Categories
Photograph Wedding

Vermont wedding at Stowe Mountain Resort: Amanda & Chris

I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda and Chris last summer when we connected up for some engagement photos. It was an unusually warm summer day but we had a great time walking around Stowe and the Trapp Family Lodge. Their wedding day was similar – warm temperatures, bright sunshine, and relaxed attitudes. In Amanda’s final email to me before her wedding she said “As crazy as it sounds, despite the fact it’s my wedding day… My plans are pretty low key and it’s just a day of relaxing!”

I thought that was a lofty goal given how most wedding days run, but they pulled it off.  When I arrived, Chris was relaxing in a room with the other guys.

 

Before they headed down to the ceremony, all of the guys toasted Chris, and maybe helped take that last little bit of nervousness away, too.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Amanda was getting ready in a gorgeous suite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After some final touches of hairspray, we headed down to get the two of them married!

 

 

I love her father’s expression here. It screams “proud daddy” to me.

 

They guys appreciated the moment as well.

 

With Mount Mansfield in the background and the trails of Stowe punctuating the hillside, vows were read, rings exchanged, and two became one.

 

 

 

 

 

This couple looks ready to take on the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On out way home, I had to stop to take a photo of the big dipper over Mt. Mansfield. That little glow just below the ridge line? That’s the party at Stowe Mountain Resort.

 

 

Categories
Music

Vermont Festival of the Arts: First Annual Community Picnic

To kick off this year’s Vermont Festival of the Arts, Haywire and The Grift were invited to Lareau Farm to play for the first annual community picnic. People showed up in droves, spreading their blankets around the great back yard of the inn. The fires were lit, the ovens were cranking out American Flatbread, and the bar had local beer. Kids were playing frisbee and badminton while the bands started.

Haywire started the evening off with a great set of music.

 

Then The Grift took the stage with a high energy mix of covers and original music.

 

 

 

Early in the evening, the dance floor was empty, but as the night went on it got crowded. I don’t think this girl was complaining in either situation – she was trying to get the party started here and continued to dance to every song until the end of the night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As dusk arrived, the clouds got thicker and the announcement was made that the fireworks would go off a bit early.

 

Enhanced with a few flashes of lightening, Northstar Fireworks put on a good show in a slight drizzle.

 

 

 

 

 

The grand finale went off just moments before the skies opened up and drenched anyone still outside the pavilion. No matter, though,  The Grift kicked up the dance music again and the party was hopping. A little rain wasn’t going to dampen anyone’s spirits this evening.

 

Categories
Music

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival – The Necessary Means at Nectar’s

The first week of June is a great time to be in Burlington. It’s the week of the annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival which brings together international and local musicians together to play at a variety of venues around the city. I love walking down Church Street during the festival; every block you can hear different sounds drifting out of the windows or on outdoor stages.

This year, The Necessary Means played at Nectar’s as a part of the festivities. Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton (Soule Monde) opened.  If you haven’t seen these two play together, you’re missing out. It’s hard to believe that two people can produce such a big, full sound. I kept looking around to see where they were hiding all the other musicians.

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - Ray Paczkowski at Nectar's (June 5, 2012) (1)

 

After a quick stage reset (it’s gotta be hard always moving around that big Hammond organ) the Necessary Means came on and didn’t disappoint. Their Facebook page describes their sound as “70’s horn funk meets modern jam jazz” and that about nails it. Longtime Grift fans will recognize a few songs as solo riffs that have been turned into full fledged, standalone art. What strikes me every time I see these guys play is that in addition to sounding great, they’re all having fun on stage.

Enough words.  Enjoy the photos — and maybe put on a few tunes while you’re scrolling through them.

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I found the secret sauce to Daiki’s awesome percussion. Coconut Juice.

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I recommend picking up their album, “Click” from CDBaby. It’s only 6 bucks as a digital download.

 

There are still a couple more days of music. Who’re you going to see?

Categories
Music

Clint Bierman & The Necessary Means

Clint Bierman put together a team of all-stars in The Necessary Means. Last night, they lit up Nectar’s celebrating their the release of their first CD together, “Click.” The Necessary Means is an 8 piece funk/groove project featuring:

Clint Bierman – guitar
Peter Day – bass/trumpet
Sean Preece – drums
Leon Campos – keys
Brian McCarthy – bari and tenor sax
Dave Grippo – alto sax
Daiki Hirano – percussion
Jeff Vallone – DJ/bass

The show was an electrifying collection of tracks from the album and newer pieces that got the crowd moving from the first note. The energy built with each song and Nectar’s was hopping all night long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s that, you want even more photos? OK – check out the full gallery.

If you missed the show, you owe it to yourself to pick up the album. Want a sample? Check out this video that Matt Kiedaisch put together for the track “Scratchzilla.”

 

Scratchzilla from Matt Kiedaisch on Vimeo.

Categories
Family Portraits Uncategorized

Fall Family Photos in Burlington’s Battery Park

It’s been a very busy fall for me, but when Becky called up asking if I had some time for family photographs, I said yes. We were able to meet up in downtown Burlington for some photographs in Battery Park. I like shooting there because there are a variety of scenes to use ranging from 100% nature/outdoor, to a more urban look with the cement fountain and amphitheater.

Xavier was very interested, as most kids his age are, in the gear we brought with us.  Since this was a light shoot, we only brought a monopod topped with a shoot-through umbrella. It was fun to watch him experiment with what the umbrella did to both light and sound.