Normal Life During A Pandemic: Fred Meyer Jewelers

Justina Lund (27) helps Albany native Douglas Beam (71) pick out a new wedding set for his wife on October 27 at Fred Meyer Jewelers in Albany. Beam explains, "I was looking at her hand noticing her original set, and after all these years, I figured it was time to get her the diamond she deserves." Fred Meyer Jewelers is located inside the Fred Meyer store off of Santiam Highway. 

Goldsmith's Vu Nguyen (54) pictured left, and Michael Nguyen (23) pictured right, have a combined experience of 30 years in the business. Primarily, this father son duo repair, refurbish, and create one of a kind fine jewelry pieces. Vu inspects all the work he does carefully through the microscope before customers pick it up at Fred Meyer Jewelers on October 27, and son Michael watches his process and expertise. These goldsmiths now work off-site due to social distancing compliance, but come in three days a week to pick up repairs and drop off completed work. 

Goldsmith Vu Nguyen (54) looking through the scope at his next repair subject on October 27, making sure he knows exactly what he will need in order to complete the repair. If additional repair is needed that a sales professional did not discuss with the customer, the customer is notified at this point,  before he takes it in and starts the repair process. Vu has spent 23 years practicing and perfecting his art. 

Photographer of The Week: Eve Arnold

     Photographer of the Week: Eve Arnold

    Eve Arnold (maiden name Cohen) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania April 21, 1912. She was one of nine children and first became interested in photography in 1946 at a photo-finishing plant working for Kodak in Fair Lawn New Jersey. Over six weeks in 1948, she learned photographic skills from Harper's Bazaar art director Alexey Brodovitch at the New School for Social Research in Manhattan. Eve primarily shot her photos with a Pentax camera using natural light, most of her work displayed exactly what she could do with the available light in her environments. 

    Eve Arnold started working for Magnum Photos in 1951 doing mostly freelance work, and became the first female member in 1957. Magnum's founders included Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa whom were considered the greatest reportage photographers of that era. 

Her style is documentary photography with little to no emphasis on posing; capturing imperfect moments that emit true emotion and character of her subjects. One of her first books called " The Unretouched Woman"(1974), really showcased a lot of her attention to detail in the moment it was happening, naturally. This book really gave the world an expansive look into what it means to be a woman, through another woman's lens. Eve notoriously captured raw "aging moments" of actress Joan Crawford's life, as well as non famous subjects like nursing mothers out of England. 

More infamously, Eve had the opportunity to work alongside Marilyn Monroe for several years, even traveling with her to be on set of a film called "The Misfits." Eve was able to capture Marilyn's true nature and expressions through this work, letting everyone get a glimpse into what life was really like as a famous Hollywood starlet. 

Eve was also known for her ground breaking work covering the Civil Rights Movement. She captured delicate moments of the first non segregated schools, The Nation of Islam and Malcom X, along with the Nazi's of America, all portraying real historical events happening during the 50's and early 60's. Eve, being of Jewish descent, was brave enough to get up close and personal with a few of the NOA's men during a Black Muslims meeting held at The International Amphitheater in Chicago; Feb 25, 1962. She wrote that George Lincoln Rockwell, member and leader of the NOA  told her "I'll make a bar of soap out of you", as she continued to shoot. She replied back with, "As long as it isn't a lampshade". In her photo essay she released later that year in Life Magazine she wrote about how men would also spit on her, as well as put cigarettes out on her sweaters while she was documenting these meetings. Can you imagine?

credit: Magnum Photos (link below) 

https://www.magnumphotos.com/newsroom/politics/eve-arnolds-time-with-malcolm-x-and-the-nation-of-islam-in-her-own-words/

Despite all that work she had done, her real claim to fame was in 1979 when she had her first major solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. She received the National Book award for "In China" and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Magazine Photographers subsequently following. She travelled around 40,000 miles over a period of five months working in the countryside, city, and remote areas of inner Mongolia and Tibet capturing how life was actually lived.

In later years she received many honors and awards including being made a Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society, and elected Master Photographer by New York's International Center of Photography (the world's most prestigious photographic honor). She published twelve books, including one in which she received the Kraszna-Krausz Book Award in 1996. To top her list off, she was granted many honorary degrees by the University of Saint Andrews, Staffordshire University, and the American International University of London. As well as being appointed to the advisory committee of The National Museum of Photography, Film, and Television in Bradford, UK.

My favorite quote from Eve in a 1990 BBC interview," I don't see anybody as either ordinary or extraordinary, I see them as simply people in front of my lens." Eve was months short of her 100th birthday when she passed on January 4, 2012 at the age of 99.

SOURCES:

her first maEve Arnold • Photographer Profile •. (2020, May 5). Magnum Photos. https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/eve-arnold/

Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos. (2020Photograph: Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos. (2020, March 26). Eve Arnold’s most memorable shots – in pictures. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2012/jan/05/eve-arnold-memorable-photographs

, March 26). Eve Arnold’s most memorable shots – in pictures. The Guardian.

Eve Arnold. (2009, February 27). Jewish Women’s Archive. 

https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/arnold-eve

Malcolm X: Photographs of the 1960s Activist and Leader by Eve Arnold. (2020, January 20). LIFE. https://www.life.com/history/malcolm-x-and-the-nation-of-islam-eve-arnolds-quietly-powerful-portraits/ 

Environmental Portrait & Mug Shot

Following in her eldest brothers' footsteps, Jasmine Meline became the first woman in her family to join The United States Navy at the age of 20. Growing up in the small town of Coos Bay, Oregon, Jasmine always had her sights set on bigger and better things. She quickly became an Honor Grad in boot camp, rose to the top in her class in both A School and her surgical tech class. At her first duty station, she made Blue Jacket of the Quarter. Her morale was tested as she got assigned to a new chain of command. As she advanced her success seemed intimidating to her male superior. "At times it felt that I was being treated differently than the men, given less important duties that were, in fact, in my job title as The Assistant Leading Petty Officer of the Special Delivery Unit. That title made me second in command. He would avoid giving any leadership roles to me, and seemed awkward around women in general." Jasmine offers us insight through a woman's perspective of the stigmas that still surround women in the military. Nevertheless, these things never got in the way of her performing her duties and contributing to her unit in significant ways. "The Navy doesn't give you what you want, it gives you what you need", says Meline. 

Jasmine Meline (26) Navy Medical Corpsman and Surgical Technologist reflects back on her five years serving the United States Navy and becoming apart of the Naval Hospital of Oak Harbor, Washington's Special Delivery Unit on October 19. Primarily delivering cesarean sections for active duty military members and their spouses, Jasmine also performs life saving surgeries such as mastectomies for cancer patients, and hand function regeneration for someone suffering from sepsis. Jasmine is returning back to Oregon State University this year to pursue her passion in physical therapy stating,  "Before I entered the military I wanted to be a physical therapist. Becoming a surgical tech gave me the foundation I was needing and I quickly learned that I want to help people avoid surgery as much as possible; I am willing to do anything to keep them off surgery table." Jasmine remains in the inactive reserve while continuing her studies. She resides in Corvallis, Oregon while she adjusts back to life as a civilian. 

Jasmine Meline (26) finds comfort and familiarity with training in a gym setting on October 21. She describes it as, "a way I learned to take care of myself mentally, not just physically." This is crucial for her processing frustrating and raw emotions not only inside the Navy, but outside as well. Weight lifting has been the constant for her transitioning back into life as a student, and civilian. Jasmine plans to keep this part of her routine for as long as she is able to. 

 

Around Town 2: Willamette Valley Music Company Salem, OR.

A beautiful autumn day October 17. Open Saturday's from 12:00pm-4:00pm (weekdays 12:00pm-6:00pm) Willamette Valley Music Company is near the junction of State and High Street in Salem, OR.  Established in November 2011, Willamette Valley Music Company specializes in repair, selling instruments, and supplying orchestra sets for bands and amateurs alike. All employees have a plethora of information to share, as well as first hand knowledge and experience for the modern day musician. 

 Salem local Rosalyn Zundel (29) takes a breather outside her place of employment, Willamette Valley Music Company on October 11; deciding to keep her mask on even outdoors. She has been clocking in and out for two years and loves every minute of working in the music industry. Her favorite musical genres include classical and instrumental music, though she does enjoy bopping to pop hits on the radio. "It's hard for me to passively listen to music because I was brought up around music, and studied it in depth at Western Oregon University. Actively listening and dissecting a song is all I know how to do." Zundel also plays the French horn (pictured below).She has been playing since she was a young girl. One of her greatest inspirations for picking the French horn comes from a composer by the name of John Williams. "If I could describe the French horn in one word, it would be brave," Zundel exclaims. 

An elegant French horn, October 17. Available for purchase at Willamette Valley Music Company.

Rosalyn Zundel (29) greases clarinet corks as part of her daily routine on October 17. As you can imagine, many of the instruments take tremendous upkeep to ensure the highest quality and customer satisfaction when trying and purchasing new instruments. With the COVID-19 pandemic the company is taking extra precautions, newly installing what is called a UV sanitation room for their repair shop. You are able to still try out the instruments in a private room six feet away from the employee verbally assisting, they are properly sanitized after use.   

Greg Hickam (15), left,  is a regular here at Willamette Valley Music Company. Hickam is in the middle of purchasing a Michael Brecker jazz music book for the saxophone. Rosalyn Zundel (right) is handing him back his extra change, demonstrating safe social distancing practices behind Plexiglas to ensure customers' safety as well as her own.

Around Town: Historic Downtown Salem, OR.

People out and about on this sunny afternoon, October 6, walking the historic streets here in Salem. 

Friends of two years Brien Durham (left) and David (right) meeting up for a mid day break, October 6. They both have been coming to their downtown hang spot since the 80's for coffee and comradery.

Speedy Ryan catching some rays on October 6, with a smile on his face. He claims to be a jack of all trades,  filling his days with odd jobs and time to just be himself. 

Humans of LBCC

 

                                                                           

                                                                          

  In this photo: Natalie Pelc, Porter Pelc &Tyler Pelc getting married by Natalie's favorite uncle. Flower girl Mia Fleck in lower corner. 

This is my family. They are what mean the most to me. I met my husband almost eight years ago the summer after I graduated high school. We instantly connected and by the end of the summer we decided to do long distance, for an entire year! It was difficult to say the least, we had no clue what we were doing, but we both knew we worked for a reason. He graduated from OIT two years after we met, I finally decided to go back to school when we moved for his externship, and so when we moved to the Monmouth area in 2015 I started taking classes at LBCC. This is my first term back since 2016. Tyler has always been so supportive of my dreams, anything I told him I wanted to do he was on board 100% of the time. Last October we got married in front of our closest friends and family. We were also lucky enough to share it with our son Porter, who is almost three. And yes, I had to hold him most of the ceremony. If there is anything I have learned during this pandemic it's that life is too short to not slow down from time to time. The time we have spent together has gone by so fast, and continues to fly by at a faster rate than ever before. Maybe that is what happens after you have kids, because you see time pass right before your eyes. This is my family, and I am so glad to have them by my side through life.