SkillsUSA 2008

My twenty-somethingth year covering this enormous student skills competition... 14,000 people come to Kansas City from all over the US and the territories

Here are some of my favorite outtakes from the event, including yet another interesting 'Blue Man.'

To see the real deal, go to www.skillsusa.org


Good folks.

Esthetics

SkillsUSA competition; special new category.

The essence of esthetics is clearly revealed.

There's a big sign and everything.

Cash Talks- further American investigations

Somewhere along the road in Kansas City

Back in the day... American investigations

I recently scanned these images from a shoot in Baltimore and Annapolis, taken while working for the 2000 Census.

The pictures are of:
an inner-city summer school program, aging hipsters outside an uber-trendy tschotschke shop, and a stripper at a diner counter, taking a break from her work.

Americans.

Three Live Poets

I just had the fine privilege of documenting the presentation of three of Washington DC's most illuminating poets for the Phillips Collection. E. Ethelbert Miller, Hari Jones, and Fred Joiner are master wordweavers all. Eyes and ears sprung up to dance by the bright music of the word. Yes. A resounding Yes.

FYI: for more visit E. Ethelbert Miller's interesting website:
www.eethelbertmiller.com

Galen Terrace revisited

These images are from Galen Terrace, in Washington DC. I made them on assignment for the non-profit Enterprise Communiity Partners.

Marjorie's Big Adventure

Ruth's daughter Marjorie just graduated from WVU's journalism school. She is starting a job as a reporter at the Lewistown PA Sentinel daily newspaper. Ruth & I went to support her as she searched for an apartment in this Pennsylvania mill town, nestled deep in rolling green mountains.
She found one... and an adventure begins.

Bob & Edith's Diner - Columbia Pike Photographic Documentary Project

Some images from Bob and Edith's Diner, late last night. It's an old-school American 24-hour chrome diner,
located at 2310 Columbia Pike, in Arlington, Virginia. www.bobandedithsdiner.com

Neon and cheese.

These images are part of the ongoing Columbia Pike Photographic Documentary Project I am working on with fellow photographers Paula Endo and Mimi Xang Ho. The area around Columbia Pike is one of the most ethnically-diverse neighborhoods on the planet.
Home.

NovaZanz CD

I just got the new "Night Walk" CD from Novazanz, a wonderful band. I did the cover photography for them. Pete Durgan and John Cropp on vocals, guitar, and bass. Fine listening... www.novazanz.com

APRIL FOOL!

Annual Report

Meadow Green Courts Community Center

A few images from an assignment documenting a program funded by the Enterprise Community Foundation, the Meadow Green Courts Community Center, in Southeast Washington DC.

There was a shrine to a murder victim one block away from the center (see: http://dcshrines.blogspot.com ). Clear evidence that these effective neighborhood programs are truly needed.

Lower East Side - street conjunctions

Street funk vibe space eye dances

Antique doll heads

From a collection in Tine's studio

Schamlos Schoen

"Schamlos Schoen" ist eine neue CD mit alten deutschen Volksliedern, aufgenommen 2007 in New York mit der deutschen Kunstlerin und Saengerin Tine Kinderman und weltweit bekannten Musikern wie Marc Ribot und Greg Cohen (Tom Waits Band, Marianne Faithful, etc), produziert von Frank London (Klezmatics).

I went to New York to photograph artist and singer Tine Kindermann for her upcoming CD of German folksongs, "Schamlos Schoen"- Shameless Beauty.

Check Tine's interesting artworks and the music at:
http://www.myspace.com/tinekindermann