politics

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

 

Recent work for The New York Times

My work, photojournalism, Published work, Still photography

Last week I spent some time on assignment for The New York Times in Lakewood, Washington, a city whose economic vitality depends on its connection to Joint base Lewis-McChord, located just across the highway. The federal government shutdown has made life difficult for the thousands of civilian workers who work on base, either because they were not working or were not sure if they would receive paychecks for work already done. After I made my visit, conditions did improve when Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel elected to recall most of the civilian workers that were either furloughed or unsure if they would receive their hard earned paychecks. Even still, reactions have been muted, as life in Lakewood was already difficult and the future is still not totally secure.

Thanks for looking. Read the full story by Kirk Johnson here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Bae: American Imprisoned in North Korea

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

Yesterday on assignment for Reuters I photographed family members of Kenneth Bae, the American currently imprisoned in North Korea. They had just received a letter from him that day and were worried about his health. They are renewing their efforts to ask for help to secure his release and are organizing a vigil this Saturday at Quest Church in Seattle.

 

Terri Chung, sister of Kenneth Bae, is pictured during an interview with Reuters in Lynnwood, Washington August 7, 2013.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Myunghee Bae holds a letter sent to her from prison by her son, Kenneth Bae, at her home in Lynnwood, Washington August 7, 2013.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Terri Chung, sister of Kenneth Bae, is pictured during an interview with Reuters in Lynnwood, Washington August 7, 2013.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Kenneth Bae’s mother, Myunghee Bae, left, is pictured with his sister, Terri Chung, right, in Lynnwood, Washington August 7, 2013.  REUTERS/David Ryder   (UNITED STATES)

 

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s Re-election Campaign

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

I spent some time on Election Day at Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s campaign headquarters in the International District of Seattle while on assignment for Reuters. Despite somehow covering myself and my camera in green paint while a volunteer was screen printing T-shirts, I enjoyed covering the campaign because elections are always fun to shoot. After yesterday’s primary, McGinn is in a very tight race with Ed Murray in the race for Mayor of Seattle.

 

Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn poses for a portrait at his campaign headquarters in Seattle, Washington August 6, 2013. McGinn faces a tough hurdle to re-election on Tuesday as he faces off in a primary vote against a field of overwhelmingly progressive challengers, including a state legislator, Ed Murray, known for his leadership on gay marriage.

 

Volunteers Barbara Yao and Patrick McGinn, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s nephew, make calls to voters at the McGinn campaign headquarters in Seattle, Washington August 6, 2013.

 

Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn chats with Jack Mahoney, phone bank captain, while calling voters from his campaign headquarters in Seattle, Washington August 6, 2013.

 

Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn discusses policy over the phone with a voter at his campaign headquarters in Seattle, Washington August 6, 2013.

 

A volunteer organizes freshly printed shirts for Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn at his campaign headquarters in Seattle, Washington August 6, 2013.

 

Bill Monto, campaign manager for Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn, speaks on the phone at McGinn’s campaign headquarters in Seattle, Washington August 6, 2013.

 

Neighborhood Watch for Reuters

My work, photojournalism, Published work, Still photography

For Reuters recently I photographed Kent Holder, a neighborhood watch volunteer with Citizens’ Patrol on Fox Island, WA, near Gig Harbor. At 74, Holder is a really interesting guy; he is a retired firefighter and still a successful competitor on the ultramarathon running circuit. Yes, ultramarathon means up to 100 miles.

Holder abides by two basic tenants of the neighborhood watch program – don’t carry a gun and don’t confront suspicious people. He obviously disagrees with the decisions made by George Zimmerman.

Click the picture below to see the portraits and read the full story.