WWII veteran Nick Damingo

As he does everyday, WWII veteran Nick Damingo takes down a flag in front of the Atria Senior Living Center, with the help of employee Jamie Nolind, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

As he does everyday, WWII veteran Nick Damingo takes down a flag in front of the Atria Senior Living Center, with the help of employee Jamie Nolind, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

WWII veteran Nick Damingo is greeted by Barbara Zweigler who is interested in his knowing why he is wearing his uniform, as Herb Meizel listens in, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the Atria Senior Living Center, in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

WWII veteran Nick Damingo settles into his room at the Atria Senior Living Center, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

WWII veteran Nick Damingo shows his family photos, including a photo of him with this wife Bernadine, who passed away in 2009, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

WWII veteran Nick Damingo shows a picture of his wife Bernadine, who passed away in 2009, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

WWII veteran Nick Damingo tells a war story and talks about his grandson Daniel Damingo (pictured on the left), who is in the Air Force , Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

WWII veteran Nick Damingo shows pictures and memorabilia in his room, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in Thousand Oaks.  Damingo, an ardent Dodgers fan will participate in the May 26th Dodger game as part of the Veteran of the Game.  

The Ritual of the Commute

CSUCI Graduation 2013

A Class Act

Camarillo Springs Fire, Day 2

LA County firefighter Chad Wonka runs up a hill towards a fire that is encroaching on a house he is trying to protect, at Hidden Valley in Newbury Park.

A worker watches as the house he works at is in danger of catching fire, at Hidden Valley in Newbury Park.

LA County firefighter Chad Wonka puts on his face mask as he prepares to battle a fire encrouching on a house he is trying to progect, at Hidden Valley in Newbury Park.

Jessica Urquiza (left) Molly Winter and Amy Martinez, 6, held by Daynna Quintana cover their faces from the smoke as they watch the encroaching blaze off Portrero Rd.

A fire encroaches on a house in Hidden Valley, Ca.

A local resident pulls his horse to safety down a road away from encroaching fires, at Hidden Valley in Newbury Park.

Firefighters head up the trail to create a fireline to defend against a fire that is threatening to blow into a neighborhood off Portrero rd.

A fire helicopter drops water onto a flame that is encroaching a home off Portrero Rd.

Firefighters work to create a fireline up a hill in an attempt to defend a group of homes on the hillside along Portrero Rd.

LA County firefighter Chad Wonka takes a moment to clear burning ash from his face while fighting the fire near Hidden Valley. 

 A fire encroaches on a residence in Hidden Valley.

Camarillo Springs Fire, Day 1

A helicopter dumps water on fire near Camarillo Springs Rd. .  On the Pleasant Valley exit overpass.

Michael Hubbert stops to take a photo on the freeway.  He is on his way to a meeting in Santa Monica and believes he will be late and is considering taking Hwy 1.  But with the wind change and progress of the fire he is not sure.  On the Pleasant Valley exit overpass.

A police officer keeps an eye on one of many small fires breaking out around the CSUCI campus.

Residents of Camarillo Springs watch the fires move over the hill.

Flames and hazardous smoke rises out of Laguna Farms, a fertilizer farm off Lewis Rd.  The firefighters pulled out of the area when they determined there were explosions and hazardous materials burning.

Flames and hazardous smoke rises out of Laguna Farms, a fertilizer farm off Lewis Rd.  The firefighters pulled out of the area when they determined there were explosions and hazardous materials burning.

Flames and hazardous smoke rises out of Laguna Farms, a fertilizer farm off Lewis Rd.  The firefighters pulled out of the area when they determined there were explosions and hazardous materials burning.

Laurie Freeman, resident of Camarillo Springs is worried about a wind shift which could wipe out her neighborhood.

Mark Brewer from Rain Project, who was evacuated earlier in the day watches the news cast of the fire with other residents from Rain Project, at the disaster relief center, at Calvary Chapel.

Darlene Macias from the Rain Project watches the news cast on the fire, while holding 8-month-old Elijah Balverde at the disaster relief center at Calvary Chapel.

Patrice Powell, a resident of camarillo springs behind her tries to put out a fire using a garden hose at Camarillo Springs.

A firefighter passes by a burning trailer at Camarillo Springs.

Firefighters from Ventura City Strike Team 1551 Alpha Station #15 keep an eye on fire burning next  to the residences near CSUCI.

2008 Metrolink Anniversary

This was an annual memorial for those who lost their lives in the big 2008 Metrolink train accident that happened in Chatworth. There was a nice memorial site built, with the names of some of the local residents who died on that train. It was striking to see how still very challenging it was for the survivors and those left behind.  I was also struck by how close the community of survivors was. 

 

This assignment of sorrow and rememberance was easier to photograph than other assignments like this mainly because everyone there were so open and accepting, and eager to share their memories of their loved ones.  But that is not always the case.

It is usually difficult to photograph moments when there is loss and sorrow.  Part of this has to do with my understanding that those moments are often very emotional and private.  Several times in the past I've been ridiculed by bystanders as being intrusive and insensitive.  But I suppose that is the nature of my job.  I try to rationalize that there is an important story to tell and I'm fostering an understanding between those in the photographs and those who are viewing them.  The tougher part for me to work with on these assignments is the sorrow and grief.  I don't know what it is like to lose someone close to me to an accident or disaster, but when I see the faces of those left behind and hear their cries, I feel it in my gut, a terrifying realization of how fragile life is and how it could have been my wife or children or relatives or friends in that disaster, their names on stones and crosses at this memorial.  I do not want to be the person here a survivor at this memorial, but the reality is, I could have been and still could be.