So this is where my new debut will be taking place; Being in the comfort of my two favorite bands, and their eclectic crowd  following.  I plan to shoot and document everything and anything worth while during my two weeks on the East Coast, having to do with Phish (July 7th, 8th, & 9th) in Saratoga Springs, then a couple days later of The Disco Biscuits (July 12th, 13th, & 14th) at Mariaville Lake.  Music has been the only consistent thing in my life as far back as I can remember, so combining two of my biggest passions- but doing it subtly from the sidelines, and not getting involved should be fun and hopefully something that can back my creative spark I once had.  Ill be doing all six days/nights sober, just so I can make sure my camera is my outlet, my only outlet.

My flight & car are booked, tickets are paid for, and Im very excited to see what comes of this adventure..

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It’s quite amazing what happens when you ‘remove’ yourself from a specific setting in life; people talk a lot (especially online), wondering what happened, are curious if you’ll ever return, etc.  Well, good news- I have a definite answer to the question I get asked most “Are you going to continue to shoot surfing & skateboarding?” : NO.  I set out to achieve something about 4 years ago now, with a limit of 5 years, and achieved it in 3.  I am moving on and in the process, am finding solitude, peace, serenity, love, and true happiness.  It was fun while it lasted, but my brain can literally no longer take the dramatic stress, the unneeded pressures, and the ‘cool’ aspects my ‘job’ once provided.  I did it because it was literally all I knew how to do.  I started skateboarding when I was 10 years old, and surfing when I was 14.  I began shooting my friends sessions when I was involved in a near fatal car accident at age 18, and was unable to participate.  I got a camera for my birthday that year, and began documenting those sessions, and never stopped.  But that was then, and this is now…I’m beyond burnt out- I’m tired, I’m anxious, I’m stressed, and I’m just not happy.. I’ve been diagnosed with manic depression, and none of this therapeutic, as it once was a few years back.

So with all that said, am I giving up photography?  Absolutely not.  Am I giving up surfing?  Most definitely yes.  Why do something that once started as a passion, and is now not only a headache- but an absolute migraine?   I can go without being judged my people who I’ve never met, and never plan to meet (visa versa),  being sized up to anything or anyone, and just plain being disrespected.  Have I been perfect in my actions towards others in the past years?  Absolutely not.. quite the opposite actually- but that is exactly why I am here, arriving to this realization now, accepting my own faults and taking responsibility for my previous actions and looking forward to hope, change, and guidance in my future personal/business friendships and relationships.  Am I giving up skateboarding?  Yes, but only because my body is literally falling apart at 28 years of age.  So if you wanna stick around to see the reemergence of my new work, and what I come up with- wonderful.  If not, thanks for joining me the past 4+ years;  The emails, views, questions, encouragement, friends, connections, and the ones who are truly genuine at heart will never be forgotten or neglected.

Thank you all.  See you soon.