TRIBECA, NY — Today is my birthday. I am 25 years old. Not sure what a quarter century of life should feel like but I feel very blessed to be alive right now. The above photograph captures the very essence of why photography means so much to me. On the left is my cousin. He never lived to see his 25th birthday. In the middle is my Grand-father. We called him “Poppy”. He passed away several years ago. On the right is me…less than a year old with huge sumo cheeks.

Poppy and my cousin were two of the most naturally gifted people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Unfortunately, these two argued like cats and dogs. Ironically, they were incredibly similar. I cannot help but smile at how often we argue with others about the faults we see in ourselves. Each shared a passion for the sciences and sports. My cousin aspired to become an engineer. My Grandfather was a civil engineer in New York City for several decades. Both attended top schools, Brooklyn Tech for my cousin. Cooper Union for Poppy. This is the only photo of the three of us together. There will never be others. The story of this photo is particularly present for me in this moment of reflection…

As a child, Poppy experienced a temporary detachment of his retinas. The episode rendered him blind for several weeks. He suffered with glaucoma and other visual impairments for many years afterward. An avid adventurer, Poppy loved to travel and learn about foreign cultures. Like myself, he also shared a passion for photography. One cool Jamaican summer in 1984, Poppy decided to photograph the sunset. Little did he know, this would be the last roll of film he would ever develop…

Shortly after returning from this trip, he realized that his vision was worsening. About 1 year later when I was born. One day, he called my mother and my aunt to request that they bring my cousin as well as myself to his home. He was adamant about “seeing” his Grandson’s before it was too late. The resulting photograph was taken by mother. These photographs and their inter-connected story was presented to me by my Aunt this past Thanksgiving.

Photography is so remarkable to me because legacy is not always understood in words. Images can travel places that words cannot. As a child, I only knew my Grandfather in blindness. I now realize that the depth and eloquence of his words were equally matched by the brilliance of his vision. For my cousin, this photograph allows me to recall the gentle wide-eyed child that he once was. Regrettably, his adult life was not as peaceful.

On this day, I am especially grateful for the blessing of life. I am grateful for the legacy of my grandfather and my cousin. For Tom, Frank, Ms.Fisher, George Marquez, Bertin Rowser and the many other mentors, ancestors and guides whose legacies have made my own possible. Thank you.