Raafi Rivero | images and ideas

Tickled

To say that Life is anything less than mostly chance and surprise would be to shortchange the rangy bastard. He’s got a presence, ever, that inspires, provokes, and constipates sometimes too. More than that, he thrives at every moment with the impatience of an electron, the memory of a pulled tooth, and the permanence of a breath.

We admire surfers because they embrace something of all this and call it a lifestyle — a profession for some. For others of us there can be the touch of grace upon the wall of a friend’s apartment, or fresh bagels, or laughter and sorrow.

shoot day Jersey

The plan was to show up at the location before dawn, so you know what that means. Lunch was at 11am, and the slump hit around 4pm. In spite of all, the soldiers carried on admirably to the end. Soon there will be three and a half minutes to represent the labors of nine over a period of that began at five in the morning and ended sixteen hours later. The rest is just sleep and dreams and office work.

Incorrigible

Will someone please tell me why I keep photographing walls? Or, better yet, why I can’t stop photographing them?

When I see a wall like this — something flat and, I think, beautiful — a guilty smile bubbles up inside. It’s almost like I’m sneaking downstairs for another midnight snack, or climbing up on a chair so I can reach the cookie jar on top of my grandmother’s fridge. I look around as I hold the camera up and wave cars or passers by with a toothy smile smeared all across my chin like mayo. “I’m sorry, I just can’t help it anymore,” I tell them in my head. Then I take shot after shot until I feel shamed into walking away. I like shooting people, or whatever, too. But I shoot like this when I’m alone and I don’t completely understand it.

Live From The Field

There’s a zen to it – waking up at 5 a.m. to catch the early light for a shoot. There’s the sleepy-eyed washing, grooming, and toothbrushing that goes with the hour. And if the MTA is providing the transportation, you don’t think for a second that you’ll be the only one contemplating the pre dawn and the vibration of a diesel engine.

Morning Bread

The mornings in Baltimore belong to bread trucks, carpenters, and junkies.