Andrea Johnson Photography

 

Wine harvest romance vs reality – could you keep up?

An update from Salud 2018 auction – it was record a breaking auction and season raising $1,055,000 to provide healthcare and outreach services to the hardworking men and women of Oregon’s vineyards!  Here’s a copy of the edited video played during the auction

 

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I’ve spent more time in the vineyards with the hard working Hispanic crews for the past 15 year than capturing any other aspect of winemaking. And I’m constantly humbled, amazed, and inspired by the skill, speed, pride and dedication in their work which is both physically and mentally challenging, especially during the long days of harvest. Winemakers and aficionados know that great wine is made in the vineyard, and without great fruit and workers we wouldn’t have high quality wine that is an unique expression of the land – especially important for terroir driven pinot noir.

In the toughest of conditions the crews have welcomed me to document their work in close proximity with warm smiles, laughter and admirable hospitality. This year I decided to add an extra challenge by running alongside them with a small image stabilized camera. Only for short bursts of time could I attempt to keep up – they are paid by the bucket and really hustle running with five gallon buckets of grapes each weighing 18-22 pounds, up and down steep vineyard slopes!

This is my tribute to the crews that work tirelessly in the vineyards during harvest.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting ¡Salud! | The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction, whose proceeds provide preventative, clinical, dental healthcare to seasonal workers who may not otherwise have access…. although the auction is sold out this year you can still donate here: https://saludauction.org/contribute/

A special thanks to the crews at Patricia Green Cellars (featured workers JC Chencho Juarez, Miguel Alva & José Pacheco), the Results Partners teams (overseen by Daniel Fey and Rob Schultz) at Résonance and Fairsing vineyards (featured workers at the bins Joel Elias Flores and his father Don Isidro, 76 years old), and the countless workers whose names I couldn’t capture, and to Robert Holmes working in collaboration capturing these slow motion clips, finessing the edit, and in joining me each dawn to capture this footage. #wvharvest2018

Pinot Noir harvest at Fairsing Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Harvest at Fairsing Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Willamette Valley Vineyard pinot noir harvest, Oregon

JC – Chencho Juarez with bin of pinot noir at Patricia Green Cellars Oregon

Don Isidro, 76 years old, managing fruit bin quality control at Fairsing Vineyard, Oregon

Varanasi, India – a photographer’s personal reflections

Every dawn and dusk thousands of pilgrims travel to the Ganges and perform the Ganga Aarti ceremony; making a wish, lighting a candle, and setting it afloat on the river. One of my wishes – to align my life and photography in a more balanced way. How? A surprising example may be this story of the photo I didn’t take.

Hindu girl selling small candles inside a cup of leaves and flowers.

Hindu girl selling small candles inside a cup of leaves and flowers.

The Sadhu was striking in appearance – white long hair, golden robe, radient weathered face and sinuous body. Something about the way he walked, held his head, and his calm eyes was different than the other Sadhus I’d encountered, too many eager to ask for a donation to pose for a photo. And it was obvious that I was in search of photographs, walking the ghats with two cameras around my shoulders, my eyes scanning the scene for images. As our paths converged in a relatively quiet area, where perfect morning light softly lit the colorful, graphic stairs of the ghat, we glanced at each other as we passed. I think we both took each other by surprise – that I didn’t raise my camera to take his photo, and that he didn’t stretch his hand out for a donation. I turned around to glance at the Sadhu one more time, and he turned simultaneously. He paused, the slightest gesture of his head communicated that he was inquisitive, possibly even open to being photographed and certainly curious that I hadn’t asked or tried to candidly captured the moment.

But I was tired of the superficial transaction I knew taking a quick photo would be, briefly regretting that I couldn’t linger here for days. For awhile I’ve been focusing more on capturing the perfect photo than the experience. Now I was searching for something more. In this circumstance, by not taking a photo I was able to connect – if only for a moment – authentically with him as a person. In the holiest of all places for Hindus, I had to believe there were still some things sacred. I smiled at him, did a slight bow and brought my hands to prayer as a sign of Namaste in greeting , and he graced me with his smile. He was indeed a “real” Sadhu, and this may be the most memorable experiences I had in India.

The bustle in one of the world’s oldest cities, Varanassi, is never ending and can be simultaneously wonderful and overwhelming to the senses. This photo of the cow serenely standing in the middle of the road with traffic buzzing by on both sides exemplifies the spirit of India to me, the ability to maintain calm in chaos, and the importance of finding your own center balance to adapt to the environment yet stay steady. In 1897 Mark Twain said "Benares (aka Varanasi) is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

The bustle in one of the world’s oldest cities, Varanassi, is never ending and can be simultaneously wonderful and overwhelming to the senses. This photo of the cow serenely standing in the middle of the road with traffic buzzing by on both sides exemplifies the spirit of India to me, the ability to maintain calm in chaos, and the importance of finding your own center balance to adapt to the environment yet stay steady.
In 1897 Mark Twain said “Benares (aka Varanasi) is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

Cow roaming ancient back streets of Varanasi, India

Cow roaming ancient back streets of Varanasi, India

The Untouchables. Politically active Untouchables prefer the term Dalit, which means "oppressed." They are the Hindu caste in charge of cremating bodies. We walked through their neighborhood on the way to the cremation ghats on the Ganges, I wasn't sure what to expect but certainly not outward signs of normalcy. Or warmth in their smiles as they greeted us, children playing, goats wandering, same scenes we'd encountered in so many rural villages. But where are the men you may ask? The scene blocks away from this neighborhood was entirely different. And the caste issue runs far deeper than I can do justice in a caption

The Untouchables. Politically active Untouchables prefer the term Dalit, which means “oppressed.” They are the Hindu caste in charge of cremating bodies. We walked through their neighborhood on the way to the cremation ghats on the Ganges, I wasn’t sure what to expect but certainly not outward signs of normalcy. Or warmth in their smiles as they greeted us, children playing, goats wandering, same scenes we’d encountered in so many rural villages. But where are the men you may ask? The scene blocks away from this neighborhood was entirely different. And the caste issue runs far deeper than I can do justice in a caption

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The Noble Spirit documentary Trailer

“A rare glimpse into one man’s battle with ALS…with the spirit to find good in every situation and embrace every day no matter the challenge we face”

Not many people would have the courage, tenacity, and long term vision to chronicle their own terminal illness. Fred invited me into his life with a no holds barred approach, and encouraged me capture every detail of his daily life.   It’s been an honor and to have complete access and a challenge to watch him struggle without interfering with events as they naturally unfolded.
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Behind the scenes from an assignment in Australia’s Northern Territory

(versions of this story ran in Oregonian and World Hum in 2012)

I’ve been working as a professional photojournalist for over a decade yet I still face the same challenge wherever I travel. How can I create meaningful ‘sense of place’ photographs that convey the uniqueness of each location; the sure-footed agility of Himalalyan Sherpas who effortlessly passed me on the trail to Everest Base Camp, the surreal experience of swimming with jellyfish and drift diving with sharks in Palau, or the incredible sense of freedom floating down fresh untracked powder helicopter snowboarding in the Canadian Bugaboos? It’s a never-ending quest to create photographs that create the same emotional impact in the viewer as I experienced during these assignments.

It takes time to allow a place to impress itself on you and to reflect on its significance afterwards. And time and attention are the two resources we lack most in today’s fast paced ADD culture. I was reminded of this challenge once again on a recent trip to Australia’s Northern Territory. I traveled extensively throughout Australia in 2001, but monsoon rains stopped me visiting the top end of the Northern Territory. I hadn’t realized the importance of that trip at the time. The openness of the land, devoid of modern distractions and illusions, allowed me to clear my mind and remove the creative blocks to begin my career as a photojournalist.

Stuart Highway, Northern Territory, Australia

I now had my chance to return to the areas of Australia’s Northern Territory I’d missed, traveling with a group of journalists while testing the newest Canon camera. To complete my assignment I’d be required to shoot almost exclusively with this ‘prosumer’ model (the EOS D650 also known as the Rebel T4i in the United States) aimed at the market between consumer and professional; a camera that wasn’t yet released to the market so I wouldn’t have a user manual or an opportunity to test the gear beforehand. And this time instead of three months, I’d have just five days to explore.

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Puerto Rico – adrenalin adventures & colorful culture

As a self proclaimed adrenalin junkie, I’m constantly seeking out new adventures in far-flung places. I’ve recently helicopter – snowboarded in Canada and lept off a 440 foot bungee jump in New Zealand. I’ve also been a frequent skydiver, scuba diver, mountain biker, and rock climber, and avid trekker – for 18 months, I traveled vagabond style through the South Pacific and S.E. Asia hiking up Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo and to the base camp of Mt. Everest.

However I don’t consider myself an extreme athlete or adventurer. It’s all relative – especially compared to all the characters I’ve encountered on my journeys. For the ten years I worked at various sports companies I was continually amazed at the boundaries athletes could push and the obstacles those with limitations could overcome. As a photojournalist I’ve had the good fortune to illustrate stories by pioneers of the adventure travel industry such as Tim Cahill, founder of Outside Magazine, who has spent a lifetime forging his own path.

So how would my experiences in Puerto Rico compare? I found an ideal balance between easily accessible adventures and authentic culture. It was an easy way to dip my toes into both worlds during my whirlwind week visit.

Here’s the photo and video highlights:

Zip lining at Toro Verde

Tightrope suspension bridges and rapelling, Toro Verde

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