I recently updated the website with new work from a personal project about the Tri-Cities metro area of southeastern Washington state, which is a surprise candidate for most economically secure and successful community in the country right now. It’s a pretty fascinating and uplifting story amidst the doom and gloom around the U.S. currently, and around the world in general. Have a look by following this link or clicking the picture below.
Civic leaders and hundreds of citizens gathered for a panel discussion Monday evening at Seattle’s Town Hall to discuss the urgent issue of violence in the city. After many shootings in the first half of 2012, gun violence was already a top issue for the mayor and community leaders, who called it a crisis. And then Ian Stawicki went on a rampage May 30, shocking the city and the nation by shooting and killing five people before killing himself. Below are pictures of the Town Hall meeting, after which people visited the parking lot to pay respects to one of Stawicki’s victims, Gloria Leonidas, who was killed when Stawicki stole her car there.
Above: People pay respects at the site of the recent killing of Gloria Leonidas in the Town Hall parking lot.
Above: Mayor Mike McGinn, center, appears on the panel. The Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat is seen at left.
Above: The panel addresses the tough topics of the night.
Above: Concerned citizens attended the meeting to listen to the panel and provide questions.
Above: Mayor Mike McGinn addresses the Town Hall audience.
Above: People pay respects at the site of the recent killing of Gloria Leonidas in the Town Hall parking lot.
I was digging through my archive and came across a nice photo from a recent shoot in the skies over Seattle.
I’ve added a new gallery to the website, “A City’s Emerald,” which is a story about Seattle’s dying urban forest and the restoration efforts that aim to keep it alive. It’s an ongoing project, so check back soon for updates. A short film is also in the works. Click on the picture to see more.
Research shows a multitude of benefits that come along with trees in an urban setting – decreased crime, fewer auto accidents, slower and safer drivers, increased property values, cooler city temperatures, cleaner air, natural storm water runoff management, more birds … the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, invasive species such as ivy and blackberries are slowly killing the forest. Development of new building projects is also an obvious constant threat to urban trees. The dimmest projections show that almost none of the forest will be left this century if no action is taken. The good news is that the City of Seattle is taking an innovative approach to restoring the urban forest through the Green Seattle Partnership, which is a collaborative effort of public, non-profit, and private groups.
On Wednesday a gunman opened fire at Cafe Racer in Seattle, killing four people before fleeing and later killing another person and himself. Wednesday evening brought much sadness but also a heartfelt community response to the violence. Thursday was an extension of that, with hundreds of people gathering at Cowen Park, near Cafe Racer, for a “Walk for Love” that ended at the cafe. Again, it was a sad but very moving scene of people collectively mourning yet playing music and coming together to support each other.
Update: May 31, 7:00 p.m. – Short video, Joy and Mourning, added. Watch as Seattle residents react to a murder-suicide with both raw sadness and a joyous celebration of life.
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Update: May 31, 1:00 a.m. – 18 more photos added.
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Today was a sad day for Seattle. A murder-suicide was the latest in a rash of gun violence that by May has already brought the total murders for the year past the totals for 2011 and 2010, both of which were 20. The city responded with a collective mourning that was very powerful, and even more powerful was the celebration of life that lasted late into the night – just across the street from the scene of the murders, Cafe Racer. See below.
Above: Two women embrace after the crowd released paper lanterns into the sky in remembrance of those killed earlier that morning.
Please have a look at a new gallery on the website, which has been a long time coming. It is my portfolio of single images. Previously, the only galleries on the site were photo essays and so I am very happy to be able to present this singles gallery. Thanks for looking.
Photos: Mount Rainier National Park on a beautiful day in May.
Have a look at a new gallery on my site, Occupy the Northwest, featuring Occupy images from the last 12 months in Seattle and Portland.
Update 5/2/2012 – 17 new images added.
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Below: A protestor is arrested by police Tuesday, May 1 during a May Day protest organized by Occupy Seattle. At least eight people were arrested as thousands marched the streets during multiple rallies and ongoing protests throughout the day. Sporadic violence broke out and demonstrators smashed several windows of banks and stores in downtown Seattle and committed other acts of vandalism. Much of the protests were, however, quite peaceful.
Shot for Zuma Press.
Photo: Seattle Center.
Spring has finally arrived in Seattle and it even looks good in an old basement window.
