Flashes of Hope is a national non Profit organization that changes the way children with cancer sees themselves through the gift of Photography and raise money for pediatric cancer research. My fellow Photographer Scott Farence of ASMP Phoenix volunteer to help me and took this wonderful pictures behind the scene. What is important and what is not is what comes to mind. We are suppose to give those kids hope and myself I just hope I could have their courage, we are suppose to smile to other to make ourself more agreeable, they smile because they love life. To Alfredo I told him he could fly in his Batman suit and he did smile with pride, to Lakisha an earring caught up in the hair of her mother brought her a big laugh – and bubbles floating in the air made Luis in admiration and so amused that I had to wonder why I could not be as happy as he was with my few sophisticated modern fancy toys. Cancer might have them but they do have HOPE and in some few shots with my camera I saw through the lens that this terrible sickness cannot bit the inner being of those child and that in fact their spirit was even brighter than my FLASHES. ( Please see some of the final shots on my portfolio under Philanthropic portraits )

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I consider myself primarily a commercial photographer, totally adaptable to any situation, my style may shift by topic, so here is the reason why I display such a diverse portfolio. When asked why I have chosen so many avenues in Photography to explore, I just answer that it does not matter whether I shoot a portrait, a landscape or a product as long as I know how to identify with my subject and put my own style into it, I photograph it as I see it, as I feel it. When recently I was shooting the portrait of Julio Cesar Chavez and they asked me if I could take some pictures of his “Energia De Campeones” drink I say “sure!”… and I became a specialist in shooting an energy drink of an aluminum can in a small space in a short time with a short notice. I just adapt and enjoy the process of creativity and that has become my style as well as my specialty. Some “critics” specializing on criticism will tell you that the “pro” will not recognize the diamond buried into an extensive portfolio, that might be, as some people will not think out of the box nor will be able under their conviction to look at the moon and see the beauty of the all universe.

Yes I took  Yoga … photos, and sincerely it works ! I was very relax and was able to harmoniously communicate with this wonderful teacher. I particularly loved the contrast of the serene position in this peaceful and powerful location. Well I do not need to stretch to much on this subject, you now know about one more thing I can do; may peace be with you.

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and to work with ! Here is Morag Currin’s book and some of her story …

Morag Currin, LA, CMLT, President of Touch For Cancer Online, author of “Oncology Esthetics: A Practitioner’s Guide”. Originally from South Africa, Morag is a highly sought-after Esthetics educator with over 16 years of spa industry experience and more than 7 years in training and training management. Recognizing the lack of specialized skin care available for people undergoing cancer therapies, she has pioneered an Oncology Esthetics Certification for licensed estheticians, and has written a text book on the subject. While working tirelessly to set industry standards and protocols, she has also developed TecNiche Therapies – a skin care line for health challenged skin.

Voila! Thanks to Ovi and Tedd here is my New web site ! I hope you like it as much as I do.  My “dear friend” hosting my previous site just disappear and let me down with nothing on the web without even a warning.  So be aware fellow web site “owner” it is not at it seems and it is easy to become hostage.  Where is the trust, the values and respect ? Well it is still here in many of us I have no doubt about it, no webs about it ! Now lets go making more wonderful images to grace this new and improved (big smile) wonderful site !

Flight of Freedom !

Painting on Feathers set on canvas and Photograph by JL

This oil miniature of an Eagle in flight was painted on “Earth Eagle” feathers, a name given to the Turkey by the Native American as they saw this bird as a provider from mother earth. Turkey were bringing forth food, clothing and were used for many other things. Most of my art on Feathers are a combination of oil painting using very tiny brushes on one or more feather, sometime sculpted with scissors to give a special shape to the subject, then using delicate skill I set them on a canvas previously painted to enhance it all for final gallery presentation.

“Feathers are symbolic of the bird’s ability to carry prayers to spirit”

Some twenty years ago I was a model for some action cover books in LA. And here I am now in Phoenix wishing the force to be with you …

What a wonderful show , a show “Digne du Roi Soleil” Louis XIV. I Could have done better with my photography if I had not being so captivated by this beautiful spectacle. Bravo a Normand Latourelle.

June 1984, Stephanie Seymour  to the right ( yes it is her ) was only in her sweet sixteen and I was .. I forgot ! What I remember is this photo shoot in San Diego CA was one of her first . If I had knew then what a wonderful extraordinary model she would become I would have certainly ask her to become her personal photographer. Imagine that !? Today I would be a celebrity photographer . Yes it was fun to be a model and learn from both side of the camera, now I just wish I would have her in front of my objective. Who knows ?

“Dreams are brushes the mind creates to paint on canvas of hopes”

Beware!

Awards are judged in committee by consencus of what is known. In other words, what is in fashion. But originality can’t be fashionable, because it hasn’t as yet had the approval of the committee. Do not try to follow the fashion. Be true to your subject and you will be more likely to create someting that is timeless (Paul Arden)

So this year again I will not save my energy and create as my heart of art dictate and will have also to create my own awards.

To all of you my “friends” who, as like me will pass those holidays by themselves, rejoice !

Why?

Because we are all in this alone !

Now the NEWS !

Due to rising energy cost and the unwillingness of my landlord to renegotiate my lease during those challenging times, until further notice the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

2009.

If the elevator to the TOP is broken, as a creative person I will take the stairs and hope to see you there with me. And lets remember that success is a journey, not a destination.

Some get ON the Web and some other get Spider ON.

” And who is so barbarous as not to understand that the foot of a human is nobler than his shoe, and is skin nobler than that of the sheep with which he is closed “- Michealangelo Buonarrroti

Well if I had said it you would not care, he did more than 450 years ago and still many do not get it. How many times I have tried to explained it … it seems to be so disruptive in some part of our society, how strange, such beautiful creation made from an act of love can be so criticized . It might be a matter of perspective.

When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a stove for a minute- then it’s longer than any hour.

That is RELATIVITY ! by Albert Einstein

“So when you find time to look at my work , do not wast your time with other Photographers, because by that time you will have wasted time and at the rate of sixty minute per hour it is better to save time for the future most valuable thing you can spend : time with me as your Timeless Photographer.”

Just in case you would want to know more about me I decided for my first “Blogs” to introduce few of the “things” that are important to me. Well, you saw me and my partner, my Mom, intro of my charitable activities, and now I will just go to what is my passion for years, my paintings and my photography.

Paintings is like a meditation in action, photography is the opposite. In my photos I love to bring to reality what is obvious, but often cannot be seen. Only when it has been “frozen” in time, then looking at it you see what has been reveal. Sometime I meditate on it.

Ma Maman a quatre vingt ans  habite Montpellier , France. C’est la super Mom !!!.

Beside my regular photography that includes all sort of assigments ( Remember ? I am a Gun for hire with a ™ on style ) wishing I could just specialize on taking photographs of celebrities for Vogue , GQ or other National magazine, but they did not discover me nor my talent yet …. anyway I am still working on it, so in the meantime I started to photograph people and their charitable organization, every month those images are published in a local magazine and help a little those organization. It makes me feel good, that all.

Here is my video on my painting on feathers. Yes, I’m also a real artist! What do you think?

As a Professional Photographer with a very active Studio In Scottsdale AZ, I still love to consider myself as ” A gun for Hire with a Trade Mark ™ on Style.” The rest is past history and the future is still to be written. I’m looking to share creative ideas with the world.