Some lakes #apadgeekfest

Recent work for Wired: Game collectors pose with their greatest treasures

My work, photojournalism, Published work, Seattle, Still photography

PAX Prime, or the Penny Arcade Expo, brought thousands of gamers of all kinds to Seattle over the weekend. It really is a massive festival. During the Retrogame Roadshow panel, I made portraits of game collectors who had brought some of their most precious treasures to be appraised by the panel of experts. You can see the gallery here in Wired.com. Thanks for looking.

Andrew Egerton of Hattiesburg, Mississippi holds a copy of Megaman 9 that is signed by Keiji Inafune, the creator of Megaman. The panel appraised it at $500.

Nicholas Beaudrot of Seattle, Washington holds a Nintendo Family BASIC. It was appraised by the panel at $200.

Nate Greene of Indianapolis, Indiana holds a Super Nintendo cleaning kit, appraised by the panel at a mere $15.

Adam Friedlander of Poughkeepsie, New York holds a Twin Famicom game console, made by Sharp. It was appraised by the panel at $110.

Marcus Lindblom of Kirkland, Washington holds a copy of Mother 2, a game he helped produce. The panel appraised it at $1,000 given the potential for his autograph or a handwritten note that explains the history of this copy of the game.

Cyrus Burris of Westport, Connecticut holds the game Tenchi Sōzō, known as Terranigma in the U.S., made for Nintendo’s Super Famicom console. It was appraised by the panel at $35.

Brian Silva of Boston, Massachusetts holds Shantae, a game for Game Boy Color. It was appraised by the panel at $750.

Recent work for Reuters

Diversity, My work, photojournalism, Published work, Seattle, Still photography

On Saturday about 80-100 people showed up at the Federal Building in Seattle to protest U.S. military intervention in Seattle, which happened to be just hours after President Obama declared his desire for military action, pending congressional approval. The group later made an impromptu trek to Westlake Center.

Syrian-American Wes Nakour demonstrates against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Protesters demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Violet Rea (C) demonstrates against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Protesters, including Syrian-Americans Memo Nakour (L) and Wes Nakour (R), demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Protesters demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Protesters, including Ben Crane (C), making a peace sign, demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Ben Crane demonstrates against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Protesters demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government in Seattle, Washington August 31, 2013. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES)

Adorama Flashpoint Matte Box System II Review

Gear, Multimedia, Tech stuff, Video

Camera and electronics retailer Adorama has created its own line of pro and consumer video gear under the name Flashpoint, and recently invited me to do an Adorama Flashpoint Matte Box System II review. At a retail price of $250 (plus the current $60 instant rebate), the Flashpoint Matte Box is reasonably priced. It is best for DSLR’s, but can be used with other digital video cameras as well. As with all DSLR video accessories, this piece of kit is not cheap but it is relatively competitively priced, given the features.

So what does it do? Of course, first and foremost the Flashpoint Matte Box System II prevents lens flares by blocking glare/reflections. The three big blades are easily adjustable to block unwanted light from natural and artificial sources. The kit also comes with two filter trays so that you can use a neutral density filter or other filter to make your video look exactly how you want it to, so you can save time on post-production.

The filter trays are plastic, which is fine, as is the body of the matte box itself. The matte box is lightweight and does seem study, although I am left wondering how it would take a fall on a hard surface. The large blades are lightweight metal, which is very nice. The whole kit feels light, which is really important to someone like me who likes the run-and-gun approach. I also travel a lot and need something lightweight. The Flashpoint Matte Box System II can be disassembled in just a minute and folds pretty flat so that it can be packed for travel.

(Above: Adorama’s video for the Flashpoint Matte Box System II and other accessories)

The final accessory included is a set of three rubbery donuts that fit around the end of your lens (see below). You just select one that fits your lens and slide it on to help keep light out. You then attach your camera to whatever video rig you have, and lightly press the end of the donut to the back of your Flashpoint Matte Box System II. Reviews I’ve read haven’t mentioned how easy these little guys are to use, and although I will probably lose them in about three days … it is these simple little additions to kits that make life so much easier.

Anyways, thanks for checking out this Adorama Flashpoint Matte Box System II review and I hope it helps you out. If you are shopping and are ready to upgrade your DSLR video kit to a rig with a matte box and other accessories, I would recommend that you consider the Flashpoint Matte Box System II.

Photos: Fast Food Workers’ Strike

My work, photojournalism, Published work, Seattle, Still photography

I covered last week’s fast food workers’ strike for Reuters, which coincided with strikes nationwide in over 60 cities. The turnout was decent in Seattle, which included several protests at different restaurants throughout the day, followed by an afternoon rally and march through the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Pictures below. Thanks for looking.

Pictured demonstrating outside a Burger King location are Joshua Simpson (L), a Burger King employee, and Darryl Johnson, a member of the Service Employees International Union, during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. “We’re like a family fighting for what we deserve,” said Simpson. Fast-food workers staged strikes at McDonald’s and Burger Kings and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Ryan Parker, a Wendy’s employee, demonstrates in front of a Burger King location during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. “We deserve the right to make a wage we can live off of,” said Parker. Fast-food workers staged strikes at McDonald’s and Burger Kings and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Coulson Loptmann, 21, is pictured outside of a Wendy’s restaurant during a strike aimed at the fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Loptmann, a former Starbucks barista, says that he is demonstrating because he was fired recently from a Seattle Starbucks location for eating food from the trash. “I’m trying to make ends meet right now,” he said. Fast-food workers staged strikes at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Starbucks and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

A demonstrator holds a sign in the rain outside of a Wendy’s restaurant during a strike aimed at the fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Starbucks and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Demonstrators block Pike Street in front of Victrola Coffee Roasters during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Demonstrators make their way up Pike Street during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

A demonstrator is pictured through the rainy window of Domino’s Pizza during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Stephen Baldwin shouts inside Chipotle Mexican Grill during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Patrons sit as their lunch is interrupted by demonstrators in Chipotle Mexican Grill during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Ethan Dittrich-Reed encourages fellow demonstrators during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Stephen Baldwin (C) is pictured during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)

Stephen Baldwin holds his fist in the air outside of Subway during a strike aimed at fast food industry and the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington August 29, 2013. Fast-food workers staged strikes at Subway and Burger King and demonstrated at other stores in sixty U.S. cities on Thursday in their latest action in a nearly year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. REUTERS/David Ryder (UNITED STATES – Tags: FOOD BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CIVIL UNREST)