93 Autumns
Tracy Clayton Photography "Viewing the world through my own lens one photo at a time..."
What's 93 Autumns?
93 Autumns is a photo project inspired by the legendary photoist Gordon Parks. Essence Magazine wrote this after Parks' death in June 2006:
"Renaissance man: born 93 autumns ago in a tiny prairie town in Kansas, Gordon Parks became the first black staff photographer at Life and the first African-American to direct a feature film…"
93 Autumns pays homage to an icon in literature, film, and photography.
Tracy Clayton is a Washington, D.C. based communications consultant working for the man. When not a slave to the billable hour, one can find Tracy roaming the streets of D.C., Baltimore, Philly, Miami and NYC letting the shutter fly.
Originally from Miami, Florida by way of the Philippines, Tracy is a loving creation of a Filipina mother and African-American father. With this genetic make up a unique prism was developed through which Tracy views life. He wants to share this outlook with the world. After a failed blog attempt or two where he rambled about politics and hip-hop, Tracy was seeking an outlet for his creative energy.
Tracy discovered a passion for photography in 2001 with a borrowed point & shot digital camera by taking casual shots of friends and his new surroundings in the nation's capitol. People began to take notice, "You've got an eye..." they said.
A photographer was born.
Self-taught, Tracy learns with every shot, still discovering his style and favorite subject matter. Tracy's photos have been featured in Schmaps Destination Guides (DC & Philly Editions), Six Degrees Magazine, NowPublic.com and the blogs DCist, Miamist, and Phillyist. Tracy's work has been exhibited in the DCist Exposed Photography Show two years running.
Tracy was honored by City Year as one of Washington, D.C.'s "Idealist of the Year" in 2008 for his work teaching photography to young people in D.C. Tracy has been working since 2001 to turn informal mentoring relationships with inner-city youth and his love for photography into an official 501.c3. The organization is called InFocus D.C. which encourages youth to "focus" on community and self through photography.
Besides a love for photography, Tracy is a political junkie and fan of real hip-hop and jazz. He's loyal to the likes of The Roots, John Coltrane, De La Soul, Thelonius Monk, Digable Planets, and Common.
About The Photographer
Tracy Clayton is a Washington, D.C. based communications consultant working for the man. When not a slave to the billable hour, one can find Tracy roaming the streets of D.C., Baltimore, Philly, Miami and NYC letting the shutter fly.
Originally from Miami, Florida by way of the Philippines, Tracy is a loving creation of a Filipina mother and African-American father. With this genetic make up a unique prism was developed through which Tracy views life. He wants to share this outlook with the world. After a failed blog attempt or two where he rambled about politics and hip-hop, Tracy was seeking an outlet for his creative energy.
Tracy discovered a passion for photography in 2001 with a borrowed point & shot digital camera by taking casual shots of friends and his new surroundings in the nation's capitol. People began to take notice, "You've got an eye..." they said.
A photographer was born.
Self-taught, Tracy learns with every shot, still discovering his style and favorite subject matter. Tracy's photos have been featured in Schmaps Destination Guides (DC & Philly Editions), Six Degrees Magazine, NowPublic.com and the blogs DCist, Miamist, and Phillyist. Tracy's work has been exhibited in the DCist Exposed Photography Show two years running.
Tracy was honored by City Year as one of Washington, D.C.'s "Idealist of the Year" in 2008 for his work teaching photography to young people in D.C. Tracy has been working since 2001 to turn informal mentoring relationships with inner-city youth and his love for photography into an official 501.c3. The organization is called InFocus D.C. which encourages youth to "focus" on community and self through photography.
Besides a love for photography, Tracy is a political junkie and fan of real hip-hop and jazz. He's loyal to the likes of The Roots, John Coltrane, De La Soul, Thelonius Monk, Digable Planets, and Common.
Testimonials:
"Skills he's got 'em check out his stream you'll agree."
-Dottie Guy
"T has some serious skills. An amazing eye for detail and the poetry of the street. He takes some of the things that I would have considered mundane and passed by, and makes it art."
-Ed Hoover
"Hip-hop personified behind a lens, this brother is deep. The social and political insights from his blog are echoed here in his photostream. Definitely a local talent on the rise."
-Jon Chretien
-Dottie Guy
"T has some serious skills. An amazing eye for detail and the poetry of the street. He takes some of the things that I would have considered mundane and passed by, and makes it art."
-Ed Hoover
"Hip-hop personified behind a lens, this brother is deep. The social and political insights from his blog are echoed here in his photostream. Definitely a local talent on the rise."
-Jon Chretien