2019 Year In Review

Another year has passed and here are selections from this past year that re-present what I saw and where I’ve been in 2019. As you will see, this year I added a colour camera body, although, I’m not sure if this was for the better or not. One of the reasons two years ago I chose to go with the Leica M Monochrom was because of my love of black and white, and to get away from spending an inordinate amount of time editing and perseverating on whether a photo was better in colour or monochrome. While this didn’t happen during the editing process, it did come up when going out to take pictures—should I take the colour body or the black and white one?!?!? Problems of the privileged, right.

The Year that was 2019

This year found me feeling as if I were sinking further into in a never-ending creative rut. Perhaps this is tied to the feelings of despair as our country sinks deeper and deeper into a fascist state.

January started with several protests and marches. The first was the ‘Unite Against Fascism Rally’ which saw and heard nearly 300 voices drowning out a small band of white nationalists parading around armed to the hilt, making a feeble attempt to make a show of force; they were outnumbered 5:1 and ending their rally long before it was due to end. Next was the ‘2019 Women’s March.’ Again, the numbers were incredible for a freezing day Saturday in January.

In late 2018, I partner with Madison Abortion Defense (MAD) to cover protests they had planned for early 2019. The first was a showing as part of a ‘Socialist Feminist Contingent’ the marched to the Capitol to join the Women’s March rally. Their first stand-alone rally was a counter protest to let the ‘March for Life’ folks know that abortion and reproductive rights are between a woman and her doctor. There were several more after this to counter the ’40 Days of Life’ campaign.

March was a busy most for social demonstrations in Madison. It found me attending the fourth anniversary remembrance for Tony Robinson. As with the past three years, not much has changed in the fight against police brutality and the systemic targeting of underrepresented populations: African-American, Latino/Latinix, and LGBTQ+ people. Fueled by the president of the United States and his ilk, people wanting to be seen as equals are continually put down; fortunately many get back up, brush themselves off and raise a fist in the air in solidarity and signal to their would-be oppressors, “We’re not go anywhere!”

March also found the youth of the world standing up, marching out, and speaking loudly about climate change and the state of the planet. The ‘Youth Climate Action Team’ took control and has been organizing and inspiring students and adults that we are facing a crisis of epic proportion, and the time to act is now: they predict that we have 11-12 years before we reach the point of no return… some say we passed that point a while ago. Again, the president and his ilk deny climate change and the dire nature of things, and instead of helping they remove environmental protections, mock climate activists, and channel dollars into defense budgets, and their own pockets. Lastly, March brought yet another gun-happy racist attacked two Mosque’s in New Zealand, killing 51 and injuring 49 more.

May started with a ‘Day Without Latinxs & Immigrants—Driver Licenses for All’ rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Thousands came out to march in support of immigrants being able to get drivers license and state ID’s. The month ended at Forest Hill Cemetery for the Memorial Day service, celebrating war and those who died fighting.

The summer months found me wandering around here and there taking pictures at the Stoughton Fair and at the Adams/Friendship 4th of July Parade. I also got around to some random small towns in Wisconsin. One highlight was meeting Cherise from South Africa who was here working with a carnival for eight months so she could travel while making money. July brought a protest march to end the detention and locking up of children and families at our southern border; to say we hadn’t become Nazi Germany would be a lie. Our government has been carrying on an all out assault on immigrants and those who look like they might be an immigrant based on the colour of their skin. At the end of July I photographed one day at Atwood Fest with the highlights this year being ‘Stephen Cooper & the Nobody Famous’ and ‘Echoes of Pompeii’.

August was a wash, with no major activity. September brought another global climate march to once again bring attention to the climate crisis we are facing. Sadly, the powers that be across the globe have all but ignored the warnings. Many have lashed out against the youth leaders, mocking their efforts and accusing them of being controlled by liberal puppet masters.

October, November and December brought photos from the North Shore of Minnesota and some prowling around at night here in Madison.

I want to say how thankful I am to those who continued to let me be part of their fight as they marched, rallied and protested old and new causes and gave voice to injustices here and everywhere. Thank you: Max and Sophie with Youth Climate Action Team; Everyone with Madison Abortion Defense; and to all the Socialist comrades organizing their own protests and coming out to support others with theirs. But most of all, I want to thank my daughter Olivia who keeps me going and forces me to keep hope burning each day.

I appreciate your support and taking time to read this and view a snapshot form this past year. I hope you will enjoy the photos below. Please follow me on Facebook and/or Instagram to find out what 2020 will bring!