the right answers

Sex et La Cité
Originally uploaded by lorenzodom

the right answers

ennui piques me.

and so, in need of excitement

i’ve taken to experimenting.

from fotos found in anonymous spaces—

author unknown
forgotten traces
of where and when merely lingering
in the recesses of the there and then
that curses through the sanguine sanctuary
of lust and memory

—i’ve drawn upon the lurid imagination
to extract the essence of me—

of what i see,
of what i feel and what i’ve felt,
of what i steal away
in stolen moments dealt
by self-determination.

oh, how golden moments glisten!
when listening to desire,
as it whispers—

love does not bind.

beauty has no boundaries.

only those blind to righteousness
can see how both these bound
in copious splendor
all around us.

trust the heart
as much as the mind,
for one does not always
find
the right answers
in reasoning.

Another Set Like This

Announcing: Literary Central

Announcing: Literary Central

If you wish to be a writer, write.
- Epictetus -

Right.

I write, therefore I am, and I’m feeling restless right now, a wee-bit rebellious (Argh!), a tad-bit flippant.

I’ve decided to purge the feeling by founding a group that I’m inviting you to use, abuse and participate in as a writer, a reader or simply as an individual, but not as a member.

“I would never join a club that would have me as a member.”
- Groucho Marx -

If you’re like me at all, you write everyday and you take photos everyday, and the twain often intertwine.

Subsequently, I’ve done my best to occasionally collect these collaborative efforts into myriad sets of mine, including:

Original Work
100 New York Stories (High)
A Letter to A Muse
the lost man chronicles: book one
the lost man chronicles archives
Poetic Parities
Autres, Others, Otras
25 Lessons I Have Learned
25 More Lessons (I’ve Learned
25 Points of Creativity
Running with the Devil
there was a man: a poem in eleven parts

Quoting Others
The Colours of My Mind
Running with the Devil

Alas, the task of organizing these all into neat little groups can be a rather time-consuming and sometimes daunting chore that often leaves me with little time for creating.

Hence, I’ve been yearning for a catch-all where I can dump, store my goods, and readily find all my relevant “literary” work whenever need be.

That’s why I’m creating Literary Central.

I’d love it if you considered it your place to store your literature as well.

Let’s briefly talk about two things: 1. defining “literature,” and 2. the rules (i.e. there are none).

Defining Literature
First, “literature” to me is merely the creative use of words to describe something. Ultimately, you may end up with a short story, a delightful journal entry, a long love letter, an epic poem or merely an excerpt to a work-in-progress.

Or, maybe not.

Maybe you merely want to submit a tidbit, an anecdote, a modicum of verse, a quote; or maybe even just an idea for a short story, a love letter or epic poem, along with your photo or image. It’s really up to you.

Essentially, Literary Central is meant to be a free-for-all, for as long as you submit according to the theme. Which brings me to the second subject: anarchy rules.

The Unruly Rules
For all intensive purposes, there are no rules. Well, not exactly, or entirely, for we are all civilized mortals her after all (Aren't we?). So, mostly there are no rules.

As the Editor-of-Mischief of Literary Central I promise not to administrate or edit or censor (for the most part). I’ll stop by on occasion, say “Hi, hey, hello!” and submit my own work to my heart’s content. I’m hoping you’ll do the same.

Certainly, if you simply, merely, only, want to participate as a reader or by using quotes of others’ words and work to complement your own photographs—by all means please do so. Just make sure, out of respect, to quote your source (i.e. name the author, writer, poet, playwright, lyricist, philosopher or plain old pundit.)

“Mediocre writers borrow; great writers steal.”
- T. S. Eliot -

However, I highly encourage you to submit your very own words. Everyone was a story to tell, everyone has a poem swelling in their heart, everyone has feelings pounding at their chest, yearning to be ex-pressed, exorcised from the depths of their souls.

You can never say “But I’m not a writer” or “I don’t have anything to say,” because every photo is worth a thousand words—and thus, all you have to do is figure out how to extract them.

Moreover, everyone’s life is interesting, everyone’s thoughts are insightful, everyone has the ability to creatively express themselves (with words).

If you can write an e-mail or a pithy text message even—you can write. It’s only the crazy ones who try to write books.

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”
- Mark Twain -

With a will to see it that way, a small effort to manifest your thoughts and emotions into words, and a mere modicum of courage to share them with others you too can write. Besides, regardless of what you submit, no one is going to judge you (negatively) here. This is a positive place to be.

So once again—no hard and fast rules (i.e. no submission limits, no “leave your comment on twenty others before you can submit yours,” no vote for the best and delete the rest, and certainly no games); this is your place to store your favorite words and photos; this is your place to be inspired my fellow photographers and writers work; and this is your place to meet and discuss literature, if you like.

The only exception (for now) is that if you blatantly disregard the simple theme, we’ll just have to boot you out.

Click here to go to Literary Central now.

Regards,
lorenzo

Masterpiece Portrait Theater (Il Teatro del Ritratto Capolavoro)

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Masterpiece Portrait Theater (Il Teatro del Ritratto Capolavoro)

MelaPela (Raffa & Giulio) kindly commented "Lorenzo, è un capolavoro.” (Lorenzo, this is a masterpiece)

For a moment there, I simply took another look at the photo of Nicky, blinked, and thought, “Yes, it is a very nice photo.” But then again, I am wholly biased because not only did I take it, but I love our youngest son very much.

But then it occurred to me, that in a way, perhaps this is a “masterpiece,” primarily because I feel it captures his personality well.

About to turn 5 on October 4, Dominic was born in the shadow of 9.11 in the year 2001.

He was also born in the shadow of his older brother Enzo, who is two and a half years older than him.

As a result of these two ominous events, Dominic did not receive as much doting, affection and attention as his sibling. It does not mean that his mother, Domenica, or I love him any less.

It is however an acknowledgement that he was not born as an only child; that we moved from Brooklyn, New York to Bloomfield, New Jersey a mere four months after he was born; and that the turmoil of the catastrophic events that occurred four weeks before he was born changed everything.

And, as much as 9.11 moved many of us affected be the tragedy to appreciate our families more than ever before, it also duly preoccupied us in so many other ways that often our changed habits cut in to the time that could have been spent at home.

Moreover, although my recent marital separation with his mother has been fairly amicable, I recognize that the fact that his parents are no longer together and that his father is not around as often as he used to be, have likely affected him in countless ways as well. They certainly have affected me.

Thus, I think, that perhaps this photo is a masterpiece, because it does reflect his personality fairly well—he has never been the aggressive go-getter that his brother seemingly has always been; and he has long seemed a tad more shy, less boisterous and much more reserved than Enzo.

Ironically enough, each child’s personality also seems to reflect that of their namesake parent, the one each also happens to look like most. Comparisons and comments have long been made about how Nicky’s complexion, eye and hair coloring closely match his mother’s, and how Enzo’s (Lorenzo, Jr.) likewise matches my own.

Thus, although during this photo session I encouraged Nicky to smile more, and I wanted him to move out of the shadows and into the sunshine more, much as his brother is apt to do, at a certain point it occurred to me that “This is Nicky,” and so I just let him be.

Albeit, I may not be proud that Nicky has received the short end of the stick when it comes to attention, I don’t feel guilty, I don’t regret our and my personal decisions. Both Domenica and I love our children equally and do our best to cater to and encourage each son’s idiosyncrasies, talents and qualities.

However, I definitely take pride in the notion that, seemingly, my portraiture skills have improved somewhat, so that many of the pictures of people that I’ve taken lately have actually captured a bit of the persona, along with the external beauty that I see in them all.


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MelaPela (Il Raffa & Giulio) ha commentato con bontà "Lorenzo, il capolavoro di un di è."

Per un momento lí, ho portato semplicemente un altro sguardo alla foto di Nicky, ammiccato, e ho pensato, "Sì, è una foto molto piacevole." Ma d'altra parte, sono completamente il biased perché ho fatto non solo lo porta, ma amo nostro più giovane figlio molto.

Ma poi è accaduto a me, ciò in una maniera, forse questo è un "il capolavoro," principalmente perché sento che esso cattura la sua personalità bene.

Di girare 5 il 4 ottobre, Dominic era nato all'ombra di 9,11 nell'anno 2001.

Era anche nato all'ombra del suo più vecchio Enzo di fratello, che è due ed uni semestri più vecchi di lui.

Come risultato di questi due avvenimenti sinistri, Dominic non ha ricevuto come molto stravedere, l'affetto e l'attenzione come il suo fratello. Non significa che sua madre, Domenica, o l'ami qualunque meno.

È comunque una conferma che non era nato come un solo bambino; che abbiamo mosso da Brooklyn, New York a Bloomfield, New Jersey un semplice quattro mesi dopo che era nato; e che l'agitazione degli avvenimenti catastrofici che è accaduto quattro settimane prima che era nato tutto ha cambiato.

E, tanto quanto 9,11 molti di noi hanno mosso ha riguardato è la tragedia apprezzare le nostre famiglie più che mai prima, debitamente ci è preoccupati anche in cosí molte altre maniere che spesso le nostre abitudini cambiate si è intrometsso al tempo che potrebbe essere stato speso alla casa.

Inoltre, sebbene la mia separazione recente coniugale con sua madre è stata giustamente amichevole, riconosco che il fatto che i suoi genitori non sono più insieme e che suo padre non è intorno come spesso come ha usato per essere, avere probabile l'ha riguardato nelle maniere innumerevoli.

Così, penso, ciò forse questa foto è un capolavoro, perché riflette la sua personalità giustamente bene—non è mai stato l'arrivista aggressivo che suo fratello sempre è stato apparentemente; e ha lungo sembrato un ragazzino più timido, Meno tumultuoso e molto più riservato di Enzo.

Ironicamente abbastanza, ogni personalità del bambino sembra riflettere anche che del loro genitore di omonimo, l'un succede somigliare anche a più. I paragoni ed i commenti hanno lungo è stato fatto di come la carnagione del Nicky, l'occhio ed i capelli colorando attentamente uguagliare sua madre, E come Enzo (Lorenzo, Jr.) uguaglia similmente mio proprio.

Così, sebbene durante questa sessione di foto ho incoraggiato Nicky a sorridere più, e l'ho voluto muovere fuori delle ombre e nel sole più, molto come suo fratello è adatto a fare, a un certo punto che è accaduto a me ciò "Questo è Nicky," e cosí io giusto ha lasciato è.

Quantunque, non posso essere orgoglioso che Nicky ha ricevuto la fine breve del bastone viene con questo all'attenzione, non sento colpevole, non mi rammarico il nostro e le mie decisioni personali. Entrambi il Domenica ed amo i nostri bambini e faccio ugualmente il nostro meglio approvvigionare a ed incoraggia ogni idiosincrasie del figlio, i talenti e le qualità.

Comunque, sono indubbiamente è orgoglioso della nozione che apparentemente le mie abilitì di portraiture hanno migliorato un poco, in modo che molti del le immagini di persone che ho portata ultimamente hanno catturato effettivamente un pezzetto del persona, con la bellezza esterna che vedo in tutti loro.


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Other portrait sets:

You Are My Sunshine

My Friend, Mia

Desiring, Courtney

The Sparkling Brooklyn Hilary

DJ Mixx Goes Boom

From Mud to Men

I'm always looking for extraordinary subjects to practice my portraiture on/with, so if you live in or are visiting the tri-state area of NYC and are interested in having me take your picture (or know of anyone who might be) send me a note.

Click HERE if you would like to receive e-mail updates whenever new lorenzodom photos are published.


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More stories, musings and poems about and written for my sons:

To Live A Life Uncommon

There’s Always Something (Ode for a Son)

Nicky The Brave (The Spine of Life)

Like Father, Like Son (a paternal self-fulfilling prophecy)

I Love You, Dominic

Three Familiar Faces (Lesson 6: If…)

I’m A Father (Designing My Little Architects

Just The Two of Us (Papa Loves You)

The Quiet One

The Boys (Collection of Photo Sets )