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
Here’s a article I photographed for the East Bay Express on the return of the Oakland Marathon after a 25yr hiatus.
March 17, 2010 News Feature
On a cool, crystal-clear November morning, the weather is perfect for a run. Outside of Lululemon, a chic athletic apparel shop at the corner of Ashby and College avenues in Berkeley, a crowd starts to assemble on the sidewalk. It’s a colorful spectacle — an ethnically diverse gathering of about 100 runners sporting bright race T-shirts, neon shorts, and shiny white shoes that look like they’ve yet to step in a puddle. More here.
Story by Rachel Swan
Indie rocker Conan Neutron has colorful ways of describing George W. Bush’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, Karl Rove. He offered a few examples over beers at the Uptown Nightclub: “Master of lies and manipulation.” “A man with blood on his hands.” “Shameless tactician.” “Lying salesman.” “Gandalf behind the scenes.” “Unconscionable, soulless asshole.” That’s only the beginning. Neutron also faults Rove for “all these wars that we’re still embroiled in, our economy being screwed, and gay marriage being used as a wedge issue.” Then there’s that “porcine face,” which, according to Neutron, resists even the softest lighting or the finest airbrushing techniques….Read More
East Bay Express Cover shot 12/16
Mid December i had the privilege of shooting the cover of the East Bay Express (along with several of the feature story photos) located in the Bay Area’s Oakland. The story compared and contrasted the waves of coffee movements since the 1950′s and spotlighted several East Bay coffee shops, Berkeley’s Local 123 and Oakland’s SubRosa.
Here’s the story on the East Bay Express site.
I’ve included the rest of the photos from the photo shoot below.
