Finding the Beauty in Every Struggle

~Senseless~

Silenced limbs tingle like prickling needles dancing under my skin, drained and withering with nothing inside, i feel nothing, just numb.

~ The Ache~

My heart is beating, I feel it beating, pounding at my ribs like a sledge hammer with no fear of wrecking anything in its way. Relentless until it feels like it will all be ok. 

~Letting go~

Many tears shed from my eyes like a leaky faucet, i feel each memory dripping down my face, chasing after one another as if it were a race of what would be lost first. 

~”Goodnight”~ 

Puffy eyed i lay here with a tired mind, terrified of every heart wrenching thought, for the dreamer only dreams of the worst that’s yet to come. 

~Today~ 

As of now i feel useless, unworthy and out of place, wanting to freeze time or rewind back a lot of days, mute with nothing more to say.

~Future~

I hate you and fuck you, i can’t think of you another day, the thought of you makes me sick and fear what lies ahead, so I'm done. Goodbye tomorrows, next week, and forever, can’t say I'm sad to see you go. 

~Goodbye~

Good riddance, i say farewell as my heart is set to flames, your memory still remains, for all the good you’ve done I will be here if you ever do change. 

~ I love you~

My love is with my whole heart, i’ve picked the pieces up off the floor, shredded parts all put together with a glue reminiscing back to the start, I can’t just say I love you without a kiss goodbye, so xoxo to you, my love will never die. 

It’s raw, but it’s real. At the most vulnerable state of being.Under the bruises, burns, and broken bones there is a purity of being touched without actually being pricked, but by the presence of good company from another soul. 

I am freedom,

the breath in your life,

Breathe deep into the empty caverns of your body,

and nourish them with the thought of me.

Let me lift the weight off your shoulders,

all burdens and stress will slowly dissolve. 

a table for 2 please

Only recently I have become more involved in photography and still have a lot of learning to do. Although I am new to this industry, I have always dabbled in taking photos as any millennial now days with the rising of technology. I found that I always had an eye for taking pictures and have a hard time parting with any photograph I take. (Hence why I have about 20,000 photos in my camera roll and no space on my laptop HAHA.) To me and like many others I believe that photographs are meant to capture moments in time to help reminisce. This explains my style of photography a little because with each picture I like to create or tell a story while adding my own artistic flares just like a photo of a memory tells a story. I enjoy scenery a lot so in many of my photos the model will have a basic pose to compliment the background, but I also appreciate the human body and think it is an art piece of its own. This is when I would focus more on the human body and having the background more simple to compliment the art of the body itself. This concept to me helps people realize their self worth and self confidence and to be happy with what they have. 

I love meeting new people and am open to collab or shoot! I am open to anything and love making ideas a reality. @jojokimiscaptures

Currently shooting with a cannon 6D Mark II, 50 mm 1.5 lens

“The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” 

Photo credit : @jayr_abalos

Poetry has always been a huge passion of mine. I use poetry as an outlet for me to gather my thoughts and say how I really feel about something without having to be so direct. I love coming up with different metaphors and writing about something that I have been struggling with, something that bothers me, or when I am extremely happy and can't contain myself. Poetry has alway been there for me. It relieves any anxiety I may be feeling and lifts a weight off of my chest allowing me to breathe again. I have been writing since I was in elementary school, starting with haikus and working my way through different styles. I have won awards and have been published in several of my high school English department books. I even created a poem that I changed into a dialogue which was performed at my high school fall dance concert. A drama student recited my dialogue by memory while a group of students in my program performed my choreography. This piece opened the show and is one of my biggest accomplishments that I am most proud of. In the future I hope to someday write my own poetry book that helps others through their struggle by relating to my words and experiences. When I read poetry and can relate to what the author is saying it is a comforting feeling to know that I am not alone. This is my goal as i move forward in my growing career and what I strive to be as a writer.

"You do not just wake up and become the butterfly - growth is a process" - Rupi Kaur

Hey readers! For those of you who don't know me personally, my name is Jordan McNeely, but to most of my friends and family I go by the name(s) Jo or Jojo. I was born and raised on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i. I am just your average 20 year old college student with big ideas and big dreams. I decided to start this blog to have a better way to express my art and personal views as I experience them. I recently transferred back to Hawai'i for school after attending a college in Portland. Not only did I undergo a big change of a new school, but I also changed my major to a BA in art and I could not be more excited to embark on this new path. I enjoy and appreciate all aspects of art, but as of right now I am focusing on my photography and my poetry in which I will share throughout this blog. This will be alongside a few life lessons and experiences that I learn and encounter along the way. Enjoy (:

Contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: @jojokimi @jojokimiscaptures Twitter: @jojokimi16

Photo credit: @quaypham