Jan 102012
 
Proud and happy young african american girl in Oakland California

Last year I volunteered regularly at the Campfire after school program in West Oakland. The program gives affordable and enriching education and care to a great group of kids in a low income part of Oakland. They do a really good job with the kids. They help them with their homework (and see that it gets done!), feed the kids healthy snacks, play games (kickball, FTW) and give them a supportive and accountable environment. I was proud to be a part of what they were doing.

One of my duties included portrait photography of the students. Here are some of my favorite portraits of the students.

This first shot, this girl (or teen, or young woman) she was a spunky kid. Strong willed, smart and tough. I love to see her so fiercely happy here.

Proud and happy young african american girl in Oakland California

Healthy and happy school boy

Healthy and alert young man

Student and teacher hug and smile

Kind with a really big smile, after school program West Oakland

Serious kid, Oakland aferschool program

8 year old boy, gap-toothed smile

Kid in a school uniform with a big smile

Young black boy with a big smile.

Shy yet happy smile

Proud teen in Oakland, CA

Happy boy in afternoon sun

Plump black boy

Smiling boy afterschol

Oh, pick me

This last one is one of my favorites. I love how moody and unposed this is.

Moody portrait of a black school boy.

Mar 182010
 
Girl Running Up Hill, Clouds and Tall Oak

Every year I go with my daughter and some friends on a camping trip. We go to a wild campground in the Los Padres National Forest.

It is a great way to mark the arrival of spring, and for the kids there is an Easter Egg hunt!

All Photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2009 All Rights Reserved

For Information, or to buy prints, visit my website here: San Francisco Photographer or call

888 316 2539

Mar 052010
 

Elk River Mayor calls for

1,000 Acts of Random Kindness

via Acts of Kindness | www.loveelkriver.org.

The mayor of Elk River, Minnesota, challenged its residents to perform 1,000 acts of kindness.  They responded.

At Christmas time, Klinzing saw a YouTube video about a restaurant in Philadelphia where people kept paying for other diners’ meals.  “I got the sense that if we did a similar thing through the entire city, something would change. It would be kind of a climate change. That basically is what happened.”

… even doing little things, like putting a nice note on a student’s locker, can have an effect.  “People pay it forward. It makes your day and you are happy because you have such a positive effect on someone. And once you’ve done that, you want to do it more.”

The acts of kindness are posted online.  The mayor has challenged other cities to match this accomplishment.

Mar 042010
 

Early last month I got this email from my friend Cecilie:

> Forget superbowl weekend – try
> wheelchair basketball instead!  This is a
> fast and fabulous sport to watch!  It’s also great for
> kids and teens who
> are into sports.

Who could resist?

I’m pretty happy with these shots. I think the kids look great. I got to play with motion blur.

While I was there I was chatting with another photographer. He said “Have you seen #15? He would have been a great athlete.”

And I thought, would have been?

All Photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2010

All Rights Reserved

For prints or booking information, call 888.316.2539 or go to my website.