Bulls and Geldings 2009

I love this event in Red Bluff. More to come on the stock dog competition.

PRAYER

Roger Yellowknife, a Marine Corps veteran, and a member of the Hu Puus Witam Native American Color Guard, uses eagle feathers to pray Friday during the burial service for James Swett at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery.

BORED

I'm not too old to remember what that feels like. In Circuit City for a going out of business story.

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

I walked into one of the trade school classes offered for local high school students and immediately saw this guy. He was responsible for handing out and keeping track of all the tools the students used to work on cars. I made him pose for a portrait.

LOVE

Going out of business

They are dropping like flies in Redding. In business for 45 years.......

YA BASTA!!!!!!!!

A protest in Albuqueruqe against the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

Diamond Rings

It was their anniversary. They were married on the bridge exactly a year ago.

Fire and Ice

It's sorta starting to feel like winter here. Sorta.

Deja Vu

Just burning slash, but the smell of smoke definitely stirs the memory. This is also another Craig Fritz inspired photo.

Veterans Day

Fire

I have never seen so much fire in all my life

Even in Redding

You know you live in the sticks when.....

the highway patrol responds to:

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
8:15AM HERD OF DAIRY CATTLE IN RDWY

Love it.

MARRIED

She's 91 and he's 88. The wedding is October 25.

There is no one I know...

who has not been touched by cancer.

Preview for an upcoming story.

Que viva La Virgen

Driving home from Sacramento.

RAIN

Whoops.......

Who are your influences?

After a summer of running around on fires I was fortunate to spend a day photographing on an old train that connects two little towns here in Northern California. It's not a real commuter train, more of a tourist attraction. Nonetheless, it was one of the most relaxing days I've spent all summer and much needed.

During the trip, I had the opportunity to borrow work from some of the photographers I look up to most. The red-hatted conductor immediately reminded me of a photo made by Craig Fritz from a project he shot on the rail yards in Albuquerque. When he made that shot and showed it around (his is of a conductor standing between two trains with a sliver of noon-day light falling directly on him, and it is amazing) I admit I didn't get it right away. But I stored the information away, and as soon as I saw the noon-day light hitting this young man, I knew it was a good thing I had paid attention. I didn't really come close to making as nice a frame as Craig, but it was nice to relive that moment back in Albuquerque and understand the learning curve I've been on.

And the second shot, this one of the hand, is thanks to Greg Kahn. Again, my shot is nothing compared to his, but it was fun to make it and remember Greg's work. His shot is from NASCAR. All it is is hands gripping a fence (people waiting to get a glimpse, I think, of their favorite drivers) and then all of a sudden, one of those gripped hands breaks free and points towards something in the distance. It's beautiful. And I'm glad I paid attention when I saw it.

Here's to being influenced and inspired by great photographers.