ten.

In an apartment above Fifth Avenue, some thirty young people live in a vortex of drug addiction and despair. In The Ninth Floor, Jessica Dimmock enters this world, exploring, in human terms, what has been lost and what may be recovered. See the project at http://mediastorm.com/publication/the-ninth-floor

i was introduced to mediastorm.org last year through a lecture, i fell in love with the incredible imagery, and bravery of the photographers/videographers there. They are so incredibly passionate about the work that they do, not for themselves, but for the people they are photographing, for raising awareness to the public. They invest a significant amount of time, immersing themselves into the issue they are addressing, even living within the conditions. Above is a video called the Ninth Floor, it is rated R for drug usage/nudity. In the 1970's, New York artist Joe Smith rented an apartment overlooking Fifth Avenue. In the years that followed, it became a black hole of drug addiction, hopelessness and squandered dreams.

It is a perspective we as normal beings of this society, will not see.

I feel so incredibly inspired by people that have no fear. I believe this is what I am meant to do, to photograph with the intention to bring awareness and the ability to change society(even if we begin with just one person) Too many people in this world go about their own ways and get so self-involved that they forget about the world that surrounds them, the other kinds of people that have it worse than them. They refuse to see, or rather they can't see because there aren't that many people in the world that would give up their lives, and sacrifice themselves and put themselves in such dangerous position to bring back a message to millions of people.

It's incredible.

As a photographer, I've learnt to be open to anything and everything, but it is suffice to say, you must tread with wisdom and safety. I feel like I have an important role to play in this world, i don't meant to sound arrogant

watch it, be sure to check out the other videos at mediastorm.org (Love in the first Person is breathtaking)

i'll write more another time (p.s i have been currently stuck in bed and at home for 2 days, urgh)

as always,

el