News flash!

The Burlington Free Press has been keeping me very busy lately. I thought it would be fun to share some highlights from recent assignments.

Let me know if you have a favorite!

The father-daughter Valentine’s Day Dance in South Burlington was too sweet for words!



A large group of folks with disabilities met up for an adaptive ski clinic at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center recently. Most of them had never cross-country skied before and everyone seemed to enjoy the challenge. Click here to read about it.

When I’m 88 years old I would like to be healthy enough to be teaching yoga classes. Carol is my hero! You can read about her here.




In Vermont we specialize in winter sports, so here is a small collection from various assignments from the Cochran’s Ski Area and Catamount Outdoor Family Center.





I was photographing the Williston recreation 3rd and 4th grader’s basketball league and they were so awesome. I kind of forgot how little they were until I captured the coach tying the shoes of one of his players. Bright red Converse high-tops nonetheless.

For the cover of the weekend section I was sent out to photograph some ice skaters. How cool it was to find a toddler with her dad and a few minutes later capture her skating on her own for the very first time.


The Essex children’s choir performed in the chapel at St. Michael’s College and their voices were so beautiful it gave me goose bumps.


Would you jump into 32 degree water for a good cause? Hundreds of crazy people in Burlington don costumes and swimsuits each year to participate in the Penguin Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics. It is an absolute blast to watch, but I was chilly enough laying on the ice snapping photographs without needing to experience that type of torture.





And finally, the funniest assignment I have ever covered...

A group of brave individuals went under the hypnotic spell of Marko the Magician in front of an auditorium packed with an appreciative audience. I wouldn’t have believed it to be true unless I witnessed it for myself. It was so funny that at times I couldn’t hold my camera still due to the giggles!
My neighbor, Kathy, thinks she is playing her favorite instrument for martians.
This woman thinks she is her favorite zoo animal. I'm guessing it's a monkey.

Recap

I would like to share a few of my favorite photographs from recent photo assignments from the Burlington Free Press. I have documented the joy of graduating high school seniors, the excitement of a big youth soccer tournament and head shots for each player on the Vermont Monsters baseball team. But by far the most inspiring assignment I covered were the Vermont National Guard soldiers returning from Iraq on Father’s Day. They had been away for 18 months from their families and friends living in the harshest and most stressful conditions. One of the most touching moments I captured was a father playing with his 10-month-old son that he had met only once since his birth. I love my job!!










Some of you may be wondering what happened with Elissa Roberts, the senior who wasn’t going to be able to graduate with her class…a bit of good news

Let Her Walk

Yesterday I photographed the Division I high school baseball finals for the Burlington Free Press, the newspaper I freelance for on a regular basis. When I finished up with baseball, I sped off to a last minute assignment. The focus of my assignment was a high school senior, Elissa Roberts, who was upset that her school wasn’t going to let her graduate with her class because she was a few credits shy due to an extended illness. Her school was 40 minutes away and it was almost dark when I pulled up. I was very surprised to see a mass of kids standing out front with signs they had created in support of Elissa. Without wasting the precious few moments left of light, I snapped away. As I gathered caption information from her friends and family, I discovered Elissa’s amazing story. (click on the purple words for the story & photo)

So, keep your fingers crossed that Elissa will get to walk with her class this weekend!

Photographs & Politics

On Saturday I had the privilege of photographing St. Michael’s College reunion activities. I was particularly excited about the first event…U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (a ’61 St. Mike’s graduate) was presenting his exhibit of photographs at the college’s McCarthy Arts Center. The exhibit was entitled “World Leaders” and featured his insider perspective of famous faces, from presidents and politicians to rock stars. It was so intriguing to hear the stories behind the photographs. You can visit the exhibit until the 18th of June.

I have photographed the senator on numerous occasions for the newspaper and he is one of the most personable of all politicians I have met. But more than that, he is like a real-life super hero, sans the cape, fighting for justice everyday in Washington. To top it off he is a photographer! Oh, and his wife, Marcelle, is awesome too!

“Historians will write the chronicle of this century, but photography will help bring that chronicle to life for eons to come. No matter how many words are written about the Hindenberg, or the landing at Iwo Jima, or John Kennedy Jr., we remember the photographs.”

--Senator Patrick Leahy


Marcelle Leahy

Senator Leahy shows off a picture of him taking a picture(!) of President Clinton's inauguration.