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.
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.
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.
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.
