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Kwaku has a handful of personal projects going, like “Volkslivin”…
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From the series "Volkslivin" by Kwaku Alston.
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…“Horizon Court”…
From the series "Horizon Court" by Kwaku Alston.
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…and his portrait series “On White”…
From the series "On White" by Kwaku Alston.
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What I like about his project “Life,” though, is that it’s not just personal but autobiographical. It’s Kwaku photographing his neighbors, his family, people’s he’s worked with, even his therapist. It’s an ever-expanding portrait of and by Kwaku Alston, told through the faces of others.
Some scenes from his “Life,” along with his captions…
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“Diner Divas—The Saddle Back Grill, Louisville, Kentucky”
"Each morning," writes Kwaku, who was in Kentucky for a shoot, "I was greeted with a huge hug and smile from Pat and Theresa."
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“Gallerina—Paris Chong”
"Paris runs the Farmani Gallery in Los Angeles, which specializes in photography. She's an energetic single mom with a passion for art. Her gallery openings always attract an amazing mix of vibrant people."
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“Conscientious Objector—Neerad”
"Between his open heart, his brilliant mind and his distinctly unique political views, you know you will always have a great conversation when you visit with Neerad. He's been renovating a house in Venice by himself, and I often stop by to check on the progress."
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“Agents Extraordinaire”
"Bill Stockland and Maureen Martel are the incredible duo behind the careers of many great photographers. If there were business superstars, these two would be legendary—Maureen as Wonder Woman and Bill as Superman."
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“Writing Roommates”
"Venice is filled with all kinds of artists, writers, and bohemians. X and Y are writers who are roommates, enjoying the proximity to the beach and the community of eclectic neighbors."
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“Therapy With a Smile—Elaine Fidel”
"Elaine is my go-to person when I'm working through a conflict. She has a matter-of-fact style and an uncanny ability to intuit a situation in five minutes and lay it on the table. She opens my mind to other ways of seeing life's little surprises."
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“Alley Recyclers”
"The alley behind my street is an odd mix of privilege and desperation. I've seen a celebrity hiding from paparazzi with her newborn baby and homeless men suffering from drug addiciton. Here, two enterprising recyclers show me their catch of the day."
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“Love—Faune and William”
"My mother and stepfather have been together for more than 30 years. They took the train to New York to visit me when I was in town for a shoot. There's nothing like an old-school diner, and there's truly nothing like family."
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“Home Sweet Home—Carl Alston”
"My father recently retired and bought a new home in Philadelphia. It's a big transition, but he is really enjoying the change. He has a lot more time to focus on his kung fu practice."
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To see more photos from this series, go here.
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