Athletic Endeavor

For the first time, the Valley News sports department has chosen a boy and girl from the 17 schools it covers as Athletes of the Year. It seemed daunting for the photo staff to get 34 portraits done in a short amount of time, but all of the students made it happen. So many of the athletes were gracious and enthusiastic to be a part of it! Here’s a few I did that are my favorites:

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From top: Woodstock Union High School junior Abby Kaija, Whitcomb High School sophomore Zak Gillette, Oxbow Union High School freshman Isabella Giesing, Stevens High School senior Chase Hussey and Whitcomb High School junior Lindsey LaPerle were among the area athletes who had their portraits taken at the Valley News office.

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New Family

Last weekend I met Sarah and Alex to photograph them with their baby daughter Eleanor. In addition to becoming new parents, Alex and Sarah are both starting medical residencies soon — I admire their ability to multi-task!

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Heidi & Kyle

I met Heidi and Kyle last Sunday to do their engagement portrait in Norwich, Vt., at the home where Heidi grew up and is soon to be sold. This October they are getting married in Hanover, N.H., then celebrating later in the day in Lyme, N.H. I’m looking forward to being their photographer!

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An Inspiration

A week ago I photographed Patrick Ross for a Valley News profile about his music and recording company, Rock Farm Records. Patrick is an inspiration for the creative ways he brings local music to life!

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From top: Fiddler Patrick Ross, of Newbury, Vt., left, plays with the Bayley-Hazen Boys in a concert in Bradford, Vt. Gary Darling, of Barnet, Vt., plays mandolin, Chris Cruger, of Bethlehem, N.H., is on bass and Steve Wright, of Barnet, Vt., plays banjo. The performance was recorded as part of Ross’ Mountain Money concert series; Ross works on a song in his home office. Playing in front of audiences since age 11, Ross said music is always on in his home; Figgy the cat greet Ross while he is restringing a guitar.

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After a Fashion

A few weeks ago, I photographed a Saturday night fashion show held at the Main Street Museum in White River Junction, Vt., for Enterprise, the Valley News’ fledgling business magazine. As someone who buys his clothes at thrift stores, it was fun to see what’s fashionable! Here are a few of my favorites from covering the event:

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From top: Make-up artist Katie O’Day touches up model Caroline Collison at a nearby hair salon before the start of the fashion show held at the Main Street Museum in White River Junction, Vt. Fourteen models showed the work of four local designers in the show; Models Bethany Fleishman and Justin Barrett talk backstage before the start of a fashion show; Jessica Mesa shows a piece by local designer Keeny Paige; Designer Mark E. Merrill’s work is shown on the runway by a model who gave her name as “The White Light.”

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Old & New

I recently placed an order to upgrade the digital SLR cameras I have used for many assignments, book projects, portraits and weddings. In the same week, I bought a little rangefinder camera at a flea market. One camera costs more than a nice vacation, the other half the price of a movie ticket. I’m excited to use all of them for future projects!

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A horse and barn in Tunbridge, Vt., are starkly shown in a photograph taken with an Olympus-35 EC2 on Ilford XP2 film.

Back to Barre

Over the past week, I returned to the Barre Auditorium to photograph playoff basketball for the Valley News. Known to many as The Aud, the municipal gymnasium in Barre, Vt., has been hosting high school championship play since 1941. While the gym is a technical challenge due to subdued lighting and limited space, its atmosphere is unmatched when filled to 1,856 capacity. Here’s a few of my favorites:

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From top: Sharon Academy head coach Blake Fabrikant calls out a play as guard Tanner James brings the ball upcourt during the team’s semifinal game against Twinfield; Proctor fans attach players’ names before their championship game begins; a Sharon Academy student has his face and arms covered in the school color; Fabrikant gives player Brandon Tracy direction during their championship game; Rivendell Academy students react to change in play late in their Saturday night title tilt; the Rivendell Raptor strikes a pose outside the team locker room; Jill Thomas congratulates her husband, Woodstock boys basketball head coach Jeff Thomas, after his team completed a perfect season with a 65-56 championship win over Enosburg. “It’s been a long season,” Jill Thomas said.

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