Way back in April, I covered a small but passionate protest against genocide in Sri Lanka.  I was surprised that there was little media coverage.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I was the only one there.  To document the story and help increase awareness, I created an audio slideshow.  Not long after, things grew progressively worse, and by May, the United Nations called it a "bloodbath".  The war finally came to an end on May 19th, but there were reports that over 200,000 people were being held in government-run camps.  Several months passed with little news of what was happening.  Then just this week the NY Times ran an article that said "tens of thousands of displaced Tamils held in closed camps would be allowed to leave immediately, but would be required to register with local authorities so that their movements could be monitored."  It goes on to say "Rights organizations cautiously welcomed the move, which made it more likely that Sri Lanka would meet its self-imposed deadline of releasing most of the war displaced by the end of the year." Of course there are many questions that still need to be answered, but hopefully this is a step in the right direction.  The old slideshow can be viewed below, but please note that it contains some disturbing images.

Spending the day photographing these heroes was an unforgettable experience. NYC really knows how to throw a great parade. Thank you to all of the soldiers, and military families for your incredible sacrifice. This is my tribute to you.

Music by Kevin MacLeod used with permission.

A behind the scenes look at some of the gear and techniques I use to cover a political rally. Filmed by Alex Baker on September 23, 2009 near the United Nations in New York.

Over the past few weeks I've watched Sue hand feed, and care for Hope, a five month old female Virginia Opossum. Due to lead poisoning, and various other medical issues, Hope requires special attention. This is where the Volunteers for Wildlife make an impact. At their hospital facility, they provide medical care for wildlife who need help. Hope is just one of the many animals that they are treating. To learn more about how you can help to make a difference, please visit online at http://www.volunteersforwildlife.org/donate/

Special thanks to my wife Sue for her incredible narration skills. Also, many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for allowing me to use his music.

Tech details: Filmed with my new favorite pocket gadget, the Flip Video Ultra, and edited in iMovie. The sound was recorded with the Zoom H2 and edited in Garageband.

Thanks for watching.

This July 4th, I wanted to share a fun fireworks slideshow I made a while back. I had no idea how these pictures would turn out, but perhaps more importantly, I knew how I didn't want them to look. I knew that I did not want a memory card filled with traditional fireworks photography. I wanted something different, and unique. I experimented with a bunch of techniques like throwing the camera in and out of focus while zooming in and out. I moved the camera from left to right mid exposure. All rules went out the window and each image was a total surprise. I found the entire exercise to be quite liberating. Music is thanks to Sigur Ros.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

First, a very special thanks to my wife Sue for providing the excellent narration. Who needs Sigourney Weaver when you're married to a marine biologist! Her hands on experience from working with these animals brought a unique perspective to this project. Her scientific knowledge helped me to piece together the narrative, and form the story. We have some future collaborative efforts in the early stages of planning, and I'm sure you'll be hearing more from her in the future.

For the past 6 months I've had the opportunity to photograph seals in a wide variety of situations. During that time I witnessed some incredible moments. There is one in particular that really stands out. It was the feeling of joy I got as I drove home from a "Seal Release". After months of rehabilitation, this beautiful animal was released from his cage, and made a frantic sprawl for the ocean. In a matter of seconds, he splashed back into the ocean, healthy and free.

I also have a new found respect for the staff and volunteers at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. On those brutally cold winter days, I thought I was freezing, but these dedicated people actually wade INTO the water to help animals in need. They work hard to make our planet a better place, and I thank them for their tireless efforts. If you are interested in getting involved, check out their website.

For the gear heads, here are the technical details:
All still images were shot with Canon 40D's. I used a wide variety of lenses from 17-40, to 70-200, and a 400mm. Gitzo tripods, and a Canon 580EXII flash. The sounds of the ocean were recorded witha Zoom H2 field recorder. This was also used to record the narrative which was edited in Garageband. The soundtrack was then edited in Garageband and imported into Soundslides. All images were sorted with Lightroom 2, and edited with Photoshop CS4.

Thanks for watching!

Important Note: Some of this content is very graphic.

What better place for a pillow fight then on Wall Street itself. Thanks to the folks at newmindspace.com for putting the event together. Their events never disappoint. Enjoy the show!

The effects of the economic downturn are clearly evident on the streets of New York City. I've been documenting the events through my lens since September 30th 2008, when the market fell 777 points.

The music is by Eddie Vedder, and the song is called "Rise". There is also a short audio clip by President Obama from his last speech to Congress on February 24th, 2009.

I encourage you to leave a comment after you watch this. I'd really like to hear your feelings on this topic, as it has touched us all. Thanks.

To watch a larger version, click here.

Snowscrapers, NYC

Images © Chris Corradino
Music by Valient Thorr.