Perfect Pilates

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I was lucky recently to work with the fabulous folks at Pacific Northwest Pilates in Portland, Oregon.  This studio is qualified to certify instructors and it shows in the quality of the instructors they have available.  Even though I have been practicing for several years, this photo shoot blew me away.  The grace and athleticism displayed …

Remembering Al

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I heard yesterday that Al passed away.  I wrote about Al last year, he was the first homeless person I really got to know.  He was inspiring, I didn’t hear resentment about his lot in life, only care for himself and his friends.  He taught me about the realities of a life without shelter and basic …

A Talented Future?

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I had the pleasure of spending a recent morning with the youths at p:ear.  p:ear provides a unique environment in downtown Portland for homeless youth to explore the arts and other educational programs.  I was leading a photography workshop and the enthusiasm shown by the youth was very inspiring.  They brought their full energy and it showed me just …

A Rising Cause of Homelessness

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Poverty is a major cause of homelessness, that in itself is not a major revelation. What has been surprising to me is the people who I have met in the homeless community who could be any number of people I know today. A cruel twist of fate could happen to most anyone; I have met people who have been overwhelmed by medical bills or who have lost their job and have ended up on the street. There are some people who have chosen this lifestyle and they are in the minority. This 6 minute video explained to me a trend that is growing and should be a cause for concern for all of us. The growing inequality and wealth divide is a problem that is undermining our society and community, and forcing an increasing number of families below the poverty line. By increasing awareness of this, I believe we can and must change this trend.

Photography, A Means To A Cause?

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You may have noticed I haven’t posted an new entry for a while.  Part of this is due to work pressure but a larger part is because I haven’t been out capturing pictures lately and this is primarily a photography blog.  Reflecting on this I recognize this is about much more than photography. Photography has opened …

Timex revisited

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Originally posted on A walk with my camera:
The landscape here has changed since I’ve last visited nearly 11 months ago.  I remember it was a sunny morning, people were smiling, and all was good.  But now things have changed – the sky is gloomy, life isn’t going too well, but people still manage to…

An Hour At The Golden Gate Bridge

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I had the good fortune to spend the past few days staying in Marin County just north of San Francisco attending an exceptional coaching class. I decided to pack a camera just in case I got the chance to spend some time at the Golden Gate Bridge, one of my most favorite spots. I decided …

A Taste of p:ear – Mentoring Homeless Youth

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I had the pleasure of spending my morning with the staff of p:ear at one of their volunteer orientation sessions.  p:ear is an organization dedicated to build positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives.  You can find out more …

A Big Mess

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There were three stories in the Oregonian newspaper that caught my eye this week.  The first was a story about the impact of homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk and leaving a mess that needs to be cleaned up.  There is a debate about police powers related to this issue.  The second story announced that …

Faith in the Homeless

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Jim invited me to attend the monthly brunch at St Johns Covenant church in North Portland. Not being a church goer, I wasn’t sure what to expect although I knew I would be in familiar company with some of the friends I had met at the Operation Nightwatch mobile hospitality center in St Johns. On …