Holiday

The alarm clock starts going off early. Too early. 4 a.m. The drive to Miami is fast in the pre-rush hour, pre-day break dawn. Apparently Josh, John and I are the only ones awake before the sun. And an adventure awaits. We breeze through the airport. Board a plane, and settle in for a 3-hour nap, hoping to catch-up on some sleep before we touch down.

Mexico City is a crazed cacophony of sights, sounds and smells. It's an overwhelming assault on the senses. It's overwhelming. Period. We can't get on a south bound bus fast enough. A beautiful ride through the Sierra Madres hints at the rolling and ever-changing landscape to come. The further we get from the capital the quieter it gets. The calmer it seems. The more relaxed we feel. 7 hours later, the warmth of Oaxaca welcomes us.

For me, it's a much-needed embrace.

Seeing Spots

I don't know what's funnier. Dogs dressed in Halloween costumes or people dressed like their dogs.

Joshie vs Sharpie

Randomness

1. I was shooting a story in a middle school classroom earlier this week, and through the glass door a little boy, of no more than 12, sees me as he's walking down the hallway. He opens the door, runs over to me and exclaims "Is that a wide angle lens?!" I said yes, it is... a 17-40. To which he replies, "Cool!" And then he leaves just as quickly as he came.


2. I got a nice email from a student of mine up at the Eddie Adams Workshop. It ended this way: P.S I once got in trouble shooting for your newspaper through the AP, the local chief thought I played around in Photoshop because Charlie Christ's skin was too orange...


3. Our intern called and woke me up early this morning to ask if I had leather pants. After much confusion, I learned he was working on his Halloween costume.

Ode to Erwitt

As my dog was burying some lab in the sand, I noticed this little Boston Terrier learning to surf. Went to my car and grabbed my camera. Nothing earth-shattering, but it was too cute to pass up. Hopefully they can find a place for it in the paper tomorrow.

Bulls Watch

USF? #2!! When they played Rutgers this week, the school held a "watch party" so students, alumni and fans could come to the arena on campus to watch the big game. It was a lot of me watching the fans watching the game. It was a really fun assignment, where the faces told the story. And unfortunately, that story ended 27-30.



The watching... and waiting...



The thrill of victory...



And the agony of defeat.

Take My Picture

If only I could bottle up the curiosity of a bunch of four-year-olds...

Foto by Finch

I started off my career as a photographer. Twas a beautiful world. Everyday was a new exploration, everyday an adventure. I was given this license to enter any world that I wanted and witness things I could never have imagined. I, and my photography, was both innocent and ignorant.

I stumbled into success. It was the worst thing that could have happened to me. It took away all the innocence that I had and left the ignorance. Everything about photography became suffocating. It had lost all of its fun.

As my career has evolved I have tried numerous ways to move backward. And, as in life, it does not seem possible. I just want to return to the enthusiasm that I once had - to the days when I felt like the pictures I made mattered.

My friend Rob is blogging, and I'm excited to watch him get back to something he feels he's lost. He's one of my favorite photographers because he's got such a unique eye, inquisitive mind and an incredibly unassuming presence -- and all of that comes across in his pictures... which I'm just happy to be seeing again.

The Verdict

After less than 2 hours of deliberation, a Panama City jury found all 7 bootcamp guards and a nurse NOT GUILTY in the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson. Read Abbie's story for more information. The best quote came from Ben Crump, the family's attorney. "You kill a dog, you go to jail," Crump said. "You kill a little black boy, nothing happens." And he's right, as I left the court house I felt really sick to my stomach. Justice seems so subjective sometimes.



Frustration and anger shows on the face of Gina Jones, mother of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson who died at the Bay County Boot Camp, after all seven guards and a nurse were acquitted Friday afternoon by a jury that took just over two hours to come back with the verdict. Supporters Yolanda Ceasar, left, and Bridgett Smith, both of Panama City, put their signs down to hug Jones as she leaves the court house Friday afternoon. "I'm not surprised," said Ceasar, a mother of three. "Look at the jury. It hurts to know that they still have that kind of feeling here. I'm really not surprised. I'm just hurt.



Martin Lee Anderson's grandmother Reto Williams, 63, and aunt Kristian "Debbie" Williams, 36, stay glued to Court TV following the acquittal of seven guards and a nurse in the death of 14-year-old Anderson at the Bay County Boot Camp. Following live coverage from the trial, the family's attorney, Ben Crump, gave an interview to Star Jones Reynolds by telephone.



"I was his favorite aunt," said Kristian "Debbie" Williams, 36, of Panama City, who got a tattoo in memory of her nephew Martin Lee Anderson.

Barnstorm Redux

Barnstorm XX... To be in the room with that much talent is as overwhelming as it is humbling. To my left, Bill Eppridge, John H. White, Douglas Kirkland, to my right Chris Hondros, Clay Patrick McBride and Maggie Steber. Eddie Adams, everywhere. Their lives, their words, their work... all inspiring.

Inspiration and motivation came from some unexpected sources as well:

Like my students... but they're worthy of their own post later. Because I'd love to share some of their work, and talk about the process a little more.

And a late night, conversation with my former boss, Tim Rasmussen, had me really wanting someone to challenge me again. He kicked my ass while I worked for him, and I hated it. Didn't know how to respond to it. Rebelled from it. Looking back, it was exactly what I needed because it pushed me like I've never been pushed before. Out of my comfort zone, and into the unexpected, there was growth.

"M, you could be 'change the world good' if you want to. Whether or not you want to is up to you." Then he raised his hand high over his head and told me, that he always had the bar set up here for me. I miss the bar being raised and someone expecting me to jump over it instead of slide under it. He told me that the reason he pushed so hard was because he knew I had it in me, and he wanted to bring it out of me. The we hugged it out. Sometimes when you're doubting yourself, it's nice to have someone else believe in you.

The following morning, sliding into a booth at the Liberty Diner, I got an awesome opportunity to pick Michael Williamson's brain over a plate of bacon and eggs. When you're in college, your growth seems exponentially faster. Eventually, you start to level out. Then if you're lucky, you start climbing again in your first job... pushing and pulling your way up the hill... improving slow and steady... then again, there's another plateau... stagnation... Somewhere, halfway up the mountain, the peak seems unattainable. The road seems steeper. The risk, greater. The air, thinner. I worry about being stuck on this plateau. Of never getting off. Of having to climb down because I can't go up any higher. And that scares the shit out of me.

Williamson's advice: Be confident in your ability - if you can't sell yourself, how do you expect others to. Become an expert at something, anything. Create a large body of work instead of a bunch of smaller disjointed ones.

Inspiration, over eggs over easy.

Eddie Adams

Six years ago, I was a student at the Eddie Adams Workshop. I didn't have any idea of what I was doing then -- not that I know any more now. I just knew that I was lucky to be one of the 100 students sitting in that barn that weekend. And I tried to soak it all in.



I didn't have the best shoot. I didn't have the best networking experience because I don't schmooze well, and I've never been good at playing the game. I wasn't one of the ones honored with awards or internships or a glowing portfolio review. But what I got was so much more.



It opened my eyes to some really good work -- from both the staff and other students. It challenged me in so many ways -- both mentally and physically. And it really helped push me toward the direction I'm still headed -- photojournalism with an emphasis on story-telling.



Most importantly, it humbled me, greatly. And it taught me about the importance of giving back.



(A huge thanks to my subjects, Paul and Kris, for letting me into their lives.)