Washington Lives the California Dream | The San Francisco Chronicle

On a stroke of good luck, I was referred to the photo editors of the San Francisco Chronicle to photograph a story conceptualized by the question: "If San Francisco is so liberally left-leaning, then why is Washington state beating it to such passages as gay marriage and legal marijuana use?" After swapping info, I met the Chronicle's reporter for the story, Justin Berton - an excellent writer and good guy to boot - who had flown up from sunnier places to cover the issue. Over the course of two days, I made pictures around the greater Seattle area that embodied the spirit of Washington state living out the California dream. The story is located HERE, and a number of the photographic results are as follows.  Enjoy!

An expansive selection of marijuana strains are grown under hot lamps and controlled conditions Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Jake Dimmock, co-owner of the Northwest Patient Resource Center, examines a expansive selection of marijuana strains grown under hot lamps and controlled conditions Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington.
By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Marijuana reading material litters the counter of a dispensary Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Pastor Joe Fuiten, one of the region's leading evangelical pastors at the Cedar Park Assembly of God, poses for a portrait Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Bothell, Washington. Fuiten is opposed to the recent passages of gay marriage and marijuana legality in Washington state. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

A selection of marijuana is kept in jars in the back room of a dispensary Saturday, December 8, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Ashley Szekely, 28, separates Sweet Afgoo marijuana into one and four gram bags Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. Szekely is a medical marijuana patient who pursued a job at the NWPRC "to be a part of history" in light of the recent passage of I-502. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Medical marijuana patient and customer Lola Lewis, 63, prepares to make a selection of marijuana to purchase Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. Lewis is overjoyed at the passage of I-502. "It's better now for those who need to find certain strains for certain types of illnesses," Lewis said. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

An expansive selection of marijuana strains are grown under hot lamps and controlled conditions Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Northwest Patient Resource Center in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Medical marijuana patients Brett Skaret, 20, left, and Joe Engelhardt, 22, enjoy the freedom of a smoking room with other smokers Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. The pair are vehemently opposed to the recent passage of I-502. "The whole thing criminalizes patients," Skaret said. "It's all for the money." By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Strains of marijuana - sold here at wholesale prices - sit on display Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Jesse Pergakis reaches into a jar of marijuana to fish out a sample for a customer to sniff Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the NW Cannabis Market in Seattle, Washington. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Crowds of onlookers cheered and handed out flowers to congratulate recently married gay couples as they descended the steps of City Hall Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Richard, center left, and Liam Sauer-Wooden, center right, of Seattle, descend the steps of City Hall after getting married following 19 years of love on Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Nancy Monahan, retired military, center, and wife Deborah Needham, left, of Renton, WA, leave Seattle City Hall after getting married after nearly 14 years of being together on Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

A crowd of onlookers and media photograph couple Luke Botzheim, right, and Allan Carandang, center, as they descended the steps of City Hall after getting married on Sunday, December 9, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Gay marriage was legalized in Washington state on Dec. 6. By JORDAN STEAD/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

TEARSHEET:

Gay Marriage Licensing, Day 2 | Reuters

After 21 years of love, Phebe Jewell, C, and Dawn Mere-Ama, R, kiss after getting their marriage license in Seattle, Washington December 6, 2012. Washington made history last month as one of three U.S. states where marriage rights were extended to same-sex couples by popular vote, joining Maryland and Maine in passing ballot initiatives recognizing gay nuptials.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead (UNITED STATES)

David Mifflin, and Matt Beebe, C, swear to honesty while filing for their marriage license in Seattle, Washington December 6, 2012. Washington made history last month as one of three U.S. states where marriage rights were extended to same-sex couples by popular vote, joining Maryland and Maine in passing ballot initiatives recognizing gay nuptials.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead (UNITED STATES)

Election Night 2012 | Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington

Had the pleasure to photograph one of the most historic events to occur in my city in my lifetime. In a complete wash, Barack Obama was reelected while Referendum 74 and I-502 passed to (more or less) citywide agreement. Thanks to Josh Trujillo for the assignment for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  Enjoy!

From right to left, Matt Farler, Andrew Hopkins, Allison Miller and Austin Derck all scream in unison as President Barack Obama's projected win flashes across a TV tuned to CCN on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, at Neumos on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash. Crowds flocked to return parties hosted by a number of bars in the area to wait out final ballot results. In addition to President Barack Obama's reelection, Referendum 74 and I-502 were both passed in Washington state.

A group of men clamber onto an elevated surface to dance with one another to celebrate the passing of Referendum 74 on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash.

A KOMO 4 reporter struggles to communicate with his superiors over the din of a crowd that had taken to the streets in celebration of a second term win by President Barack Obama on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash. Beforehand, crowds had flocked to return parties hosted by a number of bars in the area to wait out final ballot results.

Radhika Prabhakar, center left, anxiously awaits polling results on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash.

Isabella Contreras, a performer at Entre Hermanos, prepares to show off a dance routine to a crowd outside on election night on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash.

Crowds took to the streets to celebrate following a projected second term win by President Barack Obama on on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash.

Crowds took to the streets to celebrate following a second term win by President Barack Obama on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash.

Crowds took to the streets to celebrate following a projected second term win by President Barack Obama on on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash.