The play was about teenage suicide, but really was more than that – a look at the behavior of everyday people in society and their lack of sensitivity resulting in a tragic outcome of a young lady internalizing the burdens of that society to a breaking point.

This play was written by Robert Wing, and English teacher at North Country Union High School and directed by Cheri Skurdall. At the end of each performance the cast and teachers shared the process they took to bring the performance to the stage and the wonderful collaboration between the playwright, director and students. This is a delicate subject for these young people to approach, however, the insight they shared of the process was amazing.

It was brilliant and I must say these students are my heroes! As I said before—WOW!

Check out the images on my website under “online events” under the title “Rachael Cory”.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of effort and energy as I embarked on the preparation for the annual competitions. The task required complex image making for six photographs to very high standards with the goal of meeting twelve criteria for wowing the judges. Each photograph took me between six and ten hours to complete.

The first competition at the Vermont Professional Photographer’s convention last week resulted in 3 blue ribbons, 3 red ribbons and the George Reed Award for best depiction of a Vermont Theme.

Swirl

This weekend is the Professional Photographers of New England regional competition. I have four images there where I have 3 blues and 1 red and one print, “Who’s the Boss” featuring the Patenaudes from Newport Center, scored an incredible 90.

Who's the Boss

The two other images that earned blues included “Adoration” featuring Gwynne Jones and her horse, Misty in a golden field of grass and “True Vermonter”, a portrait of Mr. Roy Davis in his sugar house in Derby Line, Vermont.

Adoration

True Vermonter

Now for the great news! The high scores in this round of competition now complete my journey to be awarded the distinct title of “Master Photographer Craftsman” from the Professional Photographers of America. I will receive the award in New Orleans in January.

Now I am off to prepare for one more competition at the National Level in three weeks…another 10 hours of printmaking to go!

John and Jenn own The Alchemist Pub and Brewery in Waterbury. It is a great place with incredible character!

This wedding day brought some unique challenges with lighting. A day where it was snowing sometimes and sunny other times, kept me on my creative edge. I worked with supplemental lighting equipment and my assistant, Alaina, to keep the exposures where they needed to be while recording the emotions of the day.

I had great photographic moments with the family and guests with plenty of opportunity to use back light situations with the design of the Dionne’s window light living room and the outdoor background through windows at the St. Albert’s Church in West Stewartstown.

I love the image I created with Chantal and Billy outdoors complete with the white cape and white snow near the church! This was a true celebration of the winter season, the love of two great people and the relationships of family and friends.

While in San Antonio, Texas at the recent Professional Photographers of America annual Convention I had the opportunity to take a break at the “Tower of the America’s with my friend Kevin Macy of Finest Image Photography in Essex, Vermont.

This year I had multiple images on display at the convention, one of which I had written about earlier in this blog featuring the wonderful face of Fred Webster of Coventry, Vermont.

I treat the annual convention as the educational opportunity of the year. It features all of the equipment manufacturers so that I can take a look at the latest and greatest digital equipment to make sure that I am bringing to my clients the best images that the equipment will produce. I am blessed to have some of the best image capturing devices and software for interpretation of those images.

The message to the photographers was clear for the second year in the row. Photography as a business has developed to a whole new level over the past five years. Making great images with my clients is only part of the process, now the images and the process of making them are an “experience”—one that is enjoyed at the session, and then further enjoyed through sharing the images in print form, and through digital presentations that include slide shows, internet viewing, and video productions.

Additionally, I had the great opportunity to be a guest for another year at the Kodak Gallery Award banquet sponsored by Eastman Kodak. I have had prints compete in this forum in the past and it is a spectacular event that Kodak hosts. Classical music featuring a flutist and harpist, fine food, and social time with some of the finest image makers in the world….what an evening!

So here I sat reflecting on my great experiences as a photographer from wonderful Newport, Vermont. I am truly blessed and sitting on top of the world!

Chanda and Kory were united in marriage in January at the East Side Restaurant in Newport. In spite of the chill in the air, this wedding ROCKED with energy with a number of delightful twists.

The grand entrance of the wedding party was anything but traditional.  Guests were seated in the great outdoors, and the wedding party provided choreographed entertainment complete with “flying” programs and a groom’s entrance that would have made any superhero proud.  Kory met his bride half way down the aisle, dropped to one knee and offered a gentle kiss to her extended hand.

Kory’s uncle Paul Curtis conducted the wedding ceremony; Chanda and Kory shared the vows that they
had prepared themselves.

The formals were interesting; a tight timeframe due to the cold with guests enjoying the view from inside the restaurant.  The Eastside’s Dancing Sail Banquet room was decorated with spectacular winter accents including a bare spruce tree painted red with beautiful twinkle lights.

Vermont is truly a great place for a wedding, a wedding in any season.   Congratulations Chanda and Kory, may the warmth of your day stay with you for years to come.