Last week, I got to watch my friends in Marqay put the finishing touches on their debut EP, "Dusk." Afterward, we spent some time outside of Earthling Studios in El Cajon to shoot some portraits. With basically no light available, we switched on some car headlights and taillights to capture the mood and tone of the group's music. Here are a couple of my favorites and some music. And check out Marqay's bandcamp site here .

Members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem, go through their initiation ceremony at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

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I worked on a really fun story back in October about the U.S. first muslim fraternity, Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lamda Mu.

The first chapter started at the University of Texas, but others are popping up around the country, including at the University of California, San Diego.

I headed out for a very early start to watch the brothers go through their pledge ceremony and for some prayers at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Afterward, the guys all headed to Snooze in Hillcrest for a quick brunch.

It was awesome to report this story  alongside Liam Dillon , my colleague and friend from Voice of San Diego, who did some contributing work to Kyle Spencer 's story. And my pictures shared the page with some from Dylan Hollingsworth , a talented photographer from Texas who produced a very thorough documentation of Alif Laam Meem's founding. Definitely check out his work for a comprehensive visual narrative about these guys.

Nadir Masood and Quazi Afsar Hossain, members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem, pray inside the Islamic Center of San Diego on the group's initiation day. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Rumzi Khan, president of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem (right), and his roommate Nadir Masood, prepare to head out the door on the group's initiation day. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

A member of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem reads a prayer off of a cell phone as part of the group's initiation process. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem meet for breakfast at Snooze, a restaurant in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, after undergoing their initiation ceremony. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem wait for a table at Snooze, a restaurant in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, after undergoing their initiation ceremony. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Nadir Masood, Haroon Masood and Quazi Afsar Hossain, members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem, wait for a table at Snooze, a restaurant in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, after undergoing their initiation ceremony. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem eat breakfast at Snooze, a restaurant in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, after undergoing their initiation ceremony. The members try to stick to the covenants of Halal, which prohibits Muslims from eating certain types of food, including pork. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Members of the University of California, San Diego chapter of Alif Laam Meem eat breakfast at Snooze, a restaurant in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, after undergoing their initiation ceremony. The members try to stick to the covenants of Halal, which prohibits Muslims from eating certain types of food, including pork. Alif Laam Meem, or Alpha Lambda Mu, is the only muslim fraternity in the United States. CREDIT: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Campaign events can often be really, really dry things to photograph. So you can imagine my delight to photograph Neel Kashkari, a candidate for Governor of California, at one of my favorite breweries.

Kashkari was on a tour of Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. This is the brewery that makes the mighty Sculpin beer that I so enjoy. The tour was part of the candidates platform to build an economy that helps business growth. 

Kashkari didn't leave before sampling the brews (he had some on the way in and on the way out). I myself waited until I got home to enjoy a cold one.

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari speaks to Skip Stegmair, national sales manager - spirits, at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson 

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari speaks to Skip Stegmair, national sales manager - spirits, at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari speaks with reporters at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson 

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari speaks to Skip Stegmair, national sales manager - spirits, at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari tries a beer at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson 

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari speaks with reporters at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson 

California Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Neel Kashkari (right) speaks to Skip Stegmair, national sales manager - spirits, at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego January 27, 2014. The former banker and TARP executive has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican primary for the the state's 2014 election.  REUTERS/Sam Hodgson