Romney Tours NH

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

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

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

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

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

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.