My friend Andrew took me to an amateur wrestling event, in Portland. There was quite a lot of sincere drama. About a week prior, I’d checked in with him to see if he’d be around the weekend that I’d be visiting. He said he had something perfect for us on Sunday night, but wouldn’t tell me what it was. All he said was that I should be ready to drink, and not to wear anything too fancy. Knowing him, and knowing that he knows me, and my commonly hobo-esque appearance, I took this to mean something strange was going to happen. And strange, it was. The BCW, or Blue Collar Wrestling, is a collection of traveling old-school wrestlers that operate on small budgets and pure enthusiasm. The event space, more commonly known as the location of one of Portland’s largest swap meets, is a bare, glaringly-lit building up north, just east of St. John’s. They serve hot dogs, cheap beer, and a throwback to a time before the Internet, cell phones, social media, or really any kind of media, when families, mostly poor, would gather together under the tent to watch the traveling show.
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Matt and Tory's Wedding AKA Mattritory /
My dear friends, Matt and Tory, got married in her hometown of San Jose, over the summer. They insisted that I just enjoy myself, and let somebody else do all the “work” of shooting the wedding. I, of course, couldn’t help myself, though. It worked out great. I was able to get some less formal, candid shots, while still being a part of the festivities. It was a truly special few days.
Read MoreDead Water Park /
About midway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, on I-15, there's an abandoned water park that is just visible from the highway. Because I'm good at timing such things, I stopped there in early July, midday, when it was about 110 degrees. There is almost no shade. It's easy to see why somebody would want a water park out here, and easier to see why it was a money pit that ended in dismal failure.