Somewhere Down the Road

Lively Still

2012-02-01T01:48:00.002-05:00

Securing Romney's Spaghetti Dinner

2012-01-30T21:51:00.003-05:00

Waiting for Newt

2012-01-30T20:19:00.001-05:00

A campaign worker waits for Newt Gingrich at a Republican headquarters in Littleton, New Hampshire. Gingrich was scheduled for a radio show.

The Production of Politics

2012-01-27T00:50:00.001-05:00

From an event hosted by Gov. Rick Perry, of Texas, at a VFW hall in Nashua, NH.

Behind the scenes

2012-01-25T23:10:00.002-05:00

Behind the scenes with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. I'm still digging through folders upon folders of primary stuff to come up with an edit. I'll post some as I go.

Sunrise on the Blocks

2012-01-25T22:08:00.002-05:00

Early morning walk.

More to come soon...

2012-01-19T13:20:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted here in quite some time. I was swamped (in a fantastic way) covering the New Hampshire primaries and for about a week before January 10 voting date, I was doing little more than shooting all day, transmitting, posting to the Concord Monitor's Primary Circus blog, and trying to get at least a few hours of sleep before doing it again.

Being out everyday covering the primary, with a phenomenal staff of passionate reporters and fellow photo staffer Andrea Morales, has been a highlight of my time here in Concord. Each morning began as each night ended, reading the newest email from the campaigns, searching Politico's candidate calendar, and coming up with a strategy how to hit as many events as possible while still allowing time to scope out locations and stick around after the candidates left. It was a week of being extremely productive and taking initiative so I didn't look back with regret when it was all over.

Getting caught in the scrum and excitement of it all was a positive experience, but was also a threat to making different images and thinking about what the images were saying...something I am still working on. There are only so many photos of a candidate surrounded by a mob of media that I could take.

The photo below was made while driving back roads checking out voting stations throughout central New Hampshire on the day of the primary. What also made that week amazing was housing a few talented shooters in my one-room apartment. We became close very quickly. As a few of us toured the back towns to find voters filling out ballots, we came across a cemetery with markers dating back to the early 1800s. Curious and having a few minutes to spare, we hopped out of the car. Greeting us out of nowhere came two Huskies.

As I go through the work from the primary, I'll be posting them here as much as possible. If you're bored, you should also check out the Monitor's Primary Circus photo blog, linked to earlier in this post.

Romney Tours NH

2011-12-23T02:23:00.001-05:00

Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, began a bus tour starting Tuesday night/Wednesday morning in western New Hampshire. It's really the first time I've seen Romney working 'the New Hampshire way' of being close to the voters and putting himself out there. I've been on the late shift this week but figured waking up and navigating icy roads with fellow staffer and a reporter was worth it. On each of these events I challenge myself to look beyond what is given to the media as a photo op and try to get something telling of the candidates or the event. A lot of times it means when everyone is going in the front door through the campaign staff, you find a back door through a kitchen where a chef is getting ready for the day. It means being nice to everyone. And it means thinking on your own and taking risks that break the rules, but not having a sense of entitlement and knowing your boundaries.

It's Pickin' Up

2011-12-22T01:38:00.000-05:00

This week I've been on the 3-11 shift, which means high school basketball this time of year and being semi lazy before the start of each shift. Not today. This morning I was up at 6:30 a.m. and drove with Karen (a reporter) and Andrea (the other staff photographer) out to Keene where Romney was launching a three-day bus tour. Having shot that in the morning then jumping right into my shift, I'm just now able to caption and tone the work from this morning. This is one of my favorites. More to come.

Vermin Supreme

2011-12-20T02:01:00.002-05:00

I wouldn't go so far as to call Vermin Supreme a hero, but I believe that maybe he's just daring enough to say things a lot of people are thinking. Daring enough to have his opening remarks in a Democratic presidential candidates' forum be exclusively about oral hygiene. Publicly, and in this case, in a forum of seven people running as Democratic alternatives to Obama. He himself, an official candidate, registering for the New Hampshire primaries at the Secretary of State's office in Concord and paying a $1,000 registration fee.

It was my day off, but as the primaries become more active in the coming weeks before the January 10 primary date, I'm trying to shoot as much as I can and be caught up in the system. I imagine this will mean little sleep until January 10.

Arthur Rivers Thompson

2011-12-09T02:05:00.001-05:00

On December 6, 2011 at 12:56 a.m., my sister became a mother, my brother in-law became a father, my parents became grandparents and I became an uncle for our very first time. I was fortunate to find a flight home and arrive a day before the birth of Arthur Rivers Thompson. Arriving back in Concord late tonight, I realized how much I miss my family in Virginia.

I promise this won't turn in to a baby blog, but there will be a few more photos.

Waiting for the mic, Santorum

2011-12-02T22:27:00.001-05:00

Rick Santorum being interviewed by a camera crew following a debate in Hampton, NH hosted by a Tea Party faction. The mic wasn't working.

Farm lease almost up

2011-12-02T22:25:00.001-05:00

Luke Mahoney stands with his son David, on the Brookford Farm. Luke and his wife Catarina have been leasing and working the Brookford Farm for the past five years and their lease is up in April. The family wants to relocate their organic operations to the former Gold Star Sod Farm in Canterbury and is competing for a bid with a Canterbury family. The decision will be made during a town hall meeting on Saturday, December 3, 2011.

We got some snow today

2011-11-23T18:45:00.000-05:00

President Obama visits Manchester, Talks Jobs

2011-11-22T21:11:00.002-05:00

President Obama addressed a crowd, including the senior class, at Manchester High School Central on Tuesday afternoon, November 22, 2011 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Obama was in the state to rally support and discuss parts of the American Jobs Act which will be placed before Congress. During his speech, members of the New Hampshire faction of the Occupy Wall Street movement interrupted, echoing a claim that over 4,000 protesters have been arrested and bringing attention to the movement.

An idea dawned on me at the end of the event to grab the protesters and make portraits of them. Unfortunately there were only a few who remained. Sometimes ideas pan out and sometimes they don't. But next time I'll be ready!

The Blocks

2011-11-22T02:33:00.002-05:00

I love summer. But lately I've been itching for some snow and to hit the mountains. The two days a week I have off from the newspaper, I spend as a snowboard instructor at a mountain in the heart of the White Mountains about 85 miles north. It makes for a busy 5-6 months and I'm anxious to see how it goes with the primary this year. The primary is my first priority. But teaching someone and watching them connect turns for their first time down a trail is amazing and makes the busy days completely worth it. Now, if we could only get some snow! The photo was shot back in March 2011.

Colonel Santa

2011-11-20T15:30:00.002-05:00

Concord had their 60th annual Christmas parade on Saturday.

PRIMARY CIRCUS BLOG plug

2011-11-18T23:43:00.004-05:00

I haven't been posting work from the primaries on this blog as much as I've been shooting it. That's because it's all going over to the Concord Monitor's blog Primary Circus. If you haven't checked it out, please do and share it with your friends. Thanks!

PRIMARY CIRCUS

Rick Perry was in town the other day...

Feature hunt

2011-11-18T23:40:00.000-05:00

After an assignment in Bradford, NH I decided to drive around and find a feature. Features can be perceived in different ways by different people. Some choose to see it as a waste of their time, nothing but a space filler. With that attitude, that's typically what it is. Nothing more. But features are also an opportunity to meet people and share your community with people that don't get out as much. People that don't have the privilege to get lost on back roads during the day and stop whenever something catches their eye. I think feature hunts are an important part of a small daily. But they shouldn't be a crutch.

100th Event in NH

2011-11-16T01:51:00.001-05:00

Governor Jon Huntsman held his 100th NH event at an Elks Lodge in Portsmouth, NH on Wednesday evening.

From the Archive

2011-11-15T16:34:00.002-05:00

I've been working to organize my hard drives and bring some order to the 5+ years of chaos. It's pretty hysterical looking through and seeing that I've named 20 photos "fun" or "car" or whatever quick arbitrary adjective/noun I came up with at the time. So, if you're new to the game, workflow is so important because when you have days off from work in the future, they won't be spent not seeing the light of day! Here's one from the first summer I was at the Monitor in 2010. It was a story about an organization who helps disabled veterans.

The Blocks: Donating land

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

John Swope and his family are planning to donate a parcel of land on Long Pond Road to be turned into a park by the City of Concord. The plan is to place the land under a conservation easement managed by 5 Rivers Conservation Trust. The city would build a trail head, a small parking lot, trail bench and a kiosk in memory of Swope's wife Marjory who passed away in 2007. Saturday, November 12, 2012.

Featuring Concord

2011-11-13T20:44:00.004-05:00

Dick Graham, right, waves to Vincent Negron as he walks his dog Jack, a hound-lab mix, around the neighborhood. Graham was out Friday afternoon, October 21, 2011, cleaning the neighborhood street and his lawn from the fallen leaves. "It's an everyday occurrence right now," he said. Graham, 83, is retired from the United States Navy where he served for 25 years as a fighter pilot. He has lived in his Concord home since 1973.

On the fringe of an event

2011-11-12T11:16:00.001-05:00

Standing in front of her late husband Larry G. Lajoie's grave, Deborah Lajoie kissed her hand and raised it to the sky while Taps played at the Veterans Day ceremony at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen on Friday, November 11, 2011. "It never gets easier, it just gets different not having him in my life," she said. The two began dating as freshmen at Chelmsford High School in Massachusetts. Larry served in the Navy during Vietnam and passed away on November 18, 2005, one day before his sixtieth birthday, a celebration Deborah had been planning. Having lived in Derry, Deborah moved to Goffstown to be closer to the cemetery and regularly visits, often bringing a blanket.

Letting his guard down

2011-11-10T23:44:00.001-05:00

Santorum: "He took a picture of me yawning." Gingrich: "Those are the moments photographers live for." Before a Tea Party debate in Hampton, NH.

American Girl comes to Concord

2011-11-08T09:19:00.001-05:00

The American Girl and a local non-profit held a fashion show with local talent last Saturday in Concord. The show was aimed at building confidence and friendships along with raising money for women and children in crisis.

Soccer Championships

2011-11-07T00:54:00.002-05:00

I spent Sunday photographing local Bow High School in the division 3 boys soccer championship game in Manchester.

Summer rolls developed

2011-11-04T20:55:00.003-04:00

I recently developed two rolls of film from this summer. My college roommate of my first two years, Tom, married near his home in NYC. And a few from a personal project I've been shooting on and off called, "Life's a Beach."

Herman Cain: From the Archive

2011-11-04T00:57:00.002-04:00

Back in May I was afforded 2 minutes with Herman Cain.

The Blocks

2011-11-03T01:07:00.004-04:00

Feature hunting tip: When you see something out of the corner of your eye, or you do a double take...if you have to think about it for more than 5 seconds...pull your car over or turn around and get out of your car to check it out.

James Berry, of Manchester, takes his turn while Keith Whittum, of Concord, kisses his daughter, Liliane Whittum, 4, in Whittum's backyard on Wednesday afternoon, November 2, 2011. The two Specialists returned home at the end of August after being deployed on the Kuwait and Iraq border for the past year with National Guard Bravo Company 3643. While deployed, the two were truck commanders, leaders of a convoy security team, where they went on missions into Iraq for a minimum of six days at a time, responsible for the safe transport of supplies and equipment. "It's abnormal to sit here and not have him around," Whittum said about Berry. The two were long-time friends before their deployment and say after returning, they are always keeping in touch and checking up on each other. "You miss having your buddy around," Berry said.

A Walk around The Block

2011-11-03T01:04:00.003-04:00

The other day, I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood. While feature hunting, more often than not I'll be in my car. Getting out and walking makes you truly appreciate what's around you and slow down. Just a few snaps from my walk.

Snotober Sessions

2011-10-31T02:05:00.001-04:00

The Blocks: Tour of future elementary school

2011-10-29T22:06:00.002-04:00

Bird

2011-10-27T13:33:00.001-04:00

The Viewing

2011-10-24T22:15:00.002-04:00

Previously convicted of a 1999 raping of an exotic dancer, and having served an 8-year maximum sentence, William DeCato stood trial today in Manchester, New Hampshire on more than 30 charges, including felonious sexual assault, alleging numerous crimes carried out on August 25, 2009 at a home in his neighborhood.

In 2007, DeCato was the first person New Hampshire looked to civilly commit as a violent sexual predator near the time of his release from state prison, but the case fell apart.

On the first day of the trial, jurors were bused around Manchester to key locations deemed important for the case by the prosecutors and/or the defense. They visited the former home of DeCato, the neighborhood, the victim's home, and a path through the nearby woods. Some places where evidence was found during the investigation. Opening statements were made and the trial will resume Tuesday. *No one identifiable is a member of the jury. It is the Judge, members of court security personnel, attorneys in the case, or William DeCato.*

Biden's a hugger

2011-10-20T22:05:00.000-04:00

Joe Biden files for 2012 Primary

2011-10-20T22:02:00.004-04:00

Ah yes, the halo trick

2011-10-19T22:25:00.001-04:00

Boycotting Nevada

2011-10-19T22:23:00.001-04:00

Huntsman files

2011-10-18T10:35:00.000-04:00

Supporters line the hallways on the second floor of the State House as Jon Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye, center, work their way to Bill Gardner's office, New Hampshire Secretary of State, to file for candidate for president on Monday afternoon, October 17, 2011.

Occupy Boston

2011-10-17T00:17:00.003-04:00

On Saturday evening, I decided to head south to Boston after reading about the Occupy [insert city name] and world wide protests happening that day. Rome was turning violent, days earlier there were arrests in New York and Boston saw their share too. I'd been loosely paying attention to the movement until I decided to go and check it out for myself for a few hours. I made a few photos, nothing crazy.

Niagara...I mean, Williamsburg Hospitality House + Farmer's Market + Mother's keen eye for swan gourds

2011-10-14T01:30:00.002-04:00

Dartmouth College Republican Debates

2011-10-13T23:18:00.002-04:00

I covered the Republican Presidential Debates at Dartmouth College on Monday night for Corbis and it was one of the most difficult assignments thus far with the primaries in New Hampshire. Access inside was pretty sparse. A photo 'spray' was set up as the candidates entered the auditorium and before the cameras started rolling live. If you haven't done a 'spray,' you're not missing much. Basically, myself and about 20 other photographers stood around waiting for some PR folks to walk us down into the auditorium, at which point we were allowed to go to one of three areas. An aisle on the left, the middle, or the right. Initially, I chose the middle and planted myself, at first.

I knew from the CNN Debates a few months earlier, that, for one, the whole thing was going to be very quick and, two, it was going to be a shit-show for about 2 minutes. It was important to anticipate a spot, get there, and stand my ground. During the CNN Debate, I was one of the last photographers in the pack so the 'good' spots were taken by the pros, a few students who decided to stand up once they were in front of other photographers, and some photographer that asked the candidates to wave. I think half the minute I spent looking at the pack, back at the audience who were amazed at the cluster-fuck, and then at the candidates. I shot for about 15 seconds then casually dismissed myself before the PR people could feel me up and tell me to leave in a way that made you feel like you were doing something wrong. I am a monster, after all, so getting the jump on the whole situation and as far from it as possible, was very comforting.

Jump forward to Dartmouth College debate on Monday, I noticed the left side was practically empty so I quickly relocated from the middle and was closer to the stage and the side the candidates would eventually enter. Coincidentally Chris Christie, the governor from New Jersey who that day endorsed Mitt Romney, was seated in the first seat to my left. The calm didn't last long. One guy noticed too, and subsequently 'went to town.' I mean, he motor-drove the shit out of the sitting man. Then another joined, and another. Suddenly, cluster-fuck numero dos commenced and I was fortunate to be in the middle. Squished between people 'just doing their jobs,' ticket-holders, and family-members of the candidates. All deciding that they would all at once converge upon the left aisle. I took a few shots of Christie when Ann Romney (Mitt Romney's wife) walked past to her seat.

The candidates came out, stood around waiting for us photographers to shoot their photos, then we were ushered out. All accounted for...several times by several PR folk. No swirly photographer was going to accidently lag behind with these hawks. They were, in fact, very nice and helpful. So helpful that we were even told where the best photo would be taken. They showed us on the back of their camera how they scoped out THE spot for THE photo. Thank god for that.

But like during the CNN Debate, I knew the photos were before and after this 'spray.' That's when it was time to be creative and time to work. It's challenging because you want to shoot all the candidates and most times to me it's not obvious who did the best during the debate or who is going to be 'the talk of the town' the next day. I heard Perry was heading to visit a fraternity following the debate, so that seemed like an opportunity to get him visiting with people on the ground, something he hasn't done much in New Hampshire in comparison with the other candidates I've covered. So I went there after a quick visit to the 'spin room,' and skipping a student watch party. I arrived just in time, but it was a quick visit with a lot of people.

So as the primaries pick up, and as I'm becoming familiar with the players and their staff, I'm beginning to become familiar with the photos I've been making and want to stop making them and push myself more. Everyone has seen the hand-shakes, the grip and grins, the shot of the candidate in the middle of a crowd, any crowd, shot with a wide angle. In fact, that's my default mode and it needs to be broken.

Standard. Daily. Coverage.

2011-10-05T01:39:00.001-04:00

Axe the Tax

2011-10-05T01:38:00.000-04:00

9/30/11 6:34:13 PM -- Derry, New Hampshire

Governor Rick Perry of Texas holds an axe after signing the Thomson Presidential Pledge. Perry went on to address a crowd during his first New Hampshire town hall meeting since entering the race, held at the Adams Memorial Opera House in Derry, New Hampshire on Friday evening, September 30, 2011.

Rick Perry visits Manchester

2011-10-02T03:33:00.002-04:00

Taking the [NASCAR] streets

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosted the Sylvania 300, a NASCAR race part of the Sprint Cup Series, on Sunday afternoon. There are 2-3 races at the track each year beginning in early summer and finishing up in September. The past 4-5 races we have relied of AP images of the race, which frees us up to photograph the fans. This last time, new staff photographer, Andrea Morales, and myself took a 'street photography' approach, wandering around the crowds shooting away. Here are my favorites from this weekend. A page with a few photos was thrown together for Tuesday's paper in which the photos ran black and white.

Night football

2011-09-16T22:05:00.002-04:00

I don't post sports to this blog anymore, but it's been a while since shooting football. Even when we shoot sports, it seems like we're bouncing around to so many different sports and different schools. I rarely recognize the players or the fans. It's different from what I had experienced other places, but I'm not complaining. As a community photojournalist, there's a responsibility to covering local high school sports. As a photojournalist, it's something, I, me, myself, personally, don't mind skipping to focus on other things. Not to say, "Been there, done that," but sort of. It's still a lot of fun being out there on Friday nights and I try just as hard on these assignments as any other, it's just not a favorite of mine anymore. So tonight I thought I'd look at the edit a little differently for myself. Trying to break out of thinking so literally and shooting it so typically. It's a start. An exercise. I'm not trying to be profound. Just practicing, experimenting, for nothing more than to gear my thinking differently. There's still the literal, but it's a start.

Feature Hunts

2011-09-16T02:28:00.002-04:00

Marek Bennett, of Henniker, collects scrap wood on property once belonging to his grandfather, Stephen Carl Bennett, along Franklin Pierce Highway that was left after the land was maintained. A cartoonist and teacher, Bennett wanted to collect the wood and store it before leaving on a trip to Slovakia next week, where he plans to visit family and teach cartooning as a volunteer throughout communities until late November. He was helped by his step-father and retired forester, Bruce Spencer, from New Salem, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

From left, Sarah Farrelly, 14, and Spencer Haywood, joke while eating lunch with friends, Heidi Breton, 14, Molly Emerson, 14, Julia Makris, 14, and Andrew Grondin, 14, outside Concord High School on Tuesday afternoon, August 30, 2011. The group of friends met as students at Rundlett Middle School and attended orientation day at Concord High School where they will be freshmen.

Kristin Averell, 15, left, and Ana Marsh, 14, check a list of home rooms posted at the entrance of Concord High School during orientation for incoming freshman on Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

Prayer before the fall session at the State House

2011-09-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

Karin Hardy for The Wall Street Journal

2011-09-11T23:21:00.004-04:00

Karin Hardy stands in front of a headboard that belonged to her grandmother and was in the a guest bedroom in her century-old home on Water Street in Jamaica,Vermont. Half-a-mile downstream from where her home once stood, the pile of debris behind her is all that is left of her home and belongings. Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Irene caused the water level of the Ball Mountain Brook to rise, flooding neighborhoods, destroying bridges and sweeping away homes in Jamaica. Hardy evacuated her home with little more than the clothes on her back. She did not have flood insurance.

Karin Hardy's bed, still with the sheets on, was found nearly a half-mile downstream from where her home use to be on Water Street in Jamaica, Vermont. Hardy moved into her century-old home that backed to the Ball Mountain Brook, six years ago. Heavy and constant rains from Tropical Storm Irene saturated the land and overflowed rivers, knocking down bridges, roads, businesses and homes throughout Vermont. Hardy evacuated her home with little more than the clothes on her back. Her home was carried away by the rising water along with a few of her neighbors. She did not have flood insurance and found what remained of her home as debris piles half-a-mile downstream.

The Route 30 bridge at the end of the village of Jamaica, Vermont, was washed out by the Ball Mountain Brook after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Irene.

Karin Hardy moved into her home six years ago on Water Street in Jamaica, Vermont. Over a century old, her house backed to the Ball Mountain Brook near the convergence with the West River. Heavy and constant rains from Tropical Storm Irene saturated the land and overflowed rivers, knocking down bridges, roads, businesses and homes throughout Vermont. Hardy evacuated her home with little more than the clothes on her back. Her home was carried away by the rising water along with a few of her neighbors. She did not have flood insurance and found what remained of her home as debris piles half-a-mile downstream.

Newt Watches Obama at New England College

2011-09-09T12:30:00.002-04:00

Newt Gingrich watched President Obama address the nation on Thursday night introducing a new jobs plan before Congress. Following the televised speech, Gingrich held a 'town hall' style meeting to address and discuss Obama's speech.

Vermont Horse

2011-09-04T21:03:00.000-04:00

On my drive to Jamaica, Vermont today I saw this and had to stop.

Madison Spring Hut

2011-08-30T22:02:00.004-04:00

Last Monday and Tuesday I worked on a quick overnight story about the Madison Spring Hut, located in a col between Mount Adams and Mount Madison at roughly 4,800 feet. The summit elevation of Mount Adams is 5,774 feet while Mount Madison is 5,367 feet. It was an awesome trip I made with Monitor reporter Annmarie Timmins and her husband Will. Check out her story here >> Hut Comforts<<. After we did the reporting, we hiked Mount Adams and on to the summit of Mount Jefferson, where we then descended 5.5 miles over steep, rocky terrain and into the forest. The wind was so strong it nearly knocked me down a few times I wasn't paying attention to my footing. I almost went on to summit Mount Washington alone, but decided that doing it alone, with little more than 20 feet of visibility with high winds and dropping temperatures may not have been the best idea. And when I returned to the car after hiking out that evening, I felt relieved I didn't push it.

From Hurricane to a Tropical Storm: From coast to mountains in New Hampshire

2011-08-29T23:31:00.003-04:00

I spent the weekend near the coast, partly to help my cousin move in at UNH and partly to be near the beach to surf the hurricane swells. Sunday the surfing didn't happen because the currents were too unpredictable, but I went to the beach anyways to make some pictures for Corbis. Monday morning, I found myself in 50-55ºF water and overhead waves with enough time and warm blood to catch one, before changing and driving to work. Once I arrived back in Concord, I headed north to Plymouth, home of Plymouth State, where the Pemigewasset had flooded homes, businesses and roads, and a few of the university's facilities. It was a crazy weekend but fun none-the-less. It's a wide edit from the last two days in New Hampshire with Tropical Storm Irene.

The Blocks: The Audi

2011-08-25T16:06:00.002-04:00

I had an assignment the other day to photograph something called "Pitch In" at The Audi, or Concord's City Auditorium. It's an amazing space just a few blocks from my home I had no idea existed. It's my own fault I was unaware the happening place was right down the street. During the annual "Pitch In," people from the community gather to clean and do maintenance jobs around the building, which, in turn, means lower ticket prices for the shows that happen throughout the year. In September there's a gala I'm hoping to check out in order to meet some people.

Also, I found out about a block party on the street in front of my apartment that is happening mid-September.

Bob Frizzell, of Concord, walks to plug in a vacume cleaner at The Audi while cleaning the aisles on Wedensday, August 24, 2011. Frizzell has been helping maintain The Audi on Prince Street in downtown Concord since 1991, when an all-volunteer group formed Friends of the Audi. The non-profit, made up of residents in the community, preserves and maintains the 850-seat theater and organizes "Pitch In," a three-day period where volunteers clean and maintain the building. "It cuts the cost for people buyng tickets," Frizzell said. Taking place over three days, Wednesday was the final day of the 21st annual "Pitch In." Carol Bagan, of Concord, a volunteer, said roughly 120 people have passed through since the first day on Monday.

Ron Paul opens campaign headquarters in Concord

2011-08-17T23:22:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I may have gotten a little carried away. Less is more right. Apparently I forgot, but had a decent time photographing tonight.

The Blocks: From inside

2011-08-17T23:21:00.000-04:00

197th Fires Brigade Homecoming at the Manchester Armory

2011-08-16T18:08:00.002-04:00

Romney in New Hampshire

2011-08-09T11:23:00.002-04:00

After a meeting with the Concord Chamber of Commerce didn't lend itself to anything very visual, I decided to travel to Manchester where he was meeting members of the Manchester Rotary Club for a luncheon. Still pretty bland, it gave me another opportunity to look for something...anything. I have the utmost respect for photographers who do this day in and day out.

Hampton Beach

2011-08-08T22:34:00.004-04:00

I've been trying to go to the beach as much as possible. It's about 45 minutes to an hour away. I could go hiking, biking, kayaking, canoing, running, or any number of things New Hampshire has to offer but what interests me is surfing. I'll do all that other stuff when the waves aren't rolling in. Most of the time I have my camera in the car, but I'm there to escape. I'm there to surf, not make pictures. I sat in the water, a double rainbow perfect. The sun setting between a few beach homes. It was the best light I've ever seen, period. I thought about paddling in to grab my camera, but some things are just better savored in the moment. Living it. Tonight after a great session I was sitting on the wall watching one lone dude surfing after everyone had left, well after sunset. A fisherman's lantern lit a set of steps, pretty much the only thing around illuminated. They waited for the surfer to finish up before they cast their line.

Dog Wash for a Cause

2011-08-01T13:47:00.001-04:00

Shannon Geher, right, a volunteer with SPCA, kisses Sophie, a Chihuahua, while helping Vicki Pease, left, a volunteer for the Capital Area Veterinary Emergency Services (CAVES) as the two washed dogs on Saturday, July 30, 2011 to benefit the Concord-Merrimack County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). This is the first year for dog washes through CAVES, which were free to the public but donations were encouraged, going directly to the SPCA.

Ron Paul. Manchester.

2011-07-31T10:27:00.001-04:00

I asked Ron Paul if I could take a few on my iPhone.

Benzo. White Mountains.

2011-07-31T01:12:00.001-04:00

While shooting a festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Act, I pulled Benzo aside for a portrait.

Commence Laughter, Shame. Sort Of.

2011-07-30T22:11:00.006-04:00

Tonight I found my first portfolio, as far as I can tell. It was compiled in March of 2002. I was a junior in high school. It's a bit late, but I'm piggy-backing Melissa Lyttle's post when she called out people to show their first portfolios. So here is mine. Prior to college.

I'd say I'm embarrassed, but at one point in my life I was proud of this. I think I need to just own it and hope I've progressed since this point...although I doubt it.

It was interesting to look at this because in a lot of ways I think it shows that some people have raw talent and others don't. I most certainly do not. At the time I was shooting this, I was taken under the wing of several staffers at the one-time Potomac News in Woodbridge, Virginia. That was freshman year of high school. After that first visit, I was invited back and kept going back. I remember sitting outside the darkroom when my good friend Dave Ellis, DOP at the time and now DOP at the Free Lance-Star, was introducing me to F-stop and shutter speed. I remember nodding like I understood, but really I had glazed-over eyes and no idea what he was talking about. He was a huge reason I got into photojournalism, if not THE reason.

Because I couldn't drive, a staffer, usually Dave, would pick me up at my house when I got home from school if there was an assignment I could go on, and we'd head out. My first one of these treks was with Peter Cihelka on his last day at the Potomac News. We photographed a building mug and then hit a nature preserve. A lot of the times these assignments were on Friday nights and I would shoot football or a basketball game. We'd go back to the paper and develop the film, dry it, then scan our selects into photoshop. I shot film for probably the first 2 years while hanging out at the paper. My first camera, my mom's Pentax. Then a Nikon N90. Then the paper went digital and I got my driver's license, and with the license, freelance.

I remember riding my bike to a townhouse fire near where we lived at the time. I shot 11 rolls of 36 exp. film. I still get shit for it today but it was my first published photo in the paper. Eating was a big thing too. The staff always went somewhere for lunch just about every day. I'd say the camaraderie had me sticking around as much as taking photos did. Admittedly, I wouldn't make the connection about intimacy, moments, and really what photojournalism was about until almost the end of college I was only understanding photography. Today I am still trying to figure it out but I feel I've come a long way.

I gave up playing varsity lacrosse to work more at the paper. Much like probably most of you reading this, when my friends were hitting the beach and hanging out during the summers, I was explaining to them that I had to do an internship and wouldn't see them much and then I'd be going back to school. I don't regret any of it because it taught me work ethic but also that work is not everything. As much as work has been a huge part of my life, work is not life and there needs to be a balance so you recognize the joys of life when you're out photographing. I'm also still finding what that means.

I could go on and on, as we all can, remembering back. So I won't. I just wanted to share this because it's good to look back every so often and not forget people who helped you out. For me, I can't thank the group of people who started me out in this enough. I'm sure it kept me out of trouble. In the early days and even today for a few of them it was Dave Ellis, Peter Cihelka, Dylan Moore, Cindy Davis, David Holloway, and Amy Rossetti.

Um, yeah...photo illustration? First time using photoshop? FML.

Experimenting = Fun

2011-07-25T23:55:00.006-04:00

Using Nikon strobes with Canon bodies, I set out for a second day shooting at Highland Mountain Bike Park. I had so much fun the first day I wanted to go back and bring strobes to light a few shots I had in mind. I've never been much of a gear head, but it was fun experimenting. I think if I were to do this type of photography full time (which part of me thinks would be awesome) I'd want a setup that lit every frame in a sequence shot...rather than just one. But it worked for me and what I was doing.

It reminded me of my skateboarding and bmx days...even still snowboarding and watching videos getting pumped to ride. There was always a part of me that wanted to photograph these athletes shredding a line down a mountain or pushing aerials to the next level. Check out what they're doing over at Brain Farm. I wet myself a little every time I watch their videos.

Heat Wave

2011-07-23T12:40:00.004-04:00

Friday afternoon was a scorcher. Upwards on 100˚F. Friday morning it was decided that Saturday's lede was going to be a story about the heat. I thought about going to a local store to find people purchasing air conditioners and going home with them to photograph the installation. I scoped out a skatepark that borders a river, but no one was there. Although it was an obvious pick, I ended up heading to Lake Winnipesaukee in the hopes of finding someone on the water wake boarding or water skiing. Instead, I came across this family who took a break for lunch at one of the marinas and then took a dip.

I thought about putting this in as secondary, but it was too similar to the first image and it wasn't composed well.

The Blocks

2011-07-20T18:04:00.002-04:00

Out on the blocks today I came across a park with this dino inside. I hung around for nearly 45 minutes hoping someone would come by but no one did. I had to scoot to another shoot. Something worth coming back to because as much as I like this scene, I think it would be much stronger with a person and a moment.

Welcome to: The Blocks

2011-07-13T14:10:00.005-04:00

There are many reasons why I wanted to become a photojournalist. There was a time in my life I wanted to be the "Oh Shit" photographer. The one that a publication trusted to go into any situation and not only come away with good images, but more importantly than eye-candy, come away with a story. I think the closest I came to that was in Midland, Michigan when the photo staff fought our way to send me to Haiti with a team of local doctors. They trusted me to see how I see. We didn't talk about composition or technical garble before the trip, we talked about logistics, safety, mood, moments, feeling, stories, emotions, interactions. We ran up a $700 phone bill discussing this and working through my insecurities of finding a story and sticking to it amidst an overwhelming scene with infinite direction. I don't think it was a complete success, but I learned from failure because I was allowed to fail. I think that's an important lesson. We fought for something we believed in and something that fit the visual philosophy at the newspaper.

I think having a visual philosophy, a staff goal- a reason why we go out everyday and shoot what we do- is extremely important. It provides direction. It gives reason for spending time on assignments. It leaves the attitude of just spending an hour at something...just getting a shot to fill a hole...it leaves that approach in the dust. A philosophy says "This is what our department adds to the paper." A reason why we may turn down an assignment from a reporter or why we would accept and gravitate towards others. If the staff knows that philosophy, if it is a continual dialogue in the department and everyone is included in the process, I feel a staff goes from "just shooting" daily assignments to documenting a community and shooting a body of work. They feel good whether they're shooting a bean supper or a longer-term story. In turn standing strong to outside pressures legitimizes a photo department's reason of being a member in the newsroom than just a service. It educates people not to bring requests for a building mug. It educates people what it means to be a photojournalist. It educates everyone how important planning a week ahead is for everyone and how the quality of the product greatly improves. How such planning provides greater flexibility and ease. Spending time shooting what's real. Why we should be shooting the story behind the event rather than the event itself. Why we should hold a story for a day or two if necessary. There is an importance to treating every assignment greater than the next and spending time on every assignment. Respecting our community. A philosophy builds camaraderie through working as a team for a common goal. And a photo department should be one large, laughing, breathing, changing, functional team working towards the same goal. A philosophy lets a staff know that sometimes there are bullshit assignments that just have to be done and not every day is perfect, but there's an understanding that those are the exception, not the rule. If it's not there, it should be demanded. Otherwise it's a lot of day-to-day wondering what the fuck we're doing. Wondering what's the point. It makes a 9-5 just that and nothing more. It makes photographers post things only to their blogs. It makes fantastic photojournalists shoot for themselves.

For people who have read my blog rants in the past or who follow the posts, I think it comes at no surprise that I'm honest and open about everything. I don't believe anyone who is asking someone else to be honest and reveal their lives should shy away from doing so themselves, whether that's because they're trying to build a client base or want to represent themselves a certain way. So with that openness comes this blog post.

The presidential primaries are a huge reason I wanted to come to Concord and I feel like I've been putting in a great deal of effort getting to know the players and being around enough so they start to know me. I also have a long way to go. Whether people agree with my interest and desire to shoot it all or not. I've got to keep myself motivated. Fortunately at the Monitor I've been given time and have been able to attend many of the locations. The primaries are the Monitor's baby. I was out of town during a meeting but a reporter-friend filled me in that their goal is to cover the primaries so that every reader can make an informed decision. Reporters have been assigned to candidates and will follow them like a hawk. There is a philosophy that the staff knows; a North Star.

Another reason why I came to Concord was in the hopes of finding my roots. With my family being from New England, I moved around a lot with the hopes of coming back here. But I've been here a year and have realized I'm also a wanderer. While in New York this past week, I felt like I was stepping forward into a new world. A place of diversity and intellectual stimulation, from the architecture and noises to the people I met. It was amazing and a feeling of content that comes and goes. I use to think "the grass is always greener," but it's not. The greenest grass is right in front of you. Waiting. Things may not be ideal, but it's life and I'm finally realizing that the best thing you can do is enjoy it. Make an effort to better your situation no matter how daunting a task.

Lately I've been wondering what I've been doing with the last 8 years of my life. Completely drained. Exhausted. Uninspired.

But, instead of wallowing in the fact that I'm not the photographer being sent around the world and may never be, I AM a photographer who lives in an awesome community that needs to be explored. There's no reason any one of us can't step out from our homes and into our neighborhood to document the limitless stories within the homes we pass. Ideally we'd be doing this for a publication so people can see it, but lack of being published shouldn't deter anyone from starting to shoot in their homes, in their backyards and their immediate neighbors.

The other day I began a personal project I'm calling "The Blocks." I'm focusing on an area around my home shooting with my iPhone, my dSLR, or film. Just getting out and shooting and trying to find this thing one time Flint Journal photographer Steve Jessmore called "Sense of Community." There's no "It" photo. The "It" of this project is building a relationship with people I live near, to the point where I'm not an objective photographer entering people's lives for a determined hour of time, but a photographer shooting my friends.

I thought the best place to start was literally in my backyard when I saw a neighbor and my landlord, Catherine, talking and enjoying the evening breeze.

A few columns of inspiration and projects to check out are:
Steve Jessmore once of The Flint Journal- Sense of Community
Virginian-Pilot photographers- Common Ground
Jason Johns of the Valley News- Zip Codes
Scott Strazzante's- Common Ground

If not for anyone else, do it for yourself. For your motivation. For your sanity. And for your future community.

We Came. We Partied. We Conquered. Independence Day.

2011-07-04T23:50:00.002-04:00

End of an Era

2011-07-01T12:24:00.004-04:00

Eastman School closed it's doors after several decades of being a staple in the community. I was fortunate to be able to spend a few days at the school photographing and talking with students, parents and faculty. What the reporter and I learned was that people weren't attached to the building itself, but the relationships inside the walls and the lasting relationships previous students and parents still have today, decades after their direct involvement with the school.

Photo editor Alex Cohn and I worked on the layout and I was happy with the results.

And now for an iPhone square...

2011-06-28T00:03:00.004-04:00

Been shooting a lot on my iphone and messing around with all the post-filters. I love the camera...filters, not so much. I haven't really found one I like that doesn't have too much of a gimmicky aesthetic. But maybe that's the point?

Squares and film

2011-06-27T22:30:00.002-04:00

Shot some test film on an old Yashica I had sitting on a shelf.

Passing on

2011-06-20T19:17:00.003-04:00

Neil Searles passed away on Sunday, leaving behind dozens upon dozens of ducks, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, and other animals in his backyard. A local non-profit farm mainly a rescue farm for horses run completely by volunteers, came to pick up the animals and care for them until they find a new home. But first, they had to catch the animals.

New Hampshire

2011-06-20T13:10:00.003-04:00

Today I realized that you can spend your whole life missing the little things that are in front of you. Today I call bullshit to that phrase, "The grass is always greener." It's a saying I used a lot. It was easy, a scapegoat. A way to write off a feeling of discontentment as something normal, natural and beyond my control.

Biker Love

2011-06-17T22:04:00.000-04:00

Hanging out at night at the annual Laconia Bike Week.

Sports

2011-06-14T21:45:00.002-04:00

I'm not much for posting sports on my blog anymore. It's not something I want to focus on as a photojournalist, but something that I still photograph heavily, working at a daily community newspaper. However, I photographed the state division I softball championship today featuring Concord High School (who lost) and liked this photo enough to post.

Access Debatable

2011-06-14T00:55:00.001-04:00

LOOK3 River Break

2011-06-13T12:09:00.000-04:00

Mitt Romney announces in Stratham, NH

2011-06-03T13:15:00.003-04:00

Under a setting sky

2011-06-03T00:48:00.004-04:00

Herman Cain

2011-06-01T01:07:00.003-04:00

Had about 2 minutes with Herman Cain.

Not sure what to call this

2011-05-31T09:55:00.001-04:00

Michele Bachmann at Memorial Day Parade

2011-05-31T09:50:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day Parade

2011-05-31T00:35:00.001-04:00

We've all seen a parade. We don't need to see the parade to get a feel of the day or what the day was about.

Gettin away

2011-05-28T16:08:00.003-04:00

A trip to the beach became a rather quick trip after touching the water and realizing it's not yet warm enough for my liking. So I sat on the beach and watched the bootie-wearing, glove-bound people catching a few good ones. It wasn't worth the cold today. Maybe tomorrow if the sun comes out.

Different views

2011-05-27T19:59:00.002-04:00

Kathy and her puppy Teddy

2011-05-23T20:19:00.000-04:00

Jon Huntsman for USA Today

2011-05-20T22:03:00.004-04:00

I spent a couple of hours on Saturday following around former Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., of Utah, as he toured several businesses in the greater Manchester, N.H. area. I had a schedule of where Huntsman would be at what time and was fortunate when they made an unplanned stop at a Harley dealership. Saturday was my second time working with Susan Page, USA Today's Washington Bureau Chief and often guest-host on The Diane Rehm Show on NPR. We worked together covering Mitt Romney in March and she was just as awesome to work with this time around.

On Sunday, I tagged along with friend (and Concord Monitor photo intern), Neil Blake, on his assignment to photograph Huntsman at a house party. I figured there would be better access, real moments and he would be more apt to dropping his guard. Both Saturday and Sunday were my days off but I'm trying to immerse myself in as much as I can related to the 2012 primaries.

Shooting for yourself and putting it in the paper

2011-05-20T01:51:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but the act of taking a risk goes a long way in the learning process. If it doesn't work, I still think it's better than the typical 'newspaper' photo.

My assignment was to set up a background, lights, and shoot the teams participating in a benefit race here in Concord. Needless to say, it was a little uncomfortable being thrown into such a situation without having any input. Mid-way through, I realized this wasn't going to lend itself to anything that could run as a package, or at least how I was shooting it. It looked like those photos you get when you're on a soccer team when you're 5 years-old. It was hard to get creative and get anything unique besides just team photos. I shot until the race began, then we broke down the lighting setup and brought it to a spot just after the finish line. Something different. In hindsight I wish I brought a black backdrop too, so the runners would be completely isolated and illuminated only by the flash. It was a spur-the-moment idea but I think it works as a series. Alone, the photos don't necessarily work, but there's often power in numbers. I worked with a night editor and this collection of 8 images is running in Friday's paper.

Donald Trump in Nashua: Take 2

2011-05-13T19:21:00.002-04:00

One of these is not like the other

2011-05-13T19:21:00.001-04:00

Kiwanis Spring Fair

2011-05-13T19:18:00.001-04:00

Orioles vs. Rays

2011-05-10T00:46:00.000-04:00

Homecoming for 94th Military Police Company

2011-05-03T18:50:00.007-04:00

Under the Same Roof

2011-05-01T00:26:00.002-04:00

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.

Former Minnesota governor TIm Pawlenty

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum

Donald Trump visits Portsmouth, NH

2011-04-29T00:58:00.002-04:00

Donald Trump visited Portsmouth, NH on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. It is the first time the potential presidential candidate has been to New Hampshire for his tour.

Place-holder

2011-04-28T00:05:00.002-04:00

Spent the day with Donald Trump and just about every news outlet in the country on the wonderful streets of Portsmouth. Long day. Keep an eye out, after 14 hours today and an early start tomorrow with Rand Paul, I'm just posting this. Today was wonderful and it's just the beginning of the circus.

Behind the Numbers: 300 Acres

2011-04-23T15:36:00.001-04:00

Off Pittsfield Road in Loudon, a muddy path leads to a pile of cut and de-branched white birch, hemlock, pine and spruce trees. Next to the log pile is a large yellow machine called a skidder. If you glanced at this scene from a passing car, you'd miss the meticulous planning done by Jake Bronnenberg in ensuring that everything leads back to the promotion of healthy trees and a healthy forest.

"People see machines, stumps and brush and ask how many houses are going in," he says on a sunny day while trekking through the 300 acres he has managed for several years. "(People) connect it with development."

A licensed forester and logger, Bronnenberg grew up around the industry. His father, Jack Bronnenberg, started a logging and trucking company in 1988 after working as a rancher.

Jake was 14 when he first used a chainsaw in the woods alongside his dad. Now 27 and a graduate of a forestry program at the University of New Hampshire, he gained more experience working with a forester for four years before joining his father full time. The two now manage roughly 8,000 acres.

"I knew I always wanted to work in the woods," he says.

In the forest management industry it is common for a forester to survey the land and mark the trees, then let a logger remove the marked trees. Jake does both and is required to take courses to keep up with credits for both certifications.

"There's a future in it if you do it well. It's not always about the money," he says. For Jake, it's more about the relationships he shares with the people he works for and the satisfaction of leaving a healthy forest for future generations. "You may not know if you did a good job for 10 or 15 years."

All aspects of the logging operation have an effect on the re-growth of trees. While the skidder may leave large tracks in the mud, it does so on a planned route so the tires will churn the soil, in turn burying seeds dropped from the trees that Jake has intentionally left standing.

"The woods tell me what to do," he says. "Some places are good to leave alone and let Mother Nature do her thing." If there are signs of wildlife in a tree, it is left untouched.

Accompanied by his dog, Lady, Jake walks through a section that he cleared months ago to promote pine tree growth and stops by some wind-toppled trees. In one spot, a hemlock tree, commonly used for pulp, had blocked the sunlight and was felled, while another hemlock was left untouched to protect the new generation of pines.

Behind the Numbers: 12 p.m. noon

2011-04-23T15:30:00.002-04:00

A few minutes before 12 noon, employees began to trickle past their fluorescent-lit cubicles carrying plastic containers with their lunch. Silence, then the slam of a microwave followed shortly by the timer's ring. While some take this hour break to eat, a handful of their colleagues opt to feed a passion.

Kathleen Jaworski, inside sales manager at Bradford Networks, stood outside her cubicle checking the tire pressure on her road bike, which leaned against the wall. She stabilized an air pump with her high-heels and pumped air into the front tire.

A few cubicle-rows away, wearing casual office attire and prescription glasses, Kevin Perron, a software engineer, made his way to the restroom toting a small bag and guiding his bike. He passed the break room where employees began to congregate for lunch. Laughter broke the air, sweet from the aroma of leftovers heating in the microwave. Minutes later, Perron emerged in a black jacket, black riding pants, riding shoes. Sunglasses snugly formed to his head. He grabbed his road bike from its lean on an adjacent wall and stepped out into the sun-swept parking lot. The ground wet from melting snow.

That day, he was joined by six other riders from his work, and one rider who heard about the lunchtime road-bike gathering and stops by when he can.

"We're diehard. We like to ride any chance we get," Perron said.

In 2004, Perron began riding during his lunch break whenever the weather cooperated or to relieve the stress of work. If weather is on his side, he said he is usually on his bike during that hour and eats lunch at his desk when he returns.

"Short ride. That's what you do in the winter," Perron said before a 12-mile lunchtime trek on a Friday afternoon.

"It's not bad out now considering it was 3-degrees out this morning," Kevin Clark, also a software engineer, said.

As the two hopped on their bikes, Clark made a few crank rotations before noticing his back tire was flat. He stepped off, balanced his bike in a nearby snowbank, and pulled out a spare. Shortly, a new tube was in place and they were pedaling out of the parking lot.

"Alright Kev, we've got to take it easy," Perron called out as they turned onto the main road. "Alright, I'll keep it under 25 [mph]," Clark responded. Coming off a ski injury several days earlier, it was Perron's first time back on his bike in about a week.

They made their way from their office on Pembroke Road to Ricker Road, weaving paths between leftover patches of ice, sand, and puddles. Passing the busy roads around the Concord Heights they made their way to the quieter, back roads lined with forests and barns.

"Getting on the bike and riding, for me, is such a total relief," Perron said after the ride.

"Plus, it makes the rest of the day go by faster," he wrote in an email. "You don’t get that 2:15 p.m. tired feeling after a good ride."