First Coney Island Visit

I first visited Coney Island in the winter of 2007 after I moved to New York.  I took the F train all the way out there several times over the course of my Brooklyn days and found the social oddity of Coney Island endlessly fascinating.  It also served as a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city - to come to the coast and look at the ocean for a dose of clarity and perspective.

Coney Island

I took many trips to Coney Island when I lived in Brooklyn years ago, and these are just a handful of photos I made of that weird and cool place.

Casi and AJ III

Cassi and AJ, II

    Below are some more photos from my project with Cassi and AJ.  

Cassi and AJ

I met Cassi and AJ about 2 years ago when they were homeless and Cassi was 3 months pregnant.  Both Cassi and AJ allowed me to document their lives on the streets in Portland, Oregon and I gained profound insight into the struggles of being homeless.  
When I met Cassi and AJ they were engaged to be married, but their first priorities were finding housing and receiving healthcare.  The state of Oregon provided financial assistance for Cassi and the baby for their medical care at Oregon Health and Sciences University.  Several months into Cassi's pregnancy the family moved into an apartment in Gresham where the first 3 months of rent were paid for by a non-profit organization - with the purpose of giving the family time to work and save money.  
Shortly after moving into their apartment, Sandra, Cassi and AJ's daughter was born July 31, 2012.  After Sandra's birth Cassi and AJ planned a wedding at Multnomah Falls attended by family, friends, and their little daughter on October 7th, 2012. 
Last summer Cassi and AJ were evicted from their apartment because they could not pay the rent.  In our last correspondence they were living outside of Lloyd Center Mall and Sandra was living with AJ's brother.

I recently submitted some photos from this project and was accepted for the Blue Sky's Pacific Northwest Photography Viewing Drawers, Portland, Oregon, juried selection 2014. I am so proud to have my work shown and grateful for this opportunity to continue to bring light to homelessness.  Thank you Cassi and AJ for allowing me to photograph your lives.

Below are a handful of photos from our time together.  Many more to come.