"I was born in LeMoyne Gardens, and I've seen struggles and drug addictions in myself, my family, and in the people around me. I grew up feeling alone and rejected, but when I was 19, I began to listen to the voice of God. God told me to drop the drugs; he had a purpose for me: to help bring people together in peace. People of all kinds and colors. We all bear his image. I started reading the Bible and following his lead. God is a spirit, not a person, and he doesn't have a color, so when he says we bear his image, he's not talking about our color or how we look. He's talking about what's inside. Once we get that, we can really come together."
"From what I can see today, people will have more resources in the future but also more challenges. I'd like to see young people be creative and innovative with those challenges. It's up to those of us who are older to help shape the next generation, to nurture those seeds of change."
"I got married too young. I was in my twenties and the woman I married already had three kids. All boys. I took on a father role for them because their fathers were not involved. The youngest ones I got on track pretty quick, but the oldest was rebellious and always wanted to buck me. I had to face up and discipline him. I had to tighten up. I told him, 'Life isn't as easy as you think it is. You'll find out later that I'm telling the truth.' They're all grown now, got their diplomas, got jobs. They thought I was the grinch when they were growing up, but they appreciate it now. Something happens and they remember, 'Daddy told me that.' You got to do some hard stuff when you're a parent and they won't like it, but I'd rather have them on the Earth than in the dirt."
"I'm a computer programmer by trade, but photography is what I love. I was 14 years old when my father gave me my first camera, and I took photos of everything. Of course, living in Ukraine, there was no place to send film for developing, so I had to learn to do it myself. I shot most everything in black-and-white because it was cheaper and simpler. I still have some of those early photos. "I'm excited about every shoot, whether it's maternity, newborn, family, or event. I do my preparation, look for good locations, and build a lot of my own props. I want to make people look great in the shots and feel good about themselves. Photography allows me to be a part of a special moment in people's lives and preserve it for them." Igor Mazor's Memphis PhotoSpace Studio is located at 6047 Executive Centre Dr #4, Memphis 38134. Samples of his work can be viewed on the Igor B. Mazor Photography site.
"I try to teach my kids to care for everyone: family, friends, whoever is around them. They're not scared of anything."
"I drew a self-portrait in my first art class as a freshman, and my teacher liked it so much that he recommended me for Advanced Placement Art the next year. That's really how I got started. I do a lot of portraits now, mostly in charcoal, and I try to capture the emotions and facial expressions that reflect how we are as humans. My mom, brother, and teachers encourage me a lot, and my first art teacher still keeps up with me. I'm hoping to use my art as a way to go to college."
"I draw and paint, but I express myself best through photography. I like to tell stories with my photos, to show human emotions, and I'm interested in learning everything I can to make my work better. When I went to get my senior head shots done, I was like a kid in a candy store: studying the lights, the set-up, the room, seeing where everything was positioned. I've got a studio set up in my bedroom at home now, using lights and sheets. I can definitely see my progress over time. I'll graduate from high school this year, and I have a $16,000 scholarship to Watkins College of Art in Nashville. Eventually, I want to get into fashion photography or sports photography."
"When you're a real princess, you get to wear a beautiful dress, sing a song, spin around, and marry somebody."
"I made trips back and forth to Alaska for 28 years as a truck driver, but I'm retired now. I still do some driving though, running errands for friends who don't have a vehicle. Taking them to the doctor, to the store, from point A to point B, wherever they need to go. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated.
"I was alone for 12 years, but I got married two years ago to a Vietnamese lady. Meeting her was a big surprise! She doesn't speak a lot of English, so I didn't want to keep driving the long distances. I need to stay close to help her out." "The rest of my family still lives back in Mexico, but I get to visit once a year. When I do, my mom and I always go shopping. We love trying on shoes and clothes, so it's something we can do together. Here, I do the same with my own daughter."
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March 2021
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