Ocracoke #2

Ocracoke #2
Originally uploaded by matteich.

His stoic stare & her sunburnt nose. Hannah Eich (15) makes a mustache of leaves for her brother Peter (9).

Ocracoke #1

Ocracoke #1
Originally uploaded by matteich.

The past week has been spent with family on Ocracoke Island, NC. I'll add text to these later when I'm not so tired.

Like Floating

Like Floating
Originally uploaded by matteich.

What do you do when you live in a house that has no air conditioning with eight other people? Kayla Cassell (7) and Paul Thomas (8) spend the day with their siblings in an inflatable pool in their front yard in Portsmouth, VA. Here Kayla helps Paul practice floating.

Summer in Portsmouth

Summer in Portsmouth
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Tina looked to be so exhausted, sitting on her front porch with water droplets running down her face and her hair matted against her head. Katina perched on her lap, curiously grabbing at my camera lens whenever it got within her short arm’s reach, or chewing on a plastic bowl as her mother attempted to juggle her, her bottle and her pacifier. As the temperatures soared, the occupants of the house sought relief in the inflatable pools in the front lawn.

Explorations #1

Explorations #1
Originally uploaded by matteich.

After shooting an assignment by the oceanfront I walked down the boardwalk to get a view of the water. This boat peeked out from under the deck. Its an amazing job that can take me in the course of a few hours from a three-story oceanfront house to a teeny, run down inner city house with no air-conditioning that houses nine people and have both families accept my presence.

Jump Rope Indoors

Jump Rope Indoors
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Katya Pomazhna jumps rope on the landing of her host family's house in the Oceanview area of Norfolk. Katya is originally from the Ukraine and has come to the U.S. as part of a church sponsored exchange program.

Bloody Nose

Bloody Nose # 1 of 3 for July 19th
Originally uploaded by matteich.

September 3rd, 2003: "I awoke this morning with blood streaked across my face & wondered if somehow, maybe my dreams were a little more real than I had imagined."

Behind glass

Behind glass
Originally uploaded by matteich.

"In my best possible world, ugliness would be in museums and everything out in the world, on the street would be beautiful." - Joel-Peter Witkin

How to Build A Sandcastle

How to Build A Sandcastle
Originally uploaded by matteich.

From a "how to" article. I didn't know sandcastle building was so complex.

A moment later

A moment later
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Casey Frankenfield (8) plays with her sister Sasha (2) and cousin Lexa Rabinowitch (3) while Jacob Boynewicz (6) pouts because his brother Jason (4) just took his golf club.

A conflict

A conflict
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Casey Frankenfield (8) plays with her cousin Lexa Rabinowitch (3) while Jacob Boynewicz (6) and his brother Jason (4) argue over a golf club while visiting the Chesapeake Bay.

Birthday at the Beach

Birthday at the Beach
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Troy Linx watches as his friend Ryan Colston (13) attempts to catch a wave in the Chesapeake Bay. They were at the beach celebrating Ryan's birthday. Photographed on July 12th, 2005.

Peter

Peter
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Yesterday I went to my parent's house for my birthday. I was playing guitar and my brother Peter (9) was harassing me to play checkers with him. After awhile, his patience wore thin and he flopped down on the floor at my feet. I played him later and dusted his ass. Though something tells me I shouldn't be so excited about beating a nine-year old at checkers.

Lost Pictures

Lost Pictures
Originally uploaded by matteich.

From a series of images from the past that have been misplaced or fogetten, whether purposely or otherwise. This photograph poses a question to me about loneliness and isolation as we grow older. Will we end up alone, surrounded by the empty seats of all those we pushed away?

Chimes

Chimes
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Mikinna Miller (6) plays with chimes on the playground at Mount Trashmore during the Victims Against Crime summer camp field-trip.

Like pulling teeth

Like pulling teeth
Originally uploaded by matteich.

"Mother remember being so stern with that girl who was with me? Mother remember the blink of an eye when I breathed through your body? Mother don't worry, I've got a coat and some friends on the corner. Mother don't worry, she's got a garden we're planting together. Mother remember the night that the dog got her pups in the pantry? Blood on the floor, fleas on their paws, and you cried 'til the morning. So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten. Sons are like birds, flying upward over the mountain." -Iron & Wine

Katie #1

Katie #1
Originally uploaded by matteich.

Katie (L) has more personality than any one person is entitled to. This is probably accented by her handicaps which prevent her from living any semblance of a normal life. She has limited motor skills and is unable to communicate verbally other than "yes", "no" and a few other basics. Despite all my aunt & uncle's attempts to explain to her, she has yet to conceptualize the fact that I am her cousin. Thus, she flirts with me shamelessly every time I see her. Each day she goes out and picks dandylions or any other flowers she can find growing and leaves them on my doorstep. I guess she reminds me that love is a feeling that we all possess and desire; an intrinsic part of being human. As she studies me in her child-like curiosity, I've decided to study her with my camera over the next few months that I'm living here. Hopefully it will yield something telling & beautiful.