might tell you more, and you might be privy to the intimate realities of their world. It’s an amazing thing to be trusted and let in.

Keep Scrolling for a view of how the photos played (beautifully!) in the Education Week layout, and for some outtakes.

City Springs Elementary/Middle School first graders in Ms. Peacock's class (L-R) Durius Walker, Kayshawn Roundheart, Caleb Washington, Jahmal Harrison, and Lance Shields line up during lunch Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Poverty is the norm at the Baltimore City school. Ninety-six percent of student body qualify for free lunches.

Students pass by an empty bullet casing found on City Springs School's playground Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Jahmal Harrison, and his mother Tameka Harrison, both currently homeless, wait across the street from City Springs School for a bus to take them to their shelter Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Fans of wrestling, they play around during their wait.

Jahmal Harrison defends his actions while being scolded by his mother Tameka Harrison, after she found out he was in a fight with another student after school.

Jahmal Harrison, gets a hug from his mother Tameka Harrison, outside his classroom.

In case I couldn’t find a willing subject, I made photos of the area surrounding City Springs Middle/Elementary School. This was obviously “plan B” but I think it helped give context to where the students lived.

A student walks past a dilapidated building on Caroline Street in Baltimore, MD, Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The neighborhood, which has three government housing complexes, has two schools, the Baltimore Freedom Academy and City Springs Elementary/Middle School. While both are charter schools, the latter serves mostly neighborhood students. Ninety-six percent of City Springs' student body receives free lunches.

I love this photo.

The water at City Springs School in Baltimore, MD, is not safe to drink. This is a common problem in many Baltimore City Public Schools.

This guy’s just adorable, isn’t he?

Principal Rhonda Richetta.

Jahmal Harrison

A few weeks ago I licensed a photo I made of David Donaldson to the New York Review of Books — a small, niche, yet prestigious and super smart publication.

I recommend the article if you’re into education reform.

I originally shot these photos of David Donaldson for the New York Times back in 2009.

As I’m sure some of you regular readers are aware, I’m still in the blooming stages of my freelance career. I haven’t relicensed too many photos, yet. I hope this’ll become old hat one of these days. But for now, it’s still pretty cool!

…now if I can just land a syndication deal. Who wants me? Anyone Anyone?

Nick, circa 2005.

Me, eating the brains of the Attractive and Popular drummer.

Zombie Shawna (from Avec, & currently War on Women)Can we pause real quick and just recognize how awesome this guy is? Yup. That’s the 2005 version of me. …pre-lasik. 

Nick DiFabbio (formerly Borkowicz) aka Ghostfreehood brought over some props to Elizabeth Cline’s photoshoot a few weeks ago. …you know, the usual stuff, swords and masks. He got super giddy when I told him I wanted to make a scary portrait of him in the same fashion of this self portrait.  I’m super- stoked it turned out as scary as it did.

My initial idea was to light up his glasses, in a sinister film noir comic book kinda way, but they have the anti-glare coating on them. I still wanna make that image, though.

We definitely didn’t stop with the scary pic, though. Below you’ll see how we utilized a sword and the mask. I’m really stoked about these photos! Anyone else want a scary portrait? Gimme a call. seriously. 

For more of Nick, check out my photoshelter gallery.

There are some beautiful, wacky, and …uh, heroic? photos of Elizabeth Cline’s shoot here.

And I’d be a jerk if I didn’t point you in the direction of Elizabeth in a mask murdering Nick with a sword, right? Blam!

Brooklyn-based Author Elizabeth Cline is writing a socio-economic book about fashion, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Price of Cheap Fashion. From what she tells me, it’s kinda like Fast Food Nation, but for H&M, Target, & Old Navy.

She was a great subject. We even played with swords. My friend Nick came over with some swords and a mask & we had a pretty rockin’ good time. See, Elizabeth isn’t just a beautiful and talented writer. She’s also the guitar player & singer in Mortals, an all female metal band.

So… the rest of these photos kinda make sense. 

For more photos of Elizabeth, check out this Photoshelter gallery.

For more photos of Elizabeth and Nick in a fight to the death, go to this gallery.

And if you wanna see some dark photos of Nick, BLAM!

The New York Times story, which outlines the frustrating reality of raising a kid by a single working mom, is here.

One of the tough parts of making these portraits is that they were during her lunch hour. Ideally I would’ve gotten her at least getting her son ready for school in the morning, but, for some reason, that wasn’t feasible. We also couldn’t make pictures in her office. So, we just walked around the block. I felt bad because Sheontay — a pretty attractive woman — would get hollered at. “Damn Girl! You a model?!?” I know my camera and I didn’t help. Sheontay took it all in stride, though. 

It didn’t take too long for me to understand I react the same way to photographs.

And as you know, light controls most of the mood of a photo. Sure, so does body language, but when the two meet…

So, these are test shots. I was working on super controlled, film noirish lighting. Like the first Scary Self Portrait post I wanted the eyes to go entirely black, with the exception of two small, piercing, catch lights, made, this time, with an underpowered, tightly gridded monolight. The key light in the above photo is pointed down, off my right shoulder.This picture only uses one gridded mono light, positioned directly underneath my camera & pointed up. The grid is so tight & focused none of the shadow hits the wall.This one is the combination of the two. and as a bonus, here’s me in a luchador mask.

The Baltimore City charter school has implemented several structural practices such as single gender classrooms and the Restorative Practices pedagogy.

Principal Rhonda Richetta’s idea is to create a safe and respectful culture rather than utilize traditional “crime and punishment” methods. After Restorative Practices became mandatory, the school lost a majority of their teachers. Mr. West, who just started his third year at City Springs, has the most seniority among middle school teachers.

This was one of the more interesting assignments I’ve had for Education Week. The story is about school security. But when I got to the school, I felt like security was a non-issue. I guess that means its working. Everyone was respectful towards everyone else — which is a pillar of the Restorative Practices model of education. Staff members use “affective language” when talking with students. Students were encouraged to deal their issues in “circles” rather than fighting, employing the teachers as mediators of sorts. I bet that gave the teachers a super-strong connection to their kids.

Something’s working at this place. I’ve never met more polite middle schoolers. And it’s not like this school is full of hand picked genius/polite students. City Springs is an inner city Baltimore neighborhood school. It’s not the worst neighborhood, but it’s comprised of three housing projects and 99% of the student body receives free lunches.

I got the impression that school was, ironically, a source of calm for most of these kids. Everything’s structured. — even their locker breaks. I guess that makes sense because when I was in school, locker breaks were when most of the fighting happened. And most importantly, the kids are learning! The teachers have the time to finish lessons.

“I don’t really use it that often.” says City Springs School Principal Rhonda Richetta talking about her security system. “It’s not this security system that has changed the climate in my school. It’s the Restorative Practices.” When she first started as principal she remembers having to break up fights 5 or 6 times a day. She wanted to change the school’s culture rather than beef up the security measures. She now finds that she has to rely less on the school’s security camera system set up in her office, and has fostered a respectful culture between students and faculty.

Faculty did leave, however. After Restorative Practices became mandatory the school lost the majority of their teachers because, according to Richetta, they didn’t want to change how they taught.

From what I understand, a major critique of this approach to teaching is that it doesn’t allow for educator creativity. Almost everything is structured and scripted. But when your students live in poverty, I wonder how much structure and respect a lot of them are getting when they’re not in school.

When installing new security cameras Richetta chose small cameras to not foster a an over securitized ambiance.

Eighth-graders in Tracy Hauser’s home room Brittany Carter, left, and Tyveona James, right, join hands with classmates during “circle time.” 

You know how some photographers LOVE shooting weddings while others shoot them every so often to make some extra money? Well, I came to a decision earlier this year that I don’t shoot weddings. I don’t advertise as a wedding photographer. So, I only get referrals from friends. None of my friends can afford my rates ($3200-$5400), and neither can their relatives. So, I never really book weddings. It’s okay. I like having my weekends free.

Another way photographers make extra money are family/kid/baby/and pet portraits. That’s a bit more my speed and interest level. But I don’t really wanna make cheesy glamour shot/Olan Mills pictures, either. I like funny.

So, I got an idea.

Messy Kid Portraits!

Heck! if someone wants a portrait of them and their spouse playing in the mud I’ll shoot that too.

…seriously. I’LL SHOOT THAT! call me.

So, This shoot features Margot Ludwig. When I made these photos (Wednesday, August 31, 2011) she was almost two.  I approached her mom Kendall — who owns Curly Red Designs — with the idea. Obviously, Kendall was in.