May Day protests in Seattle | Seattle editorial photographer
I was not present for the intense spouts of violence and property damage that shook up an otherwise fairly peaceful May Day in Seattle, as many of my colleagues in town have captured so incredibly. I went downtown to try and capture what I could.
May Day protests and rally in Seattle, Washington May 1, 2012. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
May Day protests and rally in Seattle, Washington May 1, 2012. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
May Day protests and rally in Seattle, Washington May 1, 2012. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
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Edmonds-Woodway HS Baseball v. Arlington 5/5/12 | Seattle photographer
Edmonds-Woodway outfielder Jason Smarr (#71) is congratulated at home by Bruce Mezich (#11) after an RBI brought him home in the first inning of their 6-1 victory over Arlington High Saturday, May 5 in the 4A District 1 tournament at Edmonds-Woodway High School in Edmonds. Photo by Daniel Berman/for the Daily Herald
As sun light bathed the field intermittently, the E-W Warriors started the game off with a barrage of hits and RBIs. Arlington played catch up later in the afternoon, and appeared to struggle against E-W pitcher Ryan Budnick — who pitched a complete game. At the plate, Budnick hit 2 for 3 — including 4 RBIs. I covered Edmond-Woodway’s 6-1 victory at home over Arlington High in the 4A District 1 tournament for the Everett Daily Herald, and their weekly sister paper.
The game started after an hour-long delay, caused by mandatory across-the-league start times in rainy weather. That afforded me ample opportunity to hang out with the players as they relaxed and killed time. I ended up splitting my time between both team’s dugouts, but liked my take from the Edmonds side a bit more.
Edmonds-Woodway outfielders Troy Rheinford, center, and Mac McLachlan horse around while waiting out a game delay before their 6-1 victory over Arlington High Saturday, May 5 in Edmonds. Photo by Daniel Berman/for the Daily Herald
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Recent work | Seattle editorial photographer
It has been a busy April and start to May, but I wanted to share some of recent street photographs and outtakes from a couple of editorial assignments. I will have some cool tearsheets to post by the end of the month when stuff is un-embargoed.
A man walks down 10th Avenue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle Thursday, April 26th. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
A King County Metro bus is seen emblazoned with an Ask.com ad on a sunny day in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle Thursday, April 26th. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
Chicago White Sox pitcher John Danks (#50) delivers the first pitch of their 7-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners to left-fielder Chone Figgins (#8) Sunday, April 22nd at Safeco Field. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
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Emerald City Comic Con 2012 Photos — Seattle editorial photographer
Tim Craig, 23, from Silverdale, Wash. as Simon from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Portraits at Emerald City Comic Con Saturday, March 31. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
I went down to check out Emerald City Comic Con on Saturday for a fun and exciting self-assignment. It was the chance to explore on my own time and make some different kinds of portraits of the great costumed attendees. Initially, I set up a small studio in the corner of the main lobby of the exhibition area, but decided to try something new. For a few hours, I roamed around with an Alien Bee, Vagabond Mini Lithium battery pack and 46″ Photek Softlighter II on a light stand with the legs folded up. Despite negotiating the large setup through a crowded environment, my biggest challenge was just making natural pictures. Everyone, understandably, wanted to give me their best pose — something usually that they have just done for ten other people — and that couldn’t be farther from what I sought to shoot.
Olivia Jones, 5, from Tacoma, Wash. as Princess Leia. Portraits at Emerald City Comic Con Saturday, March 31 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
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Nine lessons photographers taught me
I have gleaned some of my favorite lessons on life, people and, unsurprisingly, shooting, from fellow photographers. Some I have gotten the opportunity to assist, others I’ve grown to know over the years as a photographer living and working in the Pacific Northwest. All have impacted me, and helped me grow in myriad ways. I hope their outlook strikes you the same way. I am lucky to have met and learned from these inspiring, talented people.
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Cupid’s Undie Run Seattle photos | Seattle editorial photographer
I had a hilarious time photographing the Cupid’s Undie Run in Seattle yesterday — and not just because I got to capture this surreal experience — though, luckily for all involved — I remained clothed! This was a blast because everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun, and were not timid about the huge number of photographers that seemed to make it out to Fremont. I tried my best to get close to people and let them know my intentions and put them at ease. Their alcohol tended to do the rest…
Dan Vacanti, from Federal Way, drinks a beer at The Ballroom bar as Tova MacLennan, left, and Ellie Oberstein look on prior to the start of the Cupid's Undie Run in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle Saturday, Feb. 11. "My friend said this would be a good time," said Vacanti. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
Cupid's Undie Run participants hang out at The Ballroom bar prior to the start of the 1.5-mile run around the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle to raise money for The Children's Tumor Foundation, Saturday, Feb. 11. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
L-R, friends Alyse Garday, Rachael McKay, Paulina Szreder, Cameron Williams and Kelley Hughes hang out and dance at The Ballroom bar prior to the start of the 1.5-mile run around the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle to raise money for The Children's Tumor Foundation, Saturday, Feb. 11. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com.
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Medical marijuana for Cityvision Magazine | Seattle editorial photographer
Lydia George and husband Jake George founded Greenlink Collective in Issaquah in 2010. They worked with the city to create a medical marijuana ordinance after an initial dispute that resulted a citywide moratorium on access points. The Georges hold containers of medical marijuana inside Greenlink. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
A lot of amazing coincidences all had to line up for the scheduling that enabled these shoots for Cityvision Magazine to happen. They landed in my lap right in the middle of a bunch of other gigs right before New Year’s Eve — and, as you can imagine, getting ahold of people around this time can be a challenge. In the end though, Lydia and Jake George, founders of the Greenlink Collective in Issaquah, and State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, made time for me from their busy schedules.
One important lesson I got out of my shoot with the Georges is that sometimes, you go set up all your lighting and then realize the best shot could happen if you turn them back off. That’s what lead to the huge lead image on the first spread! I liked the fluorescent lighting fixture above the small marijuana plants, and with my lighting, they weren’t coming out the way I wanted. So I turned off my umbrella and softbox, and shot natural light — exposing for the highlights near the bottom of the fixture. The result is very dramatic and a more interesting approach I think.
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More snow in Shoreline | Seattle editorial photographer
I wanted to share a few more snow features from time spent shooting the past few days in my Seattle neighborhood during what has been dubbed the Snowpocalypse… My area has gotten about seven inches of snow since Tuesday.
Snow-covered trees are reflected in the waters of Echo Lake in Shoreline 1/18/12. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
Stacy Morgan, 20, from Bremerton, dances while waiting for a bus at the Aurora Village Transit Center with friend Taylor Daly, 20, from Kent, to take them back towards South Seattle. "I've been waiting for about an hour for one bus," said Morgan, a self-described exotic dancer. "I've been killing time watching people drive badly." Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com
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Favorite News and Feature Photos of the Year
I know it’s more than a few days into the new year but I still wanted to highlight some of my favorite frames of 2011. Most of this was shot on assignment for one client or another, but many remain unpublished — that’s half the reason I want them here 
My goal on every assignment, whether it’s for a newspaper, magazine, website or university, is to make a unique picture. I try not to shoot from the pack. I try and make something different, and unexpected — a pictorial moment within a news situation. Of course, I will get the safe shot, but when time allows, I am looking for a me photo. A different vantage point, a unique angle, better access — anything to find something unique, and apart from the pack. Sometimes that works out in my favor. The risk pays off. Every shoot is a teachable moment, and it’s only a mistake if you cannot learn from it. This was a successful year but every year is a learning experience and this one taught me that in a lot of ways. You have to hustle. You have to really want it. Onward and upward in 2012, my friends.
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Daniel
2011 Portraits of the Year — Seattle editorial photographer
Hello folks,
I know it is a few days into 2012 but I wanted to share some of my favorite portraits from the past 12 months. Portraiture is something I really enjoy because it can be such an intimate experience — or, in contrast, something very fleeting. It’s a total dance photographers do with their subjects. We are trying to elucidate a story visually, and make a connection with people. We want that glimpse at soul. Sometimes it is a delicate thing to do — but I love it.
It’s always a thrill to set up my lights (or recognize great natural light and rock that instead!). You’re trying to turn an unknown environment into something storytelling.
I have been fortunate enough this year to work with some fantastic new clients, such as DataSphere, the New York Post, Cityvision Magazine, Financial Advisor Magazine, The U.S. Department of Energy and Northwest Leaf and Seattleite. My assignments represent a huge gamut of subject matter, but I love thinking on my feet and bringing my own photography style to whatever I shoot — that’s part of the wonderful challenge of working with clients.
And to that end, I wanted to share a little bit of the back story behind my favorite portraits this year:
DataSphere, a Bellevue-based internet advertising firm, hired me to make portraits for their website. The client wanted to showcase their fun, unique corporate culture, for recruiting and marketing purposes. Along with my faithful assistant Mark Malijan, I photographed more than a dozen setups in a day all across their expansive three-floor office. It was a rush but a lot of fun to take my style and apply it to the client’s needs. I don’t think I will ever get the chance to set up an employee shot like the guys at the arcade one again. It was such a blast and definitely stands out as a very memorable assignment, this year and in my career as well.
One of my most high-profile shoots of the year came completely out of nowhere: photographing Gennette Cordova for the cover of the New York Post, back in June.
The cover image – I guess I am okay with all the text all over it
My friend Stephen Brashear referred the job to me and over the course of a week, I managed to make contact with Gennette and make her picture. This was my first shoot for the Post and I was totally blown away to see it on the cover. I got an email from the picture editor at midnight the day it was to come out. “Berman cover” was the subject line, and I just about screamed. It was my first national cover.
Cordova, you’ll recall, was sent a lewd photo by former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), in a scandal that became known as Weinergate. Ugh. Name aside, this was a really exciting shoot and to see the cover floating around national media sites like Gawker was another experience altogether. The Post hired me a few months later to cover Amanda Knox’s arrival in the U.S. — but more on that in my news photo of the year post coming up.
I have completed eight or nine assignments for Cityvision and it is just so rewarding to be working with them regularly. They run really interesting, informative pieces, that shine line on complicated issues in a relevant way. They do a great job, and my assignments have involved photographing politicians, mayors, and state senators, for stories discussing their governance work. It’s neat to meet people with power and try and make the same kind of connection I would with anyone else, to make a compelling portrait.
This was an interesting shoot because it all hinged on access to water — visually it would be tough to photograph a water story without it — but when I arrived, the fountain was turned off! A quick call from the Mayor’s PR staff to the control room staff for the arena helped get it turned on just in time. Remaining calm was key, and the mayor was a good sport about waiting for a bit to begin the shoot.
I also photographed more stories on water and on cities being inundated with public record’s requests.
My assignment was to photograph Saturna Capital’s Nick Kaiser for Financial Advisor Magazine. Saturna Capital has become renowned for their Amana Mutual Funds, which invests according to Islamamic law — and has done very well from their unassuming offices.
Nick Kaiser of Saturna Capital poses for a portrait at their downtown Bellingham offices October 24, 2011. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com for Financial Advisor Magazine
I worked with two Alien Bee 800s firing into a simple 40 inch umbrella and a bare 7″ reflector, plus some nice afternoon sunlight fill, to make most of the pictures.
Nick was really generous with his time and worked with me to make some pictures the client and I were happy with. More from this shoot in my recent post: Nick Kaiser for Financial Advisor Magazine.
Seattleite
I also did a shoot this year for Seattleite, an online cultura and lifestyle magazine that started in 2011. The assignment came courtesy a friend of mine, Erik Simkins, working as their photo editor at the time. My task was to photograph Jay Friedman for a story about his food lecture series, Sexy Food. He uses humor to make the connection between the things we eat and the stuff we enjoy. I wanted to make a portrait that captured that same fun quality. We shot inside of a beautiful old classroom on the University of Washington campus. No assistant for this one, like on most of my shoots, but atleast I got a workout dragging my lighting cases up three flights of stairs. No elevator. The new client was happy and I made some pictures I am happy with too, and that’s all you can ask for right?
I had an SB-800 firing into Photek Softlighter II up high and above him, with a bare sb800 firing for the rim-light in rear.
This is the one the mag ran online.
Sometimes the best assignments are the ones we take on for ourselves. It’s important to try out new ideas, test new techniques, and cover the events we want to cover — even if no one is footing the bill. Sometimes we are fortunate for a client to license personal work after the fact; but that’s not the goal. I do self-assignments to keep me sharp for when the phone rings. It keeps my portfolio current and lets me push new work out more than waiting for assignment work. It’s fulfilling and a big part of my personal goals for 2012.
The Emerald City Comicon was a self-assignment that ended up being licensed for SeattlePI.com. But before that happened, I bought my own ticket, rolled all my lighting gear through the concourses and hoped to heck nobody was going to ask me to leave. I set up in an empty corner of a well-trafficked area of the main room, and looked around for interesting people to photograph. There was no shortage. In contrast to most portrait shoots where I have between 5 and 50 minutes to photograph someone, I spent only a minute or two with most of these Comiconners. I think it kept them authentic. The hours I put into the shoot paid off because it was a great day.
I also went down to Occupy Seattle and made some simple portraits of some of the protestors. I wish I would have been able to go back down, but other assignments and work kept me away. Even so, the windy, blustery evening I spent down there was informative and useful. I made some pictures I am happy with and can at least say I photographed a little bit of a very important movement, in my own backyard.
I also did a lot of assignments for a Seattle-based publication called Northwest Leaf that deals with medical marijuana patients and the industry. It has been so eye-opening to have the access I do on these shoots, and it pays off, because I am making images that are not being made anywhere else. I am getting a grounds-eye view of this burgeoning movement, and I am excited to see where it takes me next year.
This was such a simple lighting setup. Just a single 45″ Photek Softlighter II off to my left, in close to the subject, on about 1/4 power. No fuss, no muss, just nice soft light that let more attention go to the stuff in his hands…
2011 has been a great learning experience. I really pushed myself, fell some times and grew stronger from those mistakes. It’s only a mistake if you can’t learn from it, I feel. I just want to keep driving towards my goals and keep learning and growing with my photo family, as my buddy Pittsburgh photographer Jared Wickerham said so aptly. 2011 has been a great year, a fulfilling year and probably one of my strongest years. You have to really want it in this business, and I think about that everyday. I am so blessed to be doing what I love and know the amazing people I do these days in Seattle and across the country. The kinship and community in photography is like none other!
Thanks for looking, and if you made it this far, thanks for joining me on this journey.
Daniel
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