Favorite photos from the Equality Ride

Tuesday May 1, 2007 - Here are some of my favorite photos (well most of them anyhow, some may have gotten lost in the 3000 images that I took) from my time aboard the Soulforce Equality Ride bus last week. I find myself wanting to go back. It was great to have a such an engaging assignment and to be surrounded by such passionate and spiritual people.

This is a photo of Bronwen Tomb of New London. Bronwen had been writing a live blog for The Day's website and is the reason that we went on the trip. I just love the look on her face in this shot, and so did all of my editors.

Rider Joey Heath got a little emotional as we left the hotel on the final day in Minneapolis. It was difficult for me to shove my camera in the face of someone crying...but it had to be done.

This is a portrait of rider Robin Reynolds. She was just awsome to get to know. I have met few people in my life that are as spiritual and as filled with the holy spirit as she is.

Here is Robin doing what she does best, explaining how God has worked in her life to those who may or may not understand. At Calvin College many of the riders took part in a campus knitting group. When our writer asked Robin if she knitted her reply was "KNIT...I don't knit...I politic!"

These are the religious tattoos of transgender rider Angel Collie.

This student (left) lost her job at a day care center for interacting with the riders in this positive manner. Just think you can still lose your job for shaking hands with a gay person.

This is just a fun parting shot of Bronwen and rider Greg Johnson. This was our final day at Mankato State University. It sums up the joy found at the end of the road.


Here are the links to The Day's online slideshows and the article about the trip:

Standing up for Equality

Portraits of the Equality Riders

Story: Evangelizing for Equality

Vigils, Arrests, and not a lot of sleep...

Tuesday April 24th, Grand Rapids, MI, - All is going well. The riders for the most part have been well received. The only arrests occurred during an act of civil disobedience. I am a little unsure how I feel about this. On one hand I do not like conflict, on the other I do not like the circumstances that create it. Well, I am here to observe and not pass judgement, so there we are. Cornerstone University has been the only place that was un-thrilled to have the Equality Ride stop by, so naturally that is where the riders have spent the most time. The place we have spent the least amount of time...sleeping.

Boots on the ground

Sunday 4/22/07 - Grand Rapids, MI

Well I made it. Here I am with the reporter Karen Crompton on our way to Chilis for lunch after arriving at our hotel. We have met up with the Equality Riders who are taking a quiet day after some long hours on the road. We have a church service and vigil tonight so it looks like after getting up at 4:30 a.m. this morning, I may be up until then tomarrow. After a long morning in the air, taking a quiet hour to myself just seems like a good idea. For anyone looking for more info on the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride click HERE

Gone Fishin'

4/21/07 - Saturday - I can hear Louis Armstong and Bing Crosby crooning away in the backgound as I post this one. Today was opening day for trout season, and unlike years past, the weather was perfect. Just like the song. It is one of the fun moments on the job. Just go out and take pictures of people fishing...and I get paid for this. Well it is off to Grand Rapids tomarrow, but for today...

"I'd say no more work for mine, On my door I'd hang a sign, Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'"

Stormy Weather

4/18/07 - This weeks Nor'easter may have clobbered western CT (and the rest of New England for that matter) but it kind of gave our area the miss. There was some minor flooding and downed trees, but for the most part, not a block-buster. I was off during the storm so my task over the last few days has been clean up photos. Not as riveting as flooding, but still worth pointing a camera at. Charles Trefes (above) uses a tractor to scape beach sand out of the parking lot at Atlantic Beach Park in Westerly, RI.

Cousins Colleen Crooks and Claire Bowdy look for shells at Eastern Point Beach in Groton, CT.

Spring Football????

Saturday April 14th - Thats right, football in the Spring. For those of you who do not know UConn hosts the annual Blue vs. White Spring Game every April. The team is divided up between the offense and defense and they scrimmage eachother. I guess as a fan you do not have to worry about a UConn loss. The only problem is that I was a little uncertain who to cheer for.

Lift High the Cross...

In this season of rebirth and resurrection I have decided to strike out on a new path. This will not be a daily photo-log, journal of deep thoughts, or anything quite that rigid. Just me thinking about my photography and future, and leaving these sign posts in the road to show where I have been, and possibly where I am going. For anyone who stops by, Enjoy!