Bryan Farley Photography Educator

I photographed the Melrose Leadership Academy kindergarten classes again. This year, I asked principal Moyra Contreras to join our portrait session. This is Moyra’s last year as the MLA principal.

If not for Ms. Contreras, I would not have had access the last ten years to document the school’s growth. As a photographer, I am continually grateful to Ms. Contreras and the rest of the school community for allowing me to work on this project. I would probably thank everyone more, but I don’t want to draw too much attention to my good fortune.

If not for Ms. Contreras, the dual immersion district school may not have become a reality. Navigating OUSD and the community requires emotional intelligence that I will never develop.

The first class of kindergarteners that I photographed are now in high school. This year’s kindergarten students have just begun their journey. In education, we don’t measure much of what is learned in school… we don’t measure what I can see in the photos, and how the young students have learned to represent themselves.… Read the rest

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Oh District, my District.

It’s been said that if the people lead, the leaders will follow… but what happens if they don’t. What happens if the young people pick up a megaphone and the district does not answer the call?

During the seven day Oakland Education Association strike, students often led protests and rallies. The students were inspiring. They reminded many of us why we teach. On Monday, March 4th, the Oakland Unified Board of Education reminded many of us why we lose confidence in our educational leaders.

See links to galleries at the end of this post.

Day 3 – Marching on Broadway

If not for the support of the students and community members, the Oakland Unified School District would not have agreed to the pay raises for the teachers. If not for the teacher pay raises, the district would not have cut programs… at least that was the argument when the school board voted to cut popular programs earlier this week.… Read the rest

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You can’t be what you can’t see. – Marian Wright Edelman

On Sunday, January 27, 2019, California Senator Kamala Harris officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf introduced Harris in front of City Hall. According to various reports, the Oakland Police Department estimated more than 20,000 people attended.

Photo Gallery Slideshow

Harris established herself as a leading candidate, but it’s early. The evening that Harris launched her campaign, Howard Schultz (almost) announced that he was running as an Independent. A few days later, the federal government reopened. President Trump finally delivered the State of the Union address. By the time the first votes are cast next February in Iowa, Virginia might… I don’t know about Virginia.

I attended the event with two student journalists. In the photo above, high school student Ivan Garcia is photographing Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.… Read the rest

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I have wanted to photograph the band Dorothy since I received an email from their publicist last year. Unfortunately, I missed last year’s shows, but I finally saw them at Sacramento’s Ace of Spades on January 19th. It was worth the wait and the trip. I even saw a cool opening band Spirit Animal.

Below are the galleries and some thoughts.

Dorothy Photo Gallery / Slideshow

I wish my positive review would help Dorothy Martin and her “can’t miss” band succeed, but I worry that I am not the best judge of contemporary music trends, and my review will only hurt. Dorothy has the music and the musicians to make it, but I don’t know if it’s their time.

When I saw Dorothy on January 19th, I was aware that Janis Joplin and Dolly Parton both shared that birthday. The music business is difficult, and leading women singers have had special challenges.… Read the rest

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I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s Inaugural Gala to benefit the Oakland Promise and Keep Oakland Housed on Friday, January 11, 2019 at the Fox Theater.

Here is the photo gallery; it might be best viewed in slideshow format.

I have been photographing Mayor Schaaf since she ran for Oakland City Council. After she became mayor, I photographed her first inauguration and celebrations.

In November 2015, when Libby celebrated her 50th with a fundraiser gala, I photographed that event too.

The Bay Area is fortunate to have innovative committed leaders. We are also fortunate to have artists who are committed to changing how we see the world, including Bandaloop. Bandaloop is a group of dancers who dance through the sky.

I met Sara Agah Franti and Michael Franti at the gala. They are two more Bay Area artists who help us see and hear the world differently.… Read the rest

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I was invited to Annie Campbell Washington’s “Farewell Party” at the Old Kan Beer & Company. I brought my camera. Someone else brought the photo booth.

I took a few photos. I recommend viewing them as a slideshow.

Annie is not really going away. After thirteen years working for the City of Oakland, Annie is going back to Cal to work for the Goldman School of Public Policy.

Speaking from personal experience, I do not know if farewell means forever. I moved to Alameda a little over a year ago, and I haven’t learned the ways of the Alameda Folks yet. I met my new mayor, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, at Annie’s event. I reminisced with my old mayor, Libby Schaaf, about the first time we met when she was a city council candidate knocking on my front door.

As I am still writing during the last hour of One Christmas Eve and forcing creativity between the space of inspiration and appropriation, I realize that it is sometime necessary to step away from something you love before you can return.… Read the rest

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