shutter to think

Boxing

This is 15-year-old Jessica braiding her hair before getting into the ring to spar her sister. This is a project I've been working on about a single father raising his three daughters, 15, 13, and 9, all of whom box.

Portrait of a Photographer

Sonoma photographer Jock McDonald at his exhibit at the Di Rosa Preserve

B.I.N.G.O

The Bingo Emporium. I can't wait to go back. This place is timeless. I've never been to a bingo hall. And although the place is loosing customers to Native American casinos, there's still a loyal following. One woman I spoke with said, We've got more friends here than outside.

Here, the announcer calls out a number.

Una Mujer Mágica

This is Lila Downs. Her singing and the band's musical talent are phenomenal. I first saw her in the movie, Frida. Here she is performing at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville, on Friday.

Another Exciting Round

of High School sports in Napa, Calif. Woo. We've got softball....track....and a tee bit of golf.

Trolley

Napa's trolley that offers free rides around the downtown area....

ICEcycles...

Hey bloggaz not much at my end of the world here in the napa valley. Its been a passive week or so. But here's some that'll grab ya. I recently learned that the "ICE" Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied request for data by one of our reporters for a story because they have determined that the Napa Valley Register, a county-wide newspaper established in 1863, is not a member of the news media. Yes, although we barely carry a 20 k circ on a good day...this paper is a lifetime older (or ancient) and has lived through more than the recent illegal immigration issues than "ICE". Might we add...Chinese Exclusion Act, Prohibition, the Great Earthquake, oh geez there's so much MORE. A century more of history. Anyway it was quite funny when I first read a blog posting http://www.napavalleyregister.com/blogs/dan_ross/?p=14 although i think that we should do a story coz that'll really get the community going and then suddenly i felt like i just got slapped. I work my arse off for peanuts and change for this newspaper that some government agent has "determined not a member of the news media". The ignorance is appalling. I'm sorry you work for who again? The government? Oh right, I could tell based on the intelligence of the replied letter. You did your research. I feel safe now.

Well enough of the sarcasm and check out some pictures of good ole rugby!

Dawn Patrol

Greetings Wednesday bloggaz...this story I wrote - can you believe it - and a couple of pictures, for the "Real Napa" Sunday features section about the regular customers of the famous Napa diner, The Butter Cream Bakery. This place is adorable and the food is yummy. And yes! They even have mickey mouse chocolate chips pancakes!

If you come to Butter Cream Bakery for breakfast, be sure to take a seat along the counter or the middle aisle, because tables along the glass windows are reserved for a rowdy bunch of seniors who have had dibs on their seats for nearly 40 years. In fact, some remember the diner as a donut shop only.
“I’m on a 60-year contract,” says Dewayne Reding, a longtime contractor who has found plenty of business from diners. “Oh yeah,” he said. “I spend $300-400 a month eating here!”
But Caroline Wilson, and her daughter, Emma Jane Knigge, 5, just made a pact to each other.
“We have a standing Thursday date,” for “the cake store,” said Wilson, watching Emma Jane take a big bite out of a donut with pink sprinkles. “It’s our treat before preschool.”
The history of Butter Cream Bakery isn’t much to write home about. Most Napans have already been there — almost all of their lives. They’ve lived its history.
On most days, Ruth Barr, who meets a group of ladies every Thursday at “The Bakery,” will have the “standard”: One poached egg and a side muffin toast.
“I just have to raise my eyebrows and they know,” she said about her usual order.
Reding, a seasoned hunter, comes here seven days a week, unless he’s on vacation.
“I see a lotta come and go,” he said. “All the ladies come here. They’ve lost all their husbands now.”
Even when they’ve moved away, people come back because they’ll always see someone they know.
www.buttercreambakery.com

Generation Huh?

I'm still reading this story....why is the link so long? Its a super interesting story if you like this sort of sub-culture realm of teen life or maybe its a trend/lifestyle/generation huh thing, i don't know. I can't keep up with it all!! myspace, yourspace, outerspace.....But its like a movie. Oh Hollywood is that You? But wait its not Hollywood, is it a manifested, generational Hollywood-genre normalacy, the thing just breathes life like script and its characters, and this is what you get:

http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/west/la-tm-corykennedy08feb25,1,1068485.story?coll=la-utilities-west

Its real life almost like reality tv but with photographs and myspace.

Napa's Singing Idols

Here's a couple from an assignment on Napa's version of American Idol. We are still shooting the competition.

These girls are loosening up backstage...

and this guy is singing a Stevie Wonder hit....

Arrr Rugby

For sports today, I photographed a rugby team in sonoma. We don't normally drift beyond the valley, climb the mayacamas, the mountains that line the west side of the valley, or wonder along the 121 vineyard pastures but today I sure did. All for rugby. What the heck is this sport? Man it was crazy. I had fun and I hope to go back because the story about this team is pretty incredible as is the personality of the crew and the coaches. Here's a couple of randomn photos from the game.

My friend Holly

Hi friends! Thanks for continuing to check out my bloggity-blog. I've been down and out mending my brain with cervasas (aka "work meetings with a pint in hand") from the turmoils of some pretty lame daily grind stuff that has resurfaced....like a smokin volcano...this thing that tries to eat me at work.

So, I'm sorry I haven't been postin any pics!! But today I wanted to introduce to you my pal Holly and a couple of her pictures. She's so frkn talented!!

Guatemalan army....

Pilgrimmage....

Incredible. Man, I really need to get out there.

Has anyone been watching News War on pbs Frontline? A documentary on the fate of journalism...a little boring....a little pessimistic...I truly believe that us journalists and photographers are not going to be overthrown by citizen journalists and blogs as news. For one, there's no credibility even tho everyone wants to be a superstar, and two, we are just too damn talented to be forgotten!! I mean, who is really going to win those journalism pulitzers?? Your retired neighbor? But they have a really nice garden....