I hadn’t covered a single basketball game all year long. In fact, I don’t think I have shot a basketball game since the Trib closed. But when the Gallup Independent called, I was happy to help out. It wasn’t much of a game, Navajo Pine fell behind to Hagerman early, and it was pretty much over by half-time. But it was fun for me being back on the floor.
My friend recently purchased a house here in Albuquerque. The previous owner was in her 90’s when she died, and left the house in amazing shape, but a little out of style. I stopped in for a visit and I was drawn to the last fragments of the the home’s previous owner as they are torn out for the remodel. Layers of time hidden under more layers of wallpaper, now a home being reborn.
Albuquerque Trib reunion 2 – Images by Steven St. John
February 23rd marks the final edition of the Albuquerque Tribune. For this, the second anniversary, alumni gathered to remember the best little newspaper ever. It was wonderful seeing so many members of my tribe, and I miss those who couldn’t join us.
When photographing boring ceremonial check passings, the kind without any big checks, cute kids in cowboy hats can really save you. He’s looking at a model of the future hospital in Santa Rosa New Mexico.
2009 was an amazing year of transition for me. This time last year, I was just moving back to New Mexico after my time in Guatemala and Central America. Over the past year, I purchased and moved into my condo, gained a sister and got my favorite photo editor back in Albuquerque. I also co-founded Tortuga Photo Workshops, thus I think the ground work has been laid for an even better 2010. It’s not easy to pick a few images to represent an entire year, but these are the photographs pulled from larger bodies of work that defined the year for me personally.
Protesting against war on Central Ave. in Albuquerque.
Wearing our Sunday best for the inauguration in Washington D.C. which was the coldest day of my life.
George Bush leaving office! I didn’t think we’d live long enough to see it.
Mark Holm re-united with his family after the Rocky Mountain News shut down. Maybe my favorite picture from the entire year.
President Obama in Rio Rancho. Not really a great picture, but after missing all the campaigning, I was really happy to get up close to the President.
My new sister-in-law on her wedding day.
An MS-13 gang member being sweet with his girl before the start of Zozobra in Santa Fe NM.
My favorite “peak action” sports photo of the year, from the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.
Drinking Tequila with the Mariachi in El Paso Texas for the WSJ. Taking pictures in the bar was far more dangerous than the work I did in Juarez earlier that day.
Día de los Muertos in Albuquerque.
Man, over a month and no posts… maybe posting more often should be my New Years resolution that I fail at this year. It probably was last year too. Anyway, here is a snow feature from my final editorial assignment of the year. I’ll try to do better next time.
Stacia Spragg-Braude's book To Walk in Beauty: A Navajo Family's Journey Home.
“Looking through Stacia’s initial submission and then later through a larger selection of her photographs, I remember being struck by the beauty, power, mystery and intimacy of the black and white images of a landscape, culture and people I was unfamiliar with. I recall feeling that she’s not only a fiercely dedicated and determined photojournalist, but must have an intense personal connection and relationship with this family to spend roughly a decade making these photographs and telling this family’s story.”
There is a wonderful interview with my dear friend and former colleague at The Albuquerque Tribune Stacia Spragg-Braude that I found via the APAD blog at photographer Matthew Ratajczak’s blog Eat the Darkness. Buy the book now.
Stacia Spragg-Braude presenting her book "To walk in beauty" at the Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales.
Dia de muertos – Albuquerque – Images by Steven St. John
The Marigold Parade is without question one of my favorite things to photograph on the Albuquerque calendar each year. The fun challenge is trying to find a picture you haven’t made already in previous years.
Screen image from WSJ.com
Last week I got a chance to photograph Zozobra for The Wall Street Journal, the first of three assignments. Hit the link to see more photos. Viva la fiesta!
Since former Washington DC based Rocky Mountain News reporter ME Sprengelmeyer purchased the Guadalupe County Communicator, he has put an emphasis on getting good photography into the small weekly paper. I was honored to be included this week with a football photo above the fold on A1. My friend and personal photo editor Mark Holm has been a regular contributor, and also has a photo on the front page. Very cool to see in a time when all you hear is bad news for newspapers. Former Rocky star and fellow Scripps Howard castoff Chris Schneider has also made some wonderful features around Santa Rosa for the paper.