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Seeing Red

Published on April 20, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

What ended up being an epic weekend of work started with the Massachusetts GOP Convention Saturday at the DCU Center in Worcester. Politics, behind sports, is one of my favorite subjects to cover as a photojournalist. Sure, most of the access is mainly for canned press events and planned photo ops, but every now and then, you can sneak a candid, honest look at the people behind the race.

This particular event was a bit lighter in the second department — it was a convention after all — but it was a lot of fun, if not demanding work-wise, nonetheless.

The big story at this event was the race for the governor’s race nomination between Charlie Baker and underdog Christy Mihos. Here’s some images from the event:

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — GOP gubernataorial candidate Charlie Baker laughs at a joke he told during his address to the Mass. GOP convention on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Mass. GOP gubernatorial hopeful Christy Mihos turns to look over his shoulder at his rival, Charlie Baker, during an interview at the Mass. GOP Convention at the DCU Center on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — GOP gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos addresses the audience at the Mass. GOP convention on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Supporters of GOP gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos and campaign volunteers Yvonne and Clifford Blake, of Clinton, show their support for their candidate at the Mass. GOP convention at the DCU Center on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Independent gubernatorial candidate and state treasurer Tim Cahill makes an appearance outside the DCU Center, hoping to appeal to disaffected Republican voters, at the Mass. GOP Convention on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Jack de Jong, 12, of Weston, shows his support for GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker at the Mass. GOP convention on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker celebrates his win for the nomination from the Mass. GOP convention on April 17, 2010.

4.17.2010 — WORCESTER, Mass. — GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker celebrates his win for the nomination from the Mass. GOP convention on April 17, 2010.

The Freedom Trail

Published on August 19, 2009 in Photojournalism and Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

So here’s the complete take on what I submitted for the 2009 AAJA Convention Dith Pran Photo Shootout, which featured the theme “The Freedom Trail.” Growing up in Boston, I never experienced the Freedom Trail from the point of view as a tourist. I always just saw it as something that tourists would flock to in the summer, and so that’s kind of the approach I took in shooting it for the contest — to shoot it from the outside in, looking at the marginal people around the Trail.

So here we go:

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — Timmy Gammon, 20, left, Gabby, 20, and Steve, 20, play music in Boston Common along the Freedom Trail for money on Aug. 13, 2009.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — Timmy Gammon, 20, left, Gabby, 20, and Steve, 20, play music in Boston Common along the Freedom Trail for money on Aug. 13, 2009.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — Steve Chaplisk, who is homeless, feeds dozens of birds outside the State House at the head of the Freedom Trail while commuters head home from their jobs on Aug. 13, 2009.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — Steve Chaplisk, who is homeless, feeds dozens of birds outside the State House at the head of the Freedom Trail while commuters head home from their jobs on Aug. 13, 2009.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — Street vendor, Juan, gets some reading time next to his stand along the Freedom Trail on Washington Street on Aug. 13, 2009. With cloudy skies, business was slow, he said.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — Street vendor, Juan, gets some reading time next to his stand along the Freedom Trail on Washington Street on Aug. 13, 2009. With cloudy skies, business was slow, he said.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — A homeless woman watches tourists pass by along the Freedom Trail on Congress Street near Faneuil Hall on Aug. 13, 2009.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — A homeless woman watches tourists pass by along the Freedom Trail on Congress Street near Faneuil Hall on Aug. 13, 2009.

And of course, the award winner:

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — College student Sam Hines, 21, gives out "Free Hugs" at the corner outside the Park Street T station for the simple reason that, 'It makes people happy!' on Aug. 13, 2009. It was Hines' first day at the spot at the head of the Freedom Trail this summer, though she said she spent a number of days out there last summer.

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — College student Sam Hines, 21, gives out 'Free Hugs' at the corner outside the Park Street T station for the simple reason that, 'It makes people happy!' on Aug. 13, 2009. It was Hines' first day at the spot at the head of the Freedom Trail this summer, though she said she spent a number of days out there last summer.

Pick-Me-Up

Published on August 18, 2009 in Photojournalism and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

It’s a tough time to be a photojournalist, for sure. Business is down for most of us, layoffs across the board, difficulty fishing for clients — it’s hard to make a living doing this.

But every time I get frustrated or a little down, I think of this outtake from a recent assignment. This kid here, Angel Maldonado, age 2, found me along the parade route of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Roxbury:

7.26.2009 — BOSTON — Angel Maldonado, 2, expresses his curiosity about what a newspaper photographer is doing at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Roxbury on July 26, 2009.

7.26.2009 — BOSTON — Angel Maldonado, 2, expresses his curiosity about what a newspaper photographer is doing at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Roxbury on July 26, 2009.

At most parades, you’d expect lots of noise and screaming kids. Not so at this one. It was so hot humid that most of the kids just seemed miserable… that is, until I walked by. Angel here found me and started asking me what I was doing, wanted to play around with my camera, looked through my viewfinder — should have seen his face when he did that! He was genuinely more interested in what I was doing than the parade.

And that is how cool this job is!

Free Hugs

Published on August 15, 2009 in Photojournalism and Uncategorized. 3 Comments Tags: , , , .

So the AAJA Convention is in Boston this weekend. Part of the festivities included the 10th Annual Dith Pran Photo Shootout, hosted by AAJA Photo.

Here was one of my five entries, based on the theme “Freedom Trail.”

8/13/2009 — BOSTON — College student Sam Hines, 21, gives out "Free Hugs" at the corner outside the Park Street T station for the simple reason that, "It makes people happy!" on Aug. 13, 2009. It was Hines' first day at the spot at the head of the Freedom Trail this summer, though she said she spent a number of days out there last summer.

8.13.2009 — BOSTON — College student Sam Hines, 21, gives out 'Free Hugs' at the corner outside the Park Street T station for the simple reason that, 'It makes people happy!' on Aug. 13, 2009. It was Hines' first day at the spot at the head of the Freedom Trail this summer, though she said she spent a number of days out there last summer.

My idea was to photograph the marginal people along the Trail, basically all the people who ask for your money. As a local, I’ve always just known the Freedom Trail as one big money grab for tourists. I still haven’t ever walked the whole thing in its entirety.

Anyway, believe it or not, I actually won the shootout with this photo — the one photo that didn’t have a person asking for money! Thanks, Sam.

Good karma all the way around.

Turtle Approves: Patriots Camp

Published on August 10, 2009 in Photojournalism and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Spent the afternoon at Patriots training camp, and then wrapped up the evening watching Entourage, which featured Tom Brady as a guest star.

First time shooting football since Bucs minicamp last summer. Boy, I’m rusty.

Here’s some snappies from today:

The Real Boston Garden

Published on August 6, 2009 in Personal Projects and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , .

My dad is very proud of his garden, clearly.

garden01

garden02

Basically, I shot these as a sharpness test for my trusty 50mm f/1.8, and I was a bit disappointed with the results. I was hoping to get a little wider on the portrait shot to show a little more of my dad’s “Garden in the woods,” just to show the wooded area behind the house. But the damn thing won’t focus unless you’re within 10 feet, or it’s backfocus city. Either way, my dad’s a ham — which is clearly both a good thing and a bad thing.

Oh yeah, and there’s some tomatoes.

Noms

Published on August 5, 2009 in Personal Projects and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: .

Made a few snappies of my dinner tonight. Yes, I cooked all this by myself!

Here it is — Grilled salmon and tomatoes with some Chinese broccoli. Tasty!

8.5.2009 — Grilled salmon and tomatoes with Chinese broccoli.

8.5.2009 — Grilled salmon and tomatoes with Chinese broccoli.

Wing It

Published on August 2, 2009 in Personal Projects and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The Park Plaza Hotel in Boston last night put on a “Taste of Park Plaza” event to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. As part of a preview story for the Herald, I was sent to the Swan Cafe, where the hotel’s tea sommelier Cynthia Gold came up with an idea for tea-marinated hot wings.

7.27.2009 — BOSTON — The Park Plaza Hotel's Tea Sommelier Cynthia Gold is now featuring several tea-infused items on the menu at the hotel's Swan Cafe, including these grilled chicken wings served with a basil-jalapenÃÉo sauce on the side.

7.27.2009 — BOSTON — The Park Plaza Hotel's Tea Sommelier Cynthia Gold is now featuring several tea-infused items on the menu at the hotel's Swan Cafe, including these grilled chicken wings served with a basil-jalapenÃÉo sauce on the side.

Henry Louis Gates-gate

Published on July 28, 2009 in Photojournalism and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

So by now, you’ve most likely heard of all the brouhaha behind the Henry Louis Gates arrest by the Cambridge Police. Like everyone else in the Boston media, Gatesgate took over my life over the weekend as a result of President Obama’s remarks that the police acted “stupidly.”

I’m not complaining — it’s almost like my own personal stimulus package! I worked four-straight days over the weekend.

Here’s a few from the Cambridge Police’s press conference last Friday showing support for arresting officer Sgt. James M. Crowley.

7.24.2009 — CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley, left, listens as Massachusetts Municipal Police Association attorney Alan S. McDonald, right, addresses remarks from President Barack Obama on Crowley's arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at a press conference at Hotel Harlowe on July 24, 2009.

7.24.2009 — CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley, left, listens as Massachusetts Municipal Police Association attorney Alan S. McDonald, right, addresses remarks from President Barack Obama on Crowley's arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at a press conference at Hotel Harlowe on July 24, 2009.

7.24.2009 — CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Police Sgt. Leon Lashley signals to the media his support of Sgt. James Crowley, left, at a press conference addressing remarks from President Barack Obama on Crowley's arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at Hotel Harlowe on July 24, 2009.

7.24.2009 — CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Police Sgt. Leon Lashley signals to the media his support of Sgt. James Crowley, left, at a press conference addressing remarks from President Barack Obama on Crowley's arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at Hotel Harlowe on July 24, 2009.

The man behind the moon… landing

Published on July 23, 2009 in Photojournalism and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Just a few portraits from the weekend.

This first one is of Mr. Eldon Hall, who was managing MIT’s Draper Lab when they developed the navigation computer for Apollo 11. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, Hall gave a speech at MIT to show off some of the old school tech they sent up there.

7.19.2009 - WESTWOOD, Mass. - Eldon Hall was supervising MIT's Draper Lab in the 1960s when his team developed the navigational computers for the Apollo missions to the moon. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Hall will be giving a speech at MIT on July 20, 2009, showcasing some of the technology that was used in the original computer. Though he was present for the launch, he watched the actual landing a few days later with his wife, Grace R. W. Hall, from their home back in Massachusetts.

7.19.2009 - WESTWOOD, Mass. - Eldon Hall was supervising MIT's Draper Lab in the 1960s when his team developed the navigational computers for the Apollo missions to the moon. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Hall will be giving a speech at MIT on July 20, 2009, showcasing some of the technology that was used in the original computer. Though he was present for the launch, he watched the actual landing a few days later with his wife, Grace R. W. Hall, from their home back in Massachusetts.

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This next one is of Josh Gerber, owner of the 1369 Coffee Shop in Cambridge’s Central Square. He thought he was awkward and non-photogenic for some reason, but clearly, the man plays well in front of the camera!

7.20.2009 - CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Josh Gerber, owner of 1369 Coffee Shop in Central Square, says he enjoys the competition from the Starbucks down the street on Mass Ave. Despite Starbucks' marketing strategy to rebrand itself as a neighborhood coffee shop, Gerber says he expects his regulars to keep coming. "I think people are just starting to get tired of Starbucks," he said. But still, he said his own shop, which he purchased from another owner 7 years ago, owes much to its corporate competitor for making espresso and lattes mainstream.

7.20.2009 - CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Josh Gerber, owner of 1369 Coffee Shop in Central Square, says he enjoys the competition from the Starbucks down the street on Mass Ave. Despite Starbucks' marketing strategy to rebrand itself as a neighborhood coffee shop, Gerber says he expects his regulars to keep coming. 'I think people are just starting to get tired of Starbucks,' he said. But still, he said his own shop, which he purchased from another owner 7 years ago, owes much to its corporate competitor for making espresso and lattes mainstream.

I had to photograph him for a story on Starbucks changing their name in their Seattle shops to seem more like a local coffee shop, which would seemingly try to put them at odds with actual local coffee shops like Josh’s. Anyway, relax, Josh! Photos turned out great!