Thanks to PDN Online for the well done Photoserve article about my assignment in Myanmar.

I was interviewed alongside SF photographers Dwight Eschliman and Hunter Freeman in PDNedu’s Spring 2012 issue weighing in on the costs associated with working and living as a photographer in San Francisco.

PDN is doing something very helpful by providing emerging photographers with real numbers, not only in terms of the costs of maintaining a photo career, but living life in a particular city. The only thing I feel was misleading, is that the article states that I am photo-journalist, but there is no way I could afford to live here without having Fortune 500 companies and high-profile NGOs in addition to my editorial clients. If you can figure out how to afford SF on the $200/day freelance rate the NY Times pays – then here’s to you.

Met and photographed Nick O’Neill, founder of Social Times Inc., a digital media company focused on covering the growing social web economy, to WebMediaBrands Inc. and Co-Founder of Holler Inc., a stealth mobile location startup based in the bay area, for the cover of American University’s online magazine Kogod Now. 

It was very interesting to get a peek into the creative mind of a serial entrepreneur, somebody that looks at the next business opportunity the way an artist thinks about their next project or series. The issue goes live March 28th.

Photo + film shoot for the Ford Foundation’s program to support a network of banks offering micro-loans to underserved communities. Just getting a checking account or a bank to cash a first paycheck is a huge problem for marginalized communities.

Met and photographed Tony Coleman, the founder of Bikes 4 Life, a West Oakland bike shop and community activism organization, that in addition to offering employment opportunities to young people and producing community meetings and events, offers bike tours of West Oakland that highlight the rich African American history of the neighborhood.

Spent an amazing day amongst the giant redwood trees of Muir Woods State Park outside of SF trying to keep up with Bay Area endurance and CrossFit coach Nate Helming of Helming Athletics during a tech-scout day for our upcoming shoot. Nate integrates endurance and CrossFit training and takes full advantage of our amazing local trails – including long runs through the giant redwood forests and swim workouts in the San Francisco Bay, not to mention group and individual workouts along Chrissy Field in the POD (Parking lot Of Dreams).

Just photographed the founder of CrossFit Endurance, Brian McKenzie as he worked with Kelly Starrett during a workshop specially designed to teach a select group of Navy Seals how to improve their bio-mechanics. A CrossFit celebrity in his own right, Brian introduced short, high-intensity workouts to endurance athletes with eye-opening results.

What I think is interesting is that in just a handful of years CrossFit has gone from a garage workout for crazy fit athletes to having a world championship on ESPN and being featured in Reebok ads to being used as part of the Navy Seal training regimen.

Just back from ten days in Myanmar with some of the top CEOs in the world and their families. With the transition from a military dictatorship to a civilian government, there is a dynamic energy in the country because of all the changes happening in the country – they just got internet six months ago and access to the most popular sites three months ago. YouTube is now the most popular site in the country. It was an amazing opportunity to photograph the beautiful people of Myanmar and the pristine locations unvarnished by tourism.

While there, I had the honor of spending an hour and a half with Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi who was released a year ago after spending 15 years under house arrest for her political activism. I found something in her that I’ve only seen in Clinton, The Dalai Lama and Jane Goodall. She spoke with 120 people from all over the world and was able to find a connection with each one of them.

Just got the January issue of Competitor magazine with the cover and feature I shot of CrossFit star Annie Sakamoto. Reminded again of how well deserved Annie’s “Spirit of the Games” award was at the Reebok 2011 Crossfit Games. Thanks again to a great team and to Editorial Director T.J. Murphy.

Spent the day in St. Helena at Tamber Bey Vineyards with renowned winemaker Mike Smith. Visited the Tamber Bey Estate and Oakville vineyards and the crush room and left with a bottle of their award-winning Cabernet.

Owners Barry Waitte and Jennifer Nice are endurance horse riders and their Arabians live on the Tamber Bey property alongside the vineyards. Beautiful house and vineyards and amazing to get a tour with one of the most respected wine makers in the state.

Thanks to everyone for a great shoot yesterday of Annie Sakamoto for the cover of Competitor magazine: Daryn LaBier for digitech, Blast Studios for top-of-the-line rental gear and Eric Haines for his mad lighting skills and Jasmine Hamed for wardrobe, hair and make-up. Winner of the “Spirit of the Games” award at the Reebok 2011 Crossfit Games, Annie lived up to it on set as she smiled her way through hours of kettle bells, box jumps, and pull-ups.

As an endurance race junkie, I had a lot of fun getting to talk training diets and stragey for a variety of endurance events with T.J. Murphy, one of the most well-respected editors in the field during downtimes on the set with Annie.Very excited T.J. will be moving to SF and look forward to parking lot sled races at CrossFit SF.