Hello and welcome to the Fall 2024 edition of transmissions from Seattle! 

 

The cadence of this strange and tumultuous year has made time feel like a song no one knows the words to, providing a new and renewable source of whiplash. But there's a silver lining to this cloud: I've also had the chance to explore the reciprocal nature of connection as a photographer. I'm a strong believer in that the care and good energy you put out into the world comes back around.

 

A subject of a recent shoot-- a talented artist/upcycle designer-- noticed a loose corner on the diffusion panel from my trusty (but well worn) Elinchrom octabox and sewed it up in seconds. This small act of care reminded me of all the little ways we can exemplify love in creative and unexpected ways. 

 

Along with various shoots and projects, this fall I travelled to the East Coast for meetings, attended the American Photography 40 Party, and explained the Seattle Freeze™️ to no less than five people. I also photographed a literal smoking gun (more on that in the next newsletter), chatted with a prolific Amazon executive about where he and CEO Andy Jassy like to eat chicken wings, shot a music video, held a Paris 2024 Olympic medal in my hands and witnessed breathtaking sunsets that made me question whether I had been abducted by aliens. 

 

Now for the work!

 

The Rise of Malort: I'm 2 for 2 on midwestern princesses this year-- Chappel Roan and Malört! If you've ever had malört-- a spirit with a rich history in Chicago-- I'm willing to bet it's a flavor you haven't forgotten. Personally, I prefer fernet but to each their own. Read Charlie Kolodziej's NYT story on the polarizing liquor here.

Disinformation Watchdogs: I spent a day in late October alongside New York Times writer Steven Lee Myers with a team at the University of Washington comprising students and researchers tracking misinformation, falsehoods and rumors regarding the 2024 election in an effort to better educate voters. Read the story here.

On the Boeing Beat: I stayed busy on the Boeing beat for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg over the course of the seven-week machinist strike. From the first hour of the strike at midnight in Renton to all the stops at picket lines and union halls between Auburn, Everett and Seattle, documenting this historic strike was a ride. I want to thank all the amazing editors I worked with across three publications (Jenny Swanson, Steph Aaronson and Sam Hall) for the trust and guidance.

In Print: It's always incredible to see your work in print. Thanks to Gabriel Sanchez for tapping me to photograph and film the Lao Burger in Seattle as part of Priya Krishna and Tejal Rao's story on burgers as a portrait of America.

On Set: It's been a treat collaborating with the Gundersen siblings in 2024, who will be continuing touring in support of their first record, Ledges, in 2025. Here's a little BTS from a recent video shoot directed by Andrew Ching.

New Commissioned Work

Personal Work

Parting Words

Growing as a human and an artist is not a linear trajectory. Staying open and vulnerable to the beauty and inherent good of the world also means that sometimes the "bad" can feel ten times worse. This fine balancing act of feeling is like a dance you spend your whole life learning. I'm so grateful for all the unique experiences, lessons and friendships photography has afforded me in life. I'm an unapologetic optimist and I'm not stopping now!

 

Thank you so much to all the collaborators who made this year meaningful and everyone that has followed along, your continued trust and support means the world to me.

 

What I've loved:
 

The Cure's new record, Songs of a Lost World.  In my opinion, no band conveys loss/love/longing/joy as well as this one. The sprawling instrumental opens on these songs are such a nice place to get lost. 

 

This negroni inspired shortbread recipe by Jesse Szewczyk. I love bringing these cookies to holiday parties, they're always a crowd pleaser. 

 

Community! In October, my friend and illustrious colleague Jovelle Tamayo and I set up a Diversify Photo meetup at our friend Kiliii's studio. Evidence of fun had below. 

 

Over and out, have a great rest of the year and see you in 2025!

A special thanks to Matthew Ismael Ruiz for editing this newsletter! My candy recommendation is Lakrids by Bülow licorice.