Seattle Hempfest 2013

Groups of young folks pass a pipe back and forth, smoking up their spot on the waterfront during the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Thousands crowd the stages and walkways on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Homer Simpson's eyeballs, emblazoned on a pipe, pop out from under a man's hat on the first day of Seattle Hempfest Friday, August 16, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. The annual event, which advocates the idea of decriminalized marijuana, continues through Sunday. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

A group of young men share weed and trade off smoking on different bongs on the first day of Seattle Hempfest Friday, August 16, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. The annual event, which advocates the idea of decriminalized marijuana, continues through Sunday. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Reflected in a bong, event attendees admire colorful pipes on the first day of Seattle Hempfest Friday, August 16, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. The annual event, which advocates the idea of decriminalized marijuana, continues through Sunday. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Patrick MacVane, right, pushes pot smoke through one half of a water bottle dipped in soap to create a cloudy bubble on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Thousands crowd the walkways and waterfront on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

To avoid the heat, event attendees dunk their heads in a nearby fountain on the waterfront on the first day of Seattle Hempfest Friday, August 16, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. The annual event, which advocates the idea of decriminalized marijuana, continues through Sunday. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Festivalgoers smoke under the shade of a tent on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Squirrel, bassist for Angie & The Car Wrecks, plays his way through their set on his weed leaf shaped instrument on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Paradise Vape employees Tio Cervantes, left, blows smoke through his 10-gram blunt into the mouth of Chayse Salvini, right, on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)2

A person decked out in green pot paraphernalia walks near the beach on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Medical personnel wheel an exhausted and immobile woman away from a booth on the third and final day of Seattle Hempfest Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Capitol Hill summer fashion | Seattle, WA

Seattle Sounders vs. Chivas USA

Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson rejoices after his second and final game-winning goal of the day during a game against Chivas USA Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. Sounders won the match 2-1.

Seafair | Three days of (aero)nautical madness

If you've been anywhere near Seattle in the summer time, you know about Seafair. In a nutshell, it's a month-long "celebration" of warmer days that seems to drag on forever - from pirates to airshows to the legendary hydros. For the final three days of the event, I was sent to cover both boats and airplanes, which equates to a lot of long glass work. Overall, for the lack of locations I photographed from over the three day period, I made a number of images that felt were indicative of the adrenaline-fueled vehicular insanity I got to experience from the shoreline. Enjoy.

Seafair | The Pirates

Under a cloudless summer sky, thousands of onlookers clustered along the beach to watch a swath of Seafair Pirates exit their boat to charge the masses Saturday, July 7, 2012, at Alki Point in Seattle, Wash. While on course toward the shore, the marauders' boat ran aground on an unforeseen sandbar several feet below the surface of the water. The glitch was quickly forgotten after the boat's captain reset the vessel's course and the rusty gate dropped, letting loose the pack of pirates.

Margarita Martinez, in blue and orange stripes, takes a moment to pull back her fake eyepatch to look up the beach while waiting for the Seafair Pirates to arrive on Saturday, July 7, 2012, at Alki Point in Seattle, Wash. 

Wearing the same pirate costume that he attended a pub crawl in this past weekend, Paul Twibell, of Alki, shows off some of his jewelry Saturday, July 7, 2012, at Alki Point in Seattle, Wash. 

Marius Devine, 3, right, and grandmother Suzanne Broback, left, wait for Devine's father - a Seafair Pirate - to show up in the infamous boat Saturday, July 7, 2012, at Alki Point in Seattle, Wash. Under a cloudless summer sky, thousands clustered along the beach to watch the swath of bearded marauders exit their boats.

"There With Me" essay runs in The Skagit Valley Herald

This past summer, I was lucky enough to work for The Skagit Valley Herald as their photo intern.  In my free time between daily assignments and on weekends, I pursued a personal project on Latino gang culture.  The final essay, entitled "There With Me," just ran today in the Sunday edition.  The final product, I believe, serves a purpose in understanding the struggles of an individual trapped within a dangerous - yet "supportive" - lifestyle while fighting to escape for the greater good.

Raised in Juarez, Mexico, Ramon Luna came to the United States following the random murder of his brother. Blinded by rage and disconnected from his cultural roots, Luna turned to gang life in Skagit County, Washington state. After gaining a reputation on the street as a notorious fighter, Luna was accused of rape, burglary and kidnapping by a young woman who recognized him from a local party. In jail and awaiting the jury's verdict, Ramon was met by street minister Chris Hoke, a man Ramon had previously mocked. Through Chris's words and an out-of-the-blue admission by the accusing woman that she had lied, Ramon was set free by what he believes was forgiveness and the grace of a newfound God. Luna continues to live in Skagit County, this time with Chris Hoke at a new age ministry called Tierra Nueva, or "new ground." He has abandoned the gang lifestyle, despite the involvement of his current friends and family members. Ramon recently began to use his life experiences as leverage to reason others out of the gang life. 

Thanks to all my people at the SVH for bearing with me and this story on its path to publishing.  I appreciate it.  The essay in full resolution is available for viewing on www.jordanbstead.com.