California Coast

 
 

After five exhausting weeks filming in Africa, I got to drive more than a thousand miles up the California Coast with friends of more than 20 years

Ocean Beach, San Diego

Coast lines 

Coast lines 

Open road

Big Sur

Barefoot free climbing

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Oakland

Dolores Park, SF

Spent 5 nights hiking and camping on The Lost Coast Trail, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in California 

Slept outside next to the fire and under the stars

Slept outside next to the fire and under the stars

Where ecosystems collide 

Washed up whale

Washed up redwood tree

"It is a rare and precious thing to awaken at the confluence of two streams, to merge minds at a watery intersection in time, between the fading play of light and shadow. It is an even rarer and more precious thing to practice this rite deep in the woods, with two of your childhood friends". –Rob Bethea

 

After the Lost Coast we spent a night under the redwoods in Humboldt State Park

 
 

South Africa

 

Spent 10 days in South Africa filming and learning about apartheid-born, energy giant Sasol and the township of Zamdela, a polluted community in Sasolburg. Sasol is building the largest foreign owned plant in the US, directly on top of Mossville, an historic African American community in Louisiana.

www.mossvilleproject.com

Sasolburg, SA

The Sasol chemical plant over the Zamdela Township 

The Sasol chemical plant over the Zamdela Township 

Rhona - Organizer for Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) and resident of Zamdela

Rhona - Organizer for Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) and resident of Zamdela

Skhumbozo - VEJA organizer 

Skhumbozo - VEJA organizer 

Aerial shot of Zamdela at sunset

Aerial shot of Zamdela at sunset

Oupa - Zamdela resident and former Sasol employee

Oupa - Zamdela resident and former Sasol employee

Rhona - VEJA Organizer
Our fearless fixer and friend, Thulani

Our fearless fixer and friend, Thulani

Secunda, SA

Sasol's plant in Secunda has had the highest rate of C02 emissions on the planet

Sasol's plant in Secunda has had the highest rate of C02 emissions on the planet

"Graceland" Hotel built for Sasol executives

"Graceland" Hotel built for Sasol executives

It's actually modeled after a southern plantation

It's actually modeled after a southern plantation

Business men playing golf 

Business men playing golf 

Aerial shot of the plants 

Aerial shot of the plants 

Durban, SA

Desmond D'sa - Organizer for The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)

Desmond D'sa - Organizer for The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)

Kruger, SA

Had a free day at the end of the trip and drove to Kruger National Park

 

Morocco

 

Spent three weeks in Morocco filming a story about the migrant/refugee crises. Recently, European nations have become overwhelmed with the numbers of Africans fleeing war and poverty, and far from the attention of the global media, have started pushing migrants and refugees back across the border into Morocco. Spanish officials, operating on Moroccan soil, are then free to carry out abuses that would be punishable under E.U. law, brutally beating and even killing those who dare to make a second attempt at crossing.

Oudayas, Rabat

Oudayas, Rabat

The Medina 

The Medina 

Father walking his son into the light

Father walking his son into the light

Phino - From Congo

Phino - From Congo

Moroccan shopkeeper 

Moroccan shopkeeper 

Man bringing home parsley for Ramadan dinner

Man bringing home parsley for Ramadan dinner

Behind the scenes 

Behind the scenes 

Phino 

Phino 

My Moroccan soccer team

My Moroccan soccer team

Kid diving over the historic city of Oudayas

Kid diving over the historic city of Oudayas

Shooting pool with Yoness

Shooting pool with Yoness

Our Moroccan, Congolese, American film team

Our Moroccan, Congolese, American film team

 

Nick & Emily's Wedding

 

Had the honor of capturing the beautiful union of my dear friends atop a waterfall in Asheville, NC and made this video as their wedding present. Only the maid of honor, best man, officiator, officiator's wife, and I were present. Oh yeah, and Walter the dog :)    

 

Colorado Rockies

 

Spent a couple nights in the mountains with my family following my cousins wedding

My mom, 60 years young 

My brother, David 

My brother, David 

 

IHSNO

 

I was hired to make a promotional video for the International High School of New Orleans. Instead of making another generic commercial, we decided to let the students create it. They interviewed their teachers, admins and classmates, I taught them how to use the camera, lights and mics, and this is what we made.

I don't think I've ever worked on a more fun project. I was constantly in awe of these young people's creativity, intelligence and positivity.

 

The Eagle Saloon

 

I was hired to make a fundraising video for a legendary, abandoned building in what was once New Orleans' Storyville neighborhood. It is a space where some of the greatest jazz innovators and pioneers, like Buddy Bolden, Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton created and performed in. I got to meet some of present day's jazz greats in the process, as well as spend time in an old abandoned building with a lot of history (something I always loved to do!).