Stephanie Keith Photography

Photojournalist in Brooklyn, NY

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Last Gede Party in Brooklyn for the Season

Every November in Brooklyn, Gede parties occur each weekend, often competing for attention in the Haitian community. Gede is a very popular Spirit, for one reason, because he is lewd and playful. People laugh and have a good time when he comes.

Gede's playful actions are a counterweight to the other side of Gede. He is known for telling hard truths to the people at the ceremonies. He is one of the most powerful Spirits in the Vodou pantheon, living in cemeteries and controlling who passes on to Death. He is the joker alleviating the unbearable weight of the ultimate bad event, Death.

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Vodou in Brooklyn

Vodou's busiest month is November, when Vodouisants celebrate Gede, the spirit who embodies death and resurrection. Gede is a raucous energy: dancing to the drums, blessing people, drinking liquor soaked in hot peppers and rubbing talcum of his face. He has an elaborate and complex personality.

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Vodou ceremony

The month of November is filled with Vodou parties celebrating the Spirit called Gede. Gede resides in the cemetery and is the Spirit of Death and Resurrection. Gede's face is covered with talcum powder to approximate the pallor of death. 

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American Dystopia in Halloween Fantasies

It's the end of religion, the environment, innocent childhood, civil discourse and life itself.

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Staten Island Commemorates Hurricane Sandy one year later

By the shoreline, hundreds of people held candles aloft just at 7:45 pm to mark the timing of the storm surge last year that changed so many people's lives. Bill De Blasio gave a speech.

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Far Hills Race Day

Witnessed some interesting mating/bonding rituals of the privileged white culture of Central New Jersey this weekend at a horse race in Far Hills. A near total obsession with alcohol, at least for the under 30's crowd who held college and private school reunions. Most locals walked or took the train from Manhattan to the farm where they have paid $450 for a 10x10 spot to hold a party. One participant said that some people have been coming since they were kids and they look forward to Race Day like it was Christmas.

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Comic Con 2013

some of the lovely cosplay players at Comic Con this year

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Scenes from a Drag bar in Brooklyn

Sugarland nightclub in Williamsburg on a Wednesday night with Untitled Queen and Ivy Ferreyeah

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Bushwig 2013

A Drag Queen extravaganza with over 60 performances throughout the day and night. Hosted by Horrorchata and Babes Trust

to see more follow this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86681342@N00/sets/72157635445433708/

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Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Grenada's J'Ouvert: Brooklyn

If West Indies Day Parade is the pretty side of carnival then Jouvert, the parade that kicks off the day, is the down and dirty response to Caribbean history. This Grenadian group interprets the "Jab Jab" character- the devil- the representation of evil; wearing chains, devil's horns and smeared in oil. Grenada is a small island just to the north of the South American coastline. In 1700, there was a violent slave rebellion suppressed by the ruling elite of the British all of the slave leaders were executed save one. Slaves on Grenada were not freed until 1838. Whereas Carnival is the celebration of what's beautiful, here in J'Ouvert we have the catharsis to what was evil.

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Funeral for Islan "Rose" Nettles

Tensions ran high at the funeral for Islan Nettles, a transgender woman who was beaten to death by a group of men in Harlem last week. Her death tragically illustrates again the vulnerability of transgender people at the hands of heterosexuals.

The biological Mother of Islan barred some of the closest transgender supporters from the funeral including the woman Islan had been living with in the Bronx for the past five years. These transgendered people and their supporters felt even more marginalized not being able to say goodbye to their friend. In the end, the Mother allowed some of them in to the funeral but after much drama outside.

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Lovey ladies of Eid al Fitr in Brooklyn, NY

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Mermaid Parade 2013

Kudos to the Mermaid Parade organizers for raising funds on Kickstarter to keep this great art parade going after Superstorm Sandy

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MR(S) Williamsburg 7

Semi Finals Competition of the Drag Queen/Queer Performance spectacular known as MR(S) Williamsburg. Can Not wait until tomorrow night to find out who is the overall winner. It's been a gender bending experience with stand out performances.

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MR(S) Williamsburg drag competition 6

Basically the hottest drag scene is in Brooklyn, NY right now.

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Miss Rubber 2013

About 200 rubber/latex aficionados gathered at the Union Square ballroom to see latex fetish wear fashion shows, to show off their own fetish gear and to engage in a little bondage "play". All photos taken with permission of the subjects.