Recent work for The New York Times

My work, photojournalism, Published work, Seattle, Still photography

Recent work for The New York Times: Banks Say No to Marijuana Money, Legal or Not. Here is how it looked in print in Sunday’s page A1:

 

Serge Kovaleski did a great job on the reporting. Check out the article online here, and if you look below you can see some of my outtakes that didn’t make the cut. Thanks for looking.

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel counts money at his office before loading approximately $85,000 in cash into a plain paper bag, which he will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owners Joel Berman (left) and Ryan Kunkel are pictured at their office as they load approximately $85,000 in cash into a plain paper bag, which they will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because they operate a marijuana business, they cannot store their money in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel counts money at his office before loading approximately $85,000 in cash into a plain paper bag, which he will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel counts money at his office before loading approximately $85,000 in cash into a plain paper bag, which he will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owners Ryan Kunkel (left) and Joel Berman are pictured at their office after loading approximately $85,000 in cash into a plain paper bag, which they will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because they operate a marijuana business, they cannot store their money in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel leaves his office with approximately $85,000 in cash in a plain paper bag, which he will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel is pictured while counting money at his office before loading approximately $85,000 in cash into a plain paper bag, which he will hand deliver to the Department of Revenue in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Pictured in his car, medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel often has rubber bands on his wrists due to the large amounts of cash he often handles. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced store earnings in cash and pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel often has a multitude of rubber bands nearby due to the large amounts of cash he often handles. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced store earnings in cash and pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel is pictured outside of the Department of Revenue before hand delivering $85,000 in cash in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel is pictured outside of the Department of Revenue before hand delivering a bag containing $85,000 in cash in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 3, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owner Ryan Kunkel enters the Department of Revenue to hand deliver $85,000 in cash in order to pay state sales taxes. Because he operates a marijuana business, he cannot store his money in a bank account and is forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Medical marijuana dispensary owners Joel Berman (left) and Ryan Kunkel pose for a portrait. Because they operate a marijuana business, they cannot store their money in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Marijuana plants are seen on display for sale at Fremont Gardens, a medical marijuana dispensary in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The owners of Fremont Gardens, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Marijuana plants are seen on display for sale at Fremont Gardens, a medical marijuana dispensary in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The owners of Fremont Gardens, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Tyler Gilmore (right), manager of medical marijuana dispensary Fremont Gardens, attends to a customer. The owners of Fremont Gardens, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Samantha Weyer waits to serve customers at Fremont Gardens, a medical marijuana dispensary in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The owners of Fremont Gardens, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  A marijuana strain called Cherry Pie is pictured at Fremont Gardens, a medical marijuana dispensary in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The owners of Fremont Gardens, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Samantha Weyer (left) sells marijuana to Josh O’Neal at Fremont Gardens, a medical marijuana dispensary in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The owners of Fremont Gardens, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Charlie Fletcher, an employee at a Heart Cafe, heats up hash oil for patron Tyler Albery. The owners of Have a Heart Cafe, Ryan Kunkel and Joel Berman, cannot deposit business earnings in a bank account and are forced to pay taxes in person with cash. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Marijuana plants are seen growing at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Marijuana seedlings are seen growing at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Marijuana plants are seen growing at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Marijuana plants are seen growing at New Leaf Enterprises as the company president’s dog, Cyprus, walks nearby. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Shaina Sarono tends to marijuana plants at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Shaina Sarono tends to marijuana plants at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: New Leaf Enterprises president Dax Colwell shares a laugh with Shaina Sarono while she tends to marijuana plants at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Employees trim freshly harvested marijuana buds at New Leaf Enterprises in Seattle. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: An employee trims freshly harvested marijuana buds at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Nicholas Gohd trims freshly harvested marijuana buds at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Discarded marijuana leaves are pictured at New Leaf Enterprises in Seattle. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Zachary Purtell trims freshly harvested marijuana buds at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014:  Dax Colwell, president of New Leaf Enterprises, shows some of his freshly harvested marijuana to Ryan Kunkel, a medical marijuana dispensary owner, at New Leaf Enterprises in Seattle. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: An employee applies tamper-proof seals to vapor pens at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Max Brown applies tamper-proof seals to vapor pens at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

 

SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 2, 2014: Josh Page fills vapor cartridges with concentrated cannabis oil at New Leaf Enterprises. Marijuana businesses have had difficulty opening bank accounts recently. CREDIT: David Ryder for The New York Times

Recent work for Reuters: Inauguration of Ed Murray and Kshama Sawant

Diversity, photojournalism, Published work, Seattle, Still photography

Kshama Sawant (L) is sworn in as a Seattle city council member by Nicole Grant at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014. Sawant is a self-described socialist, and the first to be elected to office in Seattle in the modern era.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant addresses the crowd after being sworn in as a Seattle city council member at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.   REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Bill Halsey, a supporter of Kshama Sawant’s proposed $15/hour minimum wage, watches Sawant being sworn in as a Seattle city council member at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014. REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant addresses the crowd after being sworn in as a Seattle city council member at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.   REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant (L) is pictured with her Certificate of Election after being sworn in as a Seattle city council member by Nicole Grant (R) at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014. REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant addresses the crowd after being sworn in as a Seattle city council member at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Ed Murray (left) is sworn in as Mayor of Seattle by Gary Locke (center), as Murray’s husband, Michael Shiosaki (right) watches at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Ed Murray (left) is pictured with his husband, Michael Shiosaki (center), and Gary Locke (right) after being sworn in as Mayor of Seattle at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Ed Murray addresses the crowd after being sworn in as Mayor of Seattle at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014. Murray is the first ever openly gay mayor to be elected to office in Seattle.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Michael Shiosaki (C) watches his husband, Ed Murray, speak to the crowd after being sworn in as Mayor of Seattle at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Ed Murray addresses the crowd after being sworn in as Mayor of Seattle at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Ed Murray addresses the crowd after being sworn in as Mayor of Seattle at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014. REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant (R) is pictured with other council members during a Seattle city council meeting at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014. REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant is pictured during her first Seattle city council meeting at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Kshama Sawant (R), seated next to councilman Mike O’Brien (C), is pictured during her first Seattle city council meeting at City Hall in Seattle, Washington January 6, 2014.  REUTERS/David Ryder

 

Flashpoint 180 Monolight Review

Gear, Lighting, My work, photojournalism, Published work, Seattle, Still photography

 

The Flashpoint 180 Monolight Kit, manufactured by Adorama, is a nice lightweight and affordable monolight for on-location shooting. I tested it out on a recent portrait shoot for Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv and was pleasantly surprised. Hopefully this Flashpoint 180 Monolight review can help you decide if this is a piece of gear that will work for you.

 

Above: Henrik Rasmussen photographed for Dagens Næringsliv using the Flashpoint 180 Monolight Kit

The Flashpoint 180 Monolight Kit currently retails for about $200 at Adorama.com, including shipping. It comes with everything you need to go out and shoot right away, and is compatible with Bowens-mount accessories should you find the urge to slap on a beauty dish or some other light modifier. The kit does actually come with a small umbrella, though, which is nice. The kit comes with a small bag containing the monolight, reflector, battery with belt clip and charger, flash sync cord, umbrella, and a little grip that screws into the bottom of the monolight if you want to handhold it. The kit does not come with a standard light stand, so keep that in mind if you want to use one.

My first impression was that the kit is really easy to use. I set it up quickly and after some tests, was ready to use the light on an actual assignment.

Henrik was a great subject and the shoot was going well before I walked through a door and dropped the Flashpoint 180’s battery pack. It is made of plastic, so it is lightweight, but I was sure that it would be broken after hitting the concrete floor. I was pretty surprised to see the pack was fine, and also relieved that I could still use it for the rest of the shoot. So keep in mind, this is an affordable piece of gear, but it can actually handle some of the rough treatment that sometimes comes with using gear on-location.

After making a few portraits indoors at the offices of Marel, where Henrik is president, we went outdoors to get a different look and check out the performance of this Flashpoint 180 Monolight in the sun. Even diffused by an umbrella, the light was just fine for producing enough power to knock down the ambient light outside by about one full stop. The dial on the back of the light allows for a variation of up to five stops, too, and it was quick and easy to adjust.

All in all I’d say the Flashpoint 180 Monolight Kit is offers a great value. The one thing I’d like to see is a longer battery power cord so that it is easier to set the monolight on the ground if I’m not using it as a handheld light. It has a built-in belt clip and it seems that this light was designed to only be handheld, because the battery’s power cord is hardly long enough to reach from the ground to the top of a light stand, should I choose to use one. That said, the monolight was nice to use and I hope this Flashpoint 180 Monolight review helps you out. Thanks for reading.