I covered tattoo removal in Olympia for a Klipsun story last month. A program called Ink Out focused on gang related tattoo removal. The program worked mainly with teenagers and young adults looking to change their lives. I met Aurora Ortiz a young teenage girl looking to remove a South Siders tattoo on her forearm.
-Mark
Stephanie Singer lifts two 45-pounds weights during her training session at the Wade King Recreation Center, on March 10, 2009. Singer conditions and strengthens her body on a daily basis in preparation for her upcoming bodybuilding competition. “This is a full time job. This lifestyle is 24 hours, 7 days a week.” Continue reading
I photographed body suspension in Seattle for my last assignment for Klipsun. I met up with PURE circus for a private suspension session in a warehouse just under the West Seattle Bridge. I got to meet some really nice people, including the two individuals who were suspended: Maxx Sundquist and Michael “Lurch” Robinson. Overall it was a very enlightening experience. I was amazed at the focus and inner strength that it takes to go through such an experience. Click on for more and follow my flickr page for cutline information. Continue reading
I photographed this series a couple weeks back for a story running in Klipsun magazine. I traveled down to Portland to meet Emily Merker at her apartment. She is defitnetly one of the nicest people I have photographed. At a new transition in her life Merker stressed the importance of being a voice for those who inflict intentional harm to themselves.
Emily Merker sits outside her apartment at Portland, Oregon, on March 7, 2009. Merker started cutting herself at age 9 and at 20-years-old has been free of self-injury for 11 months. “My parents didn’t know how to deal with it. It is in issue that needs to be brought up and if it continues to be swept under the rug it will continue to be a problem.”
-Mark
Here is a photo-illustration that Jon Bergman, Damon Call and myself worked on for the cover of Klipsun magazine. The story was about dumpster divers, who search for a myriad of products that stores throw away (food, candles, etc.). My friend gave us permission to use her dumpster, which was ripe to say the least. Despite jumping in multiple times and smelling like a diaper filled with mayo on a hot day, it was a fun night. We left some room up top for the flag.
-Mark
Another Klipsun shoot.
Here are a couple photos from last Friday at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall, for an assignment on meditation. I will be posting a couple of frames this week that are for Western’s feature magazine, Klipsun.
Resident Priest Tim Burnett leads meditation at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall, on January 23, 2009.
-Mark