Bella Brownlee, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Portland, Or.

Yesterday afternoon I drove to Portland to spend a little time with Bella Brownlee and her mom Karen at Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Bella, who has had heart problems since birth is on an extended stay at the facility after the incision from a recent surgery became infected, putting her at risk of another, bigger surgery. I wasn't there long, as I didn't want to intrude on their time, but while there I was amazed at how Bella, who is 11, is taking this all in stride, very bravely. She's a remarkable young lady who I've known since she was a very little girl.
Above, she and her mom pray with the hospital chaplain prior to having a pic line IV put in, hopes that it would help speed her recovery. There will be a story on Bella in the paper next week, but in the meantime, you can keep up with Bella's progress on her mom's Facebook page.

-DKM

PS - these pix were all taken on film after having picked up a used Leica literally minutes before going to the hospital. It's a camera I love and have missed these last several years, and am very excited about shooting more film in the days ahead. As I told Natalie a few weeks ago, I'm declaring 2013 the Year of Film for us, very happy to get the ball rolling!
*The Year of Film, 2013*

Washaway Beach, North Cove, Wa.

A couple weeks ago my girlfriend Natalie (who is a writer/photographer at the Daily News) expressed a great interest in going to Washaway Beach after I shot an assignment there (one of several trips I've made there over the last several years). We did some exploring and met some people who live there in some great light. Here are a few from the day.

Nat made some really nice pix that day, and she has posted them on her blog, The Professional Foreigner

-DKM

A little bit of John John, Portland, Or.

On a recent trip to Portland, me and Nat surprised her nephew Johnny by picking him up from school and stealing him away to a very delicious ice cream store called Salt & Straw. Good way to spend an afternoon.

Nat has been trying out my X100, and these are two nice pix she made that day.

One of the best things about Portland is that everywhere you turn there are pictures waiting to be made. 

-DKM

Logger reunion portraits, Naselle, Wa.

This afternoon I photographed the third annual loggers reunion at the Appello Archive Center in Naselle, where people who have worked in this legacy industry gathered together to talk about old times. Having photographed this as an event two years ago I chose to take a different approach this time and made portraits of a number of the people there. The style was directly influenced by Natalie's favorite photo book, In the America West by Richard Avedon.

On the way out I couldn't help but snap this color pic.

-DKM

IHS wrestling, Kalama, Wa.

 A few pix from the very brief dual meet between Ilwaco and Kalama last night

-DKM

Washington State Governors Inaugural Ball, State Capitol Building, Olympia, Wa.

Last night I spent the evening with the beautiful people, the several thousand who attended the inaugural ball of Gov. Inslee a the state capitol building. I didn't have to be there, I wasn't assigned to shoot it, but it just seemed like a cool event in an unusual venue, the marble-laden legislative building. I didn't have a set goal as to what I wanted or needed to get, so I was free to slip through the crowds and shoot at will in a very street photography style with my very small rangefinder camera. Here are a select few from the evening that I liked.

Self assignments for my own enjoyment or interest are something I'm still new at in a lot of ways, and I owe a big thank you to Natalie for continuing to encourage me in these things and believing in me, you are the best.

-DKM