New Work:The Death of a Same-Sex Spouse

I worked on a story about a same sex couple, Juneann and Pam, a few months ago. They were married (NC does not recognize same sex unions so it was not technically legal) and very much in love when Pam died suddenly leaving June alone and with no legal rights to any say in what happened to Pam after death. It is a sad story of love lost and the right to care for your loved ones denied by the denial of rights to same sex couples, as well as the lack of benefits that would have otherwise gone to the member left behind. In these economic times, the relatively small amount of money could have helped June stay in her home, in which she is now facing eviction.

Read the story here.

Father’s Day interview

Because I travel a good bit for work and I am a father, I was recently interviewed along with several musicians about what it is like to be a father, an artist, etc. and how the travel affects your family and your professional life. Brian John Mitchell was the man behind the scenes at QRD and I thank him for putting the interviews together.

Here is the photo I shot of Brian a few months ago which is how we met and this all came together.

Family

My beautiful wife Alicia checks her email on the 21st century version of the nightlight, the smart phone.

New Work: Governor Morehead School

Due to the huge budget deficit being faced by the state, North Carolina legislators have proposed the closing of several special needs schools, one for emotionally troubled students, and another for the visually impaired.

The above photos are from an hour or 2 that I spent with Paige Strickland, and her mother Jennifer, who graduated from the Morehead School an now is able to go to a standard public elementary school. Her mother, and others, insist that without the initial special schooling their children received, it would be impossible for the kids to enter mainstream society without an even greater handicap than they already have.

New Arrival

On a personal note, I am proud to introduce Pablo Lange, born June 9, 2009. He and his mother are healthy and well.

And in the spirit of equality, his sister Nyx is real happy too.

A fish out of water

Duke Hospital, 5th Floor.

Featured on IndieNC blog

A couple of my photos were featured a few days ago on the IndieNC blog. It seems like a great resource for local happenings and a big thanks to Michelle Smith for the opportunity.

Take a Moment: War photography

Yes, it has been brought up before and will be again because really it is not going anywhere, we just need to find out how to make a living doing it.

But there is a really good set of videos on the dispatches site that has folks like Gary Knight, Ashley Gilbertson and Tim Hetherington discussing what are the current issues  in the field, and the section on style vs. content is a really good listen.

On Assignment: Cuban Immigrants in North Carolina

Tony Asion, the executive director of El Pueblo and a Cuban immigrant who has helped many others settle in North Carolina.

A story I worked with my friend, writer Matt Saldana, on Cuban immigrants and refugges in North Carolina came out on Wedenesday. It was an interesting experience to listen to the stories of those who have ended up here over the last 50 years in all the various waves of Cuban immigration to the US. We spoke to Bay of Pigs veterans, Mariel Boat Lifters and all those in between. We found no no gray areas in the opinions of Castro and his regime, they all hate him and want him out of power, but fight to figure a way to allow relatives to get money from the US without undermining the “blockade” which is kind of a jole anyway. North Carolina alone sends millions of chickens to Cuba every year. Makes you wonder who is really benefiting from the ongoing double standard on Cuba… and lets not even get into  “dry foot,wet foot“.

On Assignment: Rocky Mount for the New York Times

Photographed a story in Rocky Mount, NC for the New York Times. Due to the downturn in the economy, esp. in Rocky Mount where unemployment has doubled to 14% in the last year, pharmacists at Almand’s Drug Store have been put in the position of helping clients tp pick which of their prescriptions are the most important because they are unable to afford all of them. Most of the folks are on Medicaid or Medicare but the co-pays for some of the drugs are still too high. Story is here, more photos here.

Traci W. Suber, right, a pharmacist, said customers sometimes wanted her to tell them which of their drugs was most important.

Clients wait for their prescriptions to be filled.

The majority of the stores in downtown Rocky Mount have shut down.

In store advertising offers deals on certain drugs.

Arlene Birth is a client of the pharmacy.

Gloria, a store clerk, advises waiting customers.

Many vacant homes dot the Rocky Mount landscape.