A departure

I've decided not to not put up any of the video I shot in Haiti. If you're really interested you can find them on cgvi.uscg.mil and youtube. I just want to get away from watching the stuff EVERDAY.

So instead, I'm finally, FINALLY putting out our vacation video. We took a lot more photos than video so it's more of a slide show and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I didn't want the documentation of our vacation to feel like work. It was still fun to mess around and think of cool shots to get. Hope you like and you get a little jealous.

8th District e-magazine

My office finally came out with the long-talked-about, District wide, e-magazine. It features stories and photos of D8 units and personnel doing a lot of different stuff. Now, I don't mean to brag (yes, I do), but I have more stories and photos in this issue than anyone else. Not too shabby, right? Take a look at what I do when I'm not saving the world from earthquakes, oil spills and hurricanes.

Click this link and then click the "the Guardian newsletter" link and you'll be able to download a copy of your very own! I'll even sign it for you, cuz, well, I did take the cover shot.

I'll be heading home today, so I'll try and get some Haitian video up. Also, we put together a video of our trip to Mexico and I'll be putting that up too. Kinda doesn't seem important compared to the Haiti stuff, but I know people are curious.

Photo Release: Haiti

That is not me by the way...

I know people are anxious to see what it was like, so here are some of my favorite shots from Haiti. I have a lot of video too, but I'll do that next. This is just to get something up and out. I think I got some real National Geographics stuff here. I have over 1,160 shots, so if you'd like to see something and want to know if I have it, let me know.


I was riding by and was just spraying and praying. I didn't even know I got this shot until I got back and started to download. It really stops me in my tracks. I zoomed in on his eyes and I could see the car I was riding in. Personally, I think this one best represents the misery and the frustration being felt in Haiti right now.

I saw her coming and I knew I wanted this shot. I got the rear view mirror, but it is what it is.

Hard to the core, right? I didn't pose him, he was actually just standing there and I snapped away. Please note the crane at a 45 degree angle behind him.

Creole translator. Really cool cat. He looks a lot like Denzel. This is just one of those shots you know you need, but never get.

The nosey cat looking at Denzel is PA3 Brandon Blackwell. He was pretty much my partner for seven days. Good guy. Not too bright though.

Some of the baddest cats in the CG came on scene on my 8th day. Tactical Law Enforcement Team. This guys drop from helo's, tackle drug dealers, zip-tie their hands behind their backs and move on to the next target...it was kind of hard swinging the idea that they were there on humanitarian operations, especially when they showed up in full battle-rattle.

Destroyed church.

The port where I spent a couple of days is althe way in the back of the shot. If you look close you can see the cutters Mohawk and Tahoma behind it. The capital building is smoldering in the center and more destruction is all around.

Cutter Oak loading up supplies. They packed on four pallets of medical supplies and two dozen pallets of water. Good guys. A little crazy, but good guys.

I'm not a good photographer. These shots I got purely on luck and knowing a trick or two with the shutter speed. I'm just glad I have anything to bring back to show.