Joey Chandler Photography

My Grandmother – Mary Chandler – passed away last week from complications resulting from a stroke she suffered about 10 years ago.  Till the end she was a fighter and lived with all the dignity she could muster.  She was a long time fighter for civil, worker and human rights.  “Everything is political” she once told me.   The thing that impressed me the most about my grandmother was how many people she impacted over the years.   People from all walks of life talked about how she stood by her principles with a ferocity and dignity that challenged and inspired them.  One gentleman described how she was the one adult that he looked up to during the drug crazed 70′s.  He remembered thinking “I hope I am as cools as she is when I’m her age.”

For me, I will always remember my Grandmother as the woman that could make meals out of nothing (depression era cooking), that would chop wood all day long because “it needed to be done”, and would hike all day by herself in the Sierras.  I can’t say that I always understood or accepted my grandmother’s politics and beliefs.  But I never doubted here spirit and gumption.

But I think my dad summed it up best when he said “I don’t know what is on the the other side.  But whatever it is, there better be justice for all because if there isn’t Mom/Grandma will start organizing for sure.”

We had an amazing weekend celebrating her life and coming together as family.  A few photos from the weekend are below.  All photos are here.

Next week I have a photo shoot with a family that lives across the street from Ft. Mason.  Lucius and I took a trip this week to scout out the area.  Not necessarily a playground but plenty of room for the little ones to roam.  Lucius found the statue of Phillip Burton, spent a good amount of time sweeping the dirt with his lacrosse stick, and jumping off the stairs.

Good news is that the bridge and the grass will make nice backgrounds for the shoot.  Plus there is great old downed tree in on the north east side that will make a nice to set up a family shot.  All that we need now is  good light.  And since we are in San Francisco, that won’t be decided until we meet.