Sacramento Rally With Bernie Sanders | Sacramento CA | May 9, 2016

Regardless of your political views during this very important time of social unrest in America, one man has brought tens of thousands to hear him speak this election year. His message is clear. "A future to believe in." His movement is powerful, raising voter registration in some parts of the state of California by nearly 20%. He bases his campaign on saving the middle class of America. His name is Bernie Sanders, and on May 9, 2016, I had the privilege to listen to his message...

"The American people must make a fundamental decision. Do we continue the 40-year decline of our middle class and the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else, or do we fight for a progressive economic agenda that creates jobs, raises wages, protects the environment and provides health care for all? Are we prepared to take on the enormous economic and political power of the billionaire class, or do we continue to slide into economic and political oligarchy? These are the most important questions of our time, and how we answer them will determine the future of our country." BernieSanders.com

Day 2 - 5.26.2011 - Beijing

Today was pretty eventful as any "normal" day for an American tourist in China might be. We began with a "welcome" conference with all delegates and guests in our hotel. Leonard, our national representative with People to People spoke for the most part. He talked about China, it's people, it's history, and it's population. Then he talked a little bit about the rest of our trip to Guilin and Shanghai. After our "in-country briefing", we went to lunch at the Wahaha Hotel and ate lunch in the hotel restaurant. I tried some new food, and drank Sprite, as I was a little weary to drink water if it wasn't from a bottle that I opened.

After lunch, the guests boarded one bus, and the delegates boarded another. The delegates were bussed back to the hotel, and the guests were bussed to the Temple of Heaven. It was absolutely breath-taking! Pictures definitely don't do that place any justice and is something that has to be seen for yourself. After walking around the Temple of Heaven for a few hours, and listening to our fabulous tour guide Wendy, it began to thunder and lightning. Luckily, the rain held off until we boarded the bus to head back to the hotel. Once in the hotel, I tried to shower and get ready for the "Beijing Night" Gala Dinner, but I was exhausted and suffering from a bit of sore throat. (Hopefully, just from the polluted air of Beijing.) I uploaded my photos and here I sit posting my second blog post from our trip.

I took a video, that I tried for a while to upload but didn't work. This video was taken from our hotel on the 12th floor. Our tour guide Wendy told us on the bus ride that Beijing suffers from "rush hour" every hour of every day. There is a limit to the number of cars that are allowed to be bought every month. After I got back to our hotel, I sat at the window for a few minutes and pondered what life must be like in China. After thinking for a few minutes, I decided to take this video to remind me of the constant gridlock in China, and how lucky I have it at home... Driving in San Francisco is NOTHING like driving in Beijing!

A glass and coaster from our hotel.

Tea kettle from our lunch at the Wahaha Restaurant.

Our fabulous tour guide, Wendy, giving us the history of Confucius at the Temple of Heaven.

The Temple of Heaven

A bronze statue from inside one of the buildings at the Temple of Heaven.

The Temple of Heaven

Day 1 - 5.25.2011 - Beijing

So it is the end of the first night in Beijing. Our plane landed at around 3:00 or 3:30 pm local time. My dad and I had to wait for the rest of the People to People group to land before we could head to the hotel. By the time we left the airport in Beijing and headed for the hotel, it was closer to 5pm local time. The first day was pretty un-eventful: we arrived in China, got to the hotel and settled into our room, napped, ate dinner, and now I am sitting in an almost empty hotel restaurant editing photos by myself. Tomorrow is jam-packed full of adventures, and I cannot wait for my explorations of the "Forbidden City"!

Camera equipment all packed and ready to go!

Chinese woman on the airplane reading a Chinese newspaper.

View of the runway from San Francisco just before take-off.

View of Beijing from the air just before landing.

The hotel we are staying in Beijing - The Swissotel.

View from our room on the 12th floor at sunset.

View from our hotel after the sun went down.

I'm headed to CHINA!

With huge thanks to my dad, I am currently sitting at San Francisco International Airport waiting for my flight to Beijing, China! I have camera equipment, and my MacBook and I'm ready to begin my photographic adventure! The flight will be approximately 16 hours and leaves in about 2 hours from now. Check back to see tales of my adventures in China, as I will be trying very hard to update my blog daily...

My dad and I sitting at SFO waiting for our flight. I love you Dad! :)

Photojournalism... My experience with it

While I was in attendance at California State University, Sacramento, I worked on the school newspaper, The State Hornet, and also with Public Affairs. Lately I have been spending a lot of time focusing on the portrait aspect of photography, and I feel like I am neglecting the fact that I am also a photojournalist. Usually I don't like posting to my blog more than once a day, but I may have a photojournalist opportunity coming into my life in the near future, and need to post some of my work... just in case.

These are some of my favorites from my time working with The State Hornet.

All of the following photos are copyright The State Hornet.

Issue #5: Ceramic's Department is profiled

Issue #6: This photo was taken for a story on the Aquatic Center @ CSUS

Issue #6: This photo was taken for the same story on the Aquatic Center, and kayaking at sunset

Issue #7: Before a Women's Soccer game on campus @ CSUS

Issue #7: This photo was also taken from a Women's Soccer game on campus @ CSUS

Issue #8: Ryan Chin, Publications Director in the Public Affairs office, is profiled

Issue #8: This photo was also featured with the profile of Ryan Chin, and was taken on the Guy West pedestrian bridge

Issue #9: Pictured here are two campus nurses getting flu shots ready to give students flu shots on campus

Issue #9: A school nurse gives a student a flu shot on campus

Issue #10: Scott Hawkins was murdered in one of the dorms on campus by another student. This photo was taken at his memorial service outside the dorms

Issue #10: Students light candles at the memorial for Scott Hawkins

Issue #10: Senior photography students put together a show at Beatnik Studios

Issue #10: Nigel Poor, one of the photography professors, talks with students at the Senior Portfolio Student Show @ Beatnik Studios

Issue #11: CSUS Men's Basketball Hall of Fame Ceremony

Issue #11: CSUS Men's Basketball Hall of Fame Ceremony

Issue #12: Skateboarding Club is profiled

Issue #12: The president of the Skateboard Club shows off his skateboarding skills

Issue #12: Ribbons for Scott Hawkins are sold in the University Union

Issue #14: Women's Gymnastics Team is profiled

Issue #14: Women's Gymnastic's Coach, Kim Hughes is interviewed about how the team is doing