News

Manuel de Santaren & Charles Myer

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Had a wonderful shoot with interior designer Manuel de Santaren and architect Charles Myer of this amazing metro west suburban home.  A few pic’s from the shoot.

Off the Grid

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Every now and then I have the great opportunity to get off the “grid” and spend some time fly fishing in Northern Maine.  This Camp is one of my most favorite places to unwind, fish, and relive a part of history.  These historic Maine Camps where built in the early 1900’s when ‘Sports’ and their family’s would move from Boston to the Maine woods for the summer.  They  would fish, hunt and explore the natural world.  Of course, they had their ‘Maine Guides’ to take care of them and guide them in these great woods.  They would read, carve, play cards and put on skits.  For a month or maybe two they would live the woods life away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Today these camps still survive, although many just barely.  They are rustic but comfortable and hark’en back to a formal yet relaxed outdoor experience.  The hand hewed beams, rustic furniture, kerosene lamps and wood stoves speak to a time I wish I had known.

The Bait Box

Buddy Hall

Duffle Bag

Kristen Rivoli Interior Design

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Kristen did and amazing job with this NYC condo in Museum Towers.  Fantastic blend of old and new modern.  Really fun shoot!

You can see all the images here.

Sherrerd Hall – Princeton Engineering Campus

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

I recently had the opportunity to photography Sherrerd Hall at Princeton University.  Here is an excerpt about the building from the Princeton University News.

Sherrerd Hall stands on the edge of a quadrangle bordered by several other modernist buildings, including the Friend Center for Engineering Education and Mudd Manuscript Library. “It has an ethereal quality that connects it to its environment,” said Fred Fisher, principal of Frederick Fisher and Partners, the award-winning Los Angeles firm that designed the building. “Glass reflects the environment and opens a building to the world. It connects what goes on inside the building to the campus and community outside.”

As the photographer I felt the need to relay how this glass structure interacts with its surroundings.  It not only reflects the sky but  the other buildings, trees and even students that surround it.   Having students in these images gives the viewer a sense of scale and purpose of the building.  I took great care in getting the students in the right location.  They also add that “moment in time” element that is often missing in architectural photographs.

See more images from this shoot here.

NYC Wanderings.

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Finally got back to NYC last month to meet with some Architects and Design Firms.  Also took in the Architectural Digest Home Show.  I had a few precious hours to wander.  NYC is such a visual treat.  The Met Life building is so Iconic!

Met Life Bridge NYC

I am always so intrigued in how buildings meet in the city.  The various textures and styles of two buildings butt up against each other with sometimes elegant but usually severe results.  Take a look! NYC – Wanderings

Buildings Meet - NYC

See more of my NYC Wanderings here.

Buildings Meet - NYC

Modern Art

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Incredible modern residence in Lincoln by Andrew Cohen Architects and Merz Construction for an Artist/Dancer.

You first see the “modern box” design punctuated with metal framed windows and mahogany accents; then you realize the outer sheathing is a New England classic. Shingles.  They’ve been stained yellow to compliment the woodsy site.

“Conceptualized as a solid box, which opens to the light through a series of volumetric cuts, the materials reflect the operations that create the house’s surfaces.”

See all the images here!

ACALincon Ext

Rear facade - Andrew Cohen Architects Licncoln Residence

Front entrance

Inside out...

Livingroom

Cranmore “Red Chair” – “New England Icons”

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

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New England Icons Book.

I’ve started working on a new book this fall with Bruce Irving (think “This Old House”) to be published by The Countryman Press.  Working title is “New England Icons”. It’s  based on Bruce’s articles that have appeared in Design New England Magazine on what makes New England (NE) unique.  Most topics deal with the “hand of man” here in NE and cover things like Stone walls, Shaker villages, Grand Hotels, Village greens, and well, you get the idea.

Here is the latest image to go with Bruce’s article, “Ski Areas, Lost and Found”  (Read it hear: http://www.bruceirving.biz/skiareas1.html)

The "Red Chair" Cranmore Mt.

This image of what many refer to as the “Red Chair”,  is the East Bowl Double at Cranmore Mt. Originaly know as Lookout Mt., Cranmore opened in 1937. It was the first real ski “resort” to open in the North Conway area.  Guests came by train from Boston and stayed at the Eastern Slope Inn.  The slope was served by a rope tow built by Carol Reed. (Carol Reed Ski shops were the best place to buy your “planks” and lace-up boots for years!) The rope tow was replaced by the “Ski Mobile” in 1938, the only one to be built in NE.  It consisted of 60 cars seating 2 skiers each pulled by cables up and down a track.   It lasted until 1989 when it was removed for a new modern detachable quad.

Historic Red Chair. 1955 Image from Chairlift.org

The “Red Chair” was added in 1955 and later modified  in 1969.  It is currently the oldest double lift in operation here in NE. Cranmore is one of the few surviving  gems from the early days of skiing in NE.

If you’re as addicted to skiing in NE as my son Will, check out these great resources he’s shared with me.

New England Lost Ski Area Project:   http://www.nelsap.org

New England Ski Museum:  http://www.skimuseum.org/

Oh yes, and if your interested in ski transit -  new and old:  http://www.chairlifts.org

Corporate Lobby

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Here are a few images of the newly re-modeled lobby at 399 Boylston St.  designed by Gertler & Wente Architects NY.

The idea was not to just capture the space, but give a sense of the natural light feeling.

399 Boylston St. Lobby Boston, MA

399 Boylston St. Boston, MA

399 Boylston St. Lobby, Boston MA

Equally important, was highlighting  the natural materials and describing the lighting program.

Marketing Wizards & Arch. Photog. Network Meet

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

This week I was pleased to be on a panel discussion at the BSA (Boston Society of Architects).

The Marketing & PR Wizard’s and the Architectural Photography Network met jointly to talk about how to best achieve a successful photo shoot. Here are some of the topics that were addressed:

  • Do you fully document a project through images, or still carefully select your “wow” shots?
  • If it’s OK to edit out an “Exit” sign, can you remove a building during digital post-production?
  • How many parties can ideally share in the costs and direction of a photo shoot?
  • What are the top five issues that every architectural photographer would like us to know before starting a photo shoot?
  • What are the top five issues that every Marketing Person would like photographers to know before starting a photo shoot?

Here are both groups top 5 photo shoot concerns.

Marketer’s Top 5:

1. What is the story we want the photos to tell about the project?

2. Can the photographer work well with humans in the photo?

3. How amenable is the client to disruption during operating hours?

4. Have all the permissions been secured?

5. What does our $XXXX buy us in terms of deliverable’s and rights?

Photographer’s Top 5:

1. Concept of the project

2. Lighting/orientation of space

3. Communication/organization with the client/on site contact

4. Scheduling/control of the space (room use, parking, people etc.)

5. Styling/cleanliness

It was great to see that the marketer’s and photographer’s lists where very similar! Do you have any to add?

Join the BSA Marketing/PR Wizards Linked In sub group.

“New England Icons” Book

Friday, January 15th, 2010
First Snow Dec 09. Williams Barn Groton, MA

First Snow Dec 09. Williams Barn Groton, MA

I’ve started working on a new book this fall with Bruce Irving (think “This Old House”) to be published by The Countryman Press.  Working title is “New England Icons”. It’s  based on Bruce’s articles that have appeared in Design New England Magazine on what makes New England (NE) unique.  Most topics deal with the “hand of man” here in NE and cover things like Stone walls, Shaker villages, Grand Hotels, Village greens, and well, you get the idea.

That said I’m asking for help!  I’m looking for subject matter to photograph and looking for your suggestions.  Top on my list currently are locations to shoot that would fit the following topics:

  • Shaker Villages
  • Palladian Architecture
  • Garden Cemeteries
  • Widow’s walks
  • Fireplaces – Colonial…
  • New Deal Projects
  • Skating ponds

Remember, must be in NE!  Looking forward to your suggestions.