frame by frame

2011-12-07T07:04:00.001-08:00

I live by the belief that the universe runs according to certain laws. In particular, I will walk through fire for good people doing good things. Recently, the world -- and by the world I mean my friend Marc Thomas Kallweit -- reciprocated when he invited me to exhibit my images alongside his amazing body of work this week at Sacramento's Urban Hive.

Please join us for the opening reception this Thursday, December 8 at 6pm, where Marc and I will showcase much of the beauty captured through our international travels.

2011-11-15T16:35:00.000-08:00

FIRST LIGHT: A lighting workshop at the historic Preston Castle with photojournalist Carl Costas.

All photographs begin with light. It doesn't matter if it comes from a substation downtown or from the heavens above. We will learn how to see, shape, and direct light into simply beautiful images during this one day training session. This will be a fun and fast paced learning environment, with a heavy emphasis placed on recognizing, understanding, and controlling light.

Saturday, November 26, we will have the distinct pleasure of holding the workshop at the historic Preston Castle. Originally constructed in 1890, the colors, textures, and history of this location provide a perfect backdrop for beautiful photographs.

Space is limited to 15 attendees. Click here to register now

About Carl Costas:

I spent thirteen years honing my craft in newspaper newsrooms like the Sacramento Bee. Before becoming a photographer, I was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. After serving beside some of the bravest people I've ever met, I traded my weapon for a camera -- and learned about myself. Since that time the camera has taken me around the world and into the lives of countless beautiful people.

The portfolio: carlcostas.com

Under the hood: carlcostas.com/blog

Fly on the wall: Behind the scenes of a photoshoot with an NBA star

A story that needs to be told

2011-10-04T09:43:00.001-07:00

I've been working with the international picture agency Zuma Press for a number of years now and have nothing but great things to say. They blanket the world with talented storytellers and bring the bountiful fruits of their labors to an audience of millions. Today, I was fortunate enough to have my work with a family of Liberian refugees highlighted in zReportage, a regular feature of what CEO Scott Mc Kiernan calls "stories that need to be told."

I am pleased to be a small part of something so much bigger than myself.

http://www.zreportage.com/zReportage.html?num=zrep389

Lady in Red

2011-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Half Moon Bay, Calif.

The Dichotomy of East Africa

2011-08-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

East Africa is a study in contrasts; Millions of people waste away from famine. Millions more escape death but suffer the wrath of warlords and oppressive governments. Yet through it all, beauty abounds. On the faces of children, in the connection between generations, and in the simplicity of everyday life, happiness flourishes.

"Early Bird Gets the Wave," sunrise over Big Basin Redwoods Park

2011-08-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

Early Bird Gets the Wave by carl costas
I spent a couple days hunting light on the Northern California coast recently. It was a commissioned gig but it felt more like a vacation. I got the job done but didn't miss the chance to recharge the creative batteries. The coastal air, beautiful landscape and friendly folks made it all the better.

People are people, some just have more fans

2011-08-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

A retrospective of some of the mega and marginal stars I've had the pleasure of crossing paths with over the years.

The Color of my Past

2011-07-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

When Elizabeth had difficulty exercising she saw her doctor. Not long after, she was in full cardiac arrest and on the brink of death. After two hours of CPR and weeks of intensive care, a team of medical professionals had given the young mother a second chance at life.

Over the past several months I have had the privilege of being the conduit through which incredible people have chosen to tell their stories. It's stories like Elizabeth's, and that of the many others that have colored my recent history, that inspire me to simply do better. To be the best storyteller I can be.

Ubereclectic Singer-songwriter

2011-07-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Adrian Bourgeois is an old soul in the body of an ubereclectic twentysomething. With influences like The Beatles, Brian Wilson and Elvis Costello, the ever melodic singer-songwriter pens and croons tracks with dreamy titles like Melt In My Mind, Silk From Ashes, and To Be (the first man on earth).

A Living Legend

2011-07-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

The idea of running a hundred miles through the mountains today is beyond the realm of normal thought for most people. In 1974 it was more than unheard of, it was considered impossible and dangerous. But when Gordon Ainsleigh came face-to-face with the prospect some three decades ago, he was undaunted.

With equal measures of wisdom and bravado, Ainsleigh set off on a journey that others before him had only done on horseback. Twenty-three hours and forty-seven minutes later, Ainsleigh emerged as the first person to have run the arduous Western States trail in one day. He had done the unthinkable, and solidified his place as a pioneer in the sport now known as ultrarunning.

Since then, the sport has grown wildly popular among the bravest of the bold. Thousands of athletes from all walks of life regularly test their physical and mental extremes on courses around the world. But the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run is commonly referred to as the birthplace of the ultramarathon, and the man simply known as Gordy is considered a living legend.

Actions, Words, and More Actions

2011-07-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

Some people mean what they say. Others say what they mean. Jason Harper puts his money where his mouth is. When the do-gooder learned of the plight of inner-city kids in his area struggling with hunger, he not only loaded their cabinets with food but filled their minds with books and free time with structure. Then he ran a hundred miles in the mid-summer heat to raise awareness for their cause.

True Vision

2011-07-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Photographer Pete Eckert has never seen his work. He took to photography after a medical condition robbed him of his sight -- and has been making hauntingly beautiful images ever since. Armed with a crystal clear mental vision and a wicked sharp wit, Eckert senses his subjects with a self-described "sonar" and records their image on medium format film with long and sometimes multiple exposures. The only gage he has by which to judge his success or failure is the comments and feedback he gets from viewers. And I, for one, am thoroughly impressed.

A Different Kind of Thanks

2011-07-06T10:36:00.001-07:00

The Tarlesson family fled their native Liberia, leaving behind a life of violence and hunger. They settled on a fertile plot in Northern California where they now grow organic vegetables and spices. Each year since their arrival they give thanks for their good fortune with a celebration of traditional African food, song and dance.

Bass Lake, Calif. -- Free Desktop Wallpaper

2011-07-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Sunset over Bass Lake, Calif. Bass Lake is situated in the Sierra National Forest approximately 14 mi (23 km) from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park. Follow this link to download a high resolution copy of this image.

Liberian Refugees Give Thanks

2011-07-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

Step into the light

2011-06-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

For a look at the sketchbook that is my journey so far please visit carlcostas.com and follow along at facebook & twitter

taqueria rojo san francisco

2011-05-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

taqueria rojo san francisco

A Marine trades his weapon for a camera, and learns about himself

2011-02-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

I was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I could field strip an M-16 blindfolded and engage a target from 500 hundred yards. I was proudly standing up for what I knew was right, but it wasn't my calling.

Like most creatives, the path to my current place in life has been circuitous. After four years of working side-by-side with some of the bravest people I've come to know, I put down my weapon, picked up a camera, and never looked back.

Photography has since taken me around the world; Over mountaintops, across plains, and into the lives of countless beautiful people. I have seen triumph and tragedy through my lens. And gained incredible wisdom along the way.

I served my country because I chose to. I make pictures because I can’t not.

For a look at the sketchbook that is my journey so far please visit carlcostas.com and my facebook page

Sunrise over the American River Confluence

2011-01-05T21:46:00.000-08:00

Sunrise over the American River Confluence.

carlcostas.com 2010 Year in Review

2011-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Every time I begin to forget why I make pictures, I'm saved by an image I can never forget. Okay, I half stole that thought, changed it around and made it my own. But it couldn't be a more fitting description of how I feel about my career. 2010 has been a particularly memorable year; One filled with wild changes and struggle, triumph and growth. I can easily say that it has been one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life. Check out the highlights on my facebook fan page.

Unity in the Community

2010-12-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

Good samaritans provide food and friendship for the homeless during the heart of the holiday season. Follow this link for the rest of the images.

Continuum

2010-12-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

2010 motion reel: Dramatic footage of light, landscape, and motion from carlcostas.com

Sunset Over South San Francisco

2010-12-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to download a high resolution copy of this image. Just right-click (ctrl-click for Mac) and "Save as."

MacArthur Genius Grant Recipient

2010-09-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed novelist and University of California, Davis professor Yiyun Li creates emotionally compelling literary portraits set in both China and the United States. Li was one of a select few recently chosen to receive a 2010 MacArthur Fellowship, a program also known as the genius award that grants a $500,000 stipend to individuals showing extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits.

Rubicon Trail

2010-09-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

John Pardi navigates the twists and turns of the Rubicon Trail in his modified four-wheel drive . Last year, state water quality officials said off-highway vehicles were damaging the rugged stretch of High Sierra wildnerness by accelerating runoff into streams and contaminating soils and water. Earlier this month, the county won a couple of grants that will help deal with some of the problems.

Best Day Ever

2010-08-08T17:56:00.001-07:00

37th Running of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run

2010-06-27T00:04:00.000-07:00

Following the original trails used by gold and silver miners of the 1850�s, the rugged terrain of the Western States Endurance Run course is a mental and physical test of even the most hardened athletes. This year Geoff Roes of Douglas, Ala. set a course record of 15 hours 7 minutes and 4.5 seconds -- narrowly beating out Anton Krupicka of Boulder, Colo. who finished second in 15:13:52.1.

Read more at: sacbee.com

Amy Palmiero -Winters

2010-06-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Amy Palmiero-Winters has run since she was a child, and continued running after losing her leg in a motorcycle accident. Now, seventeen years after the accident, she is the first amputee runner to qualify for the U.S. national track and field team and is the recipient of the 2009 Sullivan Award, making her the nation's top amateur athlete. "A disability means there's something I can't do. There's nothing I can't do," The steely athlet remarked. On Saturday she and one other runner will be the first two female amputee athletes to compete in the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run.

Sac Bee Male Athlete of the Year

2010-06-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Lefi Letuligasenoa graduated his senior year graduated with a 4.25 grade-point average, played guard, tackle, center and tight end as a 6-foot-3, 285-pound offensive-line recruit, and was the area's lone state champion in wrestling.

Sac Bee Female Athlete of the Year

2010-06-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Mikaela Macklin, The Bee's 2009-10 female Athlete of the Year, is a durable and multi-talented All-America swimmer who will compete on scholarship for San Diego State.

2010-06-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Jake Rodriguez was a four-year starter, played a variety of positions, and set an Elk Grove High record with 14 home runs this season.

Read more at: sacbee.com

2010-06-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

Shelby Wisdom struck out 269 batters and was 16-2 with an 0.54 ERA mostly because of a devastating changeup. She hit a two-run homer in her team's title-game victory.

Read more at: sacbee.com

2010-06-03T00:19:00.000-07:00

Jesuit senior RJ Frasier is looking to become California's first 100-meter boys champion since 1996 and the first area athlete to win a state 300 intermediate boys hurdles title.

2010-06-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's so easy to just step on the gas with digital technology. Film makes you think. It's a completely different mindset.

Moonrise

2010-04-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

The moon rises through breaking storm clouds.

In the Wake of Violence

2010-04-16T19:07:00.000-07:00

We are surrounded by sights and sounds. But there is not one thing like witnessing the wail of loved ones in the wake of violent crime. No matter the circumstances, or how often I do it, photographing grief never gets easier. It’s far and away one of the most difficult things I do. Above, Melvin Marshall leads family and friends of Jazzmyne Bruner in prayer during a candle light vigil. Bruner and her boyfriend Stefon Mayers Jr. were killed in a brazen drive-by shooting.

Singer/Songwriter

2010-04-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

Mary, of Mary & Sam

Me and Chuck D

2010-03-05T22:25:00.000-08:00

“That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” he parried when I, not so confidently, informed him that the decision to simply give out the photos we were taking was a call my boss would have to make. In my mind, my words were strong, buttressed with heart-felt sincerity. But in delivery they flopped out. Awkwardly. Propelled by nervous energy. And so began the verbal exchange that would become the soundtrack my portrait session with music icon Chuck D would be set to.

I was up close and personal with the mind that inspired a generation with politically-charged anthems. The lyricist who’s vocals carried weighty messages on disks like “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back” and “Fear of a Black Planet.” The man that deftly rocked thousands back in the day now stood stoic in front of me -- and a visibly frightened, tall, white, college student I hastily recruited to assist in the shoot.

These days Chuck delivers his message sans baseline. He gives straight-forward talks to college students around the country, with one mic. But as one might expect, Chuck D holds court. The man behind the mic may be older and grayer but the wellspring of passion still runs deep. The tenants of his message are similar and age-old; Love what you do, immerse yourself in the path you choose, be wary of celebrity and popular culture, get the most from your education. And, oh yeah, don’t take shit form nobody.

This night, Chuck and his wife Gaye Theresa Johnson, an assistant professor in the Department of Black Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, quietly slip from the wet night into a long dark service corridor behind the California State University, Sacramento auditorium where Chuck is set to speak. We exchange quick but gracious hellos as they make their way to the green room. Moments later Chuck returns alone to the impromptu studio I had assembled in that quiet hallway. And we begin.

It didn’t take long to realize there had been a miscommunication in the days leading up to the shoot. The publicist had given us the green light, but Chuck had the look of someone who’d been ambushed. I had only a few frames under my belt when he asked what the photos were for. When I told him I was with the Sacramento Bee he laughed one of those “you didn’t just say that” kind of laughs. Then we sparred.

“I’m all about you, Carl. Not your corporation” he quipped. I contended that we can all think individually. But not all of us travel around the country kicking ass and taking names.

We bantered a bit between frames -- but it was over almost before it began. He turned, took to the stage, and commenced with the ass kicking. What I had was all I was going to get.

Looking back, I agree with most of what Chuck D professed; Be you, be passionate, enrich yourself with education, question authority. But I can’t help but disagree with parts of his message.

I don’t fit the shape of any mold I’ve found thus far. But being a good provider comes first and foremost in my role as a husband and a father. And if that means making some small sacrifices for the big picture, so be it. There are battles I'm willing to lose to win the war of my life.

In Your Face

2010-03-05T22:17:00.000-08:00

When an Olympian has Your Back

2010-02-26T17:13:00.000-08:00

Sacramento High guard Brittany Shine credits her relationship with former WNBA star and Olympian Ruthie Bolton as part of her success in earning a scholarship to the University of Florida. Read the full story at sacbee.com

Golden Sunset

2010-02-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

The sunset colors a rain-speckled window.

2010-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Sacramento King Donte Greene and Golden State Warrior Anthony Toliver lock up at Arco Arena.

Sittin' on the Dock of The Bee

2010-02-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

Adrian Bourgeois, of Adrian Bourgeois and the Coincidence on the loading dock behind The Sacramento Bee.

2010-01-27T20:52:00.000-08:00

Carol Carlile lights a post-dinner cigarette outside of Trinity Cathedral. For weeks, the church has spent rainy nights feeding the homeless dinner, allowing them to bed down overnight, and serving them breakfast in the morning. Despite the legality of the process, church leaders took action, saying they were tired of waiting for the city to do something.

Rural Sunset

2010-01-27T20:46:00.000-08:00

Last bits of light dance over rural Sacramento County.

2010-01-19T00:23:00.000-08:00

Evening sun breaks through storm clouds before setting over the American River.

carlcostas.com

2010-01-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

A short video I put together for the front of my site.

Urijah Faber

2010-01-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

Mixed martial art sensation Urijah Faber on the eve of his first fight since breaking his right hand and dislocating his left thumb in a championship match he lost to Mike Brown.

Baker Beach

2010-01-02T22:15:00.000-08:00

Near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge

Coccinellidae

2010-01-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

Lady Beetles at the California Academy of Sciences

2009-12-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

Historic Elk's Club Building.

2009-12-17T00:44:00.000-08:00

Andy Alfaro. Visual thinker and all 'round creative mind.

Night Shift, the worm turns

2009-12-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

I've worked until midnight or later for the better part of the past twelve years. In that time there have been a select few opportunities to vary from those odd hours. And even fewer chances to see the sunrise on company time.

Today I was up pre-dawn to work a 7a-3pshift on the online/multimedia desk for the California International Marathon. Morning light is simply heartening, in a way that only something so fresh and so new could be.

@ultrabr and his five finger feet shoes

2009-12-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

Oddity is a relative term. For my buddy Brian Recore, climbing to ten thousand feet in a pair of Vibram Five Finger feet shoes, that is to say nearly barefoot, is like a walk in the park. Like most things, it's all a matter of perspective.

Panama Pottery

2009-11-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

In 1913 artisans at Panama Pottery brewed clay in a massive subterranean vat, nurtured their creations with time worn hands, and fired their work in kilns the size of a modern day studio apartment.

When you cross the threshold today, it's as if you stepped foot into the industrial revolution. It's as if the sweep of time passed around this place but never through it. The rusted clank of gears, belts and drives that once produced cuspidors and pickling crocks by the thousands now churns out a steady flow of contemporary clay creations -- using the very same tools.

2009-11-19T23:37:00.001-08:00

A Different Drummer

2009-11-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

Marching to the beat of a different drummer in midtown Sacramento.

New Beginnings

2009-11-12T08:10:00.001-08:00

Roosevelt Jones Jr. lived like a stereotypical truck driver -- and he paid the ultimate price. At 42 he suffered a massive heart attack while alone at home. He drove himself to the hospital, collapsed in the ER, and died in the ICU. The doctors would later tell my family that the entire left side of my dad’s heart was destroyed.

That day hurt. But I learned and took from it a great many things. The most important being the value of life, family, and time. And the relative insignificance of most everything else.

A few hours from now I will mark the beginning of my 42nd year. My day will be filled with an aggressive bike ride in the hills, lunch with the family, and a renewed appreciation for what really matters: My loving and supportive wife, Stacy. My compassionate, warm-hearted daughter Melia. My crafty and caring son, Gabriel. My ever-strong mother, Tamara. Willie Pearl, our regal matriarch. And Rosie.

To all those who’s lives have crossed my own, I thank you for your friendship and compassion. Today is truly the first day of the rest of my life.

iPhone Photo

2009-10-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

An iPhone portrait of my friend and fellow photographer Michael Jones.

Worth the Stop

2009-10-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

Spied this view coming out of rural Amador County. I passed it, liked it, then turned around just in time.

Man Behind the Music

2009-10-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

Concert promoter Brian McKenna has been booking rock acts at local clubs for 20 years, bringing acts like Green Day and No Doubt to Sacramento when they were just starting out.

2009-10-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

Emotions rise to the surface as Billie Welch recounts the events leading up to her treatment at the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at Sister Nora's Place, a women's shelter in the Sacramento Loaves and Fishes complex. Welch has been struggling with depression for two decades and credits the center with saving her life when she became homeless and distraught last year. Budget cuts may force the unit to close as soon as this weekend.

From Tragedy to Triumph

2009-10-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

At eight-years-old Kevin Stroughter received burns to 83 percent of his body from a fire started by neighborhood kids playing with gasoline. Today he has overcome years of suffering and debilitating pain to become San Juan High's starting running back-defensive back -- as well as a performer on the basketball court and track.

vigil

2009-09-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Rena Davonne, right, and other friends of Leroy Fisher remember the nightclub security guard with a candlelight vigil Wednesday, September 23, 2009 in midtown Sacramento. Fisher was killed in the early morning hours Wednesday when he was run down by a vehicle in the parking lot of the bar where he worked.

River Cat catcher Eric Munson

2009-08-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Y

2009-08-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Refugee Song

2009-08-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've posted the Rural Culture in Northern California audio slideshow here: http://carlcostas.com/tarlesson/

Rural African culture in Norhtern California

2009-07-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

An extended family of two dozen Liberian dancers, the Tarlesson family, have taken up residence in rural Guinda,Calif, raising organic African vegetables and performing traditional music and dances of the Chedpo-Grebo people.

2009 Western States 100-mile endurance run

2009-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Light Show

2009-06-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Lightning dances over the Sacramento region late Wednesday during a spring thunderstorm.

State Leader

2009-05-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

State leader Justin Sutter of Granite Bay High School landed in first place with a leap of 23 feet, six inches in the Sac-Joaquin Section long jump Thursday at Hughes Stadium.

Tahoe Wedding

2009-05-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Danielle and Jason -- Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe

Dual Sport Kid

2009-05-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Dual sport athlete James Derrick.

A nice afternoon with a great family.

2009-05-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

Lo Saetern has farmed strawberries in South Sacramento for the past eleven years. Many area growers are Mien or Hmong, groups who fled Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War.

2009-05-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

After years of chasing down news stories, lately I've grown into a place where I simply fancy imagery. A state of mind that forces me to get out of the way and allow photos to come to life. No rhyme, no reason, no compelling justification: just striking visuals. Pictures that reach the itch I often find hard to scratch.

Beneath Chinatown, San Francisco

San Francisco

SFO

Chinatown, San Francisco

Oakland, Calif.

San Jose, Calif.

San Jose, Calif.

Pre Dawn at Helen Lake

2008-04-23T00:37:00.000-07:00

Shasta '08

2008-04-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

Plans are in the works for a late spring run up Shasta this year. I'm a little sketchy about what the conditions will be at that time -- but I'm game none the less.

Here's a video of my buddy Brian on glissade from the summit last year, about a month prior to this year's planned date.

Out With the Old

2008-04-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

A couple pics from the end of the King's '07/'08 season.

Bees, bees, and more bees

2008-03-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

Per a request from my ever polite friend Dan, here's what eight million bees fleeing their overturned transport truck looks like.

The flat bed semi spilled it's load taking a sharp turn onto NB 99, likely too fast. And I only took six stings photographing it, three to the head, three to the hands.

Piano Man

2008-02-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Shot Billy Joel the other day. Loved the show, and he's a funny dude to boot. He joked that the old man at the piano was Billy's dad. Billy was home combing all his hair.

Tour of California

2008-02-27T23:24:00.001-08:00

Compiling a strong visual report of a dynamic event can be challenging on any given day. Photographing world-class athletes in action from the back of a speeding motorcycle in the rain is simply difficult. It’s physical, fluid, touchy, and at times frightening. It requires constant vigilance, an agile body and nimble mind. There is a constant duality between doing the job well and holding on for dear life. There’s a yin and yang between thoughts about how to make a picture and the fear that your driver may or may not be able to negotiate that mud–covered hair-pin turn at current speeds.

Yesterday started shortly after five am with one final gear check. I consolidated my equipment into one camera body, one battery, two lenses, and an audio recorder. I then hitched a ride with Randy Pench to Santa Rosa where I met David, the driver I’d been paired with. After a run down of some basic safety rules and a little discussion about strategy, David, myself, and an army of other motorcycles, team vehicles and support cars set out.

I spent the majority of the day leapfrogging the peloton. We would pull over and I’d shoot the riders as they blew by. We’d then race up to the back of the group and wiggle between them to get ahead of the pack once more. While mixed into the peloton, I would shoot from a contorted posture with my arm stretched out in front of any rider close. At one point while photographing Levi Leipenheimer like this, a rider behind him suggested I shove the camera up his nose for a better shot. When Levi passed I shot photos of the other rider from about six inches under his nose. Everyone laughed and the ride moved on.

At the end of the day, I was content with my work. There were things I would do differently, but I feel I improved upon my efforts from last year. But rolling out of bed this morning was a much slower process than before.

East Africa

2008-01-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sleepless in Addis

Cameraman, they all call me. Everyone, that is, but the steely-eyed sentry in charge of issuing visas at the Addis Ababa airport. He labels me journalist, with an accusational tone. And almost immediately threatens deportation. He is a short, thick, dark-complected African with a clean blue suit and a chilling stare. His tone is curt, his questions short and pointed.

With his glare fixed, his intent seems clear. There is a plane leaving in an hour and he is bent on having me on it. It’s a fate that seems too much to bare after having flown half way ‘round the world, literally. Here, I find, journalists are treated with a seriousness not found in other places.

Whatever the case, I mean no harm. My intent is benign -- simple, and honest. I am in Africa to document the charitable efforts of a medical mission and, just maybe, come away with a visual sense of a place I’ve otherwise only known in books. Never the less, the man with my fate in his hands has his way with me. I’m spared immediate deportation, although the threat is still quite real, instead my sentence is a stay in the confines of the airport with armed guards until there could be a meeting with the county’s minister of information the next morning. Only then would I learn my fate.

At this hour, the terminal is dark, quite, and uninviting. A heavy layer of cigarette smoke lingers about eye level. It blankets my airway and compounds an already splitting headache. I manage to make camp in the corner of a deserted lounge, pushing together two roomy chairs that look and feel as though they were plucked straight from the seventies. Soon it’s clear I’ve found an appropriate spot, as a half dozen other travelers -- from who knows where, sleeping in the airport for God knows why – congregate and bed down in similar fashion. But for me, sleep is illusive. I try, to no avail.

I read, stare down the empty terminal, study my book more, then try again. Still nothing. What time is it anyway; It was morning when I left home, nighttime when I connected in Washington, afternoon (I think) in Rome, and now – just simply dark in this cold empty place.
After what seemed like forever, mercifully, my body settled. My mind followed. And I drifted.

Judgment Day

I rose shortly before the sun, feeling like hammered shit. I wandered aimlessly and made a few pictures. Soon the feeling of sickness faded. But a flood of doubt quickly rushed in. Would I really be sent packing? I was asked an honest question and gave an honest answer: I am a journalist. Would my honesty be my undoing? How long would the waiting last…

Hours later, across a long, busy, marble room, I spotted Sammy, the group’s congenial in-country problem solver whom I’d met briefly the night before. He was flagging a piece of paper bearing the stamp of the minister of information. We hugged, I paid twenty bucks, and like that, I was once again a free man.

In the safety of one of the group’s rented minivans, I stared from the window like a wide-eyed child. Addis Abba is amazing. Later that night we weaved our caravan of vehicles through city slums to an oasis of a restaurant tucked down a cobblestone alleyway ringed with barbed wire. We ate, we drank, socialized, and I decompressed. It was wonderful.

Screening

Today we were met at the hospital by a hoard of perspective patients hoping for a new lease on life. The crowd buzzed with our arrival. Although their words were completely foreign to me, their body language spoke volumes. They stared at us, or maybe just me. I stared at them. I’m not sure who was more fixed on whom.

My fascination, however, was short lived as the medical team organized and quickly set into action. Hundreds of needy Ethiopians coursed through the one-room clinic, station by station. Brothers accompanied siblings, mothers held daughters, and fathers led families. They came from far and wide, all with unique and equally compelling stories.

By day’s end, the team had screened some hundred and fifty perspective patients. Labeling a great many high priority -- those that would likely receive the corrective procedure in the days to come.

Walkabout

The second day of screening was considerably easier. Most of the patients had been evaluated the day before, easing the pressure and leaving the team part of an afternoon free.

With map in hand, I struck out on foot. I didn’t get far before being beset by beggars, lepers, and street kids. I fended off all but one 13-year-old charismatic self-proclaimed orphan. Clean, sharply dressed, witty, and clever, Abush feeds me bits of Ethiopian culture little by little. Ultimately our path ended at the foot to a 19th century church, complete with crypts and a great deal of the county’s history.

I waited while Abush worked his charm on the church’s deacons and head priest. There was banter, silence, and raised voice. When the dust settled, the head priest ushered me in to the church, cameras and all. I was as respectful as I knew how. I stripped my feet bare and stepped into something truly spectacular.

It was like time stood still and the world outside washed away. Like I had thrown the curtain back on history. The church consisted of one tall square room, lit only by a small uniform row of windows near the ceiling. The ages old artwork was alive with color, texture and form. Occasionally the feel of time worn stone under foot gave way to the boom of cast iron trap doors otherwise hidden under layers of ornate carpets. Heavy metal doors that the priest, Abush, and I would later heft to reveal the underground resting place of some of the country’s historical figures.

When we parted ways, Abush had talked me out of about 100 Bihr. Less than $10 US dollars. A fair price, I figured, for a chapter of memories I wouldn’t soon forget.

Arifasi

Addis Ababa is an urban puzzle of wonder and grit. Dirty, big, and beautiful, the city is a kaleidoscope of life. A place that barrages foreign senses from every angle. New high rises jut through waves of rusted shanty town rooftops, traffic scurries, sounds dance and crash, and smells sear the memory.

A short drive outside the city center we find the rented room one potential patent and her father call home during their quest to be seen by the Operation Smile team. Arafassi and her father have traveled long hours by bus and by foot from their remote village for a chance to be seen by the Americans. The only place in the city they can afford to stay is a tiny room nestled in a catacomb of dirty passageways hidden away from the main street. A place known by locals as a haven for sex workers.

At thirteen, Arafassi has never been to school. Ashamed of her cleft lip, her personality is shy and reserved. She hardly speaks. When she does it’s in a voice little more than a whisper. Her eyes rarely leave Africa’s Earth floor.

Solomon

Many of those looking for help come from places far outside Ethiopia’s capitol. Most have either begged, borrowed, or sold all they could to pay for passage to Addis Ababa.

Among those long distance travelers are 11-year-old Solomon and his father Teshome. Solomon’s village is small and remote. It consists of a tight knit series of earthen huts that sometimes double as house and barn for the family’s livestock – a valuable source of income for the axiomatic people.

In his element, Solomon is a fun-loving little boy. An all but normal pre-teen son in a family of many siblings – with yet one more on the way. On the farm, Solomon’s cleft lip is hardly an issue. He runs, plays and works with a smile.

But outside his element, Solomon slips into reserve.

Meti

Like most parents, Mengistu Enkossa would do nearly anything to help his daughter lead a better life. But as a farmer of meager existence, Mengistu’s quest would involve four rejections before selling his last cow to fund what he considers a final attempt to be seen by the visiting American medical team. This time, however, fortune would smile upon the simple man and his family.

At almost five-years-old, Mengistu’s daughter, Meti, bears the physical appearance of a toddler. Her frame is tiny, but she is not gaunt. She is little but her features are round and full. Her small body hardly seems the appropriate vehicle for all the personality packed in it.

Like most in her in her situation, Meti is reserved in public but animated in her comfort zone. Among friends, she comes to life. She is spirited and opinionated, with all the energy and enthusiasm of her peers. She is playful, even a bit mischievous. But cross her line, get too close, and she shuts down.

In Country

All roads leaving Addis are long straight shots cut across vast miles of open land. Small towns occasionally seep out from the shoulder of the main road and traffic belts out a chorus of horns at it flows around livestock and stray animals. Hit a dog and no one really seems to notice. But cow, sheep and the like are a different. Like money in the bank. In many cases, it’s all a family may have.

In route to Saedu Shemsu’s village, we spend an hour or more on the paved highway then make one hard turn onto a dusty, gravel road littered with potholes and long sections of washboard bumps. The body beating I suffer in the back of our driver’s aged SUV is brutal. I’m tired, cramped and sore. But as the landscape of a hillside village grows on the horizon, thoughts of discomfort dissipate.

Saedu’s village is rural, quaint and inviting. A world away from the ghettos of Addis. It’s lush green with beautiful views. The village is anchored by a good sized school in the shape of a small compound. There are long rows of classrooms laid out end to end. The earthen huts here are larger and better constructed than others in the area. Saedu’s home is particularly nice. It’s big and looks as though it’s built to weather the worst of storms. Shemsu, the patriarch, has erected a smaller, but equally sturdy, mosque next door where he and other men in the family practice their faith.

The Shemsu family is friendly, but they find the American visitors with cameras very curious. Never the less they welcome us with genuine smiles, pecks on the cheek, and a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. I’ve had lots of coffee in my life, but nothing like this. The women of the family skillfully grind the sun-dried beans in a knee-high mortar with a pestle the size of a Medieval weapon. The fire-brewed result is then served up in tiny cups and complimented by handfuls of half popped kernels of roasted corn.

As the day goes on, all eyes seem to be on us. The women watch and whisper. They refuse to let my cup empty, there seems to be no end to the flow. And it’s like nothing I’ve ever tasted. My definition of coffee is changed forever.

Back in Addis

For the 85 million people of Ethiopia, there are just three plastic surgeons. But on this day most of an entire floor of the Black Lion Hospital, the country’s largest, teems with Operation Smile volunteers and patients in all stages of cosmetic surgery. Preop is abuzz with nerves and giddy anticipation. Procedures in the operating room move like clockwork. And people who once knew ridicule and shame so well now face life with new found self esteem and confidence.

It’s said visiting Africa changes a person. Am I changed? The short answer is yes. In some intangible way I’ll never be the same. But part of that change is the realization that my experience here can only pale in comparison to the deep and meaningful turn of events that have happened in the lives of the people touched by this medical mission. I can truly say I’m proud to have been a witness.

A complete collection of images can be found on my editorial site; http://www.carlcostas.com

Safe at Home

2008-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, there’s no end to the madness that is my life. I’ve been busy like a crack head on payday. And some things simply have had to wait. Like this blog.

My friend Dan Nguyen, in all his eloquence, put it like this: “gee, it's been 2 months since this last post...WHERE THE F*** ARE THE PHOTOS???!

We’ll their done, and so is the story. I’m weaving the two parts together at this very moment. Here are a couple images from things I’ve been doing since my return home from Africa.

The moment has arrived

2007-11-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

I’ve rarely been accused of doing things part way. So why should turning 40 be any different.

There will be no shinny red sports cars or flashy new wardrobe. No girlfriends with the just kissed a hot frying pan look. No birthday blues or laments of what I haven’t done or resolve to do. Rather, I’m just going to do what feels right. I plan to crest the other side of that proverbial hill on the plains of Africa. Call it a midlife adventure.

Thanks to the good graces -- and Herculean efforts -- of my wife Stacy, Monday, November 5, I will join an eclectic assemblage of storytellers charged with documenting Operation Smile’s World Journey of Smiles -- an ambitious medical effort to simultaneously correct some 5,000 facial deformities at 40 sites in 25 countries. For my part, I will spend ten days photographing children in Ethiopia with a documentary film crew.

While it’s all very new and exciting, there are many variables and myriad loose ends. For the most part, though, I’m ready. Typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis vaccinations: check. Cameras, computers, creative vision: I got that. My day job: covered. But the one thing that tugs at my guts is the fact that this will be my first foreign assignment as a father.

Being away from those that make up who I am will easily be the hardest part of this whole thing. Along with not doing things half way, I also don’t often ask for help. Here I will: please check in on my family from time to time. It would mean the world to me.

I’ll post photos, thoughts, and your comments here as often as possible. I will also be reachable through online video conference via skype.com under the user name cdcostas.

Be well.

_carl

catching up

2007-11-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

This blog began as something of a scrapbook. Now with my impending trip to Africa, it's evolved into something all together different. The following images are a collection of work that has occupied my time in the two months since I last focused attention here.

Stars over Yosemite Valley

Night time fire suppression

New Kings head coach Reggie Theus over the Sacramento Skyline

King Quincy Douby

Angling a nook of the American River

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

2007-06-08T23:44:00.000-07:00

If suffering is part of the human condition, I was a human as I care to be last weekend. Avalanche Gulch may be the easiest, or at least most direct, route to the top, but that mountain is a mean prospect -- regardless of the approach. I coursed through ever emotion and left no muscle untouched. Here's the photographic proof;

Setting out -- Blissfully ignorant.

Moments after Brian wondered aloud about Tim and crew, homeboy appeared out of nowhere.
We chatted at Horse Camp a bit; about his experience, the best routes up the gulch, conditions and what not.

Heading up to Helen Lake. It's about midway up the gulch, and much farther than it looks

Me in the throes of a narcoleptic fit. Yes, I stopped for rest and literally fell asleep -- on my feet.

Brian pitching base camp at Helen Lake, 10,000 feet.

A view spied due south from Helen Lake.

Sunset to the west.

Dawn looking up to Red Banks (center portion of ridge line) from Helen. Click this image for a little perspective, I counted nearly 50 climbers ahead of us.

Brian on the east side of The Heart just before Red Banks. This is where the work began.

Brian at the foot of Red Banks.

The top of one of Red Bank's steep chutes.

There's a lengthy hill at the top of Red Banks we mistook for Misery Hill. It wasn't.

Summit Plateau with the promised land in sight. Again, enlarge this picture, I counted 18 climbers ahead of us.

One for the record book.

And another.

Mustering smiles even felt like work.

My low point back at Helen. Somewhere between packing the tent and filtering drinking water, I just stopped.

Somehow made it through the rough patch, donned the pack and bombed the hill back to Horse Camp. Brian and I joked that carrying that pack was like climbing the mountain with a midget on your back.

Bad Mamajama

2007-06-04T22:47:00.001-07:00

Our paths probably crossed at some point. But in the state I was in, I could have brushed the pack of Jesus with his hair on fire and been none the wiser.

Congrats Art.

_carl

Art Saucedo made it!

2007-06-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

Shasta proved to be too much for myself, Rob, and John. Art was the only one who persevered and made it all the way. After being overcome with disequilibrium at the side of "the heart", I took a break in the rocks and proceeded to get worse and commenced with vomiting. Me and Art had been going together up that time, he kept on of course. After five minutes of wiping frozen vomit from my mouth and nose I quit.
John had stopped an hour earlier and slept in the fetal position for about 30-45 minutes. He then woke up refreshed and made it past the Red Banks and within about 45 minutes of the summit.
I passed Rob on my way down. He kept on for a bit and quit about the same place I did.
Honestly, this was the hardest fu**ing thing I ever done. Mt. Whitney may be longer and higher, but this was more intense.
When I got back to camp I said that I would never try Mt. Shasta again, but now I think I might. Personally, I was not as aerobically fit as I needed to be. I would also get some new and different gear. I would take a different more direct rout up. We should have planned our route more carefully; we wasted precious energy early in the rocks.
May 2008 is on my mind...

Fruition

2007-06-03T12:46:00.001-07:00

We made it, details to follow.

Higher

2007-05-31T00:06:00.000-07:00

The Forest Service's message says Helen is mostly rock camping. If we're up to it when get there, I say we push on and find a high camp in the snow.

All Geared Up

2007-05-30T00:32:00.001-07:00

Man, I don’t know how German can afford to eat, looking at the grip o’dough he’s got wrapped up in climbing gear. I gotta separate this stuff into piles of what I think we need, what we might really want, and what we just don’t want to carry. It’s going to take a day just to inventory and check it all out.

And the pack itself, it’s like some 007 sh*t. Pockets, stash spots, zippers out the ass – most water tight, and it’s DEEP too.

The further down I get, the more things I find myself checking off the list of crap we needed (or could have made do without); camp boots, tent booties, ultra lightweight camp seat, stove, stove gas, pots, pans, glasses, goggles, tiny aluminum collapsible table, first aid kit, altimeter/barometer/whatever the F’else watch, bad ass tent, mittens, gloves, you name it.

That’s really just the half of it. I was surprised the damn thing had an end. But it did. I only knew it, and knew the pack was uniquely German’s, when fishing somewhere between the floating frame, rip-stop nylon, and rubbery bottom layer, I came up with a very small Vietnamese coin.

I’ll leave that one in the pile of things that stay home. Thanks for the hook up, Kevin.

_carl

Permits

2007-05-29T23:00:00.001-07:00

I assume we should be able to get them from 5th Season too, worst case?

I don't see why not. And we're stopping there anyway.

Summit Permits in Sac

2007-05-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

The REI Sacramento store off Exposition has the Summit permits for $15 each. They told me that they expire though within 3 days of the date of purchase. So, if I get a chance to go back on Thursday I can pick them up. I assume we should be able to get them from 5th Season too, worst case?

The four one one from the fifth season

2007-05-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

I talked to Jacques -- yes, Jacques, like Cousteau -- at the Fifth Season this morning. The word is that, as of now, the snow melt off is six weeks ahead of schedule. Good for us, crappy for anyone with plans for later in the summer. Conditions are going to get bad fast and the season's going to be way short.

The good folks up there also echoed the weather report posted below: clear sailing with slight but typical possibility of afternoon T-storm build up at higher elevations.

Brian: They did have your size in the plastic boot. And German came through -- like a frickin' CHAMP. This kid don't F'around. I'll post some pics later.

_carl

Weather forecast for this week.

2007-05-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

The Memorial weekend proved to be quite nice. No injuries were reported and the weather was good. For this week, expect the weather to continue to be mostly clear. Tuesday and Wednesday should bring sunny and clear skies with highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 30’s. Look for some clouds coming in Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with a slight chance of thunderstorms all three days. Winds should be 10-15mph.

SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY-
251 AM PDT TUE MAY 29 2007

.TODAY...SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH
SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH 5 TO 10 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT...WARMER...CLEAR. LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTHWEST WINDS
UP TO 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.WEDNESDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 71 TO 77. EAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH
SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.
.THURSDAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY.
HIGHS 74 TO 80.

.EXTENDED...
.FRIDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 50S. HIGHS IN THE 70S.
.SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 55 TO 65. HIGHS IN THE 70S.
.SUNDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 50S. HIGHS 65 TO 75.
.MONDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 50S. HIGHS IN THE 60S.

&&
TEMPERATURE WIND DIR WIND SPEED (MPH)
6000 FEET 72 WEST 5 TO 8 MPH.
10000 FEET 56 SOUTHWEST UP TO 5 MPH.
14000 FEET 39 SOUTHWEST 5 TO 9 MPH.

SNOW LEVEL FORECAST

TODAY... 13000 FEET
TONIGHT... 12700 FEET
WEDNESDAY... 12800 FEET
WEDNESDAY NIGHT... 12600 FEET
THURSDAY... 12800 FEET

Then There Were Two

2007-05-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

Climbing Shasta said some REIs issued summit passes, not the one by my house. Not to worry, self issue at the mountain should be easy enough.

Friday/Sat for me

2007-05-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

Since German and Ryan bailed, the only other guys outside of the Kaiser group are you and me. I talked to Tim (Kaiser dude) yesterday and he says they are actually looking at driving up Wednesday afternoon after they finish work.

I can't do that. The only option for me is to leave very early Friday morning, I'm thinking 4am. If you're down with the Friday/Saturday plan, I'll have all the gear we'll need; tent, stove, cookwear, all that.

_carl

Question... Departure Date?

2007-05-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

Is there anybody still going on Friday/Saturday? It sounds like a majority of the folks are planning on Thursday/Friday. I like that idea and may be able to swing it but the original plan is still the best option.

Alot of my gear is coming in and I am ready to hike/climb. To bad there hasn't been much snow this year.

bummer

2007-05-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

That’s a real bummer. I could have gotten Thursday off a month ago, but not now. Not a chance, we’re just way too close. I’d also have to make kid arrangements for an extra day.

Kaiser Studs

2007-05-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Now let me introduce myself...my name is humpty...pronounced with an unpdy...

These are the guys from Kaiser that are going: Art V., Tim(sean), Art S., John, Rob, and somebody else that I can't remember.

Our hiking time line has been discussed a lot in the last week, and here is the new consensus. Most of us are off Thursday and Friday, and the weekend. Most are going to drive to Shasta early Thursday morning, hike up to Horse Camp, and weather permitting, start at midnight Thursday. Spend Friday afternoon at Horse Camp, then hike back down to the car and drive home Friday night.

Personally that works for me because my son's last T-ball game is Saturday morning at 10am and I help coach the team. Then the league has their special night at the River Cats game that night.

What about the rest of you. Can we get a head count and plans for the hike...