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As you know, I am covering theater, these days, and I LOVE it. This summer's production of Bye Bye Birdie, presented by the fantastic theater troupe "Broadway Experience," of Upland, California, is no exception!!! Come out and see this wonderful local production, before it is revised, on the Broadway stage, this fall, with John Stamos! Last week, I shot these photos, in about 20 minutes for the paper and, as usual, the actors needed to be in rehearsal and I was under pressure for "no real location" except for the theater studio's parking lot. No offense -- but it's incredibly, well? let's just say a parking lot surrounded by not much and well? I had had a very bad day, the day of these shots and had a downed computer and a downed camera body (all good now!!) -- "just a poke" I say -- but extremely frustrating as I had that big union job to get done!!! When I arrived in the parking lot - I said to myself -- "I am doomed" and "uncreative" and this is not going to go well. I put my head into overdrive, looked to the sky (which was amazing!) thinking that I would just lay upside-down in the parking lot and that was that -- pulling in "faces and sky?" why try?? does this rhyme??? okay -- back to it. I was waiting for my 20 minutes for the kids to come out in costume and started to walk up the street, of very boring buildings, hoping for some "color?" just something? give me something??? and I looked up this driveway to what seemed to be an automotive shop, jammed in the middle of nowhere and to my surprise and squinty eyes ...... there was the most beautiful 1960's truck pulling out. In a split second, I said to myself: "what do I have to lose?" "I've had a bad day" and I NEVER do this sort of thing -- so I booked up this driveway, and told the nice gentleman and lady friend of my woes across the way and "would they? could they? be willing?????? to drive it by there for a few shots?????" THEY SAID YES!!!! Thank you sooooooooo very much Efren and Debby!!! Can't wait to see you again over some theater and possibly jazz?? (we ended up having tons in common and they were so gracious to do this!!!) There really wasn't anywhere to park that was striking, except for the parking lot and as I was running and screaming about "look what I got" "yippee" ..... everyone's eyes (where a parent meeting was soon to start in the parking lot) were stunned and I think I scored points with Barb for sure!!! lol ! Her face was priceless!!!! Anyways, these things really do happen if you wish them to and are determined enough!! Now I have more nerve than usual!! Another milestone crossed!!!! yeah!!!! Enjoy and PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE COME!!! IT'S GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN!!
Even though I'm not the type of person that would be in Los Angeles today, saying goodbye amongst the thousands that are there (I also feel so bad for the broke city of L.A., at the same time, and our state) -- I, like many my age, am from the Jackson 5, "little Michael Jackson" era and I really loved them! Growing up with them, especially Michael Jackson, and watching them on the Ed Sullivan show, singing "I Want You Back," - ugh!! I was 9 years old and I can still see and hear the t.v./stereo console in our living room and that little guy, one year older than me, performing and spinning:) You just have to smile with joy. Growing up in dance -- I can honestly say, without a "stiff ballerina doubt" that no one has ever made dancing look more insane, freeing, pulsating and genuinely fun and addicting. In later years, when I was teaching dance, "Thriller" was no exception and will remain unprecedented, in every dancers mind, as the end-all of dance rush and adrenaline.
By the time I was 14 I got this sweet pet rat that I LOVED with all my heart and, of course, like so many kids at the time, I named him "Ben." You'll have to look that one up. When Michael Jackson sang the song, "Ben," at the end of that movie - not only did I ball my eyes out - but I had to have a rat. Ben was truly my best friend for awhile. He would somehow get out of his cage, while I was sleeping and climb up my bedside and literally lay next to me. I would pick him up and put him back and he would repeat this often, chewing through the bread-ties that kept him there until I could hold him. One day, I put him in our cold den, to change his cage, and I forgot about him and there he was, just like the movie...... dying.
My mom, for all her disgust and shrill over rats, grabbed her brandy and an eye dropper, knelt down to Ben, while telling me how irresponsible I was, both of us with tears .... tried to warm him and it was no good. He was gone. I never lived that down. I truly loved him and he was the sweetest and I was a total self-oriented teenager. Michael Jackson would have, I'm sure, cried along with me.
That's the Michael I remember. Sweet, talented, kind, a kid -- who I believe was a genius that grew up with a tough father that, although, robbed him of a childhood, gave him to the world and put him up on a stage for all to admire, emulate, judge, and forever wonder who he really was? He changed his adorable exterior perhaps out of some need to remove himself from his father - running from the man in the mirror - whatever it was - I'd like to believe that he was always that kid, that didn't screw up several years ago, but just lived between two worlds. The one that he didn't have and the one that he wanted.
For his short time on earth - it was a time in music history that will remain as strong as Elvis, The Beatles, most of Motown! and all who paved a path in the industry for others to break through. I love the last thing I heard him say, in a rare interview ..... (not quoted perfectly) "sometimes I feel bad taking credit for anything I do. yes, I write the words, the music and I dance, but in the end, it all comes through God." "It's as if He had the words, the music, the movement and I just did it." I like that he carried a sense of who his heavenly Father was deep down inside of himself and I hope that Michael is at great peace now, spinning and dancing and free...
 Had to put up a "shout out" to Max! My oldest is 22 today! This is Max on my recent job, fascinated with the old bank building that SEIU's Sacramento headquarters are in. Can't get enough of that HISTORY!!! He was an awesome support to me and so nice to be around!! I love you Max!! Happiest of birthdays. Happiest of years.
Tuesday morning, June 23rd on Beaudry Street, Los Angeles, in front of the L.A. Unified School District - rally starting point -
Tuesday at 10 p.m., they rallied by the buses that would take them, through the night, to the steps of the capitol in Sacramento -
 Wednesday morning, June 24th, they marched 4 blocks, from union headquarters in Sacramento to the capitol - from here, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, special needs aids and the bread and butter of the school district would lobby all day to be heard, over the pending budget cuts. I've never had such a busy week in my life. The weekend before I left, my youngest, Ian, was suddenly stricken with a near 105 fever and extremely sick, and every minute was spent praying that he didn't have a strange bacterial infection. he didn't. I left, to cover these rallies and lobbying events, with my middle child, Brynn, in charge. By the time Max and I returned on Thursday morning at 2 a.m., with very little sleep, Brynn had 2 days before leaving for Italy to study. Did I mention my life is nutty? She only came home the week before, from college, and had taken this big loan out to do the most exciting adventure, of her life to date!! maybe ever!!! She will be studying math (don't ask) for 5 weeks and after delivering several images to the communications gal, at the union, for this exciting job, and even being published in the Santa Monica Daily Press, Friday, I somehow managed to help Brynn with the thousand last minute things to do and we saw her off, from LAX, on Saturday. I have been in a big funk since. Life is just so precious and all the people I love and admire are working so hard and pushing so hard in their lives and I just want to stop them all and have a BIG GROUP HUG. I know I am one of those "pushing to the max" people right now and I sit back and think? I am so blessed. Watching this group of people, last week, take the time and the energy to fight for what they believe in, reminded me of how we all fight for something. I was fighting to get work done, and fighting for Ian to get well. Fighting to get away. Fighting to capture these memories for these people. The good fight. The kind that comes from love, drive and passion. I will be posting more in the next day or so, of the journey. Spending it with my oldest son Max was probably one of my most proudest moments to date. He's such a good guy and a great joy to be with. He turns 22 tomorrow :) Thank you Max. Also, thank you Frank. I pray that you have returned safely, from D.C., to see your sweet family again. I know how hard you have been working. You did a great job :)
"We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough." Helen Keller
I will be out of my office from early tomorrow, June 23rd, to Thursday June 25th.
I have been given an amazing opportunity, by the political director of the SEIU Local 99, and former client, to cover Rallies/Press Conferences from Los Angeles (tomorrow morning at the L.A. Unified and late tomorrow evening at the offices of the SEIU Local 99) to the capitol in Sacramento - from the march on the streets, to the state capitol steps and then into 30 different offices at the capitol. The purpose is to lobby elected officials to stop the cuts to education in the state.
I am excited to have this chance to document some important history and am grateful at the same time. I always wanted to be a photojournalist.
If you ever want to hear anything, from me, about what it means to be in this business (or any) or learn just one valuable thing it's this: put your nose down, work hard, give of yourself, a lot, at the beginning and for years afterward and value the people you work for more than anything. Be humble in business and always go the extra mile. LOVE what you do. It shows and, someday it will come back to you. Don't ever think you know enough about your business. Be polite and friendly, even when it's not received. I say this with great humility and humbleness, because, in the next few days, I will be surrounded by press people who, more than likely, know a lot more than me and have been at their jobs longer than my 6 years.
I also get to share this with my recent "history major" college grad., "Max." He is coming to learn, help and witness more history. Wish us luck! We have a long few days ahead of us, with about 300 or more other people, traveling through the night on buses to Sacramento......., late tomorrow night. Thank you Frank for thinking of me.
Disclaimer: This is strictly an exciting and important documentation job for me. My politics are private.
I can't think of a better day than to thank my dad, for so many reasons. It was this month, I believe, 7 years ago, that I was asked by a wonderful teacher and photographer, Linda Lewis to come along, with her, to shoot a wedding. I thought I would be carrying bags, but instead shot some black and white film and watched and learned the ropes of a wedding day. I still remember my stomach ache and have had many since. I'm grateful for that day and many of those to follow, because I remember telling her, in class, that my dad had a passion for photography and had done it, ever since I could remember. I told her that I wanted to pick up, from where he left off and try and make something of it -- but I was teetering on hobby/profession for quite sometime. I can't thank her enough, too, for the encouragement, my dad never got, to actually believe that I could do it. As I started to progress, my dad started to believe that he too could do a little more with his photography. So? a few years ago, he applied for the Sublimity, Oregon Fire Department's call for a volunteer photographer and got the job! Ever since, he has been on constant radio dispatch (my "worrier mom" loves this one!!), in the line of "fire," so to speak, covered accidents, technical training, safety days, f.d. portraits, functions, and at the age of 72, recently went up a 115 foot f.d. ladder to test his skills from the air! GREAT!!!! My dad the daredevil. pleeeeeeeease don't try this at home. A few days ago, I received a link to the Oregon Statesman Journal (main newspaper) and saw that one of his photos was published in there!!!!! "R.A. Gunn, Special To The Stayton Mail." (their local newspaper) YEAH DAD!!!!! Way to go!!! I'm so impressed.
Today, is your day dad and today, I want to post a few of your images and thank you for not just demonstrating your absolute love for photography and so many other things in life, but for showing me how to respect others, show loyalty and love to family and friends and for how to stay the course, in life, and never give up. You are in your 4th year of remission, from cancer, and you are stronger and tougher than ever. When I see Clint Eastwood movies, I still think of my invincible dad, that, no matter what, would lay down his life to save us. You packed up your few possessions, mom and I, and brought us here and you have shown respect and gratefulness to this country and all that it has offered to us. You have a strong sense of what's going on around you and you taught me that too, even though it's kind of annoying at times!! I hope you realize today, that you have served a great purpose just being the man you are. Hard work pays off. Being good to others pays off. loyalty. love. opens doors. Thanks for being my dad. Happy Father's Day!!
The following are from an old farm house burn and a safety fair: I'm so proud of my dad!!! He has thousands of pictures from his job and from our life and I think he is a "Real Keeper of History."
"Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is YOUER than YOU...."
Dr. Seuss
8th grade graduation isn't always the most appreciated or overly celebrated passage in life. Sometimes I think, it's more a time where parents are celebrating the mere and hopeful ending of awkwardness. Awkwardness that's mixed with every single emotion of life. One day they are in the "wonder years" and you still look at them like they are 10 years old and the next day they are 2 feet taller than you and pretend as if you did not drive them to school. They walk away, fiddling with their clothes, saying, "huh?" when you tell them to "have a nice day," carrying backpacks that weigh 50 pounds, pretending they are fine and saying that backpacks on wheels are kinda embarrassing (I think I get that one). It's a time where they grow up way too fast, hear too much, see too much, say too much or don't say much at all. It's a time where the rubber meets the road and they look around and make a decision of whether to lead or follow. When they choose to lead, they constantly look back and wish they were "cool...." and when they choose to "follow?" well? I guess they just blend in, for the sake of of being cool or for the sake of not really knowing quite who they are yet or where they are going. It's a time when friendships matter, more than ever, or you find yourself wondering who your friends really are. It's a time when friendships are forged through the things that you do and it can be lonely when your not involved in something. It's a time when teachers are warned against you. "You know those Jr. Highers." Make sure you remind them to "wear deodorant." how fun is that. It's also a time when a parent can struggle, more than ever, to understand their child and "go with the flow." I know this, because I've had 3 of them. When I looked at their faces, this past week, I realized that they are the greatest group of kids and they are completely underestimated. They have had a tough year and have grown through it. What depth and maturity most have shown. Ian, my youngest, worked hard and finished well. He shared some special memories with his classmates and I was taken aback to see him reflect. More than ever, I realized how much love they need -- especially during this time... even if we have to love them from afar.... The following pictures mean more to me than most, because I know that being a mom, and watching your children grow up and being there, during these times, is something I will treasure forever and ever in my memories. Nothing can compare to that.
I want to thank the teachers at Upland Christian Schools, for their devotion to Christian education. They do it because they love our children and they love to teach. That's it. Nothing more. It pays very little, yet they come back, year after year. Half of them are the main bread-winners in their family. This past week, our high school and Jr. high graduation ceremonies, were extra-special, because it was the end of a 30 year run in Upland, California. In the fall, Upland Christian Schools will become Upland Christian Academy, at Abundant Living Family Church, in Rancho Cucamonga, where a tradition will pick up. Please pray for the church and the school, but especially the teachers without contracts. Also, please pray for Western Christian Schools, as they move to Upland in the fall. Thank you again, with all of my heart, for the grace you have shown, over this past year. God Bless each and every person, that has been a part of Upland Christian Schools.
"I can only hope, that no matter where all of us end up these next years, that we strive to set an example to those around us."
"I'd like to start by saying well done to my fellow graduates....."
"I have so many memories here and it's going to be tough to let it go......."
"Be it the dance competition with Catherine....."
"I will never forget any of you....."
 "I want to thank all of the teachers and faculty for making us who we are today....."
If you look at the post below this one, announcing Broadway Experience's summer production, "Bye Bye Birdie," then you will see that I added Mr. Issac James, who I just adore. After seeing him perform, as the Beast, in last summer's Beauty and the Beast, I couldn't wait to see him perform again and let me tell you, he has the look and the voice to carry the part of "Conrad Birdie" (based on Elvis). Audiences will be charmed for sure! Although, I have to say, it is a little worrisome to see his study habits above... (lol)
Anyways, I ran into rehearsal, after finishing the headshots for production, and watched some choreography, under the direction of the fabulous John Vaughn, master choreographer, at Citrus College.
"So spread sunshine all over the place,
just put on a happy face,
so, put on a happy face."
 This summer's production of Bye Bye Birdie, presented by the fantastic theater troupe "Broadway Experience," of Upland, California, is going to be AMAZING!!! In fact, get ready to see this wonderful local production, before it is revised, on the Broadway stage, this fall, with John Stamos! After working with last year's Beauty and the Beast production, I thought, "I want more!" I LOVE photographing theater and I love the people involved! They are the most devoted artists I know. live - eat - breathe - live - eat - breathe...... Under Barbara Hinrichsen's direction, the passionate founder of the non-profit Broadway Experience, and with the devoted Melanie Alpert as the musical director, it is sure to be another incredible success! Bye Bye Birdie is a satire on American society, set in 1958, and inspired by the phenomenon of singer Elvis Presley, and his draft notice, into the Army, in 1957. Starring, above Issac James (amazing local actor/singer and last summer's "Beast"),as "Conrad Birdie," Darah Carattini-Garcia (an award-winning actress) as "Rose," and Brandon Alpert (a seasoned performer and recent graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy of Los Angeles) as "Albert." I'm about 10 shy of completing cast headshots for this strong and diverse cast of 60, for the playbill. Stay tuned and check out ticket information by contacting Broadway Experience. You won't want to miss this summer fun!!!
This is for our family here and for our family in England :) The first pic, of Max and Melissa is the last one I took on my point and shoot. The next two are storyboards I made in 30x15 size (white background), for Max and Melissa. We put them on easels for the dinner celebration and they each got one of each. They were really surprised and it was a neat way to showcase the shoot we did on their campus. The next 5 are from a beautiful Canon film camera my dad (Granddad) gave to Brynn! She has a beautiful eye and captured some neat candids - I especially love my brother Adam and girlfriend Jill's pic! I LOVE FILM!!!! Mom and Dad stayed in their RV on Mission Bay, with their canine buddy, "Edgar" and we had a good time getting together over the weekend there. We even had a nice get together, on Sunday, with my mom's British childhood school mate and all of her family. She's lived in San Diego forever. It was awesome!! The other pics are from different point and shoots, with different people taking them! I enjoyed every minute NOT lugging around a big camera! My dad took tons but hasn't had the time to look through them. My parents had quite a harrowing trip down the coast, from Oregon, to get to this big event and after a BIG brake job, in a small northern Calif. town,(a miracle)and a few other glitches along the way -- they made it and we all had a really good time.
We are so proud of Melissa, as she received her degree in Journalism, on Saturday, the day after Max. We celebrated, with both families, Saturday night. There is a sorta silly pic, below, of Melissa, her brother Matt (presently at Arizona State) and older sis Stacey and all the other kids in our family at the restaurant. It was so great to hang out with everyone and to our family that drove the distance to be there, you'll never know how much it meant to us...... oxox
(I love Brynn's new camera! - the next 4 are Brynn's shots)
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