As a present for his 50th birthday, Sandi surprised Sean with a trip to Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vt., to spend the weekend with their sons and extended family. Brilliant sun on a brisk morning made for nice photos during my visit! Follow this link to see more in the Galleries section of my website.
Last weekend I got together with Mat and Kate to do engagement portraits and talk about photographing their August wedding in Landgrove, Vt. They’re a sweet couple and I’m looking forward to being their wedding photographer later this year!
For the fifth year as a parent volunteer, I manned the photo booth at Sharon Academy’s all-school prom on Saturday night. In addition to the silliness, it’s sweet to photograph close friends, siblings and dates together as well as teachers with their advisory groups. To see more and to order prints and downloads, follow this link (profits will benefit the school’s Annual Fund).
After recently photographing Cindy Pierce’s wonderful sold-out “Shuffle the Deck” performance in White River Junction, Vt., I feel so fortunate to have known Cindy over the past 20 years. I first met Cindy and Bruce as their wedding photographer then a few years later Cindy asked me to do promotional photography for her new venture, comic storytelling about her life. Cindy’s found her calling by traveling the country to speak to students about sexual health with her clear and honest approach. Cindy’s one of the most kind, giving, open and funny people I know! Here’s a few photos from the recent performance and others from the stage and her work at Pierce’s Inn from over the years:
Over the weekend I photographed family portraits at Lia and Rich’s gathering in Hanover, N.H., where extended family celebrated Lia’s mother’s 91st birthday and the youngest granddaughter’s first Christmas! Follow this link to see more and to order prints and downloads in the Galleries section of my website.
As usual, it’s been a busy year for me and my photography. I enjoy the variety of the work, whether it’s the unpredictability of newspaper photography, documenting important family events like weddings and other gatherings, or aiming the lens to tell the story of my community. Here’s a few of my favorites, with a bit of commentary:
Since photographing their wedding ten years ago, Cara and Dean have had me to their Barnard, Vt., home several times to document their growing family. As things were winding down this summer, Baiah and her siblings were exploring the nearby pond and she showed me her sweet and beautiful creation.
When the phone rings at home later in the evening, it’s usually an editor at the VALLEY NEWS. There was a lightning strike at a Vershire, Vt., home, which is a couple of towns away from me. After negotiating with a reluctant home owner, I got access, photographed the investigation and uploaded the photo into the system via. my cell phone close to midnight. Technology is amazing!
I’ve known Logan since her younger sister and my daughter entered kindergarten 13 years ago. Logan and Nick were married in a beautiful hilltop ceremony in Tunbridge, Vt., then had a reception at the fairgrounds in town. When their wedding party — who are also rec league softball teammates — toasted the couple by shotgunning cans of beer, I held the camera over my head and hoped I got the photo.
When the largest schools in Vermont are puny compared with others in the Northeast, the state’s smallest Division IV basketball teams are scrappy and play with tons of heart. In the championship game, Sharon Academy held on to win 60-56 over Danville and coach Blake Fabrikant was as happy as the players were. It was the school’s first championship win and I was there for the VALLEY NEWS to capture it.
In an exchange for partial CSA payment, I have been doing photography and maintaining Tunbridge Hill Farm’s website for the past several years. When I look back at my photos in the middle of winter, I can vividly recall the warm soil under my bare feet and the sweet taste of the peas plucked from their dewey pods.
Driving to cover a Claremont, N.H., City Council meeting for the VALLEY NEWS, I was not expecting much. As part of a school project, 10-year-old boy was to present a petition to lower the speed limit near his house. But once I saw his mother tear up with pride while seeing her self-assured son confidently reading his speech, I was hooked!
The newspaper has been naming the best male and female athlete for the 18 high schools it covers for the past several years, marked with portraits and a special publication. Oxbow High running sensation Izzy Giesing has won it four times, and I think I’ve done her portrait each time. Wanting to change it up, I had the thought to photograph Izzy’s spiked shoes flying through the air. With help from her twin sister, we did several attempts and laughed a lot at the shoes poking both of them while they landed.
Another victim of changing times, the venerable local office supply business Twin State Typewriter was closing its doors in White River Junction, Vt. While working in the store with VALLEY NEWS reporter John Lippman, I was happy to photograph customer Becca White’s reaction to the news from Donald and Wanda Nalette.
I have tagged along with my daughter to the July 4 birthday celebration for her friend’s brother for several years. It’s held at the Woodstock, Vt., community fireworks display and his parents are fully equipped with not only cake but party favors. The kids’ creative uses of glow sticks and their reaction to the display made me happy I brought my camera and its good lens!
Sometimes portraits just fall in your lap — I had an assignment to photograph property management owner Melissa Allen at her office in Grantham, N.H., for ENTERPRISE, the VALLEY NEWS’ business magazine. I was greeted by Penelope, Melissa’s sweet basset hound, and asked if Penelope could be in the photo on her desk, where there was nice morning light. Melissa relaxed, having her dog in the picture.
I was interested to see how competitive go-karting works as I spent the morning with Matthew Winter and his family at the Canaan Motor Club for a VALLEY NEWS story. There was a lot of time spent preparing the kart, attending the drivers’ meeting and doing qualifying races before the feature. When there was a bit of tension about adjusting the kart between Matthew’s father and an official, I was glad to be there to document it.
On the same day as the karting assignment, I had to run down the road to the annual Abenaki and Indigenous People’s Honoring Day in White River Junction, Vt. As I arrived, the organizers were speaking and I saw that Martha Knapp, one of the founders who recently retired, was in the audience. She was presented with a dream catcher and I was lucky to be there to photograph her reaction.
My daughter is in her final year of high school at Sharon Academy and she’s loved every minute of it. The school has an annual tradition of putting on an all-school play where every student is involved in the process. Many are on stage but there are others who do the lighting, play music, sell tickets or produce the program. I enjoyed seeing students who I have known since kindergarten flourish in their roles!
For the seventh year, I volunteered to photograph Santa’s appearance at the Tunbridge Public Library. Euclid Farnham has been doing the gig much longer — since 1979. It’s not only wonderful to see his interaction with the children (his wife Priscilla is usually there as Mrs. Claus but was under the weather), but as president of the Tunbridge Historical Society, Euclid has also put my work into their archives for others to enjoy years from now.
On another VALLEY NEWS assignment, I spent the morning with Mount Lebanon Elementary School Principal Eloise Ginty for a story about her decision to leave the job at the end of the school year. Fourth-grader Leigha Hopwood gave her a big hug during a break in school work. It went so well with the quote I got from Eloise: “I enjoyed every minute of being here,” she said. “It’s a great school.”
Valley News photographs copyright © Valley News
May not be reprinted without permission
Over the weekend I did senior portraits of Kay at her family’s home in Springfield, Vt. Kay is a special young woman – she was a caregiver for her grandmother, who lived next door, and wore one of her grandmother’s blouses for her portraits. Follow this link to see more and to order prints and downloads in the Galleries section of my website.
I recently spent time with Scott’s family as they gathered in Killington, Vt., for their annual family reunion. In addition to portraits, I documented their relaxation time and was with the family while dinner was being made, getting priceless reactions to lobster being cooked! Follow this link to see more in the Galleries section of my website.
Last weekend, I caught up with Cara, Dean and their growing family. Since photographing their wedding a decade ago, I’ve been back several times to document each new sibling. It’s always a treat! Follow this link to see more in the Galleries section of my website (and to order prints and downloads).
As the school year winds down, the Valley News celebrates the accomplishments of 36 students from the 18 schools it covers with its Athlete of the Year award. It’s a bit stressful to reach everyone and schedule portraits in two weeks, but well worth it! Here’s a few of my favorites:
From top, Oxbow’s Izzy Giesing, Mount Royal’s Alex Normandin, Stevens’ Jenna Pond, South Royalton’s Connor Lambert and Iris Hudson, Lebanon’s Nate Chickering, Thetford’s Meagan Balch, Oxbow’s Ben Emerson and Newport’s Lacey McNeel.
Copyright © Valley News
May not be reprinted without permission