Amateur Photographer • Interests: fashion, motivating the youth • Live from: Harlem, Manhattan

“Growing up in Harlem has made me a very positive person; I'm always in search of positive vibes and love to capture the human spirit in photographs. When it comes to photography, I like to capture the beauty in people; anything that captures my attentions. I try to tell stories through my work when I'm doing a shoot and Harlem is a big part of that. So much of Harlem's culture and history is well preserved; the Apollo Theatre and the Brownstones for example. It's like the beating heart of Manhattan. It's influenced a lot of things from jazz to fashion and overall art.”

“One of the things I like most about Harlem is that it's a great place to just walk around and soak it all in. The more I explore my neighborhood the more places that I discover. I found this new shop called Flamekeepers hat club and was automatically drawn to it. Harlem underground has a lot of cool shirts as well and they're black owned. In these times, more than ever, it's important to support the local businesses and pro black businesses; you know shop small, shop local.”

“It's just such a unique place, and especially because of the people. Without the people, Harlem wouldn't be Harlem. You meet people on the street and they have so much knowledge. It's been hard at different points and right now a lot of things are changing with gentrification but you know, Harlem has always been about the hustle and bustle. You can see it in the fashion as well.”

“Everyone has their own unique style and is competitive in that. It's at the core of our identity; many things change but we stay classy. The old timers in the neighborhood can tell you and they have so many stories if you take a moment to listen. That's what makes it such a strong community. That regardless of the new condominiums and vacant locations, the people have always been resilient and strong. If you're visiting then do support the community businesses and organizations and don't be afraid to ask what Harlem means to you.”