Why Photography Is My Choice Of Weapons
Every time I’m out in public I find myself being asked the same question over and over again, “D, what’s with the camera?” I was even approached by a famous paparazzi photographer who was so upset that Busta Rhymes & Hype Williams jumped into the b-boy stance for me to capture their images that he suggested for me to leave the cameras to the pros and pick up the microphone again. An industry veteran who happens to manage a couple of recording artist offered me a job because he thought I worked for Right On magazine and D-nice can’t work for Right On magazine! I guess someone should have told him that I own the company that built the website for the artist he manages! Let's be clear, I don’t post my work on wireimages.com or any other website except my own, nor do I work for any of the fanzines. What I shoot goes into my personal collection.
Let me explain why I carry my camera. For me, photography is truly about artistic expression. A few years back I was fortunate enough to be photographed by a legendary photographer by the name of Gordon Parks. For those of you who may not be familiar with Mr. Parks, not only was he the first black photographer for Life magazine, he also directed the original Shaft movie, published a few books, and he is an accomplished musician. Meeting Mr. Parks changed my life.
After reading his memoir “A Choice of Weapons” and learning of his struggles and how his camera became his weapon of choice, I immediately knew that photography would forever be a part of my life. Anyway, I’ve decided to now include my images in all of my e-mail blasts to give you all an idea of how I see the world. I hope you enjoy.
-dj
