You should have a good head shot. Just saying. Or an environmental portrait. Or both!
Restoration Forest Products - Lumberjack Mill - Documentary Photography and Video Production
Spent the day back in April of 2021 photographing stills and simultaneously capturing video footage at the Lumberjack Mill in Heber, Arizona. Pretty amazing operation with a lot of moving parts.
Straight Bamboo: Alex Tan's Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Alex Tan is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioner in Flagstaff, Arizona. He recently opened a new clinic location so it was time for some new photos. With 15+ years of experience (10 of those in Beijing) he's a wealth of knowledge. Have a look: straightbamboo.com
Serious Mariachi
The Mariachi Sol Azteca ensemble sings traditional Mexican folk songs of love, betrayal, death and revolutionary heroes. They're a big group of musicians and they bring a wall of sound that is simultaneously built to bowl the listener over and draw the listener in with subtle detail and virtuosic playing. It's worth experiencing. The ensemble performed at the Museum of Northern Arizona's 13th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente, a Day of the Dead celebration like no other. It happens every October and if you're near Flagstaff at that time of year you should stop by the museum for fine art and unique crafts, music and dancing, colorful and elaborate ofrendas (altars), heritage programs and Day of the Dead inspired crafts for kids.
Museum Club, Flagstaff for Dorado Magazine
A few months back I shot the venerable Museum Club in Flagstaff for Dorado Magazine. The "Zoo" has been around quite awhile. It's got character, which is what the magazine was looking to capture. And as an added bonus, the Reverend Horton Heat was playing the night of the shoot. The magazine is up for an award, in the company of Travel + Leisure and Afar Magazines. It's nice to be able to contribute. Below is the cover and story.
Had to end with one of my favorites of the Rev!
Navajo Festival of Art and Culture - not your ordinary roadside attraction
The Museum of Northern Arizona puts on weekend festivals throughout the year showcasing the best Navajo, Hopi and Zuni art and artists. It is pretty remarkable seeing so much fantastic work in one place. The Navajo Festival a few weeks ago was no exception. I took the opportunity to shoot some quick portraits of a few of the artists with some of their work. Some are familiar faces I see each year and others I just met. But it was fun chatting with all of them about their work.
Edith Simonson, Hard Rock, New Mexico
Above: Albert Nells. Doney Park/Cedar Springs.
Tyler Bighorse, Flagstaff by way of Cameron, Arizona
Isabella Benally, Sheep Springs, New Mexico
Shonto Begay, Flagstaff
It's plausible your hotel could be impossible
Anthony Melchiorri and his production team from the Travel Channel's Hotel Impossible hit Route 66 in Flagstaff and Williams this week helping hotel owners take their service and properties up a notch. It was good to get a dose of New York City communication technique. It's been awhile.
Anthony Melchiorri, host of Hotel Impossible
Working on early Harley Davidsons is fun
Recently shot some photos of the Harley Davidson Early Models class at Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix for the American Motorcycle Association magazine. Rad bikes, good people.
Perico's Christmas and New Year's greeting
My friend Perico has popped up here before. He's been around awhile. Fred "Perico" Avila has lived in Williams, Arizona his whole life. Since 1935. He served in Korea. When he came back he started painting signs the old school way. Free hand. Perico is one of the friendliest guys you'll ever meet. And he knows his history. Want to know what life used to be like in Williams and northern Arizona? Ask Perico.
Perico works on his holiday greeting on the front windows at the Williams-Grand Canyon News. He's painted the window art at the News for years. And years. And years.
Perico has painted the holiday greeting on the front windows of the News for quite some time. It's a tradition. In a time when the holidays are way more commercial than Charlie Brown could have ever imagined back in 1965, it makes me happy to see Perico out in the cold hand lettering a simple holiday greeting and wish.
No computer. No typeface. Just eyeballs and steady-ish hand.
So, if there is a take away here it's keep it simple and keep smiling. Slow down. Take your time. And enjoy the holidays. However you can.
Buster is a country music star
Maybe that's taking it a little to far. I've known Buster for a few years now. He played guitar in some relatively successful bands back in "the day." He's also worked on ranches throughout Arizona. He's the real deal. These days you're likely to find him hunting down a cup of coffee at various joints in Williams, Arizona. He owns some great amps and guitars. I keep on him to give me one. Hasn't happened. Yet.
I run into Buster every once in a while and he always says "yes" to a photo. Or two.
So hospitable
Twin Arrows Resort and Casino knows good customer service. AAA recently awarded the resort, open just over a year, its Four Diamond Award. AAA evaluators check more than 400 items during an evaluation encompassing customer satisfaction, the casino, hotel, restaurants, convention center and many other amenities. What does excellent customer service look like? Here is a quick look...
Taking customer service seriously.
Executive Chef Hector Vasquez stands in the kitchen in the Zenith Steakhouse at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort before service begins.
Turndown service.
Finding an appropriate bottle.
Elvis makes amen drink.
Dirty work
Last week I had the opportunity to head out into the woods off Lake Mary Road in Flagstaff, Arizona to make portraits of members of the Coconino Trail Riders for the American Motorcyclists Association magazine.
The Trail Riders organize Trail Days to maintain motorized multiple use single track trails. The group is working with the Forest Service on the Kelly multi-use trails project, which, when it is complete, will feature around 90 miles of trail.
Nice guys. And really dedicated to finding a way to ride motorcycles in the Forest in a responsible way.
We included some Rokons in the shot. They're two-wheel drive motorcycles that can go anywhere - slowly.
The day I hung around with the guys from the Trail Riders, they were cutting in new trail the Forest Service had flagged. Dirty work.
According to the forest service, the goal of the Kelly Motorized Trails project is to create a "sustainable motorized trail system for both single-track (motorcycles) and larger off-highway vehicles using a combination of existing non-system trails, roads, and new trail construction."
It's great to see the Forest Service and motorcyclists working together to create what looks to be some fun riding opportunities.
Memorial Day is more than a day off from work
The annual Run For The Wall motorcycle ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. rolled into Williams, Arizona May 16.
Robert Maggart
The Run for the Wall began in 1989 when two Vietnam veterans, James Gregory and Bill Evans, rode their bikes across the country talking to local radio stations, newspaper and television stations about the thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from U.S. wars.
The need for this awareness continues today and the group continues this tradition every May. Public awareness is only part of the Run For The Wall. The ride provides all veterans the opportunity to get their own welcome home and start their healing process.
The Run for the Wall crew has been stopping in Williams for years. When I say "crew" I mean it. Some of these folks have been making this ride annually for more than a decade. They know each other.
It's a welcoming bunch.
Tom Schultz
I approached my friend Rodger Ely, a member of the American Legion Cordova Post No. 13 and the VFW Matthew J. Broehm Post 12128, about making some portraits of the Run For The Wall riders. He was enthusiastic about the idea and worked it out so that I could set up a little portrait spot in the Legion Hall.
The riders rolled into town. The block in front of the Legion was filled with bikes. And riders. And veterans from Williams. And community members in support of the cause.
It was beautiful.
The riders eventually lined up and the Williams American Legion treated them to a serious pit barbecue meal. Pulled pork and chicken that roasted all day.
I began making portraits of some of the riders. I asked them to write on my chalk board why they were riding. In one word - or three or four - whatever would fit on the chalkboard. For some this was a difficult task. And rightfully so. I began amending my request to "one reason you're riding."
Here is the really heavy thing.
Everyone I approached for a portrait eventually agreed to sit on my stool and make an image. And once they wrote on the chalkboard they were emotionally connected. And so was I.
I made two images at most of each person. That rarely happens. I shoot many more images in general, depending on time, of a subject. Even in the span of five minutes I can capture 15 frames. But, in this case, I didn't need to.
Everybody locked in on an emotional level. And as a result, these images are beautiful. There is a lot of immediacy here. A sense of purpose and resolve. A certain fragility in some of the images. Courage.
I was overcome with emotion as I interacted with these men and women. Really overwhelmed. But in a good way.
Rebekah Silver
Lionel Namahoe
Some of these folks sacrificed so much for you and me. This is not a political issue. Or at least it shouldn't be. This is a human issue. I'm a liberal kind of guy. I have my opinions about the wars the U.S. government has decided to fight. But, I respect anyone who fights for our country.
Period.
And so should you.
Memorial Day is a few days away. For a long time, I didn't connect with the meaning of the holiday.
I do now.
Take some time this year to remember the folks that have sacrificed so much for you and me. I will.
Kathy Namahoe
Gomez
Deano Pulver
Why I take MAKE photos
Driving in to Williams, Ariz. the other day where I am the editor of a small, community newspaper, I noticed a pretty weathered looking man with a substantial beard wearing a camo jacket pushing a bicycle toward the freeway. My first instinct was to pull over, jump out of my car and see if I could take a picture.
I didn't do that. I kept driving. It didn't feel right.
Later that morning, I left the office to go shoot a photo of the mayor helping deliver meals to homebound senior citizens. That kind of photo is the bread and butter of a community paper. The mayor didn't show up. Scheduling conflict or a miscommunication. Pretty typical really.
As I contemplated taking a short walk to find a picture for fun, I turned around and saw the man from earlier that morning pushing his bike my way. I said "hi."
Roger
That started a half hour conversation. Roger is a Viet Nam veteran. He asked me if a I worked for a newspaper. Likely because I was holding a pretty big camera. He asked how much my camera cost and guessed $2,000. I told him he was pretty close. He said he has found a few cameras during his travels. We talked about how camera batteries these days don't hold such a good charge.
In other words, we shot the breeze for a bit.
He said some local veterans were helping him get a new copy of his discharge papers, long since destroyed in some way or another. Without the papers, Roger doesn't have an I.D. He talked about his PTSD, making the universal sign for crazy as he spoke. You know, making a circle with your finger at the side of your head. We laughed.
He mentioned that the forests around Williams were littered with trash because campers and "railroad hobos" were disrespectful. I agreed.
After awhile, I asked Roger when the last time he he'd had a photo taken of himself. A good one. He couldn't remember. I asked if I could take his picture right there in the street. I said I'd try to track him down and give him a print. He thought about it for a minute, kind of laughed and went to prop his bicycle against the senior center sign. I put a light up and we proceeded to talk and make a series of photos.
I say "make" because a portrait is a collaboration between the subject and the person behind the camera. You have to connect, even if for a minute. You can't jump out of your car, run up to someone and say "can I take your picture" and expect great results. Plus it's just rude.
When we finished with the impromptu photo session, Roger said he might stick around in Williams for a bit.
"They treat me like a king in this town," he said.
Just then, a man walked up, heading to the senior center for lunch and invited Roger in for a meal.
I didn't see Roger today but I dropped a couple photos off at the local VFW post in case he stops in.
Modern Day Archaeologist
When someone says archaeologist, most people think of Indiana Jones or the Mummy movie series. Pretty much not how it really goes.
Neil Weintraub is a Forest Service archaeologist on the Kaibab National Forest.
Weintraub wrote this on the Kaibab Forest website:
"The archaeologist's role has changed substantially over our Forest Service tenure. Originally hired to conduct archaeological surveys prior to timber sales, we now coordinate the forest's program; manage projects involving volunteers; conduct educational programs across northern Arizona; conduct Passport in Time (PIT) projects; facilitate tribal consultations for forest managers; maintain heritage databases in the forest's Geographic Information Systems; nominate sites to the National Register of Historic Places; and survey, record and protect sites in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966."
According to Weintraub, more than 6,000 archaeological and historic sites have been recorded on the Kaibab National Forest.
More from Weintraub via the website:
"The majority of these sites are associated with "Cohonina," who occupied the Kaibab between AD 700 and AD 1100. They left stone houses, pottery shards, stone tools, grinding stones and rock art across the forest. The Williams Region Arizona Site Stewards monitor many of these sensitive sites, helping to report and deter vandalism."
Weintraub will lead a discussion and tour of some abandoned railroad spurs around Williams, Ariz. later this month as part of Archaeology Month. Above, Weintraub stands on stairs he speculates lead to an abandoned railroad spur in Williams.
Cultural tourism: tricky business
Made some new friends yesterday when I spent some time with a handful of Hopi folks who lead tours on the Hopi Reservation. Leading tours in the 12 Hopi villages atop the three mesas that make up Hopi land is a little tricky. Out of respect to the people who continue to live on Hopi, photography is not allowed in the villages. Hopi sacred sights can't be photographed. Some social ceremonies are open to the public but many are not.
Donald Dawahongnewa, Ronald Wadsworth, Hunter Tso and Lorna Joesph consult with the folks who live in the 12 villages so they know where they can and can't take visitors to Hopi. Every village has different "ground rules." Sharing their culture is important but doing so in a respectful manner is even more important.
Want to see Hopi land for yourself? My advice: hire a Hopi Tribe certified tour guide at www.experiencehopi.com.
Clockwise from top left: Ronald Wadsworth, Hunter Tso, Donald Dawahongnewa and Lorna Joseph.
Fred: Print Distribution Specialist
Fred makes sure the Williams-Grand Canyon News gets out to the paper's loyal customers every Wednesday. Rain or Shine. It's a tough job. As Fred would say: "Phew!"
Keeping the animals on the straight and narrow
Father Killian McCaffrey of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Williams will perform a pet blessing this Saturday at the Recreation Center in Williams, Ariz. Got some animals that need a dose of some holy something or other? Bring 'em on down front.
I'll be the judge of that.
Rob Krombeen is the judge in the Williams Justice Court. If he's not in court, he's doing paperwork.
All's quiet on the north side of Williams, Arizona
Quick stroll through the streets of Williams in the late afternoon.
No picnic.
Fixer-upper.
Pooch.
Single-wide.
All's quiet.