I was assigned to cover the record high tide that hit West Seattle on last month.

I had this photo in my mind that I wanted to make. I went out into the rain to find a street that would have the greatest potential for on lookers and walkers. When I arrived at the park there were few people but many seagulls hovering about 8-15 feet above the ground. Waves would crash against the seawall causing water to jump up. I wanted this photo but with a person walking by.

I waited for a bit, hoping people would come by, but no one was venturing out during this storm. I had to move on, the sea was quickly rising and I had other photos that needed to be made. Spot news was breaking as houses, basements, and kitchens flooded with water causing electric boxes to start fires.

I begrudgingly left the park with a plan to return to my spot to make my image. When I came back the lighting had changed, it was slightly brighter. I waited near the spot with the birds were hovering and finally spotted two joggers running down the street. 

As the two people came closer, the waves crashed against the wall causing water to slosh up. I’m waiting for them to get closer. But, when the two reach my lens, the waves aren’t crashing against the wall with same force, and I end up with a less powerful images then the one I was planning.

After that disappointment I went to photograph families trying to keep their houses from flooding, The Porter's who run Beach Drive Blog allowed me down to photograph their clean up. They selflessly started to pack up their water pump to help neighbors pump out water of their homes even as waves still top over the wall crashing into their yards.

2012 marked some big changes for me. I rang in the New Year by telling a beautiful girl “I do.” I was named NPPA's Region 5 Photographer of the Year. I left my job at a daily newspaper in the farmlands of Midwest to relocate to the tall green trees of the Pacific Northwest.

I spent a lot of time on working on a brand, including a complete website re-edit and update, designing a unique logo and standard theme across many platforms. Working with photo editor Mike Davis to edit a portfolio for my website, I feel that I gained a lot of knowledge on edits and image flow.  

My real goal this year was to make images that went beyond just the action in the photo. I wanted to make adverb images, to show the how, where, and when. Doing this, I found myself pulling back and really assessing the scene. I would then try to catch the emotion in the frame. I ended up with completely different types of images then I made last year. I feel that my vision grew a lot stronger and deeper this year.

During my time at the paper before I moved, I was shooting almost daily, but after I left for the freelance market I found that this wasn’t the case. I ended up shooting a lot of things on my own time, and only for myself.

In the end my favorite photos this year have been the quiet moments. Much like my favorite memories this year.

Hope you enjoy.John Tate, 14, walks in the Martin Luther King Freedom March down South Seminary Street to the New Home Missionary Baptist Church in Galesburg.Elvis impersonator Bret Wiggins performs at Feedback Lounge in Seattle, Washington as part of an Elvis appreciation night. The West Seattle architect recently won the 15^th Annual Elvis Invitational at EMP Museum in Seattle.A pigeon flies in the loft. "It's really amazing when the birds land," commented Bob Swanson.Brad McCanta, left, and Jay McCanta kiss on the steps of Seattle City Hall after being married Sunday, December 9, 2012.Lake Bracken Fire Department Chief Mike Howard tries to keep a deer warm after it broke through the ice at Lake Bracken. The deer died later from hypothermia. Galesburg firefighters practice ice water rescues at Lake Storey.Sister Faye Laetio waits for the start of the Seattle Gay Pride Parade.A passer by takes a picture of a forest fire near the Lakeshore exit on Interstate 5 in Lakehead, California.Cowboys warm up before the start of roping trials at the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo.A standing room only crowd watches 2011 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Charly Cummings auction off cattle at the Fairview Sale Barn.Lucha Libre Volcánica wrestler EL Chicano holds his daughter, Claudia Rodriguez’s hand, while watching the Fiestas Patrias parade in the South Park.People mark their spot for the 4th of July show at Lake Union in Seattle.

'Tis the Season

Some recent work from this holiday season.