First Assignment for the Times Herald-Record

I reached out to my hometown paper, the Times Herald-Record, for some freelance work and they gave me the opportunity to shoot a "trial" assignment. The story ran on Monday, Nov. 10 and was about the rising number of welfare applicants in Orange County, NY. Needless to say, not many people in the Department of Social Services were willing to be interviewed, let alone photographed. I befriended a young couple with a two year old son and a baby on the way in the office who were going to be evicted from their Walden home later that day. I shot their experience from the waiting room to the counter, where they were given aid to help them with their predicament. Turns out not only did the Times-Herald Record like my work, but I got the cover! They published an additional frame with the story on page 5. As if that wasn't rewarding enough, the director of photography and multimedia, John DeSanto, told me the following day that the newsroom received several phone calls from people who wanted to contact the family and provide additional financial assistance. The fact that my work has (hopefully) bettered the lives of others is far more satisfying than seeing it on the front page. Or a paycheck. Yes, I said it.

Nov. 7, 2008 - The Orange County Department of Social Services is seeing an increase in the number of applications for public assistance. John Thompson Jr., 20, and his girlfriend, Kaitlyn-Ann Szmidt, 18, pointing through window, apply for assistance Friday in Newburgh, NY. Thompson is holding the couple's 2-year-old son, John Thompson III. For the Times Herald-Record/Ryan Meehan

Nov. 7, 2008 - The increase in welfare cases in Orange County stands in contrast to a continuing drop in statewide tallies. Kaitlyn-Ann Szmidt, 18, and her boyfriend, John Thompson Jr., 20, of Walden, wait with their son, John Thompson III, at the Department of Social Services in Newburgh, NY. For the Times Herald-Record/Ryan Meehan

Chicago City Limits

I shot some publicity photos last week for Chicago City Limits, a Manhattan improvisational comedy theater. The photos are to illustrate the upcoming shows of their touring company.

This is for a show called "Wikiphobia".These are for a show called "Revenge of the Reindeer".

Jomart Chocolates

I've recently been shooting and managing all of the photographs on the new website of Jomart Chocolates, a Brooklyn chocolate factory. It has been a very enjoyable experience - much different than any other assignments or projects I've worked on. Feel free to check out the site - I hope it makes you hungry! Here are some shots I like:

Israel and Egypt

Twelve Tribes Multimedia

The Twelve Tribes is a community-based religious group whose members live verbatim by the Bible. There are dozens of such communities established all over the world. The foundation of the Twelve Tribes is love - for their God, for one another, and for all.

Members aspire to replicate the life of their "master Yashua" (Jesus). For instance, men dress in button down shirts, grow long beards, tie their hair back, and wear diadem's to represent the crown they expect to receive in Heaven.

There are about 30 men, women, and children from all over the United States living communally in an old Victorian home, rotating responsibilities on a daily basis. They support themselves by owning a Café and a construction company. Children are home-schooled with their own state-approved curriculum.

They open the doors of their home to any one interested; some consider the community to be a cult, while others are simply fascinated by their lifestyle.

M U L T I M E D I A :

Three 6 Mafia

Check out the article at the Daily Free Press' website.

April 19, 2008 - The number one new artist of 2007, Cobra Starship, performs on Boston University's Nickerson Field. The band's popularity grew after they released their hit "Bring it (Snakes on a Plane)" which was featured on the soundtrack of the film Snakes on a Plane.

April 19, 2008 - Abdullah Al-Mutairi, a freshman in Sargent College at Boston University, watches Cobra Starship from the front row on Nickerson Field.


April 19 2008 - Juicy J of the Academy Award winning rap duo, Three 6 Mafia, performs beside students on stage at Boston University's Nickerson Field.

April 19, 2008 - Students were invited on stage to dance during the Three 6 Mafia performance on Boston University's Nickerson Field.

Zoe's Chinese, 289 Beacon St., Sommerville, MA

Another Boston Phoenix dining assignment.

Women's Roller Derby

I have recently been shooting for a collaborative multimedia piece on the growing popularity of women's roller derby. I'm currently working on producing the final version. Stay tuned.

12 Tribes Religious Commune

I am currently working on a multimedia documentary on a religious commune in Dorchester, MA, that goes by the name the 12 Tribes. There are about 30 members living in an old Victorian house as one happy family. They own a cafe down the street from their house, home-school their children, and their doors are always open to new members. Here is one photo, but there are a lot more to come.

February 11, 2008 - Members of the 12 Tribes religious community Yahanna Bryant and her son Asher, 11 months, are seen in the kitchen of their home on Melville Ave. Bryant is in charge of home-schooling all of the younger members of the community.

Filk

I shot this for the Boston Phoenix.