NEW Film! Through a Lens Darkly and the Emergence of a People

THROUGH A LENS DARKLY, directed by Thomas Allen Harris is a film that explores how African American communities have used the camera as a tool for social change from the invention of photography to the present. This epic tale poetically moves between the present and the past, through contemporary photographers and artists whose images and stories seek to reconcile legacies of pride and shame while giving voice to images long suppressed, forgotten, and hidden from sight. 

A SALUTE TO LGBT ARTISTS

Following the film there will be a Q & A with Photographer's Ocean Morisset, Lola Flash and Michael Chambers.

View the trailer and order tickets at the link below! Limited enagement through September 9th at NYC.s Film Forum.

See you at the movies!

http://filmforum.org/events/event/through-a-lens-darkly-salute-to-lgbt-artists-9-4

Call on the ancestors for healing

Black And brown people: In troubled times like these we must call on our ancestor's for healing. Rocks thrown at the strong arm of injustice will land flatly on the ground, but the work of our ancestor's strengthens, protects and lifts us to greater, unreachable heights. 

We come from a legacy of resilience and must never forget. We will continue the work of our ancestor's and in doing so, they will continue to bring vital support to us to fulfill our potential here on earth.

We do not act alone. We are loved.

Ocean Morisset Photography. Image from the Tribute to the Ancestor's of the Middle Passage, 2014.

Sax Player Ray Blue @ Embark Summer Block Party. Peekskill, NY.

Black youth in particular are problematized, stigmatized, marginalized and pushed into an underclass by society as a whole. We are made to fear our youth--the voiceless tribe of today--so it's no wonder many of them choose to tune out and escape into other worlds of their own.

Copyright Ocean Morisset Photography
Harlem, NYC.

Every day I take pictures of the everyday.--OM

"What matters is to live in the moment, live now, for every moment is now. It is your thoughts and acts of the moment that create your future. The outline of your future path already exists, for you created its pattern with your past". -Sai Babba

© Ocean Morisset Photography
Harlem, NYC.

Brotherhood, Protection and Safety, all at one Harlem crosswalk.

© Ocean Morisset

"Ocean, what kind of camera should I get?"

I get questions all the time from friends and acquaintances about which camera is the best one to buy. To that question, there are a myriad of answers based on what you plan to do or shoot with the camera. Even though photography is a technical field, those aspects don't particularly interest me. I get bored with conversation with other pro's about lenses, DOF, and photography RULES. While I agree it's important to know the basic rules of composition, light and of course camera usage I think honing the "eye" is a much more useful lesson to the layperson embarking on a journey through photography. There are many roads to take towards arriving at a successful image and at the end of the day, the viewer will decide based on how the image moves them (or not).

In my opinion, there's no reason to spend thousands of dollars on camera equipment. I've seen "photographers" with the latest of everything and the photography vest to match, but will use their camera on "A" automatic mode, or do all the "photography" using photo-editing software.

To answer the question about which camera to get, I'd say spend little on a camera with an M (manual) mode. This allows you total control of the camera and will force you to learn about exposure, depth of field and shutter speed. You will of course need much practice with composition--how you "frame" what you're shooting, and that takes much practice so shoot A LOT!

Nowadays, there are advancements with camera phone technology and we've all seen what the iphone can do! I happen to shoot OFTEN with my iphone, but my main pro camera--a Nikon D80-- is considered an antique in the rapidly-changing landscape of DSLR and technology. Yet, I still get the job done, pleasing clients and "fans" alike. When I think about how we revere images from the past-- those taken by "Master" photographers--I note that most of those camera's used to shoot historical images are now antiques! This reaffirms the notion that good photography is not only achieved by the (good/expensive) camera, but mostly by the "eye".

The most important thing in all of this is to ENJOY photography. Whatever genre interests you, be it fashion, photojournalism, landscape, still life, etc., it's important to have fun, treat your subject matter with the utmost importance, and try new perspectives.
These days, everyone claims to be a photographer thanks to the mass accessibility of camera phones, so it's important to STAND OUT from the pack in some way, learn from your mistakes, never compare yourself or your work to another photographer and always remain true to yourself!

(iPhone) Photo copyright Ocean Morisset Photography. Peekskill, N.Y

Ode to Harlem Besties

Piggy back ride

transportation of love

with laughter as its fuel

It never tires, 

not for a sister 

or a bestie...

it rages on like fire.

Our friendship

fits like a glove;

passion- burning warmth

on the coldest days

and darkest nights

moved beyond the depths

of all that inspires,

the joy of which takes form

of these words I write. 

A moment in precious time

In the face of a neighborhood 

and a world

in transition

--Uncertainty--

thick like African musk oil

Vaporizes in the heat of a 

Harlem summer

and joins the breeze

as together, we take flight.

And while all things inevitably change

my love for you stands 

the test of time

and soars 

like an iridescent kite.

"The Pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted  to remain children all our lives". --Albert Einstein

Hudson River, Peekskill, New York.

"Harlem" by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

(Photo copyright Ocean Morisset)

"However long the night may last, there will be morning."

This Morrocan proverb inspired this latest self-portrait I shot at the Peekskill waterfront:

 "However long the night may last, there will be morning."

 I arrived at the waterfront earlier than I wanted to because the sun was still shining brightly and I intended to shoot this image at dusk. It was also Memorial Day and many families were still soaking in final rays of the descending sun, and couples strolled about. I was a little annoyed at myself, because this had been an image I hought about making for weeks, and I picked the worse day of the year to do it. Nevertheless, I changed out of my shorts and t-shirt in my car and put on my white outfit. The white was to symbolize cleansing, purification, spirit and because I ws at the water, a call to the orisha Yemaya.

 As the sun made its slow descent, I spent some time shooting silhouettes and a few waterfront activiteis like a father playing with his son. Finally, with my camera mounted to the tri-pod, I began to explore this vision I had. I tried diffrent exposures and varying shutter speeds, shooting only in Manual mode to achieve the results I wanted. A few times I was interrupted by passersby who observed me run from my "posing" position, back to my camera and back again. Offers to take my picture made me chuckle because it led me to believe that these well-meaning people thought I was simply trying to get a sort of "tourist" shot with the view of the magnificent mountains and bay in the background. When I explained that I'm an artist, and I was creating "art", there was the "oh!" followed by a few lingering eyes that continued to watch me as they slowly strolled away. All in all, I like what I achieved here, but I have so much more to explore of myself at the waterfront.

My First exhibition in Peekskill, New York!

Since moving to Peekskill in November, I've been busy shooting, getting acquainted with my new surroundings in the Hudson Valley. Some of that work is being shown in an upcoming exhibition at the Peekskill Chamber of Commerce Gallery and I'm more than thrilled to use this opportunity to introduce Peekskill to me and my photography. "Peekskill Through My Eyes" will open in conjunction with the Peekskill Arts Alliance 17th Annual Open Studios--a weekend promised to be filled with great art, music, and culture. I'm busy making prints now and organizing details of my exhibit and building with excitement as the day gets closer! I relish any opportunity to introduce myself to new viewers, through my art! Hope to meet you there!

Peekskill waterfront as dusk began to fall and the fog thickened.

I took my dog Max out for a walk at the waterfront. One thing that is true about any waterfront is that it's beauty changes with the season. Temps in Peekskill are still struggling to get above 50. The snow has finally all just melted. Even though it's spring, the bare tree's are reminiscent of the winter I would rather forget. Nevertheless, the moodiness is undeniable. The scene evoked a loud peace that I wanted to capture and never forget. This was an atmospheric weekend dressed in wind, fog, clouds, and plenty of RAIN. Days like today where the sky is overcast and the light is diffuse is the best light to shoot in, especially if you like moody images like I do. Below are a series I shot with my iphone. I enjoy grain in moody images. Some photographer's prefer images that are super sharp. I think the grain in the images lends itself nicely to a documentary aesthetic. Enjoy the view!

Rainy day in Peekskill, New York

In many cases, he rain tends to make people feel sad or depressed and oftentimes it is referred to as a 'miserable' day. I've always loved the rain for the cleansing and calming affect it has on the environment and in my spirit. On rainy days I feel introspective and at peace. I never mind getting caught in it (especially in the summer), or sitting in my car listening to the droplets pitter-patter against the vehicle. The best rain experience is always had from inside my home where I can enhance the ambience, by lighting candles, burning incense and listening to the pellets of rain tap against the windows and skylight. It's how I celebrate rain. On a recent drive I made some images from inside my car on what to me, was a beautiful day in Peekskill.

I'm still here!

Self-portrait December 2013

Wow, it's been a minute since I posted here. Facebook and real life have absorbed all my time. I'm still HERE, but you can also see some of my photography updates on my artists page on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/oceanmorissetphotography

I'll be posting here regularly once again. It's a new year and l have many more images to post!

--Ocean