I love Japan. I think because it was the first place I really decided to take a trip to alone. Im not going to give the backstory, but a dear friend of mine left yesterday for his solo trip to Japan. Throughout his process I first kept bugging him to get the ticket and then it turned into me being reignited by my love for it, by sharing tips, locations and activities that I’ve experienced. From restaurants, thrift shops, to how to get from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Shinkansen, how to order your food at the vending machines, how to not sleep (lack of interest) on their 711’s and most importantly allowing yourself to experience the deep contrast that I find to be Japan. I feel this rooted happiness and energy when someone gives me the space to express my love and experience for a place. It’s like I get to relive it, find ways to help others find solutions, and think about when I’ll get to go again. It’s a snippet of my life’s work to show people, especially black people, how diminishing the hinderance of fear can truly give us access to things words can’t express. Like taking a chance and flying across the world to an unknown place just because you wanted to.

The photos I captured during my time there in 2016, now looking back tell me that I lacked intention, story and even at times skill, but I still knew what I was feeling by using a camera to show it. People often ask me “so how long have you been shooting,” and I I’ve been saying ten years for years now. It’s a blur. I remember when I picked it up and today I’m still holding it. I’ve set the intention to really go back and look at my work and spend time with it, even if Im not impressed. As a Travel Photographer, captured by culture, I am there to learn and observe, never to intrude.