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Tag Archives: Projects

Baby Owls – wildlife photography, NH

May 24, 2011 – 11:40 am

So not all wildlife rehabilitation is about animals tangling with motor vehicles – and getting the short end of the deal.
Got a call recently from my wildlife buddy Jane Kelly – she was returning a fledgling barred owl to its nest – apparently the little ball of feathers had ventured out too far … and fallen 30 feet to the forest floor.
I didn’t have to pause for more than a nanosecond before asking for time, address and thank you very much, I’ll be there!
I’ll admit I’m not usually a sucker for cute, but this baby owl clicked its beak at me and I was in love! After the owlet was returned to the nest – and a modification made to prevent the little guy from falling out, I was up the ladder shooting photos of the owl – and sibling in the nest in the tree.
Mom was about 50 feet away in a tree watching my every move – I never did see Dad.
After, everyone left but me. I found a place to hide ( so I thought) where I could wait and get a photo of an adult returning to the nest. A few hundred black fly bites later it was too dark to shoot, so I walked back to my car. All I heard was the wingbeats as Mom returned to the nest to reconnect with her babies…and, I’m sure, celebrate my leaving her woods!

By Jay | Posted in inspiration, Personal Project, photojournalism, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Barred Owl – Maine nature photography

April 18, 2011 – 9:49 pm

Sometimes when opportunity knocks, you actually get a second chance. Last week I got a phone call from a volunteer at the Center for Wildlife; she was going to be releasing a saw-whet owl. Unfortunately, I was in the throes of the flu and had to watch the chance go by without me. I was more than  a little bummed out. I have always had a fascination for raptors – at one point in my life I even investigated what it would take to get a falconry license. Needless to say, I didn’t have what it took!

Saturday she called again. “I’m releasing a barred owl Monday – are you interested…and over the flu?”

Interested – you bet! Over the flu – I wasn’t going to let a lingering cough stop me this time. Family in the car, phone call to some good friends who I thought would be interested in seeing the release and off to Maine. We got to the release site a few minutes before the beautiful owl was to regain its freedom – it had been in rehab since being found laying in the road in November not far from the release site ( I think the choice of release location was anything but an accident).

Jane Kelly, the volunteer, handled the bird as familiarly and gently as I handle my dog – confidence exhuded from her as she removed it from the carrier used to transport it, showed the bird off for a few pictures, then with a flourish set it free.

The owl flew to a nearby maple tree, landed and surveyed its circumstances for a few minutes, then flew to another tree, rested there, then on again. I was struck by the bird’s  camouflage – had I not seen where it had landed I never would have noticed it.

Makes me wonder how many owls I’ve walked right past and never known they were there. And thanks to the efforts of the Center for Wildlife in York, Maine, there is at least one more raptor alive in the Maine woods. Now if only I can learn to spot them in the wild.

By Jay | Posted in inspiration, Personal Project, photojournalism | Also tagged , | Comments (1)

Fast photos – senior pictures NH

February 21, 2011 – 11:01 am

I’ve started this blog post about a gazillion times – usually I’m pretty focused about what I want to say – but I’m thinking this time I’m trying to say too much and it keeps coming out as jumbled mush.

So I’ll just cut to the chase – here’s a selection of senior pictures I did at Great Bay Charter School. Unlike the ordinary senior picture shoot that involves going to the woods, beach or some other exotic location for a few hours, these were kids that needed senior pictures done, were at or near ( or past!) the yearbook’s deadline, and had to be done in 5-6 minutes each.

Oh, and one student who I just wanted to photograph so I convinced her to sit for a couple of minutes – she just made me promise not to ask her to smile. No problem there – I never ask subjects to smile.

I keep getting trapped in verbiage – it seems as hard to stop this post as it was to start it – enough already! Here’s the photos.

By Jay | Posted in Personal Project, portraits, senior pictures, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Winter morning – NH fine art photography

February 3, 2010 – 4:40 pm

Eleven degrees, wind gusting to 45mph, wind chill around -15….bleary eyed, coffee brewing, wind blew the door open last night, no wonder the house felt so cold

Look out the window, watching the branches sway, rock and roll actually – big limbs still even in the wind gusts, smaller ones doing the dance though. The sky that intense shade of blue that happens at the false dawn, more intense than can be named or if there’s a name I don’t know it..reminds me of being out on the water duck hunting years ago, hearing the birds but not quite seeing them, remembering just how cold cold could be.

WOW its so incredibly beautiful….quick, camera, tripod, memory card…not going out, set it up on kitchen table…shoot few frames…long exposures which I’ve been meaning to play with lately…not even concerned about shooting through the glass…just the need to make some frames, can I capture the mood, the cold, the intensity?

Coffee’s ready – good to be alive!

By Jay | Posted in Fine Art, inspiration, Personal Project, Uncategorized | Also tagged | Comments (1)

Karen – NH theatrical headshots

December 1, 2009 – 10:35 am

Yesterday I had the opportunity to photograph Karen. She needed new headshots for a theater resume and approached me about shooting them. We ended up working in a really tight space, the back of the Lonely Little Thrift shop in Newmarket since the store was closed Monday. The setup was simple – a black background to accentuate her hair, two small lights, one shooting through a white umbrella and the other just bounced with a dome to diffuse the light.

Karen has one of the most arresting looks I’ve worked with – she’s comfortable in front of the camera and doesn’t try to be anybody but who she is. What a treat!

We got some pretty intense photos – here’s a few stills and another showit slideshow.  I’m thinking I truly owe David Jay a Christmas present for helping me add this dimension to the presentation of my work! Thanks David.

11-30-09 KAREN 11-30-09 KAREN 11-30-09 KAREN 11-30-09 KAREN 11-30-09 KAREN

By Jay | Posted in portraits, theater headshots | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)

CRCAP – MA. portrait photography

July 2, 2009 – 9:48 am

This summer I have the unique opportunity to make a return appearance at the Charles River Creative Arts Program in Dover, MA.

Two years ago I headed the photography program there and this time I’m back, sharing the duties with another very talented photographer, Ben Boyd.

There’s lots of great things about the camp, but two stick out in my mind from a councelor’s point of view. I feel like I’m working in a talent pool that is deeper than the ocean – there are musicians, artists, dancers, writers here who are so incredible – and all seem to be without the ego that makes it all about them – to a person its all about the kids who come here.

The kids are the other amazing thing – this is a total no judgment zone. Everyday after lunch kids go up on stage and perform – they sing, dance, play instruments, act out skits ( some rehearsed, many imprompteau), do monologues, read poetry…the list goes on almost forever.

So when not teaching photography, I get the opportunity to photograph some absolutely amazing people. Today I’ll introduce you to Sophie…a photographer, musician, singer…and person extrodinaire!

For more information on the camp, here’s the website: http://www.crcap.org

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By Jay | Posted in CRCAP, Personal Project, portraits | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Body Flow – NH portrait photography

June 29, 2009 – 9:20 am

Last week I was shooting photos at Synergy Health and Fitness in Exeter, NH. The photos were to be used as part of a project to update their website.

Its always a challenge to shoot and give a sense of people using a  facility without having the clients be identified, so mentally I was prepared to shoot lots of silhouettes and backs of heads.

When I wandered into a spin studio I saw an instructor doing what I thought was yoga amongst the stationary bikes. Although there wasn’t a ton of it, the light was really cool, the colors of the room and bikes were outstanding and the instructor, Michele Tillson, was so into her routine of stretching that she barely noticed I was there.

Turns out it wasn’t yoga but Body Flow, which as Michele explains is now being taught all over the world. Originally the program was started by a gentleman named Les Mills,from Australia. Its described as controlled breathing,concentration and a carefully structured series of stretches,moves and poses to music that creates a holistic workout that brings the body into a state of harmony and balance. It has 10 tracks to go through: first is a Tai chi warm up, next…sun salutations,yoga standing strength , Balances, Hip Openers, Core Work, Twists and Forward bends, followed by mindful relaxation.

Looked pretty amazing to me, made some neat photos – want to check it out? Synergy’s website is http://www.synergyfit.com6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY6-23-09 SYNERGY

By Jay | Posted in commercial photography, Personal Project, photojournalism, portraits, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Empty Spaces

May 3, 2009 – 11:35 am

My search for locations for the empty spaces project found a mother lode this weekend – gaining access to an old knitting mill in North-Central New Hampshire. The day was spent more just looking and planning than actual shooting, but it was incredibly fruitful nonetheless. I met an amazing artist who I’ll properely introduce in a later post, came across the cutest pug and managed a few cool photos. I’ll share some of the non empty space photos – since I really didn’t shoot any on Friday.

For those who might not know, the empty space project is about those places that have become abandoned or otherwise left out of use. I’m alwqays looking for places to explore and welcome ideas or names of people to contact.

5-1-09 FRANKLIN MILL5-1-09 FRANKLIN MILL5-1-09 FRANKLIN MILL5-1-09 FRANKLIN MILL

By Jay | Posted in Fine Art, inspiration, interior photography, Personal Project | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

The Old Jail

January 25, 2009 – 1:00 am

I am currently working on a personal project – photos of an old jail in Maine I have been fortunate enough to gain access to – and am combining the photos themselves with a technique call high dynamic range imaging ( HDR) which is a way to deal with large differences in the shadow and highlight areas. Depending on nhow the HDR work is done, the photographs can take on an otherworldly appearance. I’m new to the technique but the experimenting is very satisfying if somewhat frustrating – it seems like I cannot duplicate results or tones.

Here’s a few photos from the latest shoot – I think it was 12 degrees outside…that’s what the temperature was of the jail as well – can’t wait for Spring!

By Jay | Posted in Fine Art, HDR, Personal Project | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)