New Chapter, New Country
Four-month-old Moby Hjelm helps Beth Trujillo lay out A1 on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, on his mother's last day the Albuquerque Journal.
This post is a bit overdue I'll admit it. Back in January of this year I had my last day in the newsroom of the Albuquerque Journal. A newsroom that had come to feel like a second home. Journalists, we're funny people. We know our city or our beat all too well, way better than our non-journalist friends. We become a second family when we spend such odd hours with our coworkers, sometimes on last minute road trips, sometimes just filing and editing late into the night racing to the final deadline. We eat (free) pizza on election nights together as the results come in. We celebrate when our coworkers have family milestones: marriages, births, and graduations. And also support each other when harder times hit. I was only supposed to be in Albuquerque for six months. SIX MONTHS. I arrived in the summer of 2007 and almost immediately started counting down. Not that I didn't love it. I did. However, I was in my "intern" part of life and expected to move on to another internship in six months and thus wanted to make the most of my short time there as most interns do. I had a blast. I took every opportunity that came my way. I climbed a crazy peak, flew in a hot air balloon, drove all over the state whenever asked, and tried my hardest to make some cool photos.
I ended up staying nine and half years. The Land of Enchantment really was the Land of Entrapment. I became a staff photographer, then the assistant photo editor, and then the photo editor. A lot changed in that window of time as well. A newspaper that was so focused on the print product, finally started paying attention to the web. (I feel like I can say this as a GenY-er who saw the writing on the wall from the day I walked in the door.) And with the push to web, the photo department had a chance like never before to be seen.
But, I've gotten off track...
About the same time as my maternity leave was starting with my son, my husband was offered a post-doc at the University of Montreal. So it was finally time to say goodbye to my Journal family and start a new chapter in Canada. So on a bittersweet Friday afternoon, I brought my 4-month-old son to work with me and said my goodbyes to the people and building that had welcomed me nine and a half years earlier. It's been a few months now, and I still miss the journalism adrenaline rush, but mostly I miss my co-workers and comrades who made the daily battles worth it.
So, here I am, now in Montreal, missing New Mexico a little, but also enjoying this new wonderful city. If anyone needs a photographer, or a journalist, I'd still very much love to tell your story.
Krista & Sam's Wedding - Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Krista and Sam were married at the Denver Museum of Nature and Sciencein August of 2016*. The weather, the venue, everything was perfect. Krista and Sam were surrounded with love from their oh-so-fun families, what more could you ask for? Oh, a beautiful sunset? Check! Enjoy some images from their big day.
*My blogging was majorly delayed due to the arrival of my son only a month later.
Imprisoned Innocents
Photo Story: Imprisoned Innocents
Each of the 51 women imprisoned in Central Ibarra Penitentiary is also a mother. The Ecuadorian courts allow the women to choose to bring their children to live with them as they serve hard time. The opposite of prisoners, the children are free to come and go as they please. But the youngest spend all their time with their mothers, never setting foot outside. Neglected and broken toys are often ignored. One meal a day is served per prisoner and the families receive no extra food. Likewise, the women are forced to share tiny bunks with their children. Fights often break out among the children as they mimic the aggression they see daily. Despite rough conditions, the mother/child bond provides solace in a hostile environment. Forty-foot walls and a watchtower serve as haunting reminders that misplaced children live in jail. Even in the darkness of imprisonment the mothers hope for a future for their children brighter than their own. This story was produced as part of UF’s Florida Fly-Ins program in 2006.
Siona & Nick’s Wedding – YWCA Piñon Canyon Center, Tijeras, New Mexico
Just outside the city of Albuquerque and surrounded by nature, family and friends gathered as Siona and Nick exchanged vows and started their married life together in June. Siona and Nick found the perfect venue for them and their wedding weekend at the YWCA Piñon Canyon Center in Tijeras, New Mexico. Under a small and oh-so-sweet handmade sign "NJ + SB", they exchanged their vows in a clearing of juniper and southwest brush. After officially becoming husband and wife, it was time to begin the dancing and celebrating! As contra dancers they had a list of dances ready to go to bring their families and friends together immediately after their first dance. By the time the contra dancing was over everyone had worked up quite an appetite and were ready to dig into the fabulous roasted pig that the groom had proudly prepared himself.
The night continued with much more dancing and cake back in the lodge. A roaring bonfire was even built just outside the lodge. Everyone danced the night away, under the stars of the New Mexican sky as the celebration of Siona and Nick continued.
Baby Kaiden - Lifestyle Newborn Photography - Albuquerque, NM
He may already be almost two months old, but I'll say it anyway. Welcome to the world baby Kaiden!
Baby Kaiden was born on Friday April 29, 2016 at 11:10 a.m. He was only a few days early, but he still surprised us all. His lovely parents and I had scheduled a veryvery last minute maternity shoot for Saturday, April 30th. Needless to say, Kaiden had his own plans. So instead, one week later, to the day of our first scheduled photo shoot, I came by to photograph the little guy at 1 week, 1 day old.
