SnoCross 2008!

This weekend I snagged a pretty cool assignment from the Burlington Free Press. The Expo was host to this year's SnoX Challenge where hundreds of snowmobilers gather to race and jump around a course. I've been snowmobiling twice in my life and it was awesome - a bit scary - but awesome. We would tear across Rangeley Lake in Maine sometimes pushing 60mph since it was a straight shot, but these guys are tearing across rhythm courses, jumps and turns all while racing other riders. A couple guys dumped their sleds and there were some close calls, but man was it exciting.

When I showed up I knew I needed a press pass and orange vest to wear at the track so that the riders could see me. What I didn't know is that the vest was, yes, orange so the riders could see me but really it was intended for if and when I get run over. Great. I wish I had a picture of me in the tek-vest, it was quite the experience. Enjoy!

snowshoesnowshoesnowshoe

We have had the most amazing and incredible snowfall in Vermont so far. December proved to be the perfect month for the fluffy white stuff - so of course - Tom and I had to go play with our new snowshoes! We've been dying to get out and stomp around with Bear after the pitiful winters we had in Boston the past few years. On New Year's Day while everyone else in the world is nursing a hangover, Tom and I headed up to Niquette's Bay for a crisp morning in the woods. We linked up with a few other snow shoers along the way, Bear made a new girlfriend and we started off the New Year perfectly!



There's my handsome Tommy.



Tom, Jason, Sharon, and Eric on our latest excursion to the Indian River Reservoir.



Boscoe - the huge, 85 lb chocolate lab, has a jump like no other. We discovered it after hanging around the cliff jump at Niquette's Bay this summer.






Boscoe almost knocks Jason out of the way!



Tom taking a breather and soakin' it in.



A cute little snowman greeted us at Indian River Reservoir - grass skirt included.



My Bear racing along the footbridge at Niquette's.



What a gorgeous morning - I love it when the snow sticks to the trees - everything is so quiet.

delayed, belated xmas

After putting it off for so long, I've finally sat down and gone through all those Christmas photos for edit. I celebrated big time this year with four Christmas get-togethers - whew! - and I think it honestly took me until now to fully recover from all the roasts, pies, cakes, egg nog, wine and the really difficult part - the presents. Here's a few from my Jericho celebration at my Dad's - one down, three to go.



I don't think I could've said it better myself. Will has the ultimate look of candy and present-induced exhaustion as he lays upon the pile of wrapping paper and toys strewn about the living room. I feel ya buddy.



My new protege! Turns out Charlie is quite the little photographer and snapped a few incredible shots at the Christmas party. Wendy, Will and Jonathan enjoy his slideshow.



Dylan demonstrates the pooping chicken toy - ha!



Kids being kids.



Will discovering the wonders of chocolate. Mmmm.

first night burlington

I had the pleasure of covering the New Year's celebration in downtown Burlington for the Free Press: First Night. A 25-year tradition, First Night rings in the new year with music, dance, art and song with a variety of performances and showcases highlighting all the creative goodness Burlington has to offer. I lucked out with a not-so-nippy night and even ran into a few old friends and also some new ones including fellow photog and Free Press freelancer Daria Bishop. Here's a selection of some of my favorite photos and moments I captured before I tipped my pint to 2008!



This was awesome. The Dragons and Drums Parade was zooming down Church Street and I hopped into the winding dragon for some sweet shots. This kid was gracious enough to let me flash my camera numerous times until I was happy with what I got. This was a sort of "Hail Mary" approach as I was running backwards and sideways during the entire shot.



Out of the fray I snapped this shot of a group of kids waiting to wind their way through Burlington in the Dragon parade.



I captured this moment of a girl simply radiating at the bar talking with someone I can only assume she was really happy to be with.



My first shot. I knew tonight was going to be great as soon as I walked by Muddy Waters and saw this little guy waving to me. After playing some games through the glass I of course couldn't leave without snapping a few frames. You can see his proud parents watching this cute moment in the background - this little guys 15 minutes came much sooner than most!



The lighting of the snow torch-chili pepper-thing. No idea but I'm always a fan of anything creative....lighting snow on fire? Check.



Church Street was lined with cut-outs of famous paintings that people could poke their heads through. Captured some funny moments but I just loved this girl peering through with her huge ski gloves on.

Keep tuning in!

adventures in brooklyn

Ok ok, here are more of the Holga prints from my trip to Brooklyn over my birthday weekend. See my post below for my first and favorite shot on my new plastic-body, low-tech Holga 120 camera. I should really post a picture of the actual camera since it's so cool looking - the whole weekend people were asking why I was taking pictures with a G.I. Joe camera - HA! It was really strange and foreign to me to just forget about ISO settings, apertures and shutter settings and simply focus on framing. Framing a square format was a bit different, too. And of course, the biggie, not being able to see the image immediately after I shot it really brought me back to the good ol' darkroom 35mm days. As much as I love the convenience, cost and speed of digital I do miss the hours spent losing myself in the darkroom.



I love these scene. We found such good vintage nostalgia here and I'm not sure what it was doing there.



Here we are approaching DUMBO in Brooklyn.



Dani and Hilary walking down a perfectly graffitied street. I'm not one to support graffiti but it definitely has its place and can lend to a more interesting shot - photowise.






Hilary.



Channyn's double exposure. You can barely make out the faint exposure of her on the left.



Dylan and Channyn.



Dani and Bill Clinton at brunch in Brooklyn.