Otra Vez is is a line of earth-conscience jewelery out of Seattle, WA. Otra Vez features a line of creative cards, handmade necklaces, and earrings that contain salvaged, recycled, or vintage materials, and are made using socially conscious and sustainable practices.
Job: I arranged and photographed different model photo shoots for Otra Vez and helped them in their early branding efforts.
Relationship: 2008-2009
Article by Rachel Swan
John Benson is a congenital mensch. He turned his North Oakland house into a loosely structured co-op for seven people. He holds the deed to another house in Albion, Michigan, where friends go to do art projects and record noise albums. He has a day job fixing wheelchairs and driving disabled people home from medical appointments at Easy Does It Emergency Services. His mother used a wheelchair and he grew up helping her get around. Alms-giving is part of his natural constitution. Read more….
Article by Rachel Swan
Collectively, The Don’ts are an odd bunch. Guitarist Joe Don’t is the skinny, self-effacing hipster who looks like he could have been a centerfold in Paste Magazine. (Needless to say, he hates hipsters — always a dead giveaway.) Bassist JJ Don’t is the failed standup comedian-turned-Internet tech guy. He grew up playing in school bands, and knows all the modal scales by heart. Singer Jonny Don’t is famous for horrendously strange lyrics — like a line he dreamed up during a recent jam session about how “everybody’s mom works at the airport.” Drummer Ken Don’t dyes his hair in bright primary colors, but says that swimming-pool green is his natural hue. According to Joey, he’s kind of a man-witch. Read More…..
On a hot East Bay afternoon, several weeks ago I spent a bit of time photographing the super-trio, The Mighty Underdogs. Comprised of the Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Lateef the Truth Speaker (Latryx) and Headnotic of Crown City Rockers. Here’s the cover for the East Bay Express.
Some recent work for the East Bay Express-
By Rachel Swan
A recent photo shoot done for the East Bay Express-
Story By Rachel Swan
Throughout mid-January and February I had the pleasure of shooting a feature story for the San Francisco Weekly on truancy in San Francisco Schools. Written by Lauren Smiley, the story delves into the increasing truancy statistics, the attitude of the kids and what the city and school district is doing to combat the issue. Read more here.
It appeared that the entire population of Valencia Street had packed into a sold-out Great American show Friday night to see San Francisco’s own Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. The group’s front woman, Thao Nguyen, pulled off equal parts cute and baddass as she tromped across the stage in her cowboy boots, headbanging her shaggy haircut like she’s possessed, while ripping it up on her enormous guitar. Thao’s on-stage charisma is contagious, and her wild, energetic style feels very San Francisco. Read more here.
For the past six months or so I’ve had the pleasure of being the photographer for The Phoenix Supper Club, a San Francisco based roving dinner club. This month in the South Bay’s Gentry Magazine, one of my photos was used in the telling of Phoenix’s executive chef Tommy Halvorson story. Read more here.
