Reading · JB’s Stack · RSS Amplifier

My passion has always been photography. Capturing perspectives through my lens. Taking a moment in time that can’t be replicated and transforming it into a piece of art.

Re-sharing it with the world so others can view a perspective.

I remember picking up my father's 35mm Minolta and being hooked. Taking the photos and developing them by hand taught me patience and that what you capture might not always come out how you wanted. You had to wait, you didn’t know what the end result was like, however it was always a 1 of 1.

With the tech today — we see what we get in the capture immediately.

For a long time, I’ve been capturing NYC perspectives. Architecture, Art, Buildings, People, and other things around my home city that may not be visible to all. Through photography, it can be. Have been doing this for a long time.

I’ve been in the Gary V community for many years. Watching things being built, learning while executing, creating my world, and getting better at my craft; at my speed — Really focused on helping others. I would not be where I am at if not for the community over the years.

This community brought me into the Web3 world and have been following the 137PM crew since it was formed. I was around before the characters existed and when they began to come to life, I came alive as well. I instantly knew it will forever be a staple of culture. Of course, it will be, look at the community that is part of this thing.

I’ve met some amazing people all focused around these ideas, so wanted to explore a way to give back based on the love of community, photography, NFTs, physical art, VeeFriends, 137PM, and Gary V — while doing what I love. Capturing perspectives.

While I have some other smaller photography projects, this was the first I wanted to center around the community, the culture, and the people I have been on the journey with for a long time.

I forget the exact date but remember hearing about a 137pm cafe located in the West Village of NYC. A community test by Gary and the team.

A place to come and hang with the community, interact, engage and enjoy overall good vibes. What??!!

What a great spot. A place to convene, a place to create, a place to be yourself. I had to check it out. Began to see content being created and the crew hanging out with good vibes flowing.

It took me a bit to get my schedule to align. Even though I am about 35–40 minutes away, life kept me from being able to get to the cafe.

As NFT NYC 22 approached I heard about the side events that were going on and heard that the SummerWind cafe was going to be transformed into a 137pm-VeeFriends community meet-up spot. WHAT?! Lets GO!

I immediately went back to my passion. I have to capture this. This perspective will only be around for a moment in time. While also thinking about how I could turn this moment into a give-back to the community.

I will be minting a limited-run NFT to be given away for free to community members. Locking this moment in time forever on the blockchain. Will have a small run of physical keepsakes given out in limited quantities, with more to come down the road and I will do some cool giveaways. (still learning how to execute that)
Read all the way through to find out how to get it.

— So it was all set. Gonna hit the 137PM — VeeFriends Cafe.

The event was amazing, and the building brought even more life to the already hype west village. We got to hang out, got to converse, got to meet some amazing people IRL. The crews were present to talk, and give insight and of course, the VeeFriends bus was there. One may argue the best-dressed bus in NYC that week!