Bio: A Snapshot of Photographer Nigel Barker

Born in London, Nigel Barker, 42, now lives in New York City with his Covergirl wife Cristen and their two children. 

Growing up in the fashion business with his mother, a former Miss Sri Lanka, he attributes his respect for modeling and fashion to her.

He was studying to be a doctor at boarding school when his mom entered him into a TV model search, The Clothes Show, and was selected for the show, becoming a finalist. He spent the next 10 years modeling in London, Paris, Milan, and New York.

Although in the business for 20 years, he transitioned himself in 1996 from in front of the camera to behind the camera.Together with his wife they founded their own studio in the trendy Meat Packing District of NYC, StudioNB, the same year.

His preferred style of photography are portraits.

"As a fashion photographer who specializes in portraiture, the subject of portrait photography is really about breaking down walls and revealing people because that's, in my opinion, what makes a classic image. It's when you get to see the truth; an authenticity about a person. I can only do that if whomever I'm photographing reveals (themselves) to me and for someone to (do that), they have to trust you. As a result, you've got to be approachable, you've got to be believable, you've got to be honest yourself. Hopefully, I project a voice of reason and a sensibility that's not overreacting, but at the same time is reacting to what their saying. It felt very natural this time around. It was very invigorating."

- Nigel Barker

Taylor Swift released a Photobook in November 2012 and teamed up with Barker for featured photos.

Barker is best known for the 17 seasons he sat on the judging panel with Tyra Banks and took photos for America's New Top Model contestants. He now has his own show The Face on Oxegen with Naomi Campbell.

His work has graced the pages of many magazines including GQ and Seventeen.

He continues to expand his fashion expertise and has leant his photographer's eye as a host for beauty competitions in recent years, namely the 2008 Miss America pageant and the 2012 Miss Universe pageant. 

A humanitarian at heart, in 2009 he opened a photography exhibit Haiti: Hunger and Hope at the Milk Gallery in New York. The exhibit showcased world issues such as hunger, AIDS and animal abuse (The Humane Society) which earned him a nomination for a Do Something With Style Award sponsored by VH1 "Do Something Awards."

In 2010 he published a book Nigel Barker's Beauty Equation: Revealing a Better and More Beautiful You that is also developing a coinciding skin care line to help women be confident and camera ready.
 
His creativity evolves him as his life progresses. His son has an interest in skateboarding, which lead Barker to create a line of boards teaming with SHUT NYC featuring his photography in 2013.

Building a creative empire one year at a time, he is not only a photographer of style and diversity but seems driven to leave his mark on the world that revolves around him.

Behind the Comic Strip: Jason Maddox

When he was 16 and freshly enrolled at LBCC he was too shy to ask The Commuter if they wanted to publish his work. So Jason Maddox left a letter in the dropbox with a comic strip attached and waited for a call. A year later the paper called. 

Now a senior at Lebenon High, but duel-enrolled at LBCC, Maddox has been drawing comics for eight years.

His progression from stick-figures to what they are today has included eight or nine characters. He experiments with new types of art as he expands his talent.

"I look back at drawings I did two months ago and see how much I've improved."

Choosing a favorite, he likes his current strip the best.

"I like this [character] because of how it's evolved. It looked a ton different from what it does now."

A perfectionist in his work, he checks out of reality and puts all his attention into getting that one curve right. When he creates at his light table in his room he gets into "the zone."

"Not while I'm inking!" he admits will exclaim when his concentration is so intense that his family can sneak up on him.

He seeks opinion from his siblings and says his brother, who tried a short-lived hand at comics, likes his current character too. Maddox hopes to create a web comic with his sister. He wants to draw and she wants to write.

"Growing up my dad wouldn't let us read the comic strips until he read the paper."

Favorite comics to read are Calvin and Hobbs, Garfield and local comic Stone Soup by Jan Eliot.

"They are stimulating and funny!"

Many of his story lines pop randomly into his head and others are influenced by what he sees people do. When he gets in a creative zone he has pumped out 20 comics in just a few days.

He likes to use sarcasm in his work and admits he has not published some of his comics for fear of offending. Recently he's been focusing more on content then looks.

"I'll just create little stories in my head."

As if high school, college courses, and freelance work are not enough to keep him busy, Maddox is also illustrating a book for one of his teachers at Lebenon High. They plan on selling it on Amazon.

When he's enrolled full-time at LBCC and majoring in computer science he wants to learn how to create his own page on the web. For now, readers can view his work on his Google Plus page for Three's a Crowd.

Behind the Comic Strip: Jarom Knudsen

Last term Jarom Knudsen walked into The Commuter office and simply said he wanted to write comics for the paper. And so he does.

Graduating spring term with an emphasis on computer science and digital arts, he plans on transferring to University of Oregon or University of Washington.

Creating comic strips is a new hobby of his but he's been reading them since a kid, like Batman, for example. Current favorites include Penny Arcade and the webcomic XKCD.

"They're witty, they're smart. It's high-end humor."

During his time with The Commuter he has yet to create his own character series but he finds inspiration around him. Crediting Gary Larson's The Far Side and "Star Wars" for some of his humorous depictions, he also finds influence from fellow staffer Jason Maddox who does Three's a Crowd.

Something as simple as observing a fight over a crossword puzzle can inspire him to create a strip (like a few issues ago). Music also plays a part. He likes to listen to music with no words when he writes and let's it influence his art.

"I'm working on a piece really epic right now so the music I listen to is epic."

He hopes to create his own comic. His ideal plan is a graphic novel that's fun, original, a little crazy, and probably doesn't have any bounds.

"The only thing I'm good at is being honest."

As humble as he may be, Knudsen has inked impressive works for the paper thus far. Noting that he has always been a creator, drawing seems to soothe his mind.

"When I get done drawing something late at night I'm relaxed. If I don't draw I don't sleep."

Knudsen is open for feedback from his peers.

"I'd even settle for hate-mail! I want to see what's good and what can be improved."

LBCC President Puts Pie in SLC Vice Presidents' Face

Greg Hamann and Jeff Lehn

Last Wednesday the courtyard at LBCC became a spectacle for bystanders as the president of LBCC, Greg Hamann, put a whipped cream pie in the face of Student Leadership Council's Vice President Jeff Lehn.

For the first time joint efforts between Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges, and SLC's Linn-Benton Lunch Box program organized a fundraiser and the $303 raised was split among the two organizations.

During the two weeks of sales the tickets were put into a coffee can to be pulled at random. Tickets were sold to students and faculty for $1 each or $5 for six. Each ticket was a chance for the purchaser's name to be selected to put a pie-in-the-face of a volunteer.

Lehn was a volunteer to "get pie'd." Hamann was the ticket selected to dish out the pie. Although he was apprehensive at first, the crowd assured him it was all in good fun and he stepped up to the plate.

Jeff Lehn draws name from coffee can.

"It was an honor to have Greg pie me in the face," said Lehn.

With all fun aside the fundraiser earned money for a serious cause.

LB Lunch Box started about seven years ago and is a student funded program that provides food for families in need. It's a free, no-questions-asked service for students to pick up food three times a term.

The program is designed to feed families up to eight and follows nutritional guidelines. Depending on the size of the family those using the service get a certain number of canned and packaged foods on each visit. Generally the selection will last their families three to four days.

"We understand it's hard for students that don't have a job and don't know where their next meal is coming from," said Lehn.

By Lehn's estimate 60-70 percent of the students taking advantage of LB Lunch Box are young married parents.

Students interested in picking up food from the SLC office simply need to provide their student identification number. No other criteria is required.

Ginger Peterson, advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, sold a big portion of the tickets for the fundraiser.

"I probably sold close to 100 tickets. [Half] goes to the LB Lunch Box and that's awesome because it helps students in need."
For those wanting to donate to LB Lunch Box there are two locations on campus. One is by the Learning Center in a small cardboard box and the other is at the SLC office.

LB Lunch Box also offers an alternative to paying late fees at the library. Students who would rather pay their fines in canned foods can donate up to $10 of their fees owed in food. One can equals $1.

According to library attendant Bill Thomas an average of 10 to 15 cans are donated to pay off fines in a given week. However, towards the end of the term he estimates closer to 15 to 20 per day.

"I'm glad we do it, we're not here to make money off the students," said Rachenda Hawkins, librarian and department chair.

Other money raised for LB Lunch Box comes from the Hot Shot Cafe on campus. Proceeds from the student-run cafe are donated to LB Lunch Box after utility bills are paid.

"It's actually a self-sufficient business," said Lehn.

Students seeking a caffeine fix that goes to a good cause can contribute to a future meal for peers at the Hot Shot Cafe.


-At a Glance-

Fundraiser: Phi Theta Kappa and LB Lunch Box
LB Lunch Box Program: Free food for families up to eight, three times a term
LB Lunch Box Requirements: Student Identification
Get Involved: Pay LBCC library late fees with canned food
Donation Drop Boxes: Learning Center and SLC Office

LBCC Culinary Arts: Meet the Chefs

The Commons at LBCC has the feel of a college cafeteria combined with food fit for fine dining.

Student chefs learn how to manage their time in the kitchen, how to prepare and cook a variety of foods, and how to use essential equipment found in industrial kitchens. Preparing them for a future in the food industry, the culinary arts students have access to a state-the-art wood-fired oven for pizzas and calzones, a bakery for tempting treats, and grills for limitless creations.

Meet three of the students that serve up their creations to hungry patrons in the cafeteria.

"In middle school I went to Outback Steakhouse and thought it was cool how the manager came out and talked to everyone." - Sami Kline

Since her dining experience in middle school Sami Kline knew she wanted to work in a high-speed industry. A sophomore at Oregon State University majoring in Nutrition and Food Service, she transferred to LBCC's Culinary Arts program. 

Approaching graduation in June she hopes to find a career in restaurant management or hospitality. Her experience in the LBCC Culinary Arts program has taught her how to use her time more efficiently in the kitchen.

Her favorite thing to cook is stir-fry. Growing up she watched her mom cook it often and she now likes to play around with it herself. Never making it the same, she searches for the freshest vegetables at the store to create a new flavor every time.

Jason Richmond

 "I started working in a kitchen and realized it was something I really enjoyed and wanted to do." - Jason Richmond

Aware that he could excel quickly in the LBCC Culinary Arts program, Jason Richmond is in his second year. 

After graduation he hopes to find a career as a chef on a cruise ship, private yacht, or at a resort. His motivation is to be able to cook and travel at the same time.

So far in his training at the college he has enjoyed learning about Charcuterie, which is cooking and preparing meats such as sausage and other cured meats.

His favorite food to cook is good 'ol homestyle comfort and grilled foods with a Southern twist but "a little fancier." He looks forward to continuing to learn and experiment with it.

Winny Hu

 "My parents always had a restaurant and I've been helping them since I was little." - Winny Hu

Growing up in the industry and helping at her family's Japanese restaurant in California, baking is what made Winny Hu want to enroll in LBCC's Culinary Arts program.

In her first year at the college, she has learned how to make sauces and soups and enjoys the opportunity to add her personal touch of  spices and flavors to make them her own.

Her goal is to one day open her own restaurant or bakery. She enjoys the sense of urgency in the kitchen and the "get the food on the line or you're dead" intensity.

Her favorite cooking tool is a giant wok. She has the freedom to throw whatever she wants into it and likes the fire and smoke it makes while flipping her creations.