shutter to think

2013 PDN PHOTO ANNUAL

Really excited that my project on violence in Guatemala, La Vida No Vale Nada, was selected as one of  2012's best photography for photojournalism/documentary in the 2013 PDN Photo Annual! 

2013 FOTOVISURA

Happy to announce that my recent work in Guatemala, La Vida No Vale Nada, was selected honorable mention for the 2013 Fotovisura Grant! 

Rio for Monocle Magazine

Fun lifestyle & travel shoot for Monocle Mag of two great creative dudes who make custom beach cruisers and skateboards, and all the people i met along the way, including this adorable girl who happily gave me the Brazilian thumbs-up! I also rode the around the Lagoa for the first time...a beautiful ride especially around sunset. 

fashion week~São Paulo~summer2013/14

In march I photographed the SP's fashion week - what can i say about it...trying to make art in a very controled environment...with no deadline. licensing images are thru reduxstock. and the rest can be seen in my archive.

favela mma - RJ

Caught wind of a cool community event last saturday in Rocinha, a community, otherwise known as a favela, in zona sul of rio de janeiro. Favela Kombat MMA is a mixed-martial event bringing contending semi-professional fighters from Rio's favelas into the octagon, some for the first time. The first tournament was held in Rocinha, on Saturday, March 9, 2013. The community paid in food donations, affording access for fans to watch an organized mixed-martial arts event, and for many their first time seeing a live octagon fight.

Carnival begins!

Today is the first day of Carnival in Brazil...Every year each samba school choose their song, compose the lyrics and choreograph their dance. About 2-3 weeks before Carnival, the samba schools bring their rehearsal party (bloco) to the streets in their neighrborhood. I'm rooting for Portela Samba School, because it was my first bloco to attend and photograph...click on the link to check out their song.

Brief history: The first escolas de samba formed was Mangueira, in 1928. Soon theme songs, elaborate costumes, and floats became the main attraction of Rio Carnival. Many other teams from different communities in the Rio neighborhood followed Mangueira’s footsteps and formed samba schools to take part in the Carnival. Samba parades soon became the most popular event in Rio with the organizers being forced to set a time limit for each team in 1971.

The streets of Rio remained the main stage for the Carnival until 1984, when the Sambadrome was built by world famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer. Many of the current samba schools have their roots in the original schools of the 20’s and 30’s. 

Sao Sebastiao

Last week I caught a bit of a procession. Catholics paraded through downtown Rio de Janeiro in honor of Sao Sebastiao, the martyr who was killed by the Romans in the 3rd century. He is the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro.
Sao Sebastiao celebration, Rio de Janeiro, Br - Images by Lianne Milton

Porto Maravilha

Exploring the port district of Rio de Janeiro - 

Porto Maravilha - Images by Lianne Milton

Trousseau for the NYT

This assignment was back in September and the portrait was a bit of a fail in terms of the light and execution...Hot, bright light all day and although I tried to set the pictures up much later in the day, the sun was a-blazing. But I brought my film camera with me and managed to photograph a nice portrait of Chilean vineyard owner, Bernie Luchsinger.

If you get a chance to look this wine up, its well worth the effort to find it. Its delicious. Winemakers, Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts also make a very tasty rose. I really wish I had a few bottles with me now in Brazil, since this country is lacking in reasonably priced delicious wine. Read the article here: One Grape to Reimagine California Wine.

 

For GreenSource Magazine

Parklets have become incredibly popular in San Francisco over the past two years, and there is one design company called Rebar Art & Design Studio that has taken the lead. Read all about John Bela in an interview, called Free Parking.

The Reverend for CNN.com

Back in October I was called to photograph a civil rights activist right here in my own city of San Francisco. It was a great honor to spend a day with him. Rev. Amos Brown studied under Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and was just only one of very few students to do so. Read story here: Civil Rights Crusader takes on Election by Jen Christensen. 

 

For Dickinson Alumni Magazine

Last month I photographed Michael Lanz, who was such a fabulous person to photograph and really brought his personality out in the shoot, at San Francisco's Google location. Here's a web clip of the magazine. 

I've moved...

I'll admit that Brazil wasn't on my top list of countries to begin new work in...in fact, I was pretty much set to return to Guatemala. I felt that there was more to do with my project on the affects of violence in the country and the past civil war. I still do believe that I need to go back to continue working. Yet, sometimes life just throws these amazing curveballs and somehow it was decided that Brazil is where I'll dedicate the next year or so of my life to working on personal projects and assignments. AND many, many thanks to my colleagues for expediting my journo visa!!! Ive left my comfortable life and friends, my guy George and our dog Reese, in Ocean Beach, San Francisco, put my things in storage and packed two suitcases, my surfboards, camera gear and a computer for a Cidade Maravilhosa, Rio de Janeiro. 

Someone help me out with a title for this crazy move.

Ive travelled all of my life since I was a kid. Running to the gate with my family (we were always late) and flying stand-by (since my father worked for an airline), we had the luxury to do a lot of flying and hoteling. Its become second nature (although since 911 its not so fun anymore with obnoxious TSA restrictions). Ive spent many, many months in Mexico, Guatemala, Cambodia and Indonesia. Yet its quite strange to arrive in a foreign country for the first time with no immediate return date. But the motions are the same: find accommodation, find good places to eat, find transportation, get a sim card. I signed up for a language school, although at this point in my life, learning a new language is like learning how to do biophysics. My dear 23-year-old American roommate speaks nearly fluent and fast as if she was born with it in the four months she's been here. One day this year I hope to achieve that but at the very least soon discover when I'm suppose to say "sh" with every word that has "s".

Everyone asks me why. Why Brazil. Honestly, the main reason why is because I've never done it. I've never lived abroad. I should have done it in my 20s but didn't. And now I'm doing it and its incredibly surreal.

Meanwhile, I'll eventually get use to the fast beach breaks, this Miami beach lifestyle, the shhhes, and finding my way through Rio from all the stories that I can't wait to explore and then some. Stay tuned.

Bloco de samba!

In the approaching weeks of Carnaval samba schools  (and some neighborhoods) bring their performance to the streets for rehearsal. In the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, a neighborhood called Madureira, I followed the samba school of Portela, one of the oldest schools (with several  name changes) in Rio. It once was one of the very best schools, winning 21 times, an all-time record, however the school is trying to reclaim its glory self. We'll see at this year's Carnaval. 

 

A Veteran helping veterans return to civilian life

Last month I photographed a man who is making a mark on the lives of vets returning to civilian life. Not only does he help young soldiers but he's brightening the days of older vets as well. Touching profile story for The Bay Citizen:

Veteran establishes support for others returning from war