shutter to think

scanning negs

holga pic. i dunno what i did to make it look like this. i don't do art photography. but i looove it.

~ beach days, sayulita, mexico.

recent assignment for nyt

This is from a recent assignment on a teenager who suffered from tooth decay. she nearly died from an untreated tooth decay. she's recovered pretty well, but unfortunately, there are families out there who are unable to afford proper dental care. luckily she's recovered well and we wanted to show that. here's a clip from the new york times, and an outtake.

  

antigua

i love discovering old pictures because they are new to me! I had scanned some old film from my last trip to Guatemala and my holga was on bulb. i liked to say it was intentional, but at the time i thought i had broke the plastic camera.

magic tattoos for the Los Angeles Times

 An assignment to photograph a story on magic tattoos brought me to a tattoo artist and champion heavy & middle weight boxers, and brothers, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I hired a translator/tuk tuk driver to help me out for these two shoots because they did not speak english. These tattoos are used as symbols, such as to bring protection, or courage, for boxers, soldiers, and businessmen. Women don't normally receive such tattoos. The designs are really intricate and quite interesting. And he offered to do one for me, which maybe next time i'll take him up on it. but probably on my back! The story on the brother boxers was interesting. Here are two champions, and their families, who were evicted by the government in a land-grabbing situation where either high-rises or middle class suburban-style homes will be built. Unfortunately this is all too common in Cambodia. Their home and boxing gym is about 30 min outside Phnom Penh, and they only have space to do it in the street of their residential subdivision. The story was about their tattoos, but I was also interested in their eviction. The elder brother was quite embarrassed that his boxing school takes place in a street and not in a proper gym like before. 

To view pictures: Tattoos as protection

To read the story: Magic tattoo business is slow in Cambodia

Why do subjects get cut?

I was disappointed to find that that two subjects i photographed for a new york times assignment a few months ago were cut from a story on foreclosed assisted living homes. Their stories were touching and I was touched to be a part of their story, to photograph a bit of their lives. But sometimes, depending on the shape and where the story goes, subjects do get cut. here on my blog i have an opportunity to share these pictures, even though they didn't make it to the newspaper. the first few images were taken of an elderly couple who had to move from the assisted living home, the following last images, because it foreclosed. The owner of the business struggled to keep it open for his clients, but the bank defeated his efforts and he was unfortunately no longer able to keep it functioning.

Here's the related story: When Foreclosure Threatens Elder-Care Homes

Destination: Indonesia for the New York Times

I recently photographed an assignment for the NY Times travel section in Indonesia, just a stone's throw from Singapore. i was so lucky to shoot this. Indonesia is one of my favorite places in the world, and there are so many hidden discoveries. I was fortunate to meet such great people during my time there. I am always surprised and thankful for the generosity of others to help me along the way and allow me into their lives and cultures.

To view the story and slideshow: Where Isolation is a Perk, and the Point

It must be difficult to be an editor. I know that I have such a difficult time editing my own work. But I can't imagine doing the job of an editor, to narrow large edits to just a few pictures. Here are my outtakes, along with some of my favorites from the private resort island of Nikoi and the Tanjung Pinang, Bintan island, Indonesia.