This is Aliester. Aliester was in a horrible car accident, was found dead, and resuscitated. He spent about a month in a medically induced coma with a tramatic brain injury, internal injuries, and a broken pelvis. The scar on his torso is from the multiple surgeries he had to undergo. Once awake, Aliester spent another 6 weeks at a rehabilitation center learning how to walk again, and here he is standing as if it never happened. 

Aliester inspired this entire series. I remember when I first saw Aliester when I was a freshman in college, he intrigued me, and completely intimidated me. I am a naturally shy person, and would have never approached him if he hadn't been in a group together for a project. After that we seemed to click and I am thankful every day that he didn't die. When I first met Aliester, I had heard about him being in a car accident, but didn't know the extent. I would have never known about this scar.

This is Adair. Adire has been Molested on 4 separate occasions through out her life. She doesn't allow it to cause her pain, or hinder her personality. If anything it only makes her stronger.

This is Gabby. Gabby has struggled with her weight through outher adult life, and feels most insecure about her stomach. 

Justin smokes, showing off his french inhale.

This is Blaine and Justin. Although neither feels insecure nor are they in the closet still, I chose to photograph them not because they are two wonderful amazing men and friends of mine, but being gay can be a difficult journey for many, and I want to inspire others not to feel insecure, and embrace who they are, because we should not give anyone the power to make us feel inferior for who we are. It is not up to us to judge other. In my opinion Only God can judge me, and he will judge you for judging me. 

This is one of my closest friends. It is weird to think that right now she would have a newborn baby. My friend was faced with one of the most difficult decisions in her life, she chose to terminate her pregnancy. She did not do this with a light heart, but with careful consideration. She and her boyfriend made the decision together. They were not ready to bring a child into the world. They couldn't afford one, and trying to afford a child was going to be a struggle for many years to come. She wants to be able to provide with ease for her family, and not condemn her child to a life of struggle. Adoption may be an option to some people, but for them it wasn't. They knew once they saw their child they would not be able to give it up, and not all babies up for adoption find their way into a loving home. Our orphanages are overrun, and foster care has the potential to be a horrible situation with greedy lazy people scamming the government and taking it out on innocent children. Unless you plan to adopt all of the potential abortions, or donate exponential sums to provide better care for familyless children, please don't leave negative comments concerning this woman's decision. 

This is Ryan. Ryan has trouble seeing the potential everyone else can see in him. Having grown up with a troubled support system and family, Ryan constantly feels he isn't worth a penny. He doesn't see the successful man he could be, he sees a loser when he looks in the mirror. During this shoot Ryan told me he would love to wear a suit everyday, he feels comfortable, and confident in it, and he looks damn good in it! 

This is the knife. The Knife decided with a few of his other friends that they would go over to his ex girlfriend's and pay her new boyfriend a visit. He and the boyfriend ended up getting in a fight and the Knife beat the crap out of the boyfriend, during this brawl the boyfriend pulled a knife on The Knife, and he disarmed the guy and took the knife with him when he left. The Knife spent 15 months in prison for taking the knife, thus earning him the nickname for this project, The Knife. 

This is Little Bear. Little Bear is a retired drug dealer.

This is Weedman. Enough said.

 

Hope you enjoyed this!