Eric Nielson Photography

Unholy Saturday Bus tour, Street Protest, and decompression at the Eagle San Francisco

Quite a raucous affair, as Sisters hopped through destinations in the city that had historical significance to the order – the shared house that the first sisters lived in, Mission Delores (the oldest standing mission in California and the oldest building in San Francisco) where a postulant was given her veil on the steps, to the giant water fountain at the Legion of Honor where the Sisters conducted a giant public ritual.  It all ended with a lovely decompression at the SF Eagle.

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Sunday in Delores Park and After Party at Cafe Flore

Arguably one of the best days in San Francisco every year, as the local queer and hipster community collides in Delores Park for a fabulous event put on by the sisters.  Annual contests to see are “Best Easter Bonnet” and the “Hunky Jesus Contest”, favorites of SF photographers.  Hundreds of fabulous drag outfits, hot boys, cute hipsters, snuggly toddlers, and adoreable dogs can be see in one day.  This year was the first annual Easter parade followed by a fabulous street party next to Cafe Flore on Noe st.

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Thanks to sister Porn Again and Sister Barbi Mitzvah for producing such a great night for everyone. I cried when I saw that Disco Ball being unloaded from the Truck. Amazing. Michael Jackson had just died a few days before, which means that tribute music to him was everywhere. Which was… amazing.

I edited together a few clips that I took with my D90.

A wonderful, wonderful evening of frivolous festiveness at YBCA.  The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were lavished in spangles, rhinestones, and toile as the highlight to an evening of highlights.  Also exhibited that night was Nick Cave’s amazing collection of  ”Soundsuits”—multi-layered mixed-media, wearable sculptures named for the sounds made when the sculptures are worn.  Honey Sound System played an amazing set as well, all topped off by the best fried-hotdog-I-have-ever-put-in-my-mouth by Mission Street Food.
Click on the photo below to view the slideshow.

The gallery is composed of my favorite 200 photos from that night.

If anyone would like to download an image or buy a print from the entire photo catalog, visit this expanded gallery.

I ran a photobooth at the Bearracuda Underwear party on March 30th.  It’s amazing how much puppy behavior you can get out of someone when you put ears on them. (click on photo to view the gallery)

 The photoshoot was inspired by my fundraising drive for the 2009 Astropups Theme Camp at Burning Man.  The Astropups are a fun, frisky, fabulous camp known for their large, warm, furry outfits on the playa, and providing a great space for queer burners during the event.  This year the Astropups are hosting “Bear Shower Happy Hour”- where cocktails are served in front of our large public showers.  Audience participation is encouraged.   

Please feel free to donate to the Astropups 2009 Theme Camp.

Nature calls to the boys: they venture into her domain listening to their iPods and smoking their cigarettes… and she works her magic on them.  (Click above photo to view gallery)

Thanks to models Ryan Gordillo [Facebook, Myspace] and Walker Bolles [ Photo Blog, Flickr, Facebook]

And thanks to Bearracuda for keeping it furry!

Visit my Bearracuda Photo Page for snaps from past events.

Gay marriage is finally happening. It’s full circle on something that I’ve been working on since 2004 when I worked on the Georgian’s Against Discrimination campaign in Georgia. I have to thank all the people who fought long and hard for it here in California. After 2004 I was rather burned out on gay marriage… well, politics in general really. I told myself that I didn’t believe in marriage anyway, but now that it’s here… the excitement in the air sparkles. Brian and I are thinking about tying the knot before November.

Jeff Parker and his partner Jim are my first wedding clients, getting married on 8th of July at Frank Lloyd Wrights Marin County Center. Exciting!

For those of you who did not get a chance to see the announcement, I have a few pictures from San Francisco City Hall.

I was also down there on Monday to take pictures of the first few couples getting hitched. It was nowhere near the madhouse that it was in 2004, when hundreds of couples tried to squeeze through city hall before the state revoked their marriage licenses. Monday was well scripted and well prepared for. Marriages were by appointment only: 8 every half-hour. There was a fleet of judges were on duty all day to speed up the process. There was only one Fred-Phelps-like Christian protester across the street. Practically every wide-open space in city hall was being used in some part of the marriage process. I was totally surprised by how many couples brought children with them.

Below is a collection of my flickr photos of the first few couples getting hitched.

A few stories that I loved where:

Kory O’Rourke and Kate Sheppard were at city hall four years ago, and #2 in line. This time they’ve got a little more of a handful with Keaton and Korbyn in tow.

David Bowers and Brucie Ivie are finally tying the knot. They met at Badlands 27 years and 3 months ago… found an apartment together 7 days later. And they’re not even lesbians!

Some of my photos got into Reuters YouWitness photos of the week. Not sure how long the link will work, but here it is.

A small gaggle of pro-war teenagers stood at the Civic Center grounds while thousands protested the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War. The group eventually had to move across the street to avoid confrontation; but not before I caught the boys in mid-kiss.

And Cindy Sheehan was there as well, in a campaign to oust Nancy Pelosi. Link to Cindy’s Campaign.

Also seen was a pot-smoking Santa, a cop who seems to have had his head replaced by a frowny-face… and other protest characters…

Link to location on Google Maps.

Viagra ascii art

Originally uploaded by TroublePup

When stoners send spam.

My camera died while taking photos at Trannyshack. Really bummed, cause I can’t afford a new one.

If you’ve enjoyed my photos in the past and would like to help me buy a new camera, enjoy the gift of generosity and donate to my paypal account.

KumaSF highlights the IBR weekend with SugarKrash. Dj’s were DJ Rotten Robbie, 50pound Note, Freddie: King of Pants, Bun-D, Agent Adam, DJ Dann Edomond, LUVSIK, DJ Boyshapedbox and DJ Medic.

The highlight of the evening, of course was Tiffany.

Tiffany, Tiffany, Tiffany… You showed up in a room full(mostly) of KumaSF bears, and sang your heart out.  I was particularly tickled when you entreated the audience to  ”Sing Along!” to a song in which no one knew the words.  You were a treat to photograph, and such a good sport.  And I will never forget those pants.  

And when you left the building, I was happy that there was a drag-queen replica of you to act as a stand-in for fan photos.

Thank goodness everyone looked queer as hell in the receiving line.


The links you’ve all been looking for:
Gallery of the whole nights festivities (or slideshow).

For those of you not acquainted with Tiffany, I found an amazing fan(I think) site. There are some crazy ass quotes in the quotes section on Tiffany.org