BottleRock Napa – 2013

Some moments from the inaugural BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival for The San Francisco Chronicle
Teenagers at the end of Friday’s nights performancesPerry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction guzzling a bottle of Napa Merlot

The crowd during Edward SharpeCharlie Musselwhite

Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction Dan Auerbach of The Black KeysThe Black Keys

The crowd during The Flaming LipsSharon Van EttenBrittany Howard of Alabama Shakes & Wayne Coyne of The Flaming LipsGreg Graffin and Jay Bentley of Bad Religion

I felt like this at the end of this shoot.

San Francisco Chronicle article at this link: BottleRock 2013

Anything Helps video documentary

I’m thrilled to have been able to participate in helping to raise awareness of the challenges facing homeless youth by creating this documentary short. I was asked by the Santa Rosa, California-based non profit Social Advocates for Youth to make a video for their big annual fundraiser as a way to remind donors why they need their support.

Most importantly, I want to publicly thank the three individuals who allowed me into their lives and spoke so candidly about their personal plight with homelessness.

movie house magazine assignment

Just finished up an assignment for a local magazine about movie houses in Sonoma County that offer independent films. These theaters were such quiet places. I really enjoyed the intimacy of this assignment and who doesn’t love the smell of fresh popcorn.


Rialto Cinemas and a couple of cool movie posters, Sebastopol, CA.

Watching trailers at Summerfield Cinemas, Santa Rosa, CA.

These teenagers were sweet and very much in love. I caught them dancing in the lobby at 3rd Street Cinema, Santa Rosa, CA.

Dustin the projectionist at 3rd Street Cinema, Santa Rosa, CA. He said he’s really going to miss these old machines when the theater goes digital later this year. The soft clicking and purring coming from these projectors had such a nostalgic feel. I really loved this room; except for the stifling heat that Dustin didn’t seem to mind.

ANYTHING HELPS – coming May 2013

I’m releasing a 9-minute video about three young current/former homeless individuals to raise awareness about the lives of homeless youth in Sonoma County for the Santa Rosa based non-profit Social Advocates for Youth (SAY). The piece will premier at their May 4th fundraiser in Santa Rosa, California.

This trailer features 22-year-old Matt Lytle who is currently homeless and has spent the last seven years of his life on the streets; much of the time in the Santa Rosa area.

coming fall 2013

Ten Speed Press is scheduled to release the wine book that I photographed on November 5, 2013.

Written by San Francisco Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonné.

“A comprehensive guide to the must-know wines and producers of California’s “new generation,” and the story of the innovative youngwinemakers who have changed the face of California viniculture.” Ten Speed Press

Amazon link to pre-order book

My 3-minutes with George Lucas

I spent about 3 hours at Skywalker Ranch in Marin to photograph George Lucas for the San Francisco Chronicle—they gave me 180-seconds of that visit to get a portrait of Lucas.

I spent most of my 3-minutes chatting with him about kids, Joseph Campbell and at one point I made him crack a smile as I crawled around his desk looking for a different angle while telling him I that I felt like a house cat. He was an incredibly gentle presence to me.

Thankfully, he accepted my request for a few more clicks (after his interview with the reporter) near a window I saw when I entered his home. It was in those quick shots that I captured that amazing Lucas hair and that knowledgeable gaze.

See story/photo gallery: George Lucas proposes Presidio museum

music for Anything Helps

I’m in the middle of working on the music that will be in my new multimedia piece, Anything Helps. I’m using a set up from my Seattle days in a band. I’ve got the Vox, a well worn Strat and an assortment of pedals.

The music is going to be an important part, because it will give the viewer something to lean on while listening to these powerful and intimate stories of life on the streets.

Feels great to be writing music again.