It was a dark and stormy night. Well, a dark and stormy after\noon just before Tropical Storm Sandy hit Jersey City. I was in the midst of reading Neil Gaiman’s “Neverwhere” when the power went out. Not to be outdone, I pulled out the candles and kept on reading…
When the Rain Comes Down...
“When the Rain Comes Down” is inspired by my mom’s love of the TV show “Miami Vice” as well as her subsequent skill of opening me up to new genres of music. Andy Taylor’s vocals are all over this photographic piece. For me the song represents an important and unique place and time. The photo speaks the same volumes for me. I miss and love you, Mom - thanks for the positive influences
Gut Punch
I moved back to Tampa in 2022. One thing I learned to appreciate about living in NYC were the cemeteries, and upon my return to the Sunshine State I sought out our local graveyard. It was a bit of a sucker punch to the gut to see some of the recent dedicated gravestones, and sometimes the best approach is to be as blunt and honest as possible. Oaklawn Cemetery does not whitewash history.
The Falcon
After returning to Tampa in 2022 this was one of my favorite shots of wildlife. Tampa Bay has parks, trails and nature walks galore, as well as an incredible zoo at ZooTampa.
Winter's Tale
“Winter’s Tale” was the match that lit the spark. I was working in NYC as a a concierge in a building of tenants who I still adore to this day. It was a cold winter night, and I went out for my nightly walk to Jackie Robinson Park, literally two blocks away. The sight that greeted me was picture perfect, and after snapping the shot I ordered a canvas print. When the print arrived I put it in the corner behind my desk discretely at work for feedback, and one of my tenants bought “Winter’s Tale” within an hour of displaying the canvas. I was shocked, nervous, giddy and a 1,001 other emotions - I hadn’t expected my first sale - I was expecting a few critiques maybe a compliment. “Winter’s Tale” was the match that lit the spark for my love of photography, that my work had value outside of “Likes” and “Thumbs Up” on social media. To this day it is still one of my favorite pieces. I’ll never forget the night I took the shot, nor the night I sold it on canvas.
I Love the Bronx
This picture was taken two years ago today. It was a full day of exploring my beloved Bronx - The Lit Bar, Beatstro, piano factories and so much more. As I rounded a corner to continue my journey on foot into other boroughs, I was greeted by a this sentiment shared by so many others - “I Love the Bronx.” The upside down heart is the crowning touch - Bronxites are tough, strong and will not conform to society’s standards, let alone expectations. The Bronx is so near and dear to me, if only others could or would explore this unique, historical, cultural and fascinating borough. Oh, did I mention the cuisine?!? I too, love the Bronx.
Cloudy Moon
I’ve always had an obsession with the sky - whether it be clouds, the moon, the sun, the stars - it has just always been my nature to look up. This was one night where the clouds and the moon were in perfect alignment, just a mottled mosaic of light and dark, a subtle murkiness spell cast by Nyx to hide Diana’s secret.
Creamsicle Sunset
This was one of my early shift days at work, but I had to stop and check my garden to make sure everything was fine. I looked out at the lake and saw the most incredible colors, and it wasn’t until I got the full unobstructed view that this particular shot would be one of my favorites of all time. I also love that in the middle portion of the picture to the far left you can see a house with the lights just coming on to seize a brand new day.
Jade Drops
“Jade Drops” is along the same vein as “Cool Abstraction” in the idea that I don’t exactly recall where this picture was taken, only that it was either in or around the vicinity of the Katharine Hepburn Garden in NYC. While it may have been an art installation, sculpture or just a macro shot of plastic trash, I am just grateful that I had the foresight to capture the moment to preserve it in my catalog.
Sky Vapors
“Sky Vapors” has its origins one Friday dawn as I was stepping out on the back porch to have my coffee before my Uber arrived to take me to work. There was a peculiar light reflecting on the lake behind the house, and as I came outside I realized it was the leftover sky vapors from the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch that had occurred just a few minutes ago.
Moonrise in Tampa
“Moonrise” was taken from the back porch of my new home two days after I had moved in. The morning sunrise views are spectacular, but watching the moon rise over the lake at night was something else entirely - otherworldly, for lack of a better word.
Be Proud
Once upon a time society reveled in punching down those who were different, or who they didn’t, couldn’t or wouldn’t try to understand. The internet has changed much of that in the last twenty years, some for the worse, but so much more for the better. These two words, “BE PROUD” are spray painted as a random message to strangers on a NYC sidewalk, but for my friend and I that afternoon, it was a clear sign that as men who are black, gay, and have an affinity for boots that this message was meant for us, as well as anyone else who has been made to feel shame, who didn’t quite fit in to society’s norms. Times they be a changing, too slow at times for most and myself, but we will get there. BE PROUD
Electric Blue
“Electric Blue” was taken in the middle of the night whilst I was filling in as concierge at another location on break. The streetlight and the newly formed drops atop the park table was just too much irresistible. This is what I mean when I speak of “finding the extraordinary in the ordinary-” we, life and the world sometimes moves too damned fast that we refuse to just slow down, even for a moment. Yet when I took a fifteen minute break away from work, lo and behold there was a shot already prepped for me and a lifetime’s memory. Slow down once in a while…
Moonrise
It’s been a few minutes since I’ve journaled, but I’m pleased to say that I took a giant step and moved back to Tampa after having spent the last 13 incredible years living in New York City.
“Moonrise” was taken in the backyard of my new residence. It certainly looks like a sun rise, yet no matter what tool or filter was used, I couldn’t duplicate what I was seeing with my own two eyes.
A special shout-out to the lone goose cruising the waters in the path of the moon beam…
Pastel Sunset
Working in the Battery Park section of lower Manhattan gave me the opportunity to see a variety of gorgeous sunsets, including this one above the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian and the Bowling Green subway station.
Finding the Ordinary in the Extraordinary →
My journey as an artist who likes to takes pictures has been quite the memorable one as I continue to evolve, experiment and push the envelope regarding my creativity. I am also my own worst, and harshest critic, and those days have slowly faded away to be replaced by something considerably different. Though it has taken more time than it should have, I am begun to truly see my work as others do, to have an appreciation for my work and that it not only has value for me, but for others as well. While I am the last to pat myself on the pack and try to be as humble as can be, I am proud of my accomplishments, my work, my potential and exploring new and exciting visions to capture. Thank YOU for being a part of this incredible journey with me…
Sincerely,
Jared Ray Eaton
Empire Taxi
The origins of “Empire Taxi” occurred in June 2013 shortly after I had moved to Manhattan from Jersey City. As happens so often I was out for a walk one evening, glanced to the left and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. There is just something about the majesty of the Empire State Building’s glow, the world famous NYC yellow cabs in the foreground and the long exposure of a passing car that pulls this all together quite nicely.
The Morning Glories
I have worked at PS90 as a concierge for the past four years, and have been fascinated by the architecture and have occasionally dabbled in the back garden. One weekend a tenant and I put up a discarded trellis we had found and she transplanted her morning glories into a large white bucket. Just a few weeks later they had topped the trellis in all their, ahem, morning glory. The architecture of PS90 makes for the perfect backdrop to showcase these easy to care for flowers.
Iris
Iris has always been my favourite flower - the deep rich purple, the long time colour of royalty. In addition, the flower takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. I love getting up close and personal with flowers, it allows me to practice my skills in the fields of macro and abstract photography.
Collision of Country and City
I had to go downtown (which is what folks in the Bronx call Manhattan) for an appointment, and right where the Brooklyn Bridge started near City Hall I noticed these beautiful sunflowers that dispelled the gloom of the day. Try hard as I might, I could not get a good shot of the flowers without the buildings in the background - that’s when it dawned on me to incorporate the skyscrapers into the picture. Here I was in the middle of the city, and there was this island oasis that reminded me of the farm where I grew up in Michigan. Despite being a concrete jungle, NYC has some of the most beautiful green spaces I have ever seen.
