my mom, a.k.a. the ultimate yard saler

My mom went to a consignment shop and found this little thing :]

on flickr

Showcase: Marshay

 

When did you become interested in photography?

I always avoid answering this question. To be honest It's a pretty cliche story. I started out with my head in the clouds. When I was ten I was on deviant art constantly taking and uploading pictures of the sky. It was something I always loved and my little Fujifilm point and shoot made things pretty easy. When I was 11 I came down from those clouds and found myself gravitating to different subjects and aspects of photography. I started looking at flickr and alot of other photography sites and really just reaching in as far as I could into this art. It became something I felt I could actually do and enjoy doing. However, It wasn't until a few years later in my freshman year of high school that I truly started to get serious. I gained rivals, inspiration, and a 1st place win in a photography competition with my first successful photo. That was my kick start. I started trying to do more interesting shoots and gained alot of info from online. I was determined and when I was 15 I finally got my first DSLR. The rest is here and now. Plain and simple.

 

Personally, you are one of my biggest inspirations. So, I must ask who or what truly inspires you? Is there anything or anyone that really keeps you encouraged to pursue photography?
Everything inspires me and God keeps me going. Emotion, light, music, movement, the possibilities are endless. Also photographers like vivian maier and a giant list of flickr photographers inspire me (this includes you). I'm encouraged by people online for the most part and I'm grateful for it.

What gives you that 'mental stamp' that says, "This is the photo." Like, in your final product, how do you know if you got it just right?

hm, that's a hard question. Well it's sort of like I already have an idea in my head when I look at the picture. After that it's a mixture of luck and alot of experimenting. I guess it's like colors have feeling and   when the colors are right the photo speaks for itself. A breathless light and a heavy dark. I know it's right when I feel something from it and it matches what I feel.

 

Along with creating such beautiful photography, what do you like to do in your free time?

I'd have to say it's a combination of reading, writing, drawing,and singing. I'm very art oriented and other than that I don't do much. Me and my friends are the type who drop off the face of the earth during summer and hardly see each other unless by accident, so I occupy myself anyway I can that doesn't require a car. I do however go out with my mom wherever she goes.

Marshay, I can't thank you enough for doing this! View more of Marshay's amazing work on Flickr.

we trip and we trek back

   I've been so busy this summer! I just came back from Michigan for a family reunion and took loads of pictures and had a bit of fun. I've been traveling, shooting (I shot my first wedding!) I got an offer to be apart of a new and upcoming magazine, and getting ready for softball, I am supposed to be in New York right now for a wedding, but it got cancelled, and more things coming up!

 This trip was a gruesome, 32 hours, there and back!

 My Aunt Shell :]

 

I was sitting on the floor taking these, so they're all at weird angles. My creep cousin, Brandon and my Aunt Sand!

My cousin, Malikee, the ladies man, as I secretly call him :]

 We were stuck in the hotel for a few hours, so we decided to look around and visit the city. I swear, we looked like TOTAL TOURISTS.

 OUR LIFELINE. hehe, my Droid and it's Google Maps. ♥

 I wanted to go to the border so bad, just to see what would happen. Mom said, too big of a risk, haha.

Okay, I live down south. WE DON'T HAVE THESE WHERE I LIVE! We went to The largest Museum of African American History and when we got there, there were meters? Yes, my mom and I tripped out at the same time. So, we put like 3 hours worth of coins in there, cause the directions weren't quite clear, and we were in for what, maybe an hour? Our donation to the city.

The lobby was surrounded in flags!

 This is James Brown's suit, one of his suits, that he often wore! :)

 Of course, McDonalds.

 My Aunt and err, my, eh-----Okay, I'm not exactly sure what that would make the lovely lady in the middle, being that is her newly wedded husband, my cousin. Aren't they like the cutest couple?

 After a long trip and stay, it was time to trek back home.

I thought I knew long road trips when I travel just one state over. Five states? Don't think so.