Visit to the East Bay Dragons MC

When I was in northern California a couple weeks ago, I had to take a trip to the legendary East Bay Dragons motorcycle club. Four years ago, at the beginning of photographing Ezy Ryders I came across the book by the Dragons’ founder and president, Tobie Gene Levingston, called “Soul On Bikes.” In it, Levingston reminisces about how he fell in love with Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but back in the 1950s, the few MCs that existed didn’t allow African-Americans. He started the East Bay Dragons in 1959, America’s first all-black MC. They became a crucial part of Oakland’s history and the history of American MCs.

Thanks to the Dragons for welcoming this stranger from across the country, to your clubhouse. Check out the @ezyryders instagram for more on black motorcycle clubs.

The Human Zoo on Roads & Kingdoms

This project was something completely different than what I usually do. I got to take a deep dive into some historical research—which wasn't easy, given that human zoos are something most don't want to advertise anymore—and spent a surreal day trying to photograph the feeling of being in this bizarre park. In case we forget that Western countries (US included) were displaying people in zoos just 100 years ago, here is our reminder.

Roads & Kingdoms, which is partly sponsored by Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown,” is a site I visit often—it has unusual travel articles that you won’t see elsewhere. It was really cool to be able to publish this photo essay on R&K along with my text. Read on Roads & Kingdoms / Read the unedited version

I was also happy that Courrier International acquired the story to be published in French.