This one is a bit hard for me to share, cause I’m sharing it with the general public, so please be kind.
I transitioned back in ‘14, and this was taken after about a year afterward. I had bet everything I had: my job, my friends, my security, my physical safety, all for the sake of being happy. I won some and I lost some. Lost my job and a lot of friends, but the world sprang into vibrant color.
Believe it or not, that picture was captured with an iPhone 6, with no editing. Just careful positioning of light sources and one fantastically relevant trick playing card. I took a hundred dollar prize for it way back in the day (which, of course, was immediately decried by some people that I shouldn’t have won, because god forbid trans people win anything ever).
I still like this piece a lot. The hand is still being played. I haven’t won, I haven’t lost.
If there was one thing I would change about this image, it would be to actually put the chips in the betting box and put the cards next to them. But I didn’t know that’s how it was done back then.
Thank you for coming to see my work, and reading about the history of it.
Very cool photo, and thanks for sharing the story. It reminds me of when a family member came out as ace by pulling an Ace of Spades out of their shirtsleeve.