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Michael Lopez Photography
View my portfolio at M329.com
View my portfolio at M329.com
A series of photos that I took of a man named Steve Avalos, aka Frost. Part IV
A series of photos that I took of a man named Steve Avalos, aka Frost. Part III
A series of photos that I took of a man named Steve Avalos, aka Frost. Part II
A series of photos that I took of a man named Steve Avalos, aka Frost.
Here is a PSA that I directed, shot, wrote, and edited for the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Our future depends on the children that we raise. Please help this Christmas Season by giving to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Thank you.
My Life Coach and good friend Lisette Stinson. She helps me make sense of all the things running in my mind. :)
Digging in the crates. Some photos I took in 2007.
Wendale Davis Foundation - March Against Violence 2011
You. Friends. Future.
I always tell every young person that I meet, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” Today, that statement spoke louder to me than every before. Today, I asked my inner circle of friends for help.
Now, 99% of the time, I do not ask for help when it comes to money. I never like to put pressure on people. Either you can help, or you can’t. It does not change my perception of you at all. I understand that I give differently than most people. So my own personal expectations are never placed on others. What I do as person, is what I do, and what you do as a person, is what you do for yourself.
Today was so much different. Today I asked my friends to donate money to a young man that they had never met. They only knew of him because of me. I have had the pleasure of photographing this young man over the last couple of months for San Joaquin Community Hospital. He is currently being treated for burns to his body. The procedure to fix his skin is painful and I have seen him stand strong through it all.
Today, this young man turned 13 years old. My own son is 12 and I could not imagine him enduring through this pain. Not just physically, but also emotionally. I had talked to him and his mother a few weeks ago about how he wanted an Xbox 360. I thought to myself I would like to get him one. So, when I attended his birthday party today at the Grossman Burn Center, I learned that they started a small fund for him to buy an Xbox 360. That is when I decided that I was going to call on my inner circle of friends.
I stopped by their offices, called or texted them on phone, and asked if they would help by giving a donation to this young man. Without hesitation, each gave generously to this gift. They never hesitated. They did not blow me off and say sure and then could not be reached again. They made it happen. One even brought in his own friend who I have never met and gave towards the gift.
Show me your friends, and I will show you your future. My friends believed me and saw that I cared about this. They believed in my idea. I am grateful that each one of them is in my life. I want to thank each of them for their commitment. I know that they do not want any recognition for this service other than me telling them that he greatly enjoyed the gift. But, I want to recognize each of them here.
- Monte C. Wilson
- Chris Clayton
- Greg McCall
- Jeff Thorn
- Brad Peters
- Erin Henderson
- Chashere Esquiano (sister)
- Gina Lopez (wife)
You know when people believe in you, when they just respond on the spot and make it happen. I am not trying to brag about myself. But, I would like for you to look at your inner circle of friends and ask yourself, “What would my friends do?” If your friends do not make you a better person, then you need rethink who you are hanging out with.
My friends brought serious joy to this young man. He couldn’t hold it in. :)
May God bless each and everyone of you.
Peace.
Bakersfield. Homeless. Center.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a passionate person. I put my heart and soul into everything that I do. I was recently hired to not only build a new web site, but to also photograph and create small video vignettes for the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
Last December I created a short vignette that showed the children of BHC receiving gifts from Santa Clause. It was on this assignment that I took a tour of the facility. At the end of this tour, I was in tears.
The tour changed my perception of homelessness. When I thought of homeless people, I always envisioned drunk old men. What I found was completely different. I found families. Men with children that did not have shelter or the means to feed them.
It’s always easy for us to look at adults and say, “They had their chance.” But, when you see kids that did not have a choice, it quickly changes your perception and makes you want to help.
The old web site was a little outdated and lacked the content that would help someone learn more about BHC. More importantly, the site was not compelling enough to encourage someone to donate online. Also, the site did not convey the love of the organization and the people who serve there.
Please take a look at the new site and view all of the work that I have put into it. The Bakersfield Homeless Center is really doing some great work in our community.
Visit the new site here. http://www.bakhc.org
Thank you.
