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

I'm Back!

Self-portrait. Mid-town, NYC. July 2013

Wow, it's been four months since I posted on my blog! I've been "stuck" on Facebook  and Instagram and all its quick upload and access from my iphone. Technology is moving amazingly quick since I began this blog in 2005, as a showcase for my photography and musings. My photography has really evolved since then, and the creative journey continues to be an exciting one!

To my followers, supporters and fans, I apologize for not posting more frequently. I have lot's of new images (I've been busy) to share so be sure to check back on this site for further updates!

You Can also FOLLOW ME on these other sites:
Instagram: @oceanstide
Facebook: facebook.com/oceanmorissetphotography
Website: oceanmorisset.com

I'm back!

Resurrection, Rebirth, Renewal. Happy Easter!

In deep reflection

self-portrait. el-barrio, nyc december 4th 2012

The power within, is never without.

ipad2 self-portrait.

Self-portrait, (2011-12)

Doing what I love--the key to healing

CANCER is so limited. IT CANNOT shelter hope, corrode faith, destroy peace, kill friendhips, suppress memories, silence courage, invade the soul, steal eternal life, and it CANNOT conquer the spirit!--Anonymous

Round 4 Chemotherapy --The Experience

"nausea, Fatigue, Fevers but here's what else...."

i did everything i could to possibly delay my chemotherapy today: woke up later than usual and let baby sleep in also. I made breakfast, slowly sipped a green tea beverage; played with the dog, and watered the plants. my scheduled time for chemo to start at 11am. Today, I didn't finally get hooked up to my infusion till around 1pm!

yeah, my fault for being nervous about receiving today's chemotherapy. I really don't enjoy it, nor do i enjoy having hodgkin's lymphoma, though i'm embracing my new reality more and more everyday, there is still work involved. One thing I've discovered about about having cancer is that it does make me feel vulnerability in ways I never had to confront. And I'm happy to declare that as a man, and most importantly as a black man. Being authentic even in the face of adversity will bring me more peace and light. Hiding will not, so that's the reason why I'm so public with my own story. I NEED TO HEAL.

Earlier in the week, Welsh Actor Andy Whitfield, best known for his title role on the STARZ television series Spartacus. died. When i read the story online, the news soared though me like a spear from the prop department of Spartacus. I couldn't make any sense of my feelings, nor could I even process them. I found myself in conversation with people throughout the day, while this news was still sitting in the foreground of my mind. For a little while, I felt vulnerable.

Even at chemo today, while I was getting pumped with "poison", as a person with cancer sitting with me across from me said. My mind drifted to Andy Whitfield's death. In the days leading up to chemo, my mind had been playing tricks on me with all kinds of visions that were too abstract to decipher. To the woman who called chemo poision, all I could manage was a polite smile. Everyone going through chemotherapy have the right to call chemo poison. Yes, mind can process this, but I choose to visualize light and love washing through my body which is what made me further consider my feelings around Andy Whitfield's death. I thought about my own mortality and grew angry at Cancer. While I don't have the same kind of cancer that Andy had, to die at 39 years of age, AFTER receiving treatment and AFTER being in remission, seems to be a dirty trick to those in the fight. The notion of putting up a good fight , for so long and be considered a "survivor" only for a short period is one that many people with cancer like myself are confused about.


(receiving chemo through my port)


While bag after bag of IV medication was being administered to me, I was able to "snap" out it, and come back to my own reality, my own journey. My life is not Andy's life, and there are many, many lives to touch while I am on this still here. All this wonderful realization came to me today, as I looked at my dad and my partner's faces. They accompany me to chemo, because they love me and care for my well being. I will spend more time reflecting on my blessings and staying on my divine path.



And if NONE of this makes sense, I blame chemo-brain!!!

"The force is everywhere and everything seems to be one your mind in perfect communion with nature .. The way to keep your feet rooted in the ground and your eyes that arises in the distance, all that gives this picture an incredible power .." --Patricia Martinez

Awakenings

Homage to Photographer Duane Michals.

Meeting my ancestral spirit (self-portrait, cancer series 2011)

When I connect with spirit, I have to become spirt. It's the only way. I have to free myself of all that binds me in the material world to enter the spiritual realm. Conversations with spirit are insightful!!