Camp One - Heart and Sole

Camp Heart and Sole is a free camp held at Torino Ranch designed to help children at risk of heart disease and obesity. I'm no writer, so please read the wonderful story by reporter Brian Nordli to get more insight into the camp. I'll just say that it was a real joy to see these kids having the time of their lives.

Broken Chains Christmas

This was a typical Christmas Day assignment: Christian charity feeds the homeless and hearts are warmed everywhere. I expected a couple dozen hungry homeless people and a few volunteers spooning cranberry sauce and gravy onto dry turkey breast. When I arrived to the parking lot of the Harley Davidson on Eastern and Sahara around 9 in morning, I was overcome by the sight of hundreds and hundreds of people. The Broken Chains nonprofit was started by a man named Pastor Cody who was a homeless drug addict (and not a pastor) nine years ago. Eight years ago he fed a dozen homeless people in a park on Christmas Day. This year he fed more than 1,000. It was quite a sight to see, and my heart was indeed warmed just a bit.

A Beautiful Family

Almalinda Guerrero-Gonzales has five children, and all of them have special needs. She escaped her physically abusive husband months after giving birth to an infant with Down syndrome. Her oldest, now 8, suffers from seizures and migraines; she has twin 7-year-olds, one of whom can walk only with braces on her legs; and her 5-year-old is being treated for autism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. She was getting help from a program called Nevada PEP (Parents Encouraging Parents) but the program will lose its $200,000-a-year grant for the program two years early because of federal budget cuts.

I spent only one evening with Almalinda and her wonderful children, but their story has stuck with me during this holiday season. I cannot imagine the struggles that Almalinda goes through. Her strength is truly awe-inspiring.

 Please read the Las Vegas Sun story by David McGrath Schwartz and see more photos here.

Little Latkes

There is hardly anything cuter than little kids dressed like delicious potato pancakes. Except when you bring elderly women (and men) into the mix to ohhh and ahhh at the cute little latkes. Happy belated Hanukkah to all!

Nine Minutes of Explosions

I feel like July 4 didn't even happen this year because it was on a Wednesday. Also, I hate shooting fireworks. They make me nervous and I always manage to overexpose and underwhelm with my fireworks photos. I don't think I did a stellar job last week, but it was definitely an improvement for me. Station Casinos didn't help me out at all, with a show that only lasted a measly nine minutes. There were some bright spots of the evening though. The weather was awesome. High 80s for just that one night. Also I got a shot of the full moon with some fireworks. Not all bad.
 

Nostalgia Photographed

Families huddle together for warmth in the bed of pick-up trucks for the latest Adam Sandler comic romp. Couples share popcorn and snuggle under blankets inside parked SUVs. Multiple projectors whirl and spin films from the top floor of the ramshackle concession stand. Bright projections of Ben Stiller close-ups light up the darkened evening sky. I sneak around, trying not to disturb the scene as I photograph it quietly. Welcome to West Wind drive-in, nestled between Fiesta Rancho and the North Las Vegas airport. Once numbering over 4000, the drive-in movie theater stubbornly clings to existence like that last bit of ice in a soda cup. The West Wind drive-in, opened in 1966, is one of an estimated 370 motor movie palaces left in the U.S. If you find yourself photographing this nostalgic scene, one word of advice: Don't forget your tripod.