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.
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.
Steven St. John for The Wall Street Journal
“New Mexico authorities say as much as 90% of the jewelry passed off nationally as authentic, handmade Native American craftsmanship is fake. Tourists are often fooled into paying top dollar for an imported piece, mass-produced abroad with plastic beads instead of valuable gems.”
Last year I was in Guatemala for Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. November 1 and 2 marks a very important ritual throughout Guatemala, especially in the predominantly indigenous town of Santago Sacatepequez, where a unique kite-flying festival of the Katchiquel people integrate the Catholic feast of All Saints day with pre-Columbian Mayan practices of remembering the dead.
It also marks the end of the rainy season. I’d been in the area since the beginning of July, and as if someone flipped a switch, the daily pouring vanished and for the first time in months if felt the wind. Bamboo kites are made as a way to communicate with the dead, symbolically attracting the spirits to earth to reunite the living and the dead.
I’ve always loved the traditions associated with Día de los Muertos because it’s about remembering and celebrating life, not fearing death.
I also want to take a second to send huge thanks to Ezra at Electrophonic Design, who put this new site together and designed all my web pages. I hope to get back to posting more on Vamos A Ver, now that Tortuga is off and running.
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.
Since former Washington DC based Rocky Mountain News reporter ME Sprengelmeyer purchased the