I spent the afternoon photographing an amazing event which raised money to help kids get the excellent public education and strong support they need to thrive.
During the event, three high school students were awarded scholarships for college. Their stories were incredible. They went through things that no one should have to endure, let alone children. But they came out on top, they fought and persevered and they are an inspiration to others.
This is my second fundraiser for Junior Diabetes Research Foundation that I have been asked to photograph. I love doing events like this. The Walk draws people together in a healthy activity for a worthy cause, raising money to help find a cure for diabetes.
Please check out JDRF's website to find out more about the event and how you can help fight diabetes.
I recently read about Boaz and his upcoming adventure in the Oregonian. I envy guys like him--always seeking the thrill of adventure and seizing the moment--while trying to convey a great message.
Boaz left yesterday on a 10 week journey where he'll be criss-crossing through the United States. He'll be using every mode of transportation except for a car. As I write this, he's making his way through Northern California by way of Amtrak. We're not just talking trains and boats here but everything from segways to horseback to hang gliders.
I was there to photograph the start of his journey, where Boaz and the Mayor of Portland, Sam Adams, rode off on a tandem bike. It was quite a sight.
"Friends are like good books, few but well chosen." Herman is not sure where he read that quote but if there is any truth to it he should have about 2,000 well chosen friends.
Herman lives in a little one bedroom apartment in NW Portland, Oregon. If you ask him his age, he'll tell you he is celebrating his 50th anniversary of his 29th birthday. When I first met him over a year ago it was in our neighborhood bar, Serratto. I sat right next to him and he was drinking a Heineken and he turns to me and says, "So, have you read anything good lately?" We've been great friends ever since.
Herman told me that he has never completed anything in his life. Never married, never finished high school. Nothing. So he made a deal with himself to read one million pages before he dies. He made that promise to himself in 1985 and completed it in January of 2008.
He has kept a compulsively detailed log which he likes to call his "Legacy." It is of every book he has ever read from the beginning until now. The Legacy shows the year, the day, the number of days it took to finish a book and the amount of pages in the book. From his first book: O' God of Battles, which was 242 pages long and it took him 31 days to complete it. To his million page goal which ended with The Return of the King, the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. And it only took him 24 years to get there.
When he said a million pages he meant exactly that. He counts only the pages that are part of the story, and he doesn't count books that are under two hundred pages-he'll still read them, they just don't count towards his goal. He also kept a running log of averages, the average number of pages he reads in a day, the average number of books in a month and the average number of pages and books in a year.
His favorite book is October Sky. Says it's about a boy reaching his goal. Even if everyone is against him. Shows determination and perseverance.
I asked Herman if that book resembles him in a way, finishing a goal no matter what? He pauses for a moment "I never really gave it much thought."
View his complete story by pressing play in the middle of the slideshow screen.
------ Photographer's notes:
I photographed this assignment with a canon 40d and a 35mm f/2 lens. ISO remained around 400 and the camera was set in B&W mode.
Voice recording was done on my Mac book pro using the internal mic. Later edited with Garage Band.
I was inspired by a piece in the New York Times titled: One in 8 Million.
It was amazing to see thousands of people turn out for this political rally in Portland, OR. Since I couldn't really get close enough to achieve the shot I wanted-I focused on the crowds of people and having my center of focus the signs. I really need to get a press pass! :) Here's little more info on my flickr.
Photographs can make or break a person in the media. People can appear to be more powerful, weak, awkward, serious all in just one photograph. That's the beauty about photography. I try to portray the personality of the subject through my photographs. Where someone could look at the picture and get a sense on who they are or what they represent.
This weekend I photographed one of the leading candidates for the President of the United States, Senator Hillary Clinton. It was a little nerve racking but fun. I also had the chance to photograph Chelsea Clinton-just as exciting!
Tips: Usually these places are poorly light so you want to bump up your ISO and open up your aperture. Try and look for different angles. Shoot low, high, through crowds. Try and get something in the frame that relates to the location.
