Onward 2015 / Glen E. Friedman

What a way to start the new year, with old friends, new friends and your kid at a backyard pool session. No doubt, I have had some good fortune in my life and seen some amazing things. This all leads to even more opportunities for future incredible events. It’s not all good in the world, we know that. Crazy shit going down every day. But it’s all good in your head if you got INTEGRITY. We do the best we can for the most good for the most people. I spread inspiration with pictures, and speak truth to power and injustice when ever I can in hope of helping to shape a better tomorrow. I hope you all do too!

On the third day of this new year the “Blue Tile Obsession” crew helped me to arrange a FUN session at our incredible hosts’ backyard pool, to get together with bros I’ve known since I was barely a teen to new brethren I had just met for the first time. I would be taking my seven year old son along. I found some film in the refrigerator at my moms, where we were staying on this holiday trip out west.  I had placed in a box a long time ago. One B&W roll that was stamped expiration 1995 and one color roll expiration 2001, both high speed and grainy. I didn’t know if they’d even work at all.

(youngest to oldest - single shot film portraits)

I recently showed my boy his first James Bond movie, turned him on to Evel Knievel, hooked up floor seats to see the Lakers the night before, got him slot cars for the holidays (no bullshit -screen games in my place), When he was born, there was a DogTown skate with Cadillacs waiting for him, Adidas and Vans for life, so far, etc. etc. all the goodness of being a father. On occasion he plays chess with the old dudes in the park. He’s a city kid. New York City. He’s been shooting pictures since he could talk, digital. He’s got some good ones too. This day was gonna be different, another milestone. My goal was to let him use my OG 17mm lens attached to my trusty Pentax k-1000 and get a shot of one of the most stylish dogs alive that I grew up with. Hey, so what he’s privileged, why shouldn’t there be some benefit to having me as a father, I’ve paid my dues right? I told told Tony, who’s known my son Ezio since before he was even a year old, this was the goal. Other uncles (Olson and Lance) knew the plan too. It was gonna be a fun session and Ezio was gonna try to get his shot. Elder Jeff Ho was there and Junior rock star Olson even showed. Arto,  who’s now taking some respectable photos, was doing triple duty (hosting, photographing and shredding), not to mention Mr. Enthusiasm and go-getter Ozzie, amongst even more cool friends y’all…

We had a fucking blast and I couldn’t have been happier that day than to see my boy aiming, thinking, composing and keeping quiet while concentrating on the subjects, which some how I think he knew, that even familiar as uncles, there were all revered men.

He was loving it. We all were…TA teasing Ez: “Don’t miss the best ones like your dad did!” Some motherfuckers never change, and sometimes that’s a good thing. I shot a few too, too much fun was being had, and I have fun shooting when inspired.

But this was the prize of the day for me:

gratitudE