Standing in the photo pit at the BUCKAROO Country Nights festival in West Fargo, I admitted my nervousness to a fellow photographer and a security guard. The photographer asked, 'Do you think you are nervous because you are a fan?' I responded quickly because she was absolutely right. Charley Crockett and his band were headlining the first night of the festival at The Lights, and if I were not working for The Forum newspaper and website, I would have been in the audience on that cool late August evening. I have many of Crockett's songs in my music library and had seen him perform at Fargo Brewing back in 2021, so the excitement was real. As I walked to the other side of the stage, a tall young man with short blonde hair and wide-set thin eyes called over the security barrier, 'Are you getting good photos?' I stopped in front of him and said modestly, 'I hope so.' He put his fist over the barrier and declared, 'You'll get good photos; you'll get good photos.' I bumped his fist and continued on, that small encouragement setting a positive tone for the rest of the night.
While waiting by the front of the stage, a kid of about eleven or twelve asked me, 'What's your favorite thing about being a photographer?' I took a moment to think about his question before answering that I like the responsibility. I appreciate that I can go places like this concert, photograph basketball games from the floor, see the inside of the newest buildings, travel with writers for stories, and meet so many people from all walks of life. With his arms folded on top of the barrier, he nodded his head and said, 'It's about the experience.' My smile widened as I pointed toward him. That was it exactly. The images I make serve as both a public record and a personal narrative. Throughout 2025, there were many stellar stories, and I see a consistent body of solid work that I am proud of. If things work out, there will be more experiences for years to come.
One highlight was photographing Justin Stoll, co-owner of the Hawley Spin Depot in Hawley, Minnesota. I drove there on a Saturday in June to document Stoll, his business partner Michael Lemoine, and their 800-square-foot shop filled mostly with records but also other formats. I spotted a Charley Crockett record in one of the rooms, and we talked about how good his tunes are. I asked Justin to lean against a record bin and stand like Crockett does on the cover of the 'Lonesome Drifter' album for a photo. I spent a few hours at the shop, discovering that Stoll and Lemoine are around my age and share a similar musical upbringing. It was a lot of fun talking about music just as fans. While recording a video of a Zoetrope record Stoll was playing, I started paying attention to the song and after hearing the chorus, 'Hey, I'm going to give you all my love,' I interrupted my recording and said, 'These guys are good!' It was the first time I ever heard Dope Lemon.
Other assignments captured the community's challenges and resilience. After covering a traffic jam on Interstate 94 caused by downed power lines, I witnessed damage from a severe storm that hit North Dakota on June 20. Three days later, I traveled with Forum writer April Baumgarten to Hunter and Page, North Dakota, where volunteers hauled tree limbs with chains attached to tractors, chainsaws and generators ran steadily, and roofs were ripped off while entire trees had toppled over. Pieces of grain bins were flung far into fields, some looking like a giant had punched or kicked them. A train outside of Page had tipped on its side, looking like a helpless bug. I also covered several protests and marches, including a street theater protest called 'Let Them Eat Cake' with over 200 protesters led by Bethany Dixon dressed as Liberty, and a gathering at Fargo City Hall uniting people of faith against violence and drug abuse.
Some of the most meaningful moments came from quiet, unexpected encounters. In September, I needed a 'wild art' standalone photo near Island Park where I live. I approached a man lounging on the grass with a bicycle cart that had an orange flower spinning in the breeze. He told me he was homeless and hated it, though he looked like he was simply enjoying a warm, sunny day. Markus Adams, originally from Compton, California, told me he had lived in Fargo for twenty years and was now homeless after his tools for fixing his bike were stolen. He shared how people often shout the n-word at him from cars and how a five-year-old child once sang, 'Get a job, get a job' at him. When I told him he didn't look homeless, he asked, 'What is homeless supposed to look like?' We shared some life experiences, and he offered sympathy as I talked about adjusting to new circumstances. These human connections remind me why being present matters.
From photographing the Doggy Dip event in Moorhead to covering Mason Klabo breaking the North Dakota Class A/AA all-time boys scoring record at Fargo Davies, the year has been full of diverse experiences. I photographed skateboarders attempting tricks at Dike West Skate Park, realizing I could do this forever. I covered my first fashion show at NDSU, which drew hundreds of people and was so well done I hope to cover it again. I documented Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney retiring his bright yellow flood vest during a Red River ceremony and captured public meetings about the new public safety sales tax. As colleagues like Patrick Springer, Helmut Schmidt, and Tom Larson retired, I reflected on the privilege of working with such dedicated journalists. The kid at the Charley Crockett show understood perfectly: it's about the experience.
