I just LOVE photographing events like San Francisco’s Day of the Dead parade. This parade is a community event that has been happening for the last 30 years. Dia de los Muertos is an annual Meso-American holiday dedicated to people’s ancestors and loved ones now gone. Participants celebrate the Day of the Dead by creating sacred space with art installations, performances and a walking procession which help people contemplate their personal existence, mortality and celebration of life.

Dia de Los Muertos in pre-Columbian America is at least as old as the vivid 3000 year old recorded art history of Mesoamerica. Its best known symbol, the skull head, represents rebirth as well as death. Life was but a dream or mask, and death was when one would meet the real world. Like its spring counterpart, Carnaval, attempts were made to repress it by the Catholic church authorities, but it was too deeply ingrained in the people. While Spaniards viewed death as the end of life, the natives believed the dead came back and visited.

Communal expression, is widespread in Native America. It aims to re-create the sacred in the present moment. Communities regularly seek to be restored to their original fertility in cyclic ceremonies of renewal, and thus promote the continuance of life on earth.  Throughout the weeks surrounding November 2nd are innumerable altar exhibits and special displays which demonstrate and sell the pieces which mark Day of the Dead.

Calaveras, the animated skeletons which remind us that death is best approached as an inevitable greatest life journey are the most popular in both San Francisco and Mexico, either as small sculptures or as prints by the great Mexican artist Jose Posada. Yet the palate is large, with many that serve on personal ancestor altars like sugar skulls, marigolds, candlesticks, incense-burners and images of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

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Last night I had the pleasure to photograph DJ Shadow at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, as I had heard about his “egg” that he performs in, and how folks complained that you couldn’t even see him for half the show.

But, I had always wanted to see Shadow live. Early on when I was cutting my own teeth on the decks, he was a huge influence. His skill and creativity are beyond measure. His passion and love for what he does is obvious if you just watch him for more than 30 seconds. His low attitude, non-publicity seeking personality is entirely refreshing.

I must admit, was pleasantly surprised by the visuals. Watching most dj’s isn’t that interesting, and Shadow really put together a performance that was engaging and creative. I honestly didn’t mind that I didn’t get to see him for much of the show.

And, did I mention the bass? Good lord. I don’t think I’ve felt bass so heavy, vibrating every cell in my body, since one of the last raves I attended back in 1995 in Chicago. Normally, this wouldn’t be something I’d be into nowadays (hey, I’m getting old!), but this time around, it actually was a good thing.

I’m really glad I got to experience this concert. In fact, I’d like to see it again, and this time be able to put the camera down, and just be a spectator like everyone else. So many people seemed to be lost in the music, completely enjoying themselves. Beautiful.

Here’s some of my faves from last night:

Holy Crap.

I had the honor to check out Public Enemy last night at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. I’ve seen a lot of bands lately from when I grew up, as they all seem to be on reunion tours. For the most part, they were all better in the ’80s. So, I didn’t have high hopes for Public Enemy.

Boy was I wrong. Chuck D, Flavor Flav and DJ Lord delivered. Flavor was entertaining as usual, and had a crazy amount of energy. And, what girl doesn’t get a little weak in the knees at the sound of Chuck D’s smooth, deep voice? (Come on ladies, you know what I’m talking about!). Last, but not least, was DJ Lord. This guy is a machine on the decks. He has skills that seem to be a dying art these days….an ability of which most of us DJ’s can only dream about.

My face hurts from the ear to ear grin I had on my face all night. Here’s a few pics from last night. More on the blog soon….so don’t forget to check back!

Pictured below is Pat, from San Francisco’s Pat’s Garage, as shot for a story on Green Automobiles for a local community newspaper. Pat’s Garage is a specialist in electric car conversion. They are partnering with Green Cars to develop plug-in technology so that people can extend their cars’ electric power features and use less gasoline. Pat’s Garage is working with the San Francisco Department of Public Health as a model for automotive repair businesses that want to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

Pat’s Garage
1090 26th St
San Francisco, CA 94107-3513
(415) 647-4500
www.patsgarage.com

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, recently appeared at the San Francisco Food Bank. I was asked to cover this event by a local community newspaper, the Potrero View. Speaker Pelosi received a tour of the Food Bank’s warehouse, proceeded to help volunteers from a local elementary school package food, and then ended her visit with a press conference where she discussed the 150,000 residents in San Francisco at risk of hunger each year.

A publisher of a local San Francisco newspaper that I work with recently recommended my photojournalism work to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The EDF is in the process of putting together a brochure to illustrate case studies of both businesses and low income families that are making efforts to lessen their environmental foot print. The brochure will eventually be used to educate both the public, business owners and politicians on the benefits (and ease) of “going green”.

Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, they have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society’s most urgent environmental problems. EDF is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including access to clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and flourishing ecosystems. Guided by science, EDF evaluates environmental problems and works to create and advocate solutions that win lasting political, economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-efficient and fair.

I’m so happy that Environmental Defense Fund chose me for this project. They were so wonderful to work with, and it was really great to work with a team of folks whose mission really resonates with my own personal values. Here are some photos from each of the businesses I was asked to photograph:

Pet Camp:
Located in San Francisco, Pet Camp offers day care and boarding services for both cats and dogs. They’ve made a commitment to being green by becoming a Certified Green Business in San Francisco, as well as installing Big Ass Fans, converting the dog poo into energy, installing energy efficient lighting, heating, cooling and plumbing.

Pet Camp – Main Campground
525 Phelps Street
San Francisco, CA  94124

Alonzo Printing:
Alonzo Printing Company was incorporated in 1976 and has grown to become known as one of the premier printing companies in the Bay Area. Centrally located in Hayward, Alonzo serves a variety of customers representing several different industries such as government, education, health care, hi-tech, and publishing. Alonzo Printing is an equal opportunity union shop with a diverse work force of 50 highly skilled employees. The professionalism and dedication of Alonzo’s work force is evident in the quality of products they produce, which have earned numerous awards for printing excellence. Alonzo has been green before the term became a buzz word…they use all recycled paper, soy based inks, and employ energy saving techinques such as turning off all lights & machines when not in use, and installing energy efficient lighting. Alonzo also has in the works to coordinate a shuttle to its facilities from the BART station, to encourage its employees to use public transit.

Alonzo Printing
3266 Investment Blvd
Hayward, CA 94545-3807
(510) 293-3940

Veritable Vegetable:
Founded in 1974, Veritable Vegetable is the nation’s oldest distributor of certified organic produce. Veritable Vegetable’s warehouse facility measures 25,000 square feet and its inventory contains over 9700 items, of which 97% is Certified Organic. Currently, Veritable Vegetable has employed eco-paint, flooring, furniture and lighting for its administrative offices, as well as temperature regulated fridges, timed energy efficient lights, and natural gas powered trucks. And, one of the many benefits of working at Veritable Vegetable, employees have access to the freshest organic produce at less than wholesale prices….YUM!

Veritable Vegetable
1100 Cesar Chavez
San Francisco, CA 94124-1214
(415) 641-3500

Lick Wilmerding High School:

Lick-Wilmerding is an independent, college preparatory, co-ed day school in San Francisco serving 440 students in grades 9-12. Lick-Wilmerding High School inspires students to become self-directed lifelong learners who contribute to our world with knowledge, skill, creativity, compassion and can-do confidence. Toward this end, Lick-Wilmerding integrates a distinguished college preparatory curriculum with a distinctive program in the technical arts. As a private school with public purpose, Lick-Wilmerding encourages participation in community service and is committed to developing innovative educational programs that will benefit students and teachers throughout the Bay Area. Lick-Wilmerding’s purpose, built on the foundation of a diverse and inclusive community, is to develop qualities of the head, heart and hands that will serve students well throughout their lives. This high school is doing some really interesting things to be sustainable: they serve organic food in the cafeteria where they also recycle and compost food waste, have installed solar panels on the roofs of their buildings, integrated “living roofs” into the school’s structures, implemented energy efficient lighting and energy saving techniques, and maintain a plant and meditation garden. This school left me so impressed, and the students there were so cool, it made me wish I was 20 years younger and back in school. Now, I NEVER thought I’d say that!

Lick-Wilmerding High School
755 Ocean Ave
San Francisco, CA 94112-1896
(415) 333-4021

Temple Emanu El:
Congregation Emanu-El serves the community in many ways. They focus on hunger/poverty, the environment and literacy, offering both direct service and advocacy on behalf of their clients. They operate two food pantries and a vegetable garden at their cemetery in Colma; tutoring programs through both Back on Track and the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, and work on a wide range of environmental programs. Dedicated in April 1926, the magnificent building at Lake Street and Arguello Boulevard is the third site of this congregation. Designed primarily by Arthur Brown, Jr. (designer of the War Memorial Opera House, the Hoover Library at Stanford and, with two others, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge) the building was influenced by the Haggia Sophia in Istanbul. From the exterior of the dome (150 feet) to the four-manual Skinner organ to the nine-foot high jewel box which is the Ark itself, the Main Sanctuary is a place of dignity, power and peace. In 1927, the American Institute of Architects selected Temple Emanu-El as the finest piece of architecture in Northern California. The Awards Committee honored it as, “a glorious building . . . beautifully planned and modeled . . . realizing to the highest degree the expression of its religious character.” Currently, the congregation is making efforts to go green, including recycling, composting, maintaining a garden, offering “green” events to the community (weddings, bar/batmitzvahs, etc), and integrating energy efficient lighting.

Congregation Emanu-El
2 Lake Street (at the corner of Lake and Arguello)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 751-2535

These shots were taken on assignment for an article about local businesses. Georgia, the owner of 3rd Street Pilates, was great to work with, as was her assistant. The benefits of pilates are obvious….just look at Georgia who has been practicing for 15 years!

If you live in San Francisco, you probably know that the areas of SoMa, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Hunter’s Point, Bay View and the 3rd Street corridor have been undergoing massive re-building. Some folks think it is a good thing by bringing more money to the economy and cleaning up neighborhoods that have been dilapidated for so many years. Others, however, are opposed to the new growth, feeling that it is contributing to pushing out what’s left of San Francisco’s diversity while gentrifying these neighborhoods. Pictured below is Vincenc Cabala of the Local Union 261.

I hope you enjoyed my post. Click here if you’d like to see more Photojournalism, View My Portfolio, or Contact Me.

While the majority of what I photograph these days consists of weddings, portraits and events, I also work for private companies shooting PR work, as well as shoot photojournalism assignments for newspapers. I’ve been freelancing for a local community newspaper, the Potrero View, for about a year now, and thought I’d depart from my usual wedding photography blog posts, and share some of my recent photojournalism work for the View:

San Francisco Center for the Book presents: The Fifth Annual ROADWORKS: Steamroller Prints

Potrero Hill Festival. The festival features many activities’ for young and young at heart, including a main stage featuring top local performers, the Book Mobile, a fire truck, a unique children’s area with games, crafts and a petting zoo!

Senior Lunch Program at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House. The Potrero Hill Neighborhood House (known as the NABE to community members) is a multi-purpose, multi-generational community center in continuous operation for nearly a century. It’s mission is to serve those in need from the “cradle to the grave” with an emphasis on youth and education.

I hope you enjoyed my post. Click here if you’d like to see more of my San Francisco Photojournalism Work, View My Portfolio or Contact Me.