Bellingham photographer | Fisher Fountain back on

Students enjoy Fisher Fountain on the first day it was turned on spring quarter March 31, 2011. Photo by Seattle Bellingham photographer Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Dwight Clark memorial | Bellingham editorial photographer

Several Western students pray during a memorial for Dwight Clark, 18, at Western Washington University Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

I think everyone is going to remember how they heard that the body of Dwight Clark had been located. The 18-year-old freshman had been missing for more than a week when the news hit early this afternoon.

I heard from the features editor of the student newspaper. They found Dwight Clark’s body, he said. Five words. Five that no one wanted to hear. This kid had just started his new life in a new town and he left too quick. It has been a sad day — and a challenging week– for all who knew him, helped searched for him and showed their support over the past week and and a half.

More than 1000 people from the Bellingham community came out to remember Dwight. I photographed the memorial on assignment for SeattlePI.com. They put together a nice gallery: Dwight Clark Memorial Photo Gallery and Casey McNerthney wrote the article.

Bellingham residents and Western students gather at a memorial for Dwight Clark, 18, at Western Washington University Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. Clark had disappeared Sunday, Sept. 26. Clark's body was identified Wednesday Oct. 6 after being found in Bellingham Bay by a contractor working on the waterfront near the former Georgia-Pacific plant. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Mari Hamp, center, hugs a friend during a memorial for Dwight Clark, 18, at Western Washington University Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. Hamp said she never met Clark. The freshman had disappeared Sunday, Sept. 26. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Hundreds of Bellingham residents and Western students gather at a memorial for Dwight Clark, 18, at Western Washington University Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. Clark had disappeared Sunday, Sept. 26. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Please click to view

Bellingham editorial photographer | Macklemore Ryan Lewis photos

Tonight I photographed a truly amazing show by Macklemore and his producer/dj Ryan Lewis, as well as The Physics. All the songs had the crowd moving. It was an incredible night. If you haven’t heard of these two bands, you owe it to yourself to check them out!

Please click the link to view

The evening light | Bellingham photographer

Western freshman Kurina Hoppen walks past the Fairhaven Commons pond Thursday June 3, 2010. Photo by Daniel Berman

Ring of Fire musical group | Bellingham photographer

Sometimes you see a feature picture, other times, you just hear it. The latter was the case as I heard jungle sounds emanating from a sculpture on Western’s south campus late Monday evening. The group, Ring of Fire, is a freestyle music group, who take turns playing on drums, didgeridoos, tambourines and anything else they can beat or shake. I climbed to the top of it to make the overhead photo with Ethan looking down onto the group. This is the same sculpture as seen in my Sunny Days in Bellingham post a few months ago.

Freshman Ethan Holzer observes from atop a sculpture as members of the Ring of Fire musical group jam out on south campus Monday May 17, 2010. The group meets every Monday at 6:30 PM at a different sculpture on south campus.

Members of the Ring of Fire musical group jam out inside a sculpture on south campus Monday May 17, 2010. The group meets every Monday at 6:30 PM at a different sculpture on south campus. In foreground are sophomore Adam George, left, and freshman Hans Klein, right, on drums.

Thanks for looking!

Daniel

Bellingham photographer | Slacklining photos

I know it has been shot before, but I like a challenge. Next to frisbee players I don’t think there is more of a cliche college campus feature photo than the slackliner. They are an easy target this time of year — but I sought to make an unusual image, and one that I have never seen before. I found this kid slacklining but waited, hoping for a better and more unique image. I found that picture when he demonstrated his ability to lay completely flat on his back atop the taut piece of rope. I was really struck by this seemingly-magical visual. It reminded me of a David Blaine act! You never know what you will find if you wait long enough and move beyond the easy photo. You might just find the special one.

Western senior Cory Olson lays flat on his back atop a slackline outside of the SMATE building on a sunny Tuesday May 4, 2010. Olson said he has been slacklining for over a year. “The more you play on it the more you can do on it,” Olson said. “It’s like any sport: you test your boundaries.” Photo by Daniel Berman

Thanks for looking!

Daniel

Bellingham editorial photographer | College students dancing

I heard the sounds of big-band music playing from inside the Viking Union building late after another shoot — I couldn’t help but wander in. I found a few dozen Western students dancing to new and old hits and waited for a nice moment to unfold in front of me. I love the view in the background of the sunset over Bellingham Bay.

Western freshman Luke Jones dips junior Rebecca Smith during a meeting of the Swing Kids dancing club Wednesday April 28, 2010. Swing Kids meets Wednesdays at 8 pm in the VU MPR. Photo by Daniel Berman

Thanks for looking!

Daniel

Bellingham editorial photographer | Bellingham Trash Fashion Show

I covered a Trash Fashion Show at Western Washington University on Friday night and had a blast. The organizers (ReStore) hoped to show that recycled materials can be re-purposed into beautiful new creations. I would say they succeeded. From the title, I kind of expected ‘Derelict’ ala Zoolander, but was really blown away by the creativity displayed on the runway.

Please click here to view

Bellingham editorial photographer | NCAA Basketball Softball Portraits

On Monday I had an assignment to shoot two different groups of both softball and basketball players at Western Washington University.

Western's Rory Blanche, Jarrell Banks and Michael Duty are returning to the basketball team for another season. Here they pose for a portrait inside Carver Gym. Photo by Daniel Berman

After getting everyone’s schedules worked out, I realized this was going to be a tight squeeze. I ended up needing to set-up my lighting, shoot and tear-down the lighting with the basketball players in about 30 minutes. After that, I had to hustle to set-up as the softball players were ending their practice.

Western softball pitchers (l-r) Sarah McEnroe, Erika Hendron and Erika Quint have been an essential part of the team's recent success. Photo by Daniel Berman

Western softball pitchers (l-r) Sarah McEnroe, Erika Hendron and Erika Quint have been an essential part of the team's recent success. Here they pose for a portrait at the Viking softball complex. Photo by Daniel Berman

Everyone did a great job, and the weather even managed to hang out — as I was tearing down the softball shoot, a drizzle turned to a good amount of rain.

Thanks for looking!

Daniel