The other day, I received a royalty statement for three of the books I did photography for. While sales didn’t warrant a check, I began to tally in my head the number of books sold over the years with my name on them. All told, a dozen titles published over a 15-year time span reached over 100,000 copies! Just like the work I produced, it’s an accomplishment I’m proud of. Below are a few of my favorite book photos.
From top: Weaned piglets nap in a pile at North Hollow Farm in Rochester, Vt. The farm has separate areas in the 1886 barn for the pigs to sleep and eat. (LIVING WITH PIGS); Three-year-old Brad Jones enjoys a rolls in the cold water and mud on a Spring day at Fat Rooster Farm in Royalton, Vt. His dad, Kyle Jones, later brought Brad into the house and gave him a shower with his clothes on. (HARVEST); A group of Shetland yearling rams walks down a pasture path at Maple Ridge Sheep Farm in Braintree, Vt. Farmer Linda Doane said her rams are more docile when kept together in a group. (LIVING WITH SHEEP); As the sun melts the morning frost, apprentices Janet Van Zoren, left, and Tali Biale carry artichoke roots they dug up back to the barn at Fat Rooster Farm. (JOY OF KEEPING A ROOT CELLAR); A Columbian Wyandotte hen scratches for seeds, insects and pebbles in the woods behind the chicken coop on Carrie Maynard’s property in South Royalton, Vt. (LIVING WITH CHICKENS)
Author Archives: Geoff Hansen
Ilaria & Seraphim
Ilaria and Seraphim’s wedding three years ago at the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Claremont, N.H., was interesting to photograph with its unique traditions. Their reception at Ilaria’s childhood home in Strafford, Vt., was filled with music and celebration. In the photograph below, I stood in middle of a contra dance as family and friends enjoyed themselves!
A Gift
The other day I got together with Mica to do maternity portraits as a gift for her husband Jason. Last May, they were married just down the road in Strafford, Vt., and I was their photographer. It was fun to catch up — Mica’s other children were also there and did a great job in assisting!
Tender Chicken
When it came time for the meat birds to be butchered at Fat Rooster Farm in Royalton, Vt., apprentice Whitney Taylor had trouble parting with one of the chickens because she had become attached it. This picture didn’t originally make it into the book I was working on in 2008, but I like the photo’s tenderness when I look at it now. (Poopie Poo was spared that day and lived a full life on the farm.)
Lauren & Yves
On October 10, 2010 (yes, it was 10-10-10!), I photographed an excellent wedding ceremony and celebration at the Hermitage Inn in West Dover, Vt. It was an enjoyable time because Lauren and Yves, their friends and family were so welcoming. The Hermitage is great place to work — I have been there several times to photograph weddings.
End of an Era
Last weekend, I photographed a screening of the Life of Pi at the Playhouse Theatre in Randolph for Nicola Smith’s Valley News story. Built in 1919, the theater has been through the transition from silent to sound and from black and white to color. Now, owners Dave and Tammy Tomaszewski are looking to raise $100,000 to transition to digital because film movies will no longer be available sometime this year.
From top: Film leader for the movie Life of Pi is strung from its tray to a 1950s projector at the Playhouse Theatre in Randolph. A film arrives on several reels before Dave Tomaszewski splices it together; Rose Dice of Randolph looks at posters of movie stars while waiting for her matinee ticket. To raise money to buy a digital projector, the owners are forming a cooperative and running a Kickstarter campaign. “I have to join the co-op,” Dice said. “I have to support the life of this theater.” Dave Tomaszewski feeds the film into the projector he and his wife use at the theater. They have been told movies will no longer be available on film sometime this year.
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Katie Beth & Greg
This afternoon, I met Katie Beth and Greg at the Strafford Town House to do their engagement portrait. The building’s beautiful light and iconic structure are perfect for portraits. I’m looking forward to being Katie Beth and Greg’s photographer at their St. Louis wedding this summer!
Westward Ho
While traveling out West a few years ago, my family and I stopped in St. Louis for the afternoon to tour around. We (of course) checked out the Gateway Arch, but also discovered the Museum of Westward Expansion located underneath! I’m headed back to St. Louis in June to photograph a wedding and am looking forward to exploring more.
Jane & Graham
When Jane and Graham were married in 2010, they invited everyone to the home they built along the Connecticut River in Thetford, Vt. Jane and her father — and the rest of the wedding party — entered the ceremony by canoe! It’s fun to photograph personal touches at weddings.
Feature Hunting
Looking for newspaper features (photographers call them stand-alones, editors like to say wild art) is a challenge that can be frustrating when it doesn’t work out, or incredibly rewarding when it does. When I found Harris Griffiths working on his truck from a pit in West Claremont, N.H., in 1990, his pet geese became the photo’s special touch. And I loved his quote: “They’re awful pesky,” he said. “They carry off my tools.”
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May not be reprinted without permission