Tulalip Tribe member Dennis Boon

I had a recent assignment for Northwest Leaf to photograph Tulalip Tribe member Dennis Boon, who uses medical marijuana to control his seizures. The seizures were debilitating, and used to leave him out of commission and unable to attend school or work. The only thing that helps this condition, Dennis said, is medical marijuana, and he hasn’t had a seizure in years. But his Tribe does not recognize legal medicinal marijuana, even though the state does. Last year, local authorities acting on a tip that a felon was living at his home, confiscated his authorization to have cannabis and took his collection of pipes. He’s still fighting the possession and paraphernalia charges, he said. In the mean time, he said he knows that this is the only thing that works and he will continue to use it — whether the Tribe recognizes his state status remains unclear. Check out this compelling story by Ray Flores.

Thanks for looking,

Daniel

Cannabis attorney Hilary Bricken

I had an assignment for Northwest Leaf last month to photograph Cannabis attorney Hilary Bricken. Hilary has been tenaciously representing businesses embarking down this legal gray area, and her track record proves it. The shoot was to accompanying a piece in the magazine on “best practices” for those in the medical marijuana field, and what the reality of city enforcement looks like out there.

Thanks for looking,

Daniel

City redevelopment for Cityvision Magazine | Seattle editorial photographer

Auburn, Wash. has worked to revitalize its downtown through a program called Storefronts, where local artists’ work is displayed in unoccupied commercial retail spaces, such as the creations of Julia Haack. L-R, Storefronts director Matthew Richter, artist Julia Haack and Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis stand outside a space at 1st and Main Street across from City Hall Tuesday, July 2nd. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Auburn, Wash. has worked to revitalize its downtown through a program called Storefronts, where local artists’ work is displayed in unoccupied commercial retail spaces, such as the creations of Julia Haack. L-R, Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis, Storefronts director Matthew RIchter, and artist Julia Haack, stand outside a space at 1st and Main Street across from City Hall Tuesday, July 2nd. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Auburn, Wash. has worked to revitalize its downtown through a program called Storefronts, where local artists’ work is displayed in unoccupied commercial retail spaces, such as the creations of Julia Haack. L-R, Storefronts director Matthew Richter, artist Julia Haack and Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis stand outside a space at 1st and Main Street across from City Hall Tuesday, July 2nd. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Had an assignment last month to photograph two stories on city redevelopment projects for Cityvision Magazine. The first shoot was a last-minute one on Auburn, Washington’s efforts to redevelop unused commercial spaces into art galleries. A sweet idea, especially when you have art like Julia Haack’s to fill the rooms. They looked great from the street, too. Wish we could have had more sunshine to really make the art pop but alas, it was a gusty overcast day. You can tell the wind is blowing if you look at her hair, but all things considered, I was happy with the way the shoot went down. And we did it in under the time allotted which is always great!

I was very pleased with tearsheets that came from these shoots! This was one of my first full-page magazine portraits, so that’s pretty special. The second shoot was way north in Mount Vernon, Wash., to photograph Mayor Jill Boudreau and Public Works Director Esco Bell. The city is redeveloping the promenade into a cool multiuse commercial space and making the waterfront a more attractive place for the community to hang out. I liked the view of the bridge and Skagit River — not everyday you get to have those in an environmental portrait.

Mt. Vernon, Wash. Public Works Director Esco Bell and Mayor Jill Boudreau have been essential to a flood protection plan that transform a parking lot running along the Skagit River into a pedestrian promenade maintaining safety and allowing for expanded business redevelopment in the area. Officials have completed the first of three phases scheduled to be completed by late 2013. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.comMt. Vernon, Wash. Public Works Director Esco Bell and Mayor Jill Boudreau have been essential to a flood protection plan that transform a parking lot running along the Skagit River into a pedestrian promenade maintaining safety and allowing for expanded business redevelopment in the area. Officials have completed the first of three phases scheduled to be completed by late 2013. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Thanks for looking,

Daniel

Seattle Tattoo Expo 2012 photos | Seattle editorial photographer

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Today I went down to the Seattle Tattoo Expo at Seattle Center with the hopes of setting up a mini studio — somewhere. You see, I didn’t have a backdrop at my disposal, and I didn’t think they would let me in with one anyway — so I set out to make somewhere work. As I wandered, it became clear that the indoors areas of the festival would be packed. That’s of course where hundreds of artists and subjects were tattooing and getting tattooed. Outside wasn’t much better; a metal sliding door that seemed promising was occupied by a vendor. Then I saw the backside of some vendor tents and I thought, that just might work. A single strobe popped at high enough power blew out the wrinkles on the tent enough to make a suitable backdrop, and the beauty dish boomed out overhead did the rest. It was a hot day, but I’m pleased by the frames I made in this improvised situation.

Charliegrll, from Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Charliegrll, from Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Shane Gardner, from Burlington, Wash., poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Amber Rothrock, from Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Taking a break from being tattooed, David Owens, of Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Ursula Major, from Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. “This is my normal drag look,” he said. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Ursula Major, from Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. “This is my normal drag look,” he said. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Ursula Major, from Seattle, poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. “This is my normal drag look,” he said. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Adrienne Bjorgum, from Missoula, MT., poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Slim from Seattle poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Jeff McKay from Seattle poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Jeff Christenson and girlfriend Kristina Armbruster, of Lake Stevens, Wash., pose for a portrait together at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Jake King from Seattle poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Jake King from Seattle poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Steven Villalobos from Mount Vernon, Wash. poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. “Seattle is my home and I wanted to honor it,” Villalobos said. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Blue Bear Wharton from Seattle poses for a portrait at the Seattle Tattoo Expo Saturday August 11, 2012 at Seattle Center. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Thanks for looking!

Daniel

Dead Baby Downhill Bike Race Seattle — Seattle editorial photographer

Sometimes when you hear about an event, you don’t care if you cover it for any particular news outlet — you just know you have to cover it! This was definitely the case for the 16th annual Dead Baby Downhill. I learned it was going down a few hours in advance from a friend’s Facebook post, and I just couldn’t let myself miss it again this year. I arrived well before the race start time of 7 p.m. to try and get a grasp of how the shenanigans would go down. Everyone seemed to know one another and it was quite a raucous event, what with most people sipping from beer cans barely concealed on the sidewalk. I love that Seattle hosts so many of these crazy meetups because it is a chance to catch people with their guard down, when they are truly enjoying themselves. The hardest events to cover are ones where nobody wants you there! Luckily, everyone was having a great time and I hope these images captured the convivial atmosphere.

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A few hundred bicycling enthusiasts participate in the 16th Annual Dead Baby Downhill, a beer-soaked romp from Targy’s Tavern in the Queen Anne neighborhood to Georgetown in South Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Thanks for looking!

Daniel

Seattle medical marijuana for The Daily Telegraph of London

Seattle medical marijuana photos for The Daily Telegraph of London. Photos by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

New Approach Washington Campaign Director Alison Holcomb, who heads the group seeking to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the state of Washington through Initiative 502, stands on the roof of their headquarters in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle May 22, 2012. Photo by Daniel Berman.

New Approach Washington Campaign Director Alison Holcomb, who heads the group seeking to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the state of Washington through Initiative 502, stands on the roof of their headquarters in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle May 22, 2012. Photo by Daniel Berman.

In a sign of what has increasingly become a new niche for my editorial photography in Seattle, I got an email from The Daily Telegraph of London asking if I would like to photograph a story on medical marijuana.

For two days, I worked with the Telegraph’s U.S. Editor Peter Foster, based out of D.C., to tell the stories of a handful of people to whom this issue is so important. In Washington state, medical marijuana has been legal since 1998 — but remains illegal under federal controlled substance laws.

Muraco Kyashna, founder of The Green Budha medical marijuana collective in Seattle, Washington, poses for a portrait with pet Moluccan cockatoo, Big Bird Bubba, May 22, 2012 alongside volunteer Layla Bush, center. Bush was shot and injured in the 2006 Jewish Federation shooting in Seattle, an incident claiming one life and wounding five others. The bullet remained lodged near her spinal cord where intractable pain continues to plague her, requiring use of a crutch. Photo by Daniel Berman.

Layla Bush, a volunteer at The Green Buddha medical marijuana collective, vaporizes cannabis in a dedicated room of the shop in Seattle, Washington May 22, 2012. She said it is her preferred way to medicate because it is quickly felt and isn’t harsh on her lungs the way smoking is. Bush was shot and injured in the 2006 Jewish Federation shooting in Seattle, an incident claiming one life and wounding five others. The bullet remained lodged near her spinal cord where intractable pain continues to plague her, requiring use of a crutch. Photo by Daniel Berman.

A pro-marijuana legalization poster is seen hanging in a back room where vaporizing cannabis is allowed at The Green Buddha May 22, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Photo by Daniel Berman.

A cannabis patient in a well-to-do suburb, about a half-hour north of Seattle, tends to his medical marijuana crop growing in his home garden May 22, 2012. Photo by Daniel Berman.

A cannabis patient in a well-to-do suburb, about a half-hour north of Seattle, Washington, tends to his medical marijuana crop growing in his home garden, May 22, 2012. The single plant of the Blueberry strain is housed in his upstairs bathroom tub, and can be expected to produce at least one pound of cannabis. Photo by Daniel Berman

A cannabis patient in a well-to-do suburb, about a half-hour north of Seattle, Washington, tends to his medical marijuana crop growing in his home garden, May 22, 2012. The single plant of the Blueberry strain is housed in his upstairs bathroom tub, and can be expected to produce at least one pound of cannabis. Photo by Daniel Berman

Peter wrote a nicely nuanced piece on the likelihood of cannabis legalization occurring across the U.S. Please check it out: Is the Prohibition of ‘Pot’ coming to an end in the US?

I did not have long to work on the story, but was fortunate enough to meet and photograph the owners of medical cannabis access points, people heading a legalization initiative in the state, and even patients and vendors at a daily cannabis farmers market in Seattle, and an older patient north of there, whose identity remains anonymous due to the sensitivity of his professional life.

That is the reality of medical marijuana in this state. It is used for a variety of reasons by people from every walk of life, yet remains castigated by the federal government and law enforcement — it’s a challenging line to tow, but these patients live it every day.

Steve White volunteers at The Green Buddha medical marijuana collective in Seattle May 22, 2012. Both White and Bush have been medical marijuana patients for four years now. Below are a couple dozen different strains or types, in small bagged amounts. Photo by Daniel Berman.

Muraco Kyashna, founder of The Green Buddha medical marijuana collective in Seattle, Washington, with her pet Moluccan cockatoo, Big Bird Bubba, May 22, 2012 at the access point. Photo by Daniel Berman.

Sean Moore, center, who operates the medical cannabis collective Vivus Vivandi, helps a patient calling himself Dragonfli May 22, 2012 at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. Moore, a medical cannabis patient for two and a half years, said he was motivated to help people at the marijuana farmers market after seeing his girlfriend, who has Chron’s Disease, deal with constant pain. Photo by Daniel Berman

Patients and vendors at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington mingle and donate medical cannabis and edibles to each other May 22, 2012. The market serves a few hundred medical marijuana patients on a daily basis. Photo by Daniel Berman

A medical cannabis patient takes a closer look at large piece of medical marijuana at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington May 22, 2012. The market serves a few hundred medical marijuana patients on a daily basis. Photo by Daniel Berman

Mario Richburg, who has been a medical marijuana patient for two years, smokes a cannabis joint in the medicating room of the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington May 22, 2012. A few hundred visit the daily cannabis farmers market, where qualified patients can network with others and obtain medicine, edibles and hardware. Photo by Daniel Berman

Medical marijuana patients smoke cannabis in the medicating room of the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington May 22, 2012. A few hundred visit the daily cannabis farmers market, where qualified patients can network with others and obtain medicine, edibles and hardware. Photo by Daniel Berman

My experience and previous access to those in the medical marijuana community was key to illustrating the piece, as was Peter’s guidance. He informed me of the level of knowledge surrounding medical marijuana in Britain, and how that differed dramatically from those living in the States, for whom this has been a newsworthy topic for the last few years.

One of the most interesting parts of the assignment was exploring the cannabis farmers market. The daily market boasts several dozen regular vendors, and patients are free to use their cannabis in a separate part of the facility. The entrance to the area notes: 15-minute limit. I joined them inside, and was drawn to how the community aspect of medical marijuana has increased over time. Luckily, once the patients got over the strangeness of a Seattle photographer shooting for a British paper, they opened up.It was a jam-packed schedule but I feel fortunate to be able to work with wonderful clients like The Daily Telegraph to tell stories like these.

Seattle medical marijuana photos for The Daily Telegraph of London. Photos by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Thanks for reading,

Daniel

Stanwood Mayor Dianne White for Cityvision Magazine | Seattle editorial photographer

The new issue of Cityvision Magazine is out and features a few portraits from my shoot with Stanwood Mayor Dianne White last month. The mayor has been instrumental in bringing Amtrak back to the small Snohomish County town about an hour’s drive north of Seattle. More than thirty years ago, Amtrak decided they would be bypassing the area, and with it, the ability of many in the community to travel to Seattle. Mayor White was generous with her time and the shoot could not have gone more smoothly.

Props as always to Cityvision, and writer Ted Tautaskas for another fine job on an underreported story! Props too to fellow NW photographer Mike Kane for his striking portraits in the same story on mayor’s changing their towns.

Stanwood Mayor Dianne White poses for a portrait at the Amtrak station in Stanwood. White was instrumental in bringing train service back to the area for the first time since the mid-1960s. Photo by Daniel Berman for Cityvision Magazine.

Stanwood Mayor Dianne White poses for a portrait at the Amtrak station in Stanwood. White was instrumental in bringing train service back to the area for the first time since the mid-1960s. Photo by Daniel Berman for Cityvision Magazine.

 

Thanks for looking,

Daniel

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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