Author Archives: Geoff Hansen

For the Birds

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While working on a story for the Valley News last weekend, I followed a group of interested bird-watchers as they explored an area of the Connecticut River known as a pathway for waterfowl migration. Organized by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, the tour was led by Phil Brown, who is New Hampshire Audubon’s Director of Land Management. A bald eagle and a nesting peregrine falcon were amongst the highlights of the tour.



From top: Common grackles fly across a marsh adjacent to the Connecticut River south of Charlestown, N.H. With the unusually warm weather in March, the ice melted early in the area’s rivers and streams, speeding up the migration of birds that come through the spring on the way to their summer breeding grounds up north; Lebanon, N.H., resident Tina Avery looks through a spotting scope at an American black duck during a tour of what’s been designated the Middle Connecticut River Important Bird Area in Charlestown; N.H. Audubon’s Phil Brown: “If they get to breeding areas earlier, they’ll have an advantage, but also a risk.”; A mid-tour look at photographs of a hooded merganser.

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Having a Ball

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On Saturday, I covered the Vermont Basketball Coaches’ Association’s Senior All-Star Game in Windsor, Vt., for the Valley News. It was great to the see how much players from schools across the state enjoyed being around each other. More work from the game can be seen in the newspaper’s online gallery here.



From top: North and South girls teams from Vermont’s Division III and IV schools battle it out on the court at Windsor High School; Mid Vermont Christian’s Eli Seale looks to pass to a teammate before a jump ball is called; Players are honored for their accomplishments between two of the afternoon’s four games.

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‘Hotel Hell’

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Last weekend, I arrived at the Juniper Hill Inn in Windsor, Vt., to do photographs for Katie Beth Ryan’s Valley News story about the inn’s upcoming role in Gordon Ramsay’s FOX-TV show, Hotel Hell. Juniper Hill co-owner Robert Dean was in the middle of meeting with his staff, but walked over, shook my hand and said, “You must be the photographer. The ceremony is to be held over here…” I stopped him to say I was there for the newspaper, not the afternoon wedding. It’s not often when my two worlds as wedding photographer and photojournalist converge.


Jennifer Turney, a server at Juniper Hill Inn, gets the dining room ready for a wedding reception. The inn has recently undergone changes after receiving a visit from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

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Arts Day

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Last week, I was honored to be a part of Arts Day, a new district-wide gathering of students from five schools to work with artists in Strafford, Vt. The kids participated in eight workshops in calligraphy, painting, sculpture, felting and photography. My part was to work with ten students (including my daughter) as they photographed the day’s activities with their cameras. Above, my students are shown documenting the other photography workshop taught by Amy Donohue. I am working on a slideshow of the students’ photographs to give away (the cover is below). Contact me if you’d like a copy.

Show opening

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My report is a little late, but Laura DeCapua and I were very pleased with the opening for Our Town: A Snapshot of Tunbridge Residents in 2011 at the Tunbridge Public Library on Jan. 15. Our portrait subjects and other friends from Tunbridge came as well as friends from work and surrounding towns. Their enthusiasm was a great reward for the work we put into the project.
If you’re interested, we are selling a 5″x7″ paperback book with all of the photos from the show in it. Go here to order a copy. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the library.

Our Town

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During the last three months of 2011, fellow photographer and neighbor Laura DeCapua and I did portraits of two-dozen of the residents in our small town – Tunbridge, Vt. Our Town: A Snapshot of Tunbridge Residents in 2011 opened with great response on Jan. 15. The show continues at the Tunbridge Public Library until March 10. Below are three of my favorites.



From top are: Floyd McPhetres, Joan Feierabend and Baxter Doty.

Newspaper favorites

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As photo editor at the Valley News, I don’t get out-and-about every day. But when there’s a need for me to pick up the camera, I still enjoy it a whole lot. All of the photos below were taken in 2011.





From top: Nicole Cormen, center, asks a question of Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, left, at Kilton Library in West Lebanon, N.H. Cormen wanted to know Huntsman’s alternative if President Obama’s health care law were repealed; Congregationalists from Norwich’s five churches participate in an ecumenical prayer before the start of a three-day rummage sale at Tracy Hall in Norwich, Vt. With its donated items, the sale is staffed by volunteers from the churches; Members of the Thetford Academy boys basketball team react at the end of their 49-43 loss to Winooski in Barre, Vt.; Pete Silberfarb, left, of Norwich, Vt., congratulates outgoing town manager Pete Webster on the sale of his home during a reception held in Webster’s honor at the Norwich Inn; Mascoma’s Zach Warner is congratulated by his teammates after his interception stopped a Farmington drive late in their win.

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