A few weeks ago I was I was sort of in a creative funk. I'd been toying with the idea of a "geek tribute shoot" for the longest time - one that would beckon nerd/frat-party movie posters of the 80's as well as the clichéd "leg shot." Part of it was realized last Thursday when a bunch of us got together at the White's place to shoot the thing.
When I'd begun to think of players to cast, Ryan Suenaga immediately came to mind. Not only was his style unique enough, but his image is immediately recognizable, and he was fun-loving enough to "just go with it." I surrounded him with other tweeps - Michael Choy and Ricky Li (Ed and Dallas White would join in later). We ate pizza, hung out, drank cola, joked, played with our iPads, cameras and gadgets. We laughed and had a great time.
Tragedy struck this past weekend when Ryan (out hiking with Michael and a few other friends), fell from the treacherous trail at Mt. Olomana. It would be fatal. Just like that, our beacon was gone.
Ryan was a friend to many and a selfless, generous, family man who always put others before himself. He was disciplined and lived with great benevolence in his all-encompassing love for people. It was always about us - never him. And, yes, he did in fact change the world. In that, he remained humble, grateful, ready to serve and and always prepared for what was ahead. You could not find a finer specimen of humanity than him.
He was also pretty damn funny. And it's with in mind that I post these pics, taken just a couple of days before his farewell. His spirit is all over these, and in looking at them, maybe he can make us laugh one more time.
I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph Ryan. He was the star here, just as he was a star on the earth. I'm pretty sure he's a star in the next life too.
Special thanks to Ed and Dallas white for letting us use their home, as well as assisting on the lighting. Thank Michael Choy, Ricky Li and the late Ryan Suenaga. We will miss you soo much! Thanks for making us laugh.
