Recycling at it’s finest: The Ding Shack Woodworking

April 27, 2012

My brother Cody started The Ding Shack a few years ago in his backyard, and today the shop has grown into a full service surfboard repair and woodworking business.  I was psyched to drop into this amazing office in Newport RI last week to photograph his latest project.  11th Hour Racing wanted to keep their office space open, and maximize the use of repurposed materials, a concept which parallels the company’s mission to advance green practices in the sailing community.

Cody created these custom separators built from recycled sails with pocket doors made of reclaimed wood – the result is not only portable, but it brings a real wow factor to the room.  They also used pallets to create trash and recycling bins (which you can now purchase through the online store), and had a custom desk built from reclaimed wood.  The space is simply stunning.  Read more about the office over on the Chateau and Bungalow blog.

Recycled sails provided by Quatum Sail Design (they make some pretty amazing duffle bags out of reused sails as well!)

Happy 100 Fenway Park!

April 20, 2012

Fenway Park is a magical place.  You definetly feel the electricity every time you step foot in the ballpark.

To think of how many millions of people joined in the roller coaster of emotions throughout the last 100 years of Fenway’s history, it’s just awesome.  I remember running outside my dorm in Chapel Hill screaming for joy in 2004.  I stayed up late watching the Sox/Yankees games while abroad in China.  My first date with my boyfriend was a Sox game.  Having grown up in Massachusetts, they’re a piece of my home, no matter where I find myself.

Last weekend I had the privilege of shooting all around Fenway for a story with AARP.  Bill Hogan Jr., who was born 6 days before the park opened, was throwing out the opening pitch – on his 100th birthday.  His grandson wrote a really beautiful piece about the day prior to his big pitch, which you can here read on their website.  I don’t know any 100 year olds that are still as sharp and witty as Bill, he surprised everyone around him. Below are the two videos that went up with the story (I shot the last one, but the first is a must see).  Enjoy!  GO SOX!!

Book Trailers!

April 12, 2012

Video book trailers have become a must have for authors looking to promote their work.   Not to mention, they’re an awesome way to win over online readers trying to figure out if they want to read your book.  Author Ken Budd approached me last year about editing the trailer for his travel memoir, The Voluntourist.  Ken put a lot of work into making this trailer – and it really paid off for me since Ken had so much great footage to work with!  His story is very touching – and it promotes such a wonderful concept for us travel adicts.  Why not volunteer along the way ?

You can learn more on his website:  www.kenbudd.us where the video is featured.  Or hit play below.  Enjoy!

Grandfamilies for AARP

March 28, 2012

Almost 7.8 million children in the U.S. live in homes where the householders are grandparents or other relatives.  Family taking care of family may not be a new concept, yet with today’s economy, more grandfamilies find themselves in need of help.

CRT Generations offers an incredible community of support for these individuals, and I cannot say enough about the grandparents (and their adorable grandchildren!) in the piece below.  We met Carmen Stanford, the program director, while working on a video about the fourth national GrandRally last fall in Washington DC. The grandparents you see here are resilient beyond words, and the community is a brilliant example of what can happen when people put their differences aside in order to work together.

A few video stills from the project:

[CRT Generations has 24 apartments for grandparents located in Hartford, Conn.]

[Latoya Blanks heads the afterschool program.]

[Aubrey, 4, was anything but camera shy.  She lives with her "papa" Levy.]

[Geizi giving his grandmother a goodnight kiss.]

WSJ: Vending machines make a comeback

March 22, 2012

If you live in the central PA (or if you’re an avid fisherman) you’ve probably heard about these live bait vending machines.  I don’t think I had ever seen one  of in person until this week, when I got the chance to meet and photograph the mastermind behind them.

Gary Harsel started PA Live Bait Vending as a supplement to his tackle shop years ago.  While we were wrapping the shoot, Gary mentioned that after he started his business, he was finally able to take the weekends off.  So instead of putting his hours in at the tackle shop, he could watch customers get their bait from his machines across the road from where he’d be having breakfast with his wife.  I had a lot of fun meeting Gary and learning about the creative ideas behind today’s vending business.  If you didn’t catch this article in today’s copy of the Wall Street Journal, check it out online here: Restocking the Old Machine.

A few outtakes from the shoot:

[Gary showing the contents of the machine]

[green night crawlers attract certain fish, like walleye]

[Waxworms, night crawlers, and minnows- what more could you want?]