TimeTraveling

To relive the moments most treasured. Freezing Time so that we can remember the life that was lived and experienced with the ones we love most. Live It Up!

[miguel-ozuna]

Final Project #2: R.I.P. Papa. The King Live on.

[miguel-ozuna]

Final Project #1: Learning to Breathe. The story of the life and death of Adelita and the Birth of AB 

[miguel-ozuna]

Reflections....have been plentiful as of lately. I found myself in this funk after having captured the funeral and all of the thoughts that came from having really been pushed on me after such an emotional experience. I found myself walking around with this funk that I was so clouded by that it made it hard to remember what to do on the day to day. Sleep has been non existent, lots of zoning off and dozing off throughout the day as I get caught in my thoughts. It has been difficult, especially when you are already dealing with your own demons...it makes it really hard to see through the darkness. 

[miguel-ozuna]

The 6th funeral,  the one where to them there was no such thing as a pandemic. The one where a little boy was playing as his dads funeral clueless as to what in the world was going on, but just knowing that if he made people laugh they would stop crying. The one where they walked in unison up a hill as they laid him to rest one last time.  This was the tip of the iceberg with regards to everything that I experienced.

This group of friends had a sideshow in his honor while he was driven by his house one last time. There were guns shot in his honor, a lot of drinking, loud music, and an overall collection of men crying in corners so as not to be seen. This community was damaged by this loss and that much was evident. Not to mention the large amount of friends and family that came out. That showed just how far his impact reached. 

May he rest in peace and may his family sleep better at night. 

[miguel-ozuna]

The 6th Funeral

The 6th Funeral I have ever attended, I was asked to be the photographer to document the moment for the family, so that the son of the young man that was murdered would know just how loved his father was....More to come on this, but for now I leave you with this image

[miguel-ozuna]

I was not ready for that....pt 2?

The fifth funeral, was the funeral where we buried my fathers dad, my Tata Gabino.... EDIT___I needed to pause and go for a little break....to really post the beginning of this and all for that to be out there before I regretted it, it also helped to get this cake pop that I am currently munching on. 

The fifth funeral that I attended, happened in my adult life, at the age of 24 I attended the funeral for my Tata, my dad’s dad, one of the adult figures that played a huge role in raising me while my father was @ SJSU attending college. I was born, when my father was 15, was at my dad’s graduation from HS, and then my dad took off to college at the age of 19, leaving me with my Nana and Tata. Some time around right after my father left for college, began what would continue for the next 5-6 years of my life. I attended the funeral for the man that was responsible for sexually assaulting/molesting/raping me. Ages 3-9 are quite a blur for me, but they are reminded by crystal clear imagery of being taken advantage of, that tends to take over my mind as I am walking down the street and smell someone smoking cigarettes. Or experience my 6 year old daughter popping out of the darkness to scare me at night. Or eat a sandwich with a cup of strawberry milk to forget what had just happened. These are thoughts that I would never want anyone to experience, these thoughts of walking around from age 10-13 really feeling like I was dead inside. 

I digress..but I attended his funeral and had to deal with a room full of people who glorified his life but had no idea the baggage that I had to endure. Where I had to burry someone who no matter how much I hated him...I still found this feeling of love that I could not shake. It was quite possibly the funeral that was the hardest for me to attend...but it was done so in a way that I was able to begin a solid path to healing, that I am actively working on today. 

Sixth funeral....to be continued....

[miguel-ozuna]

I WAS NOT ready for that...

In my life, I have attended a total of 6 funerals, that directly effected those that I love. 

The first funeral was for my Tata Miguel that I am named after, I was around 3 years old and have one surreal recollection while being there and holding his hand as he was buried. 

The second funeral I attended was for my Nana Margarita, my Nana (Grandma’s) mother, and I attended this when I was around 14 years old. My memories from this were being in Mexicali (Mexico Border town) and being awake for about 48 hours to attend the wake, ceremony, burial, etc. The memory out of this one was the 7am walk to go get tacos...only to be convinced to eat 4 tacos de tripa (intestines) and thinking they were chicken. Update...it was NOT chicken, but I like it now so that was the rainbow in the clouds. 

The third funeral, was for my cousin Andre, who passed away when I was 19 years old. He was 22 years old and 2 weeks shy of graduating from Fullerton. He was in a tragic accident that took him from us far too early, and this was a tragic loss for our family. Hearing the cry’s of a mother as she mourns the loss of her son, is a pain that I could never wish for anyone to experience. 

The fourth funeral, was for my Grandpa Ron. He lived a beautiful life, and is the best man I have ever known. He died of cancer, after a long battle and a very fruitful life where he was able to be an inspiration to many, and inspire me to take on photography and art. 

The fifth funeral, was the funeral where we buried my fathers dad, my Tata Gabino....

[miguel-ozuna]

I wanted to update anyone who might be following...this Friday I will be capturing the funeral and celebration of life. I am not sure what will come of it, but none the less will be hoping that something beautiful will come out of something so ugly.

[miguel-ozuna]

Update to yesterdays post...The family is mourning the loss of their son...who had a son. The photos of this funeral are going to be used to share with is son when he is older. To show the love and support that showed up for his father. 

Photos to come... #DocumentingAFuneral

[miguel-ozuna]

To Capture or Not To Capture

I began to take this class because one day I was asked to capture a funeral and take photos at it in order to give the family an opportunity to remember the day. Because of the emotions involved, I decided to respectfully decline. But today someone approached me to video document a funeral so that the family could remember. I have to say that because of this class I have agreed to do it to really see just what can actually come of it. I am not sure exactly what will come of it, but I am prepared to push myself out of the comfort zone in order to capture these moments for the family whose son was murdered. 

[miguel-ozuna]

When you are living, but your traumas make you feel like you are dead at times

Miguel Ozuna on Depression

[miguel-ozuna]

If I died tomorrow and I could live in one moment forever, it would be this photo right here, my baby-girls 6th birthday, a day where she was able to really find herself some happiness and excitement during this pandemic. And a day where we were all just enjoying the day and loving the moment. 

[miguel-ozuna]

I have began to pay more attention to how death can be found all around us.  From a simple walk around the block, where I saw this evolution of 3 dandelions together. To listening in to the discovery of having lost a family member.  

[miguel-ozuna]

Death may be the greatest of all human blessings.

Socrates

[miguel-ozuna]

When I was 3 years old, or so as I remember, my Great Grandfather, Miguel, that I am named after Died. I don’t remember much when it comes to the funeral, but I have this vivid memory of standing on this dirt path (Photo Courtesy of Google) in Mexicali, Mexico, as there was this big crowd there to witness my Tata Miguel get buried. And at one point I stood there and I was left alone, only to then look up and realize that I was holding my Tata Miguel’s hand for a moment, and I just remember looking at him and standing there, until my father walked back over to me and picked me up to take me to the car. It was at that moment that I feel I really began to understand that death was something I would really never be able to understand and even more so life after death. 

[miguel-ozuna]

This is the start of this Daily Death Journal that I will be making for class, its crazy to think about what will come with this, but excited none the less for what is to come with the class. Kicking off the series that is to come with this image that shows the latest levels of death found within San Jose, CA. 

[miguel-ozuna]

Dreaming of Adventures