Bryan Farley Photography Educator

Today is Earth Day. On the first Earth Day in 1970, the modern environmentalist movement had just started. In late January of 1969, the largest oil spill in United States history occurred in Santa Barbara, California.  The Santa Barbara Oil Spill would remain the largest US oil spill until the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef on March 24, 1989.

I was a college student at UC Santa Barbara when the Exxon Valdez began spilling oil. Santa Barbara residents were frustrated (or shocked), because they remembered seeing waves of dead birds washing onto their beaches. Natural disasters are difficult to accept. Preventable disasters to natural resources are different.

If you are unfamiliar with Santa Barbara’s history, you may think that the town is a liberal college tourist town. Oil exploration arrived decades before UCSB. Santa Barbara was a conservative county for most of the 20th Century. In 1969,  a Republican from California was the President when the Environmental Protection Agency was formed.… Read the rest

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One of my photography students recently asked me, “Are you a teacher or a photographer?”

I am a teacher. I have always felt that I was a teacher, although I am photographer and a student too. Often when I look through my photographs, I am surprised by my ability to take a decent picture. I am even more surprised when I reflect on my journey as a teacher and a student. I am not always the best teacher … and sometimes I can take 20 years to learn the simplest lessons. This post is a tribute to two of my mentors. I wish I had applied some of their lessons earlier.

About twenty years ago, I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Women’s Studies degree. I believe that I was the first male to major in Women’s Studies at UCSB. I was also a peer health educator for the Women’s Center’s Rape Prevention Education Program.… Read the rest

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Depending on when you met me in the epilepsy community, you may know me as a poised advocate who always seems to have his camera or you might know me as a nervous neurological wreck. When I first visited the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County last February, I was the awkward version of myself.

This year I was much more comfortable. I knew the routine and I even recognized some of the people from last year’s event.

People seemed to recognize me too! On the day before this year’s walk, I visited the office. I was much more relaxed. I want to say that I acted like myself, but that is only partially true. I also acted like myself when I was nervous and scared. Sharon’s Ride, and similar events, helps me feel less scared.

If you want to see more photographs from the event, you can jump to the photo slideshow.… Read the rest

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On Saturday, I participated in the 2014 National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, DC. It was the fifth time I attended the national event and the Epilepsy Foundation’s 8th annual walk. Today is also international Purple Day. Purple Day was started by Cassidy Megan in 2008 when she was just a kid. (She is still just a kid.) Sometimes, it takes a kid to do something important.

Purple is our color. I know other groups claim it too, but for us, it rains purple. One day, I hope that the rest of the world will see more purple rain. I want people to see monuments and museums and memories for purple people. Some say that it takes a village, but it might take a village idiot to accomplish my goals. I might be that village idiot.

Orange is the new purple this year. Orange was everywhere. There were orange gloves, orange flags and orange superheroes too. 

The superheroes were created by Medikidz.… Read the rest

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I got to tell you something…

Today is 311 day. (March 11.) 311 is a band. 311 can be many other things too, from a government help line to a fictional area code. I am posting tonight so that my Advanced Photography students can learn more about me as a photographer with epilepsy. This week I have assigned a great deal of writing. I thought I would give them the chance to create extra work for me if they wish. (It is my version of extra credit.)

I took these photographs last April in San Diego at the 2013 Sharon’s Ride Run Walk for Epilepsy. The event benefited the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County. This photo was taken before the photo at the top of the post.

This photo was taken after the other photos.

So, what brings me here? When I look at the first photo, I realize that I see things differently than most people and that I might be cursed.… Read the rest

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I am an official photographers for the . I have a camera, a press badge and a really cool derby name. (I am P Giddy.) One of my friends asked me how I lucked into this gig. I really do not know. I showed up one day after attending a bout. I think I will keep showing up until they tell me its time to leave.

The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girl Season Opener! was last weekend. I posted derby photos on my blog and my personal Facebook page, but many of my best photos were not seen. I combined two events into one post and the slideshows were inside the blog post. I am posting the derby photos again today so that more people can see more derby photos.

2014 Season Opener Berkeley vs San Francisco

2014 Season Opener Oakland vs Richmond

I posted the photo above of  on my Facebook page. I had not noticed that the picture was very good until one of Otter’s friends mentioned the composition.… Read the rest

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