Photography

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Ayanna Brown is overcome with emotion as she and her husband, Louis, hold a picture of their son Alajawan, who was killed in 2010 at age 12. They have started a foundation in his name to help kids in the Skyway area pay for camps, sports or other activities.

Oftentimes, we photojournalists find ourselves in an odd confluence of events, for better or worse. For me, this is one of the better experiences. Here's a little insight to how I made the picture - and a follow up with the effect.

I was filling in on the night shift last week, when I was asked to try and make a portrait of a couple we had already photographed. A re-shoot. Which usually means it was a tough assignment to begin with. All of my portrait lenses and lighting gear were sitting at home, and rush hour traffic guaranteed I wasn't going to make it up there to stock up.

On my way to Skyway in gridlock, reporter Sara Jean Green filled me in on the details of Ayanna and Louis Brown, whom she had been covering since the trial of the gang member who killed their 12-year-old son, Alajawan, in 2010. I'm new to the area and had not yet heard the story. Alajawan, an avid football player, had been working odd jobs to pay for his participation on the Renton Rangers Junior Football team, and was returning home on April 29, 2010, from buying a new pair of cleats. He was wearing a blue jacket, his favorite color. Curtis Walker, a member of the Blood Pirus gang, saw Alajawan's blue jacket and mistakenly thought he was a member of the rival Crips gang, and shot him in the back, killing him in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven in his Skyway neighborhood. You can read more in Sara's comprehensive and heart-wrenching story.

After sitting in traffic for what seemed like forever and getting lost more than once, I finally found my way to their home with their patient directions. They were gracious, and Louis had just had a long day at work. The inside of the house was dark and the light outside was flat with no scenes that spoke to me for a portrait. Had I been carrying my normal set-up, I probably would have photographed them inside with a softbox, from arm's length, as usual. Not happening - so I spied a landing, elevated by stairs, that I would be able to shoot from their neighbor's yard, about 20 feet away.

I grabbed a telephoto (70-200) lens out of my car and shouted suggestions as to how I thought they should stand. They felt so far away from me, but the background was working for the look I wanted.

At one point, her smile faded and Ayanna rested her head against Louis' chest and I asked him to put his had on the top of the picture of their son. She began to weep, and he hugged her closer. I knew I had to keep shooting, but I didn't want to. I took a couple frames and went over to hug her, tears streaming from my eyes as well. Thinking back afterward, I don't think I would have shot this had I used my normal set-up. It would have been more difficult for them to share such an honest moment together if I had been standing physically close to them with my camera, like I normally shoot portraits.

Louis excused himself to go inside to make dinner and Ayanna showed me all of Alajawan's favorite haunts - the steep hill in the park he would jog up with weights, the old home they used to share. She talked vividly, like it was the present and not the past, and gave me directions to the 7-Eleven where it happened, where she spent time each day.

After we parted, I drove a couple laps around the neighborhood, hoping to find a feature picture to be made in the last of the evening light. Then I headed towards the 7-Eleven, and spotted Ayanna's pink dress. Just by chance. I stopped and we talked some more.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Ayanna Brown comes to this 7-Eleven on Martin Luther King Boulevard each day, where her 12-year-old son Alajawan Brown was gunned down two years ago. They have planted a small tree in Alajawan's honor near the corner, and often Ayanna just parks her car next to it to be near the place where he spent his last moments.

She recounted the day it happened, and told me she came here often, to be where Alajawan spent his last moments. Louis favors visiting the gravesite where he rests, but she feels something alive at the 7-Eleven. A Japanese maple tree they planted there for him stands about two feet tall, hiding behind the sign for Slim's Car Wash.

The reason for the story is that Ayanna and Louis started 'The Alajawan Brown Foundation', also known as 'Alajawan's Hands', to benefit children in their neighborhood - kicking off with a school supply drive this past Saturday and upcoming Friday. Their goal is to collect 1,000 backpacks complete with school supplies for local kids.

Saturday, the day after their story ran on the front page of The Seattle Times in print and online, the Browns were flooded with emails and phone calls. Caring supporters drove from Everett, Bellevue and Auburn to bring supplies. A monetary donation came in from Maui, as did a promise from the Seattle Seahawks for 100 backpacks. King County Fire Station #20, who responded to the shooting, has pledged to help out too. A web designer even called with an offer to host and build a website for the new foundation.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Ayanna Brown sorts through school supplies in her living room Monday, July 30, 2012.

Ayanna left me a joyful phone message Sunday and I returned to follow up with her on Monday. Her formerly pristine living room was taken over by what she called a 'beautifully chaotic' mess of the 202 backpacks and loads of school supplies.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

One supporter brought a symbolic pair of cleats that Ayanna displayed proudly.

Another special gift was left at the Alajawan's Japanese maple, at the 7-Eleven. A football with a special message, and a letter.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

"When things get tough for me, I remember your son, he inspires me to go harder every time," wrote Myles Klingler, a 12-year-old junior quarterback for the Central District Panthers, in a note left addressed to the Brown family, with this token football at a memorial tree for Alajawan Brown.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

New flowers and stuffed animals grace the Japanese Maple planted in memory of Alajawan Brown, gunned down at this 7-Eleven at South 129th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South in Skyway.

More backpacks are still needed, and the next round of their school supply drive will be held at the Wal-Mart in Renton Friday August 3rd from 9AM-5PM. Read the original story and today's update. To contact Ayanna Brown to help with the foundation, she can be reached at 425-213-0127 or annayasbrown@yahoo.com.