Bryan Farley Photography Educator

Carnaval San Francisco

On May 28th, 2017, I photographed the 39th Annual Carnaval San Francisco Grand Parade in the Mission District. The parade lineup included about 70 groups. I took about 1600 pictures. My final edited photo gallery has fewer pictures, but you should check for yourself.

2013

In 2013, 2014 and (again in 2015), I photographed the parade route; my children were with the Fogo Na Roupa contingent.

This year I photographed the entire parade… or as much of the parade as I could. Because I spent the previous parades with one crew, I did not realize that groups lined up on both sides of 24th.

Before the parade started, groups line up for several blocks in each direction fixing their costumes and practicing their routines.

This year’s theme is “El Corazón de San Pancho/The Heart of San Francisco.” The theme underscores how the city welcomes people.… Read the rest

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Last month, Ginga Mundo Capoeira Oakland held their fourth annual Festival da Caopeira. The three day event includes sessions for youth at Melrose Leadership Academy in Oakland, California. (MLA is my children’s elementary school.) My fifth grade son has attended all four. The first festa da capoeira was held in December 2013; the last three have occurred in May.

2017 Festival Photos

Until my children began capoeira, I was unfamiliar with it. I did not appreciate capoeira’s history nor the dedication of the capoeira community. Because I had not seen capoeira, I did not appreciate the complex lessons my son would learn.

Capoeira is inter-generational and participatory. Younger students learn from older masters and professors. Many of the teachers travel from other states or other countries to share their knowledge. Knowledge is valued… the sharing of knowledge is valued.

Young students learn how to share their knowledge with other younger students.… Read the rest

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Last week Anne Lamott discussed her new book Hallelujah Anyway at Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California. A Great Good Place hosted the event; I took some pictures (that you can see here).

I was excited to see Anne. In 2014 I was on the other side of the country when she visited Oakland. I wrote a meandering blog post that referenced a few of her books and avoided any mention of my impending divorce.  Last week, I had already started reading her new book about “rediscovering mercy” when I noticed that I was one of the only men in the audience. It was shocking.

I am often one of the only men… or one of the only white people or one of the only people with a disability. I often seek activities where I will be an outsider, but I feel like a visitor. The Lamont event was different.… Read the rest

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Last month, Melrose Leadership Academy’s fifth graders traveled to San Francisco’s Chinese Historical Society of America. We walked to a nearby playground in Chinatown before we visited the new permanent exhibit “Chinese Americans: Exclusion/Inclusion.”

We took a bus across the Bay Bridge from Oakland. I took some pictures. I included the photo gallery here. (The individual photos are from the gallery.)

San Francisco’s Chinatown is a popular tourist destination, but its history is often overlooked. Chinatown was almost lost after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act restricted the number of people who could become legal citizens. Americans enforced the restrictions. During the field trip, the students learned how some of the immigrants were tested at Angel Island and other sites.

The new exhibit asks, “What does it mean to be American?” This is a recurring question for our country. It seems that some people are allowed to sail across oceans and land on our shores and become Americans.… Read the rest

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I have had epilepsy since I was 16. I had my first seizure one month after running the San Francisco Marathon. For many years afterwards, I continued running with limited success. Mostly, I ran away from the truth about my health.

Last weekend, I attended the first annual Seize the Moment 5K walk/run for Epilepsy in Sacramento, California. The event was held at Gibson Ranch Park on March 26, 2017. March 26 is also “Purple Day,” an international day for people with epilepsy. There was a regular 5K followed by a color run with a lot of purple haze. My two children attended with me.

Photo Gallery Here

Jodi Ortiz, race manager

The National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C. was the same weekend this year. I had gone every year since 2010, but I did not feel like going this year. When I first started attending, I was excited. I felt useful.… Read the rest

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Bay Area Derby opened their regular season at the Old West Oakland Train Station ten days ago. The roller derby bout was held outside the abandoned train station on Saturday, March 18, 2017.

Here is the photo gallery from the season opener.

I have also photographed an event inside the 16th Street Station. On November 7, 2015, I photographed a fundraiser when Mayor Libby Schaaf celebrated her 50th birthday at the historic site. 

This year’s season opener was historic because of the new venue, but the result was also unusual. San Francisco ShEvil Dead defeated the Oakland Outlaws 186-114. The ShEvil Dead victory equaled their win total from the three previous years.

The new venue seemed appropriate for roller derby. Old and new had found a place to interact and coexist. Nothing felt out of place.

When I watch derby on a foam surface, I forget that the sport is full of full contact.… Read the rest

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