Lavender Buzz

There is a small field of lavender near my condo that seems to lately be a haven for bees. In my continued effort to photograph more and with a renewed interest in nature, I clicked off a few frames and tried not to get stung. It was a nice retreat. Bzzz.

Love Portraits

My great friend Josh met Kristin about five months ago. In that time, he's been having a blast while falling head over soles. He lives in Colorado and she in Pullman, Wash. while she finishes up a commitment as a veterinarian. It was a little more than 14 days ago that he popped the question on the snows of Mt. Ranier in the Pacific Northwest. As typical as it sounds, these two were made for one another and have an anything-but-typical future ahead of them.

I was honored to be asked to make some engagement photos for Josh and Kris this evening.

Tonight was about some people who are really important to me. Josh because he's always been there for me, pushing me to be better than I thought I could be--as a photographer, as a ball player, as a human being. Kris because she is such an important part of Josh's life and a natural friend that I look forward to getting to know over the years.

Now for those pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

Two Wheels and Perspective

I [HEART] quad rugby. A few years ago--when I was still in newspapers--I got the opportunity to do a two-part story on a local man who went from being a regular suburban husband and father to a quadriplegic in 24 hours due to a condition that attacked his spinal cord. In the wake of his injury and rehabilitation, he discovered wheelchair rugby and feel in love.

It's a story that still inspires me, even years later. I hadn't been out to shoot the sport or hang out with the athletes since completing the story, so I took the opportunity to get out this weekend for the Mile High Massacre tournament in Denver. What an awesome display of punishing metal on metal collisions.

Looking at these pictures tonight makes me realize how insignificant the challenges of my Monday truly are. Life is all about choices. Sometimes these decisions are in your control and sometimes they are so beyond your grasp. It's all about perspective, right?

Happy New Year

Here's to good fortune and great light. See you in 2009.

Stirring Giant

I just spent the better part of an hour getting inspired. I paid a visit to the College Photographer of the Year site to look at winning images in the 63rd annual competition. I left feeling really insignificant, but nonetheless inspired at the power of photojournalism. The inevitable demise of newspapers as we've known them will undoubtedly change the landscape for pictures. But, honestly, it's refreshing to note that the visual craftsmanship and compassion that has long sustained newspaper photographers is still very much thriving in a new generation of shooters. Almost all of them will likely find themselves needing to translate the power of a still image to the uncertain, and essentially unproven, power of new media approaches.

That's scary. It's also liberating. The door is wide open for journalists, writers and photographers alike, to take a cue from Jenn Ackerman's haunting documentary on the mentally ill in the prison system.

As for what any of this means to me, I'm not entirely sure. I've done some transitioning in the past year and a half, some of which has been chronicled on this blog and most of which has gone publicly unrecorded. I know one thing, I miss making pictures everyday. I unequivocally know that I could still be making daily pictures, but simply have neglected to stay true to that part of me. It's unfortunate, really. But. It's going to change. The photojournalist in me is stirring. I don't know what the sleeping giant will produce, but I do know that he's hungry and ready to dine anew. Where to begin?

Circumstances

It was March 2004. A family trip to the Denver Zoo. I, of course, was carrying my camera. I have never really forgotten the photos. I just misplaced them in the dance of life and happened upon them tonight. Not sure what prompts me to post them more than four years later. Then again, maybe I do.

Life is just wild. Even when you're caged in by circumstances beyond your control.

Seattle

Playing the tourist for a few days in the Pacific Northwest. Had a nice dinner with a good friend this evening. Glad we connected. Great and interesting city--will have to come back when I can stay longer and see/eat/drink more.

Remember

Normally my drive to work isn't all that inspiring. But, that sort of changed during a rainy Wednesday morning last week. While sitting in traffic, I saw a few poignant messages stuck on a bumper. One said, "Remember who you wanted to be," and the other said, "Enlighten Up."

Good advice. And. I'm trying to remember. I'm trying really hard.

Of Graduation and Transformation

I had family in town over the weekend. My second cousin was graduating from high school and they came down from Washington for the celebration. It was definitely great to see them. While standing in my grandmother's garage with my father and my uncle, I saw some nice late afternoon light dancing off of my uncle's belt buckle. Click.

It was an interesting weekend in a ton of ways. Seeing my second cousin graduate was pretty surreal because I remember when he was born--I was in fifth grade. I know that means that I'm getting old. He's off to college this fall and I pray that he makes the most of his next steps.

Head Circus

It's been awhile. I've been busy adjusting to a new job and just haven't made time to post anything. That and I've been mostly in my own head lately--dealing with stuff more privately and less transparently.

I'm more or less settled in to the gig. Hopefully that will inspire a more regular schedule of postings, but I suppose time will tell that story.

Lately, I've got some junk doing acrobatics in the circus that is my head. Nothing terribly consequential really, just junk.

While life is a bit less than aces at the moment, things are pretty much going well. I've got a job. I've got a family. I've got some health. I've got an imagination. My sense of humor is still very much intact.

Oh, and I've got some good ideas for a few stories. Written stories, not photo stories. After all, even though my voice mail greeting still says photojournalist, I'm more a writer than a photographer these days.

I [Heart] LEGO

I think LEGO® bricks are out of this world.

original drunk harmony

Transition

Here's to new beginnings ...

I just got off the tele with Joshua Lawton, a close friend and fellow photojournalist. He is up late putting the finishing touches on a bunch of stuff - a resume, personal statement, etc. - that he hopes will help get him accepted to graduate school. I truly hope the university appreciates his vision and drive as a storyteller. I truly hope he gets this opportunity for advancement.

It's funny how life moves and grooves. A little over nine months ago I left the newspaper world in pursuit of a change; a new beginning. In that time, I have always held to the hope that I would continue serious work as a photojournalist. It hasn't really happened, but I'm still a paid-in-full member of the photo scene. Always will be.

I have continued telling stories. Now, instead of pictures, I get paid for primarily using words.

Talk about change.

A Stop For Reflection

Lately, more often than not, I am in a state of utter restlessness. I can't point to any one thing as being the definitive cause. At least in part, I feel like I'm in a professional funk because I don't truly know whether I'm spending my time headed in the right direction. I doubt many folks do, but that doesn't necessarily soften the blow in my mind. I feel like I'm made to do some big things, but I can't honestly take credit for pursuing any of them at the moment. The fault rests with me and me alone.

The reflection reveals a certain inability to take chances and change which in turn exposes great vulnerability and dissonance.

Slow and Often Belligerent

I got on the roads this morning at about 8 a.m. destined for a downtown job interview scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. I can typically make the drive in about 35 to 45 minutes, depending on how well or poorly fellow motorists are motoring.

Did I mention it snowed last night?

Yeah.

Suffice it to say that my drive was reminiscent of a snail taking a sobriety test after a night of heavy drinking - slow and often belligerent. I finally made it at 10:30 and since my unintentional tardiness threw off the planned timing of various segments of the three-hour interview, I ended up having to split it up into two sessions. I had about three hours to waste in between, so I shot a little picture essay of sorts.


Snowcone


Thanks for the warning


Graffiti


Unnecessary Button


Blue

Watered Down

I stopped at the mall tonight to buy a tie for a job interview in the morning. I have not worn a tie in a long time - probably a few years ago at my grandfather's funeral. Hopefully tomorrow will be a happier day.

The photos don't really have anything to do with the tie or the interview, unless you consider that I need to stay hydrated and I will battle snowy roads in the morning on the way downtown.

Momentary Stop Signs

I was heading across town the other night and was reminded of a great benefit of living in Colorado. Every now and again, we are fortunate enough to witness breathtaking sunsets. The sunrises might be equally wonderful, but I'm rarely awake to enjoy them. It's amazing what light and clouds and pollution on a sky canvas can create.



As the colors began to dissipate, I made a frame looking through these black dots on my windshield to create a surreal repetition effect that I enjoy.



With the most vivid colors almost completely absent, I took a quick grab shot of some geese migrating across a sea of blue that seems almost prehistoric and haunting to my mind.



Taking time to look around every now and again really makes me pause with wonder. These momentary stop signs in life stand as great reminders of the smallness and insignificance of all the little mind goblins that attempt to steal away my enjoyment of this life.

Paper Wisdom

Postmarks

I rarely write letters that depend upon a postage stamp and letter carrier for delivery.

E-mails and text messages, while decidedly less personal and more disposable, provide a quicker and more direct method for communicating. This blog is another counter to the handwritten note. The mass method of personal discourse is not going anywhere.

Honestly, I miss the permanence of a postmarked communique. Through the years, I have been on the receiving end of the occasional postcard from a friend or the love letter from a long since scorned former flame. Or the "look how great my life has become" Christmas card. I even sent a few.

I miss that exchange, even if I wasn't very good at the exchange part.

Some adage says that a person has to send letters to get them in return. Sounds completely logical to me. The sending and receiving is something I need to experience on a regular basis. I would like to soon find myself penning a strongly struck letter to someone. Perhaps I would include some photographic trinket to accompany the words or maybe I would let them stand on their own accord. Promptly depositing 41 cents of self-adhesive bus fare, I would send it on its journey with hopes for reciprocation. It would be amazing how the old way would become my new way.

Interested? Send me an address that does not include the "@" sign to this address that does: cl [at] christopherlawson [dot] com.

P.S. YIELD TO INCOMING SEMITRUCKS.

Gut-Checking and Soul-Wrangling

My window washer shooters decided not to spray on the drive to work earlier this week. I think they must have froze up with the cold temperatures. Instead of pulling over to see about coercing them into operation, I decided to just roll along with my smeared view of the world. It was an interesting drive that sort of represents how I feel at the moment.

I am having some gut-checking and soul-wrangling in the new year.