When I began Pangea’s Garden, I was told about the World Natural Hair Show. At the time it was just a blog and I was simply exploring my own interest of capturing images of natural beauty. I missed the opportunity to attend the WNHS that first time and came to regret it. Not then, but later, because as I created my works, it became more important the sources of this aesthetic. The culture that cultivated the beauty is significant and I began to appreciate that. When the chance came again the following year I leapt at it. This feature is one of the foundations of the Garden. Bookmark on Delicious...

With the temperature steadily rising as we cruise into summer, it’s only natural that things get a little steamy around here.  But when I tell you that Black on Black Rhyme’s Take a Load Off Tuesday May 18th show was hot, I don’t just mean the soft humidity that coated my skin before I walked into Studio 281.  The Tallahassee troupe, Back Talk, was in the building, and so were a lot of other talented people. The packed house helped–you know it always gets a little warmer when black folks sit close together.   The faces become more familiar each time, the embraces more...

In the early days of the Pangea’s Garden Project I was fortunate to discover the extraordinary works of Maxim Vakhovskiy. At the time I’d created several captures that would, later, find a home here and I was curious to know if anyone shared a vision of Afrocentric beauty and sensuality. Maxim was one of the first I found. Eastern Europe born, Maxim is a portrait photographer currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is “delighted to photograph interesting, natural, vintage-souled, humble, passionate, uninhibited, and free-spirited characters with richly whispering beauty....

Intimate moments, alone, captured while the faint taste of incense lingers in the air. Warm soft light is ubiquitous. Long locs fall across bare shoulders while bejeweled hands dab into shay buttah so that they can spread it over the brown skin that drinks it in. Blaq Buttaphly and I were in the cool basement loft. And while we laughed and talked we created these captures that were, for me, one of the root inspirations of Pangea’s Garden. Minutes, that happen, privately, so often that their rare beauty is, easily lost in the repetition. Every now and then, I like to take a moment to capture...

Early Monday morning was the time. The location – an urbane apartment building in midtown Atlanta that had brightly painted interiors which caught the light of the sun very well and reflected it brilliantly.  I’d visited the apartment about week prior to the shoot and knew it would be perfect for an early morning set. LoisLane and I met the sun in the kitchen and the rest was beautiful. We call her LoisLane because, like Clark Kent, her hidden powers are endless. She is an INCREDIBLY intelligent medical student by day and in her secret identity she’s a soulfully talented Jazz basist....