Just There...

Waiting for a ride while hitchhiking in Denmark, to a log on a trail in the woods I knew like the back of my hand as a kid, to hopping a ferry with a friend crossing in to Germany, back to a favorite place in New Hampshire where we'd catch frogs.

Just There...

I can't sleep. So much is running through my head about past and future. About what's just around the corner. About what's in store. About how open the world is and people around. About how life is wonderful, and has always been there waiting for you to make a move. About being true to yourself. About being yourself. About finding that. About experiences and the photographs. About finding them. The ones in between the selects, the raw take. The one that isn't trying to be perfect. The ones that may just be. These. About changes in style. Changes in mentality. Change. About progression and using what's around you to grow. Stepping back from photography. Then jumping deeper into it. I love thoughts that come at 3 a.m.

One more...

One more from time with Constantine.

Constantine

Constantine Salce, 2, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and his mother is running a marathon, raising money for a cure. I was given the family's contact info and called them up to see what was happening and when would be a good time to visit. The story was not at the marathon, but clearly with the family and the connection between mom and Constantine so when I heard they were at an aquatic physical therapy session, I raced to meet them.

I'd say this was the best story I've worked on since being in Concord. Something about spending time with people and really getting to the heart of the story, beyond the barriers and typical made this really stand out. However in-depth...long or short...working on stories like this, spending time with people and digging a little beyond, say, shooting the marathon itself, is why I became a photojournalist.

Richmond, VA

I'm visiting my sister and brother-in-law for the weekend in Richmond, VA and also my parents right outside of DC. I decided to bring my camera along on the town tonight, something I find I rarely do when I do stuff outside of work at the paper...or if I bring it, I usually just take random snap shots and leave my brain at the house. A few snaps I dug from tonight on the town.

Dentist at School

Gorham-Berlin

I just wrote a long rambling post, but I think it may need to be toned down a bit. Coming soon...





Ben Monk, of Berlin, secures tools he has acquired over 40 years working at the paper mill in Gorham on his final day at work. At 63 years-old, Monk is the second oldest worker at the mill, a place where the average age of employees is in the mid-50's. The mill closed at the end of the shifts on October 13, 2010.

Independent(s) Day

Independent candidates running for various offices throughout New Hampshire met at the Legislative Office Building in downtown Concord on Thursday to give speeches.

Editorial Board

From the not so organized archive

With all the adventures...countless adventures. Countless places. People. Things. Good times and bad. It's hard to remember them all. I came across this photo, by all means a fairly mediocre photo, but it reminded me of Denmark, then of being out to sea with this man fishing for a week, Egon Sekkelund, off the northwestern coast of Denmark near Thy. Then 3 hours of reminiscing went by. Without a camera this wouldn't have happened. Be spontaneous. Life is good.

Soccer

New Hampshire's Last Paper Mill Set to Close

Today I spent the day in Gorham-Berlin, New Hampshire. It's in a region of the state known as the North Country and is about 2 hours north of Concord. Today, I fell in love with the place and the people. Everyone was incredibly friendly and the town reminded me of working towns I'd driven through in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. About 3-4 years ago, a pulp plant in Berlin closed it's doors after years of downsizing. On October 13, 2010, the last paper mill in New Hampshire is set to close its doors unless a buyer comes through. Last week negotiations fell through with a potential buyer. The announcement to close the plant, employing 240 people with an average age in the mid-50's, came just after being selected to receive a $1 million federal grant to build an efficient gas line to help cut production costs. It's the largest industry left in the two towns. While some people are cautiously optimistic a buyer will come through, others have already begun putting their homes on the market. With the town's main employer on the verge of closing, housing costs have dipped. A 4 bedroom home needing repair sold for $25,000 just down the street from the plant.

Today I was on assignment for a Sunday story, but I'm hoping to continue to follow what happens to Berlin and Gorham. Today was a challenge to shoot a story that hasn't yet happened. Some of my favorites.




Husband and wife who worked at the mill until a few years ago.


His Uncle works at the mill.


Third generation mill worker. Born and raised. Left the mill after the first round of cuts several years ago and worked at the state prison.




Downtown Gorham the high school soccer team practices. Many said they have uncles who work the mill.


Third generation mill worker. Born and raised. Working at the mill nearly 4 decades.


Third generation mill worker. Born and raised. Working at the mill nearly 4 decades.

Roller Derby practice

One night at a practice with a new local roller derby team for a story about how they can't find an indoor practice space they can afford.

For The Wall Street Journal

Saturday Football

Sled Dog Convention

Felt really under the weather today, but moseyed over to the Northern New England Sled Dog Trade Fair a few towns northwest of Concord. Met a few people and was drawn to the connection between Amanda Poquette and Shiver, a 10 week-old Siberian Huskie from Alaska, who Amanda was bringing home to Vermont for the first time today after getting her from a woman from New Hampshire. Poquette cares for 24 dogs and has raced on and off for the past 11 years.