SDN Portfolio Review 1 — Joseph Ciembroniewicz

Maine Paganism

I spent an afternoon with Paul Ridlon, who also goes by Magnus de Rhuddlan, to make images for a Maine Monitor story about the rise of Paganism in Maine. Paul practices Norse Druidry, is a member of the Maine Pagan Clergy Association, and lives in a yurt in his backyard in Portland, Maine.

The gate leading to Paul S. Ridlon’s backyard is illuminated by his breaklights at his home in Portland, ME, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. The Norse runes on the gate read: “Speak friend and enter,” a phrase adopted from The Lord of the Rings.

Paul Ridlon, who practices a form of modern paganism and also goes by the name Magnus de Rhuddlan, wears his “Moss Bear” suit on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, as he stands inside his yurt in Portland, ME. Ridlon is a member of the Maine Pagan Clergy Association, and “Moss Bear” is one of several suits he constructed for use during shamanic rituals and community events.

Deer masks hang on the ceiling of Paul Ridlon’s home in Portland, ME, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Paul made the masks for a Winter Solstice ceremony.

From left, Paul Ridlon, who also goes by Magnus de Rhuddlan, William Huntington, and Ally Meeks eat dinner at Ridlon’s home in Portland, ME, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, as his dogs “Athena” and “Blue” wait for table scraps. Huntington and Meeks both rent from Ridlon.

Paul Ridlon, who also goes by Magnus de Rhuddlan, shovels the walkway of the Portland New Church, a Swedenborgian Spiritual Community where he serves as Council President, and co-leads a monthly “cosmic mass,” in Portland, ME, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.

Paul Ridlon, who practices a form of modern paganism and also goes by the name Magnus de Rhuddlan, wears his “Moss Bear” suit on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, as he stands outside of the yurt where he lives in Portland, ME.

A Day with Batman of San Jose

Batman of San Jose (BOSJ) is a recent college graduate and was completing his degree when this story was photographed. During his free time, BOSJ brings resources to unhoused people while dressed as Batman. He began this practice in his home city, San Jose, Calif. “San Jose was hiding a lot of social issues from me,” he says, “for a long time.” He started with more traditional outreach work, bringing resources and emotional support to those in need. He found that individuals were often perceived as problems, not people, which he found was a big problem. In order to get attention on the housing crisis, he began to wear the suit.

Batman of San Jose stands in his living room after a day spent distributing aid to unhoused people on Nov. 12, 2023, in Rochester, NY.

Batman of San Jose stands in line to purchase socks to distribute to unhoused people on Nov. 12, 2023, in Rochester, NY.

“T” films Batman of San Jose (BOSJ) outside of 819 Clinton Grocery as BOSJ moves south down North Clinton Ave, looking for people in need, on Oct. 22, 2023, in Rochester, NY.

Batman of San Jose distributes food and soft goods to people in need on North Clinton Ave, on May 16, 2024, in Rochester, NY.

An unhoused woman holds socks and toothbrushes that Batman of San Jose brought to distribute to unhoused people in Rochester, NY, on May 16, 2024.

Batman of San stands outside of a house that unhoused people use as shelter in Rochester, NY, on Nov. 12, 2023.

Batman of San Jose stands near a used hypodermic needle on May 16, 2024, in Rochester, NY. He wears snake boots with his suit, a measure intended to prevent injury by needles and other sharp objects he may encounter.

Batman of San Jose (BOSJ) slowly approaches a man who is overdosing on North Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY, on Oct. 22, 2023. BOSJ initially decided not to dose the man with Narcan, a decision later called “kind of shortsighted,” stating, “I should’ve just administered Narcan immediately.” Moments later, members of the outreach group ‘Hope Dealers’ arrived and asked BOSJ whether they should give the man Narcan. He told them yes. After two doses, the man revived. Since then, BOSJ has administered lifesaving Narcan to a person who was overdosing.

Batman of San Jose lies on his bed after a long day spent distributing aid in Rochester, NY, on Oct. 22, 2023. He scrolls through comments on a TikTok of his that recently went viral. BOSJ uses social media to raise funds, connect with community members, and spread his message about the necessity for housing justice.

A prototype of Batman of San Jose’s mask sits in front of his sewing machine at his home in Rochester, NY, on Oct. 22, 2023.